locations? Do you know any?

Hi I am James,

I am a free climber. (climb with no ropes)
I am woundering if you know of any good places
that I can climb. (not events)

At the moment I climb trees round my farm. (mainly oaks)
I am not a farmer but I do live on a farm. I live below
Dartmoor. lots of trees!

Also, I am woundering if someone knows of any more
challenging trees that I could climb?


James

My advice...learn to use ropes. Safety issues aside, you are limited in your ability to limb walk and traverse when you free climb.

...and NEVER trust a dead or sick-looking branch - especially in broadleaf trees like Oak or Beech. They are entirely unpredictable. It really is playing Russian Roulette!

Since I started using ropes and lanyards my climbing has reached a different level - I've been able to climb some of the tallest trees in Britain, safely. I would get two small booklets available from this website. They are:

'Recreational Treeclimbing' by Dick Flowers, and 'The Treeclimber's Companion' by Jeff Jepson. Between them they contain every knot and technique to get started. . It would also be advisable to have someone show you how to do this in practice. There is a company in Cornwall offering courses (www.mighty-oak.co.uk).

If you have any other questions then any of the good people on this forum would be happy to help I'm sure.

Let us know how you get on.

Michael

Howdy.

Sure can't help you, but sure liked part of that last comment. Referring to dead branches. That's one reason that a lot of experience is what really makes for a qualified climber. It takes quite some time to learn how to ID dead or decayed branches, and part of it has to do with bark color and texture. In the meantimes, proceeding at a slow steady pace.

James,

Free climber huh? I know there are many other sports that involve risk, so please read this in the spirit in which it was intended. Everyone has the right to do as he/she pleases, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else.

Please read: http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20097990&BRD=1769&PAG=461&dept_id=74969&rfi=6

I choose to use ropes. I would leave a wife, family, and 2 great dogs behind.