Ever been harassed by police?

Hi All, New climber here and just had a thought, Has anyone ever been arrested or harassed for climbing a tree on public property, Like in a state or city park?

Whoa, careful with the accusations there. By harassed, do you mean asked nicely, by a public official, to leave? Yes. Arrested? No, because I left when I was asked to do so.

Whoa, careful with the accusations there. By harassed, do you mean asked nicely, by a public official, to leave? Yes. Arrested? No, because I left when I was asked to do so.

Agree, harass is the wrong word. I've been approached by very nervous officers with hand on their gun/holster and told to freeze. Classic misunderstanding, it was reported that there were homeless people camping in the woods. Once they calmed down a little I explained that I was tree climbing everything was fine and the officers let me be. The experience gave me a better understanding of what people who actually are homeless have to put up with on a daily basis. I was approached in the woods (different location) by a park ranger with the same question, I explained that I was not a homeless person camping in the woods and everything was fine. Apparently the general public who are the ones who call the police are much more afraid of homeless people than tree climbers.
-moss

Most City or state parks have specific rules that you need to learn before you decide to climb their trees.
Ask first if you have to and if asked to leave just do so after you apologize for not knowing their rules. We do not want the local municipalities making specific prohibitions to Recreational Technical Tree Climbing.

For sure if you are free Climbing (without safety gear) definitely do not even try it. It is No legal, No safe!

moss wrote:
I've been approached by very nervous officers with hand on their gun/holster and told to freeze. Classic misunderstanding, it was reported that there were homeless people camping in the woods.

\"Dang it, come down or I'll shoot?\"

Davej wrote:\"Dang it, come down or I'll shoot?\"

Haha! Not quite. I was on the ground, as they approached and asked who I was I automatically reached for my ID without thinking they might be nervous. This caused them to reach for guns and shout freeze. I smiled and put my hands out. They calmed down eventually.

Whenever you're doing an activity in the woods that is not familiar to the general public, be prepared to be confronted and then work to calm things down. Obviously try not to reach into your pockets before you've explained to the officers what you're doing. Lessons learned.
-moss

Note: To a wary officer, the handle of some limb saws could look a lot like the stock of a sawed-off shot gun sticking of of your pack too. Move very slowly and deliberately.

moss wrote:
Haha! Not quite. I was on the ground, as they approached and asked who I was...

Oh, and you were standing there with your shopping cart full of your worldly possessions... rope, gear, etc...

Davej wrote:

moss wrote:
Haha! Not quite. I was on the ground, as they approached and asked who I was...

Oh, and you were standing there with your shopping cart full of your worldly possessions... rope, gear, etc...

I used to use my woods cart because of a bad back, my back is stronger now don't use it anymore except when I'm hauling gear for more than one person. The cart definitely makes people think I'm a roving woods gypsy.



-moss