DAY 310 – Daily Climb

DAY 310
02.08.08
TREE 200

A new tree to take the place of an Oregon tree reclimb. Yet this tree isn’t so new. I’ve tried twice now to run up its trunk and wrap my arms around the first massive, moss-covered limb. It is the beautiful, wide-spread tree in a field all by itself in Seneca Park. Its sprawling and reaching limbs are situated between the basketball courts,

the baseball field,

one of the parking lots,

and a strip of woods that run along I-64. But today I did not attempt to run up the trunk for the thirtieth or fortieth time. I brought my climbing gear. I had debated whether to keep this entire year of tree climbs all free climbs. But ultimately I decided that this gear makes so many more trees accessible to me and if I so desire, I can unhook myself from the tethers and free climb once I am up past the obstacle of reaching the first limb.

I got off work a little early, about 3, and went straight to Seneca Park. I changed and then took my gear bag to the base of this amazing tree. I went through the laboreous process of putting on the saddle and getting the rope ready to throw over a limb. I felt confident about my knots since I actually had a recent training session at work about knots. So that was good. I threw it over successfully after a few tries, tied my lanyard, and began trying to thrust upward, but I was too far away from the trunk. I undid everything and moved around to the other side of the tree. I repeated the whole process on a different limb and finally started my ascent up the tree. But it was slow, my arms tired quickly. It feels like it took me ten minutes to get on the first low limb. When I finally did, I didn’t secure myself with a buck strap and considered just untying and climbing from here but the lure of reaching the very top of this huge tree was too strong. I know I couldn’t do it without the help of ropes so I continued on. A few more throws and I got my rope set up for the next leg of the climb. I tied my lanyard and began the walk up the limb, thrusting with my mid-section every step of the way. I felt like I was getting the hang of it. As the branches I encountered twisted, bent and branched off I would use some climbing techniques that I am used to in free climbing. And some more thrusting. When I went as far as I could on this leg I stopped, used my buck strap to secure me this time and threw the rope to another higher limb. The limbs were getting much thinner, maybe my arms thickness, and others were dead or dying with peeling bark. I was careful, methodical, and tested every set for strength. I know my arms and legs were beginning to tire because my leg began to shake and bounce from holding one stance while I threw the rope over the next spot. I climbed higher and was becoming more aware of my increasing height. I looked down at the people with their dogs and kids playing basketball, and the funny looking old guys running around the parking lot. Then it struck me, these people payed me little to no attention. If I had been free climbing, I would have been less visible, but I also would probably have gotten more of a response from passers by. It must be the inherent danger that they respond to. Today they saw a bright orange rope and a guy in a bright green sweatshirt climbing with a harness and just walked on by. Strangely, as a cop car drove by on the park road, I felt emboldened. I was being safe, practicing for my job, and I didn’t have that feeling of fear from being hassled. I was a legitimate tree climber. But the problem… it takes for damn ever to climb a tree with all this shit!

Anyway, I went up one more leg to almost the top of the leader branch I was on. I took off my ropes after preparing them for the repel down.

I undid my buck strap and 50 or 60 feet up I began to free climb a couple more branches till I perched myself in the crotch of three branching limbs. It made for a comfortable squat. The view was incredible.

I did decide to buck strap in. I figured I have one, might as well use it. Then I got out my camera and took so many pictures. The strap actually helped me be able to be more comfortable moving and leaning out from my little perch. I just couldn’t stop shooting the view down into the limbs and to the ground.

The colors and lines were just amazing.

I was smiling, laughing, excitedly talking to myself. It turned me on to this gear. It has a use, a place, and I will happily use it to reach heights and get access to trees that I never could have free climbing. After many pictures I put my camera away and just sat. I looked at the sun beginning its drop over the horizon, the spotty clouds rolling in, and the people below enjoying this beautiful evening.

Then I tied a pink ribbon and climbed back down a few branches to my rope. I hooked back in, tested my knots, and then let myself hang. What a leap of faith! I just dangled from this high limb, feet upon feet between me and the ground. Then I put pressure on my hitch knot and began my repel. I slowly lowered and in a matter of a minute was on the ground. It was so fun. I just smiled as I took off my saddle and wound up my rope. This was a damn good climb I’ll never forget.

2-10-09: There are only two ribbons from the first year of my project that remain in the trees. This one from above, and one in a tree at the rest stop off I-71 north of Louisville. I have not been out there to the either of the trees lately to see if they are still there after the Ike wind storm and the latest ice storm. I did drive past the above Seneca tree recently and saw that half the trunk’s bark had peeled off. The tree is dying and will most likely get taken down soon. That will be a sad day.

You’ll also notice in the entry that talked of training. I was determined to get trained and not be viewed as a slow learner.

And now that I’ve reread this entry I really want to get out there with my gear again. It’s been a while and I think I might know someone who would be willing to climb with me. Her name is Tracy, Norman’s new girlfriend, and she is a former arborist. She seems excited to get out and climb with me as well. This spring, when it’s warm and I am back in Louisville, it’s on.

—

So last Friday evening Stefan and I went to Cambridge to pick up Drew Foss. We brought him back to Stefan’s place for dinner. It was nice to see Drew since it had been years. He mentioned that he had viewed my blog but said all he ever sees is my feet in the pictures.

Well, the next day, Saturday February 7th, Stefan, Laura, Robin, and I all went to MIT to see the art show they had up. It really sucked actually, and we were disappointed but it was nice out so we went for a walk along the frozen Charles.

I spotted a tree in front of the main MIT library.

I walked through the snow to the base and waited for a break in the cars

before climbing onto the first low branch.

From there I went up quickly to my high spot.

I looked around to see if anyone noticed me. It seemed no one on the ground did, but there was a guy in the library who was level with my position and he was looking straight at me.