Climbing on a barrier island
August 3, 2009
I have been prompting Patrick to try and remember places he might know that contain large trees. He recalled a new park in his area, and he recalled it having some huge trees. So we went to check it out on Saturday morning and initially it looked real good. I have never seen so many GIANT old growth magnolias. But problems began to arise as soon as we got our packs on and started to walk the place. There were plenty of people out walking the paved paths, and there were prominently placed signs warning park patrons to “stay on the paths to prevent damaging the sensitive ecosystems” They looked like woods to me.
After explaining my take on climbing in plain view and never being allowed back, and possibly giving a bad name to Rec climbing in the park staff circles we decided to move on. We headed out to the coast to a huge tract of forest on a barrier island. There is a pine tree out there with a great view that I climbed with Pinyata before and I thought Patrick would enjoy it too.
After some shell games at the automated pay gate entrance to the...
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Big Oak In Georgia
December 14, 2008
Today I returned to a tree I have named Lightning. It's located on a Civil War Battlefield in an off the path location. It's 14'6" around and about 150' tall. It is so far believed to be a Charry bark oak, but it is not confirmed. This tree is in the upper limits of size for any variety of oak. Just being in the presence of the tree is a humbling experience. It makes me feel very insignifigant. I spent a good bit of the visit measuring. I really don't care (which is a statment I use sparingly) about weather or not it is a champion tree ( the biggest of it's species) but I sure do seem to be spending a lot of effort to find out.
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Where did the time go? Was it ever there?
December 12, 2008
A lot of stuf has happened since I last wrote here. I must first start by saying that I am completely thankfull for every experience I have had since my last report.
My life has pretty much revolved around climbing for the last year and a half. The great thing is that climbing involves so much more than the physical act. I have net so many wonderful people and and had such great adventures. The whole package has kept my brain running at the speed it needs to keep it from deciding to start doing things on it,s own.
One of there have been to many adventures to list but some of the best have involved mud. I have located a grove of ancient cypress in florida and been down to Panama climbing in the rainforest. I have been living and working in Chattanooga for almost a year and only going home for a weekend every few weeks. And now I'm heading back to Panama in a few weeks. This time I am looking forward to some solo time in the emergent layer.
I hope you are all doing well also!
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Lewis Island expedition
March 8, 2007
I joined 4 other fellows from the tree climber coalition for a wilderness tree climbing trip on the Altamaha river in Georgia. It was what a tree climber might call a dream trip. The Altamaha river is the mightiest river on the east coast and the area where we traveled the river is surrounded by forested swamp. Not everybody likes the idea of trudging around through ankle to knee deep swamp. But to a true nature lover a swamp is paradise. The prospect of climbing 1000+ year old bald cypress trees makes an even more desirable place to explore.
Once you are in the canopy of these giant the views are incredible. They are emergent trees standing high and proud above the tops of the surrounding forest. Like islands in a sea of green.
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Backyard climbs
December 9, 2006
Since my trip up to Georgia my tree climbing skills have improved a great deal. I learned some valuble core principals watching Joe and Jeff. They use a method called double rope technique and it allows for much more freedom of movment while in the canopy. Normally this method only work with arborist type rope, which I do not have. I have found a way for it to work with my rope however.
So today I did two climbs in my backyard, in two different trees. Each climb consisted of 4 to 5 pitches. That means that I would climb my rope up to the branch it was around, then throw a line up to a higher branch and pull the other end of my rope over it to climb higher.this procedure is repeated until you are at the tree summit. Thats the highest branch on the tree that can be safely climbed to.
Before climbing with the legends up in Georgia I only did single pitch climbs.
Here are some climbing photos
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Suwannee River Wilderness Trail
December 7, 2006
We ended up having 10 people on the trip and I'd have to say that it was a very well rounded group. We launched the day after Thanksgiving at Blue sink on the banks of the Suwannee. The weather was beautiful, although a little chilly. Water levels were very low. We had originaly planned a trip on the Okefenokee which is the head waters of the suwanee, but the park had cancelled the trail due to low water there. About 4 or 5 times a day I'd have to get out to drag our boat across a shoal.
We spent our first night at woods ferry river camp. A well developed campsite that only has river access. our second night was spent on the sandy banks of the Suwannee. Thats where I received yet another lesson on the dangers of mixing white rum, dark rum, and scotch.
Looking back my only regret about the trip was that we spent all of our free time paddling. It would have been nice to spend two nights at one camp and had more oportunities to hike or tree climb.
Here are the photos
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San Felasco Hammock
November 12, 2006
San Felasco hammock(11-12-06)
I took off on an adventure this weekend that involved merging two of my favorite pastimes, riding bicycles and sitting in trees. It works out well that my bike can take me far out into the woods. That’s where some of the best trees are. So I peddled off into the woods on a rigid single speed bike with a heavy back pack full of climbing gear, water, snacks, and a few bike repair items. It was quite awkward at first. I’m not used to riding with a 40 pound pack. I’m also not used to riding wearing camo fatigues and boots. But with the prospect of finding some good climbing it was easily bearable.
So off I headed on a single track trail that winds through ever changing communities of Florida’s flora and fauna. 6 miles later, after passing through pine forest, hydric hammock and open prairies I found myself at a nice lake surrounded by towering majestic live oak trees. It’s a tree climbing wonderland. I wandered if other climbers had been here before. The ground looked slightly trampled and several branch crotches were clean while most lay draped with Spanish...
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River recon
November 7, 2006
Suwannee River(11-02-06)
Its November now and the rainfall has been minamal. so it looks like the okee crossing is out. I cant convince the rest of the crew that its ok if we have to get out and drag our boats. Oh well. Plan B is to launch on the river in white springs and paddle down river to where ever. Looks like I,ll be doing some recon this weekend to figure out where, where ever is. My good friend John and I will be paddling and scoping out the trip on saturday. I have enjoyed the suwannee many times now and am very excited about the prospect of doing some tree climbing along the river.
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New harness
October 28, 2006
Climbing
I just received my new tree climbing harness. My initial reaction was that it was to stiff and to bulky but after a few climbs I'm really starting to like it. Im seen wearing it on the right. The tree I'm in is a water oak in my backyard. I would guess its about 80 feet tall. In this self portrait I'm sitting at about 50'. Its great to have good trees in the backyard and it probably helps keep me out of trouble to.
I'm planning on heading to F.D.R. state park for a gathering of tree climbers in late November. It sounds like a very interesting group of people and I'm looking forward to meeting them. A full report will follow.
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Tsali, NC
October 10, 2006
My buddie Chris and I headed up two the Blue ridge mountains for the columbus day weekend. It was a good excuse to go to the mountains.
We got to Tsali on Thursday about 2 pm and set up or tents. After lunch we went out and rode on the mouse branch loop. Ive been here a few times before but this was chris's first time here. The trails were fun. We had ribeyes for dinner. I was trying to get a fire going and having trouble so I said " Maybe Its just not ment to be tonight. About that time we heard thunder and withunminutes it started to rain. We quickly darted into our tents. It was quite a good storm with a good bit of lightning. But my new tent held strong and I read in comfort until I fell asleep.
In the mourning we went out for breakfast, but it was a let down cause we couldnt find a place to eat. Than we headed of together on the right loop. I was prepaired for a mudfest and it was just that. You just have to embrase it. After we got to windy gap overlook it was a screamer...
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