I recently geared up and jumped in to climbing trees with rope and harness. I think the trees in my yard were sending me subconscious messages that they needed to be climbed and cared for (see below for my tree liberation operation

Here's a few pics from my backyard climbing adventures:


Sun drenched lichen at the crown of a big doug fir


The house I live in does not have a view. Well, scratch that statement. If you climb one of the large doug firs it has an exceptional view!


NE view of moon and canopy. This was a great day to be tree climbing.


NW view across the water


This is my backyard "climbing gym." Two doug firs, with a western hemlock on the right and some nice (not pictured) red cedars, a bigleaf maple and a horse chestnut. If you look close, I'm at the top of the center fir.


Ascending a red cedar in the front yard.


Prior inhabitants strung a steel cable between two cedars about 40 feet up. The growth of the tree was causing the cable to start to strangle the tree.


This was the laceration left by the cable. What a relief to cut this loose. I'm happy and the tree is happy.


Evening light through the canopy of a western red cedar.

I'm hooked on tree climbing. Can't wait til spring, as the days get longer and everything starts to green up again.

regards,
coonrad

Awesome photos Coonrad, thanks for sharing.

A house w/ no view?
I would love to have that view near my house even if I have to climb the trees to see it. The Pictures are great. Looks like your are doing Single Rope Technique. Nice gear also. The removal of the cable from the tree was a great idea. I am sure the tree will apreciate that action for many years to come. Welcome to Recreational Tree Climbing. You are officially hooked!

An environment with such a vista is beyond my (New Jersey) comprehension.
What's the location?

Nice.
Thanks for posting em’.

When I cut cables, rope, plastic, etc that is girdling trees, I think the tree wants to respond just like the Tin Man responded when he finally got the oil from the oil can.

Nice pics!

(side note- those non-lockers weren't primary safety points, were they?)

love
nick

Oldtimer, so far I've just been climbing DdRT, and using a prusik/foot loop. With the addition of the foot loop it's seems to be a great climbing technique. I have been trying to work out s SRT system on a low hanging branch...trying to find the right adjustments, practicing changeovers. Haven't done any serious SRT yet though.

Electrojake, the images are from Kitsap County, WA. The water is part of Puget Sound, and the mountains are the Olympic Range. It was really clear that day, after a loooooong season of rain we've been having. Now it's clear and cold!

NickfromWI, I'm using those biners with a shock absorbing Y lanyard. I'm aware that they are not as bombproof as a locking biner, but they are great for clipping in and out of a sling. I plan to try the same system with some auto-lockers.