I've started up a community web site for Boston area rec tree climbers (BARC for short). The idea is to have a place for experienced and inexperienced climbers to plan climbs and talk about tree climbing. We've run two climbs so far. On Sunday we climbed a tall white pine in woods just south of Boston, the full report is on the front page blog section of the BARC site

Continuing on the bird theme we had a mixed flock of black-capped chickadees and golden-crowned kinglets join us at the top of the tree. All in all a great day of climbing in wintery but not too cold conditions.

Boston skyline to the north


Standing in a fork near the top around 100 ft.


More photos
10/20/07 BARC climb photos
-moss

moss on BARC and BARC on Ning
I just looked over the BARC site thanks to that handy _link_ moss included in the above post. Nice job on the layout and visual choices too. I am amazed at the skill, energy, and dedication that moss continually brings to the table.

An additional bonus for me is that I also just discovered this “Ning” network.

I still keep a keen eye on this TCI forum and I continue to learn from this great family of climbers.
Stay Warm,
-Ej-

Thanks EJ. I wish I could take all of the credit but Ning is so easy to use, I just chose a template, made some modifications to the layout and it was good to go. The work was in inviting people to participate (they responded above expectation) and being persistent in following through with communication and scheduling climbs. My plan is to customize it with a unique BARC look, that will take a little more work.
-moss

BARC Off to a Good Start. . .

The BARC will serve as a good means to concentrate your efforts. If you keep it local, you increase your ability to serve the needs and interests of your members tenfold. A local crag, or chapter, is an interesting concept.

I was pleased to see the arborists mixing with the REC people. Actually, I was kind of impressed to see arborists hanging out at the BARC site at all. If you can join the pro & REC climbing communities together, you will have made a great step toward the acceptance of the REC community in pro climbing circles.

Now granted, I don’t expect a REC class at the ISA/ITCC any time soon but even the slightest recognition of “trained” REC climbers would be an interesting phenomena. Note: I know that TCI makes it a point to keep the REC-ITCC _link_ alive each year at the convention and I do appreciate their efforts on that.

I will be keeping an eye on BARC and look forward to the upcoming changes you speak of. If you can coalesce the climbing community in your area in the physical sense, and form a band of active members, you will have grasped the Holy Grail of recreational climbing. (well, at least in my eyes anyway).
Thank you for your work in this area.
Regards,
Electrojake

Arborists are a big part of my local rec climbing community. The blend works well. Once pro arbs have climbed with me a couple of times they get where I'm coming from. We usually have a good exchange of ideas back and forth.

That's the beauty of tree climbing, once you're hanging out up in a tree, everyone gets into tree time, it can't be resisted.

Thanks,
-moss

If you have noticed that last year (I think) they added a New section to the Treebuzz Discussion group for Recreational Climbing Stories and it seems that several of the Prof. Climbers take their kids and Significant others climbing for fun/ Also, there are a few of Rec climbers (Moss and JG)that usually post there also.

I have decided to stay away from posting since I feel like an intruder into their group but I have learned a bunch of stuff about reading the TBuzz site and their Articles section. Lots of technical info, lots of practical info on techniques and gear selection and the stories about accidents are a good reminder of how dangerous Tree Climbing can be if you do not pay close attention. The last posting in that area a guy falls down from about 3 feet high, messed up his face, and broke a few bones in the legs ( for more details read the actual post in the awakenings area). My point is that it only takes a short fall in the wrong position and the consequences can be pretty bad.

Back to the topic of combining Rec. and Prof. Climbers at BARC---> Great Idea Moss !
Also, we have guys like TDunlap and his brother that actually climb with Rec Climbers and attend the get together when their time allows.