Throwball games??? Tell more!

love
nick

ps- is it too early for xmas comments?

My friend Tom and I have taken the liberty to remove the english ivy from a large bigleaf maple tree that we like to climb. There are others that need the same attention, but we haven't gotten to them yet. We've also deadwooded here and there...

I like peter's vocalizations that he's listed. I've done that a few times before with nonsense words and sounds, but have usually announced my presence (directly or indirectly) once I start feeling guilty about some poor soul that's getting freaked out by bizarre noises coming from out of nowhere.

In college I used to go aloft to do my reading assignments. Best place to get away from others, and quiet too!

I've heard about playing tag as well, however I know it as "Tree Rally" It's kind of like capture the flag. There may be several flags or stations per climber, and your trying to get to each one of theirs, while defending them from reaching your own.

Static Ropes and Dynamic Climbs,
Benny

We did tree tag for a while. We tagged folks with tennis balls. But folks got a little crazy doing it. It got a little dangerous as folks did unusual things to get a shot with a tennis ball or avoid being hit. I think it would be good with experienced climbers, but new climbers seem to get caught up with the action and forget where they are- ALOFT!!

Many years ago, while learning to climb utility poles for BellSouth (back then it was called Southern Bell and was one of the many "Baby Bells" around the country) the instructors at the company training center in east Atlanta (which happens to be very near Peter Jenkins' place) would take us to the pole farm and we would have to spike (ouch, that word hurts now days just to pronounce it) our way to the tops of 35 foot poles. Then the instructors would toss up the basketball and we'd have to throw it from climber to climber. Anybody who missed had to climb down and retrieve the ball. It was a great way to practice our climbing skills and get comfortable at those heighths. A lot of the fun went out of utility line work when they switched to bucket trucks.

I've played a game in a tree in which musical instruments where placed throughout the branches. To win the game you must enter the tree, bang the drum, clash the symbols, honk the horn, etc. in the agreed upon order and descend to the ground in less time than your competitors.

One example of the "need" for speed.

Brad

Whaddya do with that there mistletoe?

love
nick