I have climbed trees a couple of times - and I have gear. I also have trees. What I don't have (yet) is my books. And I don't think I am going to have them for a while.

Being the impatient sort who wants to start a hobby, I was wondering about the feasability of learning from instruction? I was a rock climber until I moved to a place that has no rock (I swear, there is nothing in our zone) so I understand about being careful - and I will always have "ground crew". It is a luxury I have from having so many workers.

I am particularly interested in DRT since it is used for low trees and seems to be good for moving around.

Feel like helping me learn? Trust me, it will be slow, it will be low, and I will never do something I don't understand.

If people think this is nuts - let me know that too.

Fred, I certainly do regret that I was not able to visit you when I was in San Jose. I have thought of that several times since my stay there in January-February. What particularly came to my mind has been that you earlier had said that you had no instruction in tree climbing. Although I am not a "certified" instructor, I certainly am competent enough that I could show you what you need to know to climb DdRT well and safely.

As for your studying climbing as a "correspondence course," I'm sure that you have enough smarts that you could pull it off. Now, if you had a ham radio license, you and I could chat over the air, free, for long periods and discuss climbing!

Maybe you should take a trip "next door" to Panama and visit Joe for some training while he’s there.

If you do attempt to do this long distance, someone who both knows the ropes and who can write well might be of sufficient assistance to you.

For me, though, it was invaluable having J~Bird (then, "kernsloth") talk me through getting used to the feel of the Blake's hitch. He had me play with it low and slow several times before I got far enough off the ground to be able do any real damage to myself.

There was a lot after that, of course, but those first minutes, and that first climb, were very important.

BTW, I'd suggest that you get a bit of training from some Ticos, but if you run across those who operate like the crew I saw in the Montes de Oca area of San Jose, heaven help you. (Also, don't ever let those hombres trim your trees: Topping seems to be their only method.)

Fred, best luck in gaining proficiency with DdRT. I sure wish I were there to assist you . . . for many reasons!

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you have--you have my e-mail address.

Hi Jim,

Yes, that would have been great but I figured the stars just didn't align for you.

Much of what I need is clarification - there is so much information available on the Internet - if you just know where to search. For example, is a Blake's hitch the foundation of a DdRT system?

There was a thread of the basic equipment - what would be nice is to have a thread on the basic skills that are needed.

So, perhaps a drill would be tying off a Blakes hitch, go up, then attach a double 8 and descend?

I like to nail down techniques that I will need up in the leaves, and then just work them until they are automatic. I really don't want to forget how to do something 20 feet up!