LONG POST

HI ALL - this was a PERFECT TREE, I have pictures, I have video, I have questions (When don’t I have them) and some of you might say, what is she doing that for????????

As normal - I am filled with questions and DO ask for your comments and criticisms.

I did a first today and with that I feel a little more comfortable with myself in the tree. It would have been nice to share this tree and the time in it. BUT, I forgot to pay the weather gods and the daily thunderstorms just about drove me out of the tree. I was on the ground when the rains started and was drenched, soaked to the skin but the time I hiked the half mile back to the car. I must have been a site to the passing cars as I walked out of the wood with my harness and helmet still on, back pack which carried the rope and my pail, which held the throw line and my lunch, walking across the bridge back to the parking lot.

My last climb here at the house, in my little tree, I had a very talented climber watch from the ground and provide some great instructions. At the end of my climb he took my rope and wrapped it about the _base_ of another tree, when I was like, “How am I going to get down now,” he said “How did you get up?” I was puzzled and a little upset that he put my in this predicament. BUT I know that it can happen. SO with that bit of knowledge, my climb today was all down switches. I set the line about half way up the tree and from there started my climb. As I was in the tree setting my lines, also in my head, was “Where do you want to go and how can you get there.” Those are Important words for me. I moved from one side of the tree to another, with each switch it was about one quarter from the old tie in point. By the time I descended I had come full circle in the tree.

I am practicing the lean and getting better at a three point stand. I am also learning how to and how NOT to pitch a throw line in the tree. NOTE to self, Watch the Bag so you can DUCK, when it wraps about the branch in front of you and almost hits you in the head, HAPPY HELMET.

IT was fun and best of all were all the questions I was getting from the tubers that were hiking the trail below me. Good PR for Rec climbing.

I was also able to scout a few more trees in my area and hope to get in one of them next weekend, a big oak or maybe that Hickory down the block.


Thanks to all for your encouragement and helping this jerseygirl get into the tree.


Photos - here - Video is being loaded - i have about 4 at different points of the climb.

Turtle on the trail
http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x58/skheinz57/?action=view¤t=08-05-07beech003.jpg

Entrance to the trial alone the river

http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x58/skheinz57/?action=view¤t=beech001.jpg

TREE

http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x58/skheinz57/?action=view¤t=08-05-07beech034.jpg

First tie in - i was about half way up

http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x58/skheinz57/?action=view¤t=08-05-07beech015.jpg

second tie in

http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x58/skheinz57/?action=view¤t=08-05-07beech033.jpg

Third tie in

http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x58/skheinz57/?action=view¤t=08-05-07beech030.jpg


on a branch at the 4th tie in rope under a limb
http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x58/skheinz57/?action=view¤t=08-05-07beech026.jpg

my bridge with when on two system - that is the short bridge on the butterfly.

http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x58/skheinz57/?action=view¤t=08-05-07beech021.jpg

AND - the last - the river below at Big Rock rapid.

http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x58/skheinz57/?action=view¤t=08-05-07beech026.jpg

jz

JerseyGirl,

That's a nice post. I really enjoyed the variety of pics. It sounds like you are enjoying learning to climb. I'm impressed you were getting around in the tree.

I'm unclear (and certainly biased towards TCI) about who your instructor is. The great thing about learning from a certified instructor is that they teach you everything you need to learn.

Kindest regards,
Robert Crook

I took the TCI course with Dancing wtih trees. That was a great class. BUT it was basic, they taught me enough to get in the tree with care. I have learned additional with reading the forums and i have to get some publications. I am on a split tail due to another climber that showed me how to set it up. The basic class is the tip of an iceberge, this is the tci site so.

the other person is an other great climber that I have climbed with twice. Each time, they give me hints and ask me a lot of quesitons. One that was the best, is that he held my rope. I need to learn how to re-direct.


I enjoy taking pictures.

thanks

shari

shari,
I took the BTCC course with Genevieve Summers in the fall of 2003. It seems a while ago now. But, I remember all of it. I really have a great respect for all the TCI instructors that I have met.
It's really good that you have someone experienced, who you can climb with.
I like a split-tail too. I recommend a spliced-eye (less gear). But, knots are just fine.
Kindest regards,
Robert Crook

I have a spliced eye and use that as I climb - some times when I do switch, but most time i am using a KNOT - i should go right to the eye and forget the knots

thanks for the suggestion

??See you in colorado???

shari -

You can learn to splice an eye on a split tail at Nick's workshop at the Rendezvous.
-moss