Ok, OK. Now that we have gotten over the goo goo, gaa gaa hand waving about the fact that something about tree climbing would be presented to the general public, it is time for your reviews. I know even “tree grunts” pick up a book or so (read the book for the definition of tree grunt) in their lifetime. So what do you think?

I have not read the book yet. So not opinion here. From What I seen posted so far it is Ok and some people like it as a good reading set of stories.

Read the book (nearly finished) and it's the reason I'm here.
Enjoyed the read less for the technical aspects than for the development of the characters and their motivation.
Hope it doesn't become the arborist version of A River Runs Through It resulting in zillions of people climbing trees w/o proper training or equipment. That said I would LOVE to give it a try.
BTW great website!
Randy

Hi Randy,

Welcome to the tree trekking scene. My climbing days started in Louisville. I return to the family farm in Breckenridge County for a climb nearly once a year.

I was energized by the book and the adventures within. Although I believe that the uninitiated need to read it with some caution. As an example, I hold the belief that a small percentage of climbs need to be canceled, where conditions aren't appropriate. That doesn't make material for an adventure book.

With respect to giving it a try, there's a group tree trekking out of metropolitan Cincinnati - on the Ky side. Also, you may be able to catch a local arborist at this site as follows: www.treebuzz.com

Thanks Jim,
Lots of friends in Da'Ville b/c I like kayaking with the Vikings from there. Things have gotten so out of hand that I have almost become a Cards fan:>
Not sure my 63 yo arthritic bod can handle another passtime but I have always loved trees and covered my 1 1/2 acre home lot with mostly native trees.
My office is in Fft and I have a friend who has just bought a 120 acre old growth forest on the edge of town. Gonna see if he would be interested in a trip to Atlanta to learn to climb.
I have enjoyed a little rope work in whitewater rescue classes but couldn't put a Z-drag together if I had a gun to my head now.
I may need to find something new what w/this drought. I wonder if the trees aren't more easily harmed in such dry weather?
I have already learned a lot just from this forum and the BOOK. One thing certain is that I would now know not to climb the 8 ft diameter Sycamore tree on the Elkhorn Creek in my backyard.
Randy

I'm not too concerned that people will read the book and go out and hurt themselves. If anything they would be extremely cautious after reading about the several close calls so graphically described. Preston is very consistent with the message that it takes training and practice to become a safe tree climber.

There are many rec climbers 63 and older, in fact it seems that many of us are in that age group. There are climbing techniques that make it possible for people with varying degrees of physical limitation able to climb comfortably. I urge you to keep going with the idea that you can get up and enjoy being in a tree.
-moss