The first problem you'll encounter with climbing large trees is rope placement: How do you get a rope over a branch if it's 50 feet up? TCI recommends several tools. The best of these is a throw-weight. This is a beanbag type of weight, usually 12 or 16 ounces, attached to a 1.75-4mm polypropylene or nylon line, which is usually 150 feet long. A skilled climber can lob such a line over a branch 70 feet high.

Taller trees call for different tools. Some trees grow so tall that 70 feet won't get you half way to the first branch! Slingshots are a good choice for getting the first line over a high branch. A simple slingshot with an arm brace, a short fishing rod and reel stuck in the ground, and a 1.5 oz. shot bag attached to a light 15 pound test line will do the trick.