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| Go directly to our Calendar of Climbing Events page. | The Basic Tree Climbing Course (BTCC) - Learn everything you need to climb on your own. $475 | Arrange a Private Climb for your scout, camp, birthday, retreat, or corporate team building group. (app. $30 per climber, minimum 8) |
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Your host -
"Ponderosa" Harv
Teitelbaum |
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Recreational tree climbing uses arborist rope and easy-to-learn techniques to safely climb into trees. As the climber pushes or pulls down on one end of a rope that has been worked up and over a tree limb, the other end pulls the attached climber up.
This Doubled Rope Technique (DdRT) provides safety to both climber and tree. The climber is always attached to the rope and a secure harness with special self-belaying knots. Most supervised recreational climbing takes place on the rope, minimizing unnecessary contact with the tree. In addition bark-protecting devices, such as cambium savers and false crotches, are usually employed to further protect the tree from friction and wear.
Interested? Perhaps you'd like to participate in one of our scheduled public climbs, or arrange a special climb just for your scout or camp group, school class, birthday party, family reunion, or corporate team building session. (Minimum charge applies. We provide all the necessary instruction and equipment.) Perhaps you’d like to take the Basic Tree Climbing Course to learn to climb on your own. Simply click on "Calendar", email Harv at TreeClimbingCO dot com, or call 303.526.2904 and begin an adventure you will enjoy for many years. It's a great day for tree climbing!
Harv Teitelbaum is a GOTC and TCI-recognized tree climbing facilitator and senior instructor, and the current and founding president of the Global Organization of Tree Climbers (GOTC). When not among the trees, he is an adjunct professor of Environmental Science and Critical Thinking at DeVry University. As a free-lance writer, Harv's commentaries on social, environmental, and political issues have appeared in regional newspapers and online publications. He is currently the Treasurer of the Colorado chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR).
Harv holds a Masters degree in Environmental Leadership and Ecopsychology. His environmental resume includes five years in the Education Department of the Colorado Division of Wildlife, contributing to such programs as Wildlife Watch, Wild Colorado (Colorado’s Biodiversity), and Colorado River Watch. Harv was one of the founders of the Green movement in Colorado. He was executive director of the Douglas County Soil and Natural Resources Conservation District. Harv volunteer taught and served on the advisory board of Jefferson County Open School. He was program director for The Place, a teen drop-in mentoring center that opened near Columbine High School.
For 15 years, Harv was the owner/operator of the Baskin-Robbins in Evergreen, CO, and was elected to represent fellow franchisees in the western US on national councils. Harv established the first online community of franchisees, and his store was used as a system-wide model for energy efficiency.
"Ponderosa" Harv has lived in Colorado for about 35 years, the last 25 or so in the ponderosa forest foothills around Evergreen, where he practices sustainable forestry, and utilizes both local biomass and geothermal energy in aspiring to walk lightly through the forest.
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HOW DID RECREATIONAL TREE CLIMBING GET STARTED?
A professional arborist named Peter Jenkins wanted to share his love of trees and tree climbing with others. With his knowledge of rock climbing, he modified the equipment used in his work for recreational use and began telling the world about this new experience. In 1983, he founded Tree Climbers International (TCI), an organization dedicated to sharing these safe and proven techniques. Today, at the TCI Founder's Grove in Atlanta, "Treeman" still gives climbing instruction and holds community climbing events.WHAT DOES "RECREATIONAL" MEAN?
Since TCI's founding in 1983, and with more than 250,000 climbs worldwide, no TCI or GOTC-supervised recreational tree climber has ever been seriously injured. Prior to climbing, the tree's setting, root system, bark, trunk, structure, and crown are examined to appraise its overall health and appropriateness for climbing activity. Lines are placed only over live limbs that are overly sufficient to support climbing activity. Lines are weight-checked and bounce-tested prior to climbing. Tree Climbing Colorado uses only ANSI-compliant Ness recreational tree climbing saddles and professional arborist rope, along with buckeled Petzl Elios-class helmets. (Rock climbing saddles and rope do not meet our safety protocols, and are not used.) All equipment is inspected before and after each climbing session. Tree Climbing Colorado follows all GOTC and TCI standards and protocols for climbing events. By using proper techniques and equipment, and by following all safety procedures, the risk of being off the ground is minimized.WHAT EFFECT DOES TREE CLIMBING HAVE ON THE TREES?
Unlike some practices and techniques for ascending into trees, recreational tree climbing is non-invasive and does not employ cleats or spurs. Using the doubled rope technique (DdRT), the climbing rope slides over a limb or branch as the climber ascends and descends. On all climbs, Tree Climbing Colorado uses cambium-saving devices through which the ropes pass, further protecting the tree by minimizing contact between rope and limb. As a result of the repeated examinations and continuing attention and maintenance given to the trees we climb, they tend to be healthier than other trees. Respect for nature and for trees is an essential aspect of recreational tree climbing.CAN ANYONE DO THIS, OR DO YOU NEED GREAT UPPER-BODY STRENGTH?
Individuals do not need special athletic abilities or strength to participate in recreational tree climbing. What's more, climbers usually find that their ability improves rapidly simply by becoming comfortable with the climbing process. Experience and technique are more important than great strength in becoming an accomplished climber. In addition, there are many assisting devices that reduce the amount of raw muscle power needed to comfortably enjoy tree climbing.HOW ABOUT PEOPLE WITH A FEAR OF HEIGHTS?It must be stressed, however, that being in good physical condition is important before beginning any energetic sport such as tree climbing. Physical exertion is involved, and any health problems or concerns should be addressed by a physician beforehand.
While we can't predict how an individual will react to tree climbing, we've had very positive feedback from those who've told us they have a fear of heights. We attribute this to several possible factors. First, the climber is always secured to the line and has time to become comfortable with the system before gaining much height. The climber's position and movements, whether to go up, down, or stay in place, are always under the climber's control. Also, concentrating on the climbing technique focuses attention away from feelings of anxiety. Last, the pace of motion is on a slower, more natural, human scale, compared to the more unnatural pace of some fear-invoking situations. There has even been talk of employing tree climbing as therapy for dealing with this fear.DOES INTRODUCING PEOPLE TO TREE CLIMBING RESULT IN UNSUPERVISED CLIMBING?
No. At our public and private group climbing sessions, we show participants how to ascend and descend only. We do not cover essentials necessary to climb on one’s own, such as knots and knot tying, rope placement, equipment, etc. Instead, our participants tell us they gain a new-found respect and appreciation for trees and a desire to take part in future supervised sessions. Those few who do invest the time, money, and effort in taking the Basic Tree Climbing Course are instructed in wilderness, wildlife, and tree climbing ethics.HANDS-ON VS HANDS OFF NATURE? (a short essay)
Not everyone thinks humans should be up in trees. Some feel our presence harms trees and disturbs wildlife, and that the canopy was one of the last remaining areas safe from human intrusion.
This "hands-off" nature attitude is a relatively recent aberration in the history of the primate-tree relationship. During the Paleocene and Eocene eras, when forests were expanding across what is now North America, there were arboreal primates expanding their range along with them – ancient relatives of lemurs and tarsiers. The tree dwellers benefited by being safe from predators, while the trees received help in dispersing their seeds. Primates could climb to an abundant food supply in the canopy, while the trees were exercised and pruned of dead branches. We now know that trees respond to swaying much in the manner we respond to exercise, that is, by first developing micro-tears in tissue which heal stronger than before. Even the occasional damage to bark or limb can be beneficial. Those small disturbances stimulate the immune system, much as do the small cuts and bruises we receive growing up, helping to maintain future health. Trees have historically benefited from primate action, through the pruning of deadwood, the spreading of seed, the clearing of tree "dust" and "dandruff", the occasional chunk of bark or small disturbance.
The ancient forests grew, but the arboreal primates disappeared with a changing environment. Today, with the exception of birds, squirrels and a few other visitors knocking off bits of bark and other material as they scurry along, many of our trees are eerily silent and empty, perhaps even lonely?, compared to canopies in other parts of the world.
Whether we like it or not, we have greatly affected and continue to affect all earth's ecosystems. Just as forests and arboreal primates co-evolved for millenia, areas we now label "natural" or "wilderness" are today dependent on a human presence for their sustainability and health, if not their very survival. Confusing neglect or avoidance with "natural" has too often resulted in unhealthy, densely-packed and fire-prone ecosystems.
The nature-as-museum philosophy only serves to perpetuate the separation of humans from nature. We are neither solely it's saviors nor it's destroyers. Depriving ourselves and the natural world of our presence and touch, ever mindful of impacts, hurts us both and is ultimately self-defeating.
When you climb up into a tree, you feel an almost immediate feeling of peace, of connecting with something deep-seated and right. More than a commodity, more than a resource, more than a place, trees are home. We belong in nature and in trees.
JILL MACK, teacher, Littleton Public Schools:
"Harv...What great fun today. Thank you so much for the
demonstration.
I
enjoyed the experience immensely. I was amazed at how much the
kids
absorbed from your demonstration when we talked about it afterwards."
CLIMBERS, in letters of appreciation to park
officials:
Arvada - "I want to tell you
about the wonderful time I had climbing
'Old
Scratchy', and thank you for allowing this excellent adventure to
take
place.
I recently
celebrated my 60th birthday, and had not climbed a tree in many
years. It
gave me a new perspective on trees, and the
beauty we have in
Colorado."
Ft. Collins - "I had the awesome opportunity to spend a few hours
yesterday
climbing our beautiful trees ('Lancelot') near city park with
Harv. The
experience
was unique
and informative. I was impressed at Harv's knowledge
and
professionalism
along with his attention to safety. Thank you for allowing
Harv
to award us
such a special day."
CLIMBING STUDENT, shortly after taking the Basic Tree Climbing Course:
"Harv...I've been climbing a few times and really love it... You taught me well."
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