DAY 41
05.15.07
TREE 47Fucking insane climb! I followed a path along the edge of the lake in the Sanctuary. I found two 4-leaf clovers on my way. When I first saw the tree I got excited at how high I could possibly go. The trunk is so wide and the lower limbs so small, but as I found out very strong. But it didn’t prevent me from being scared out of my mind every second of the way. But I just kept going. I was fighting webs, mosquitoes, ants, ticks, seeds, twigs, death. But I did get very high and it was so rewarding. Of course I couldn’t relax too much ‘cause I still had to climb down. I am getting much more comfortable with that part now. I finally touched ground and was so pumped and excited from the accomplishment I ran the trail out of the woods.
5-15-08: Fuck Yeah!! Just reading that entry got me all pumped up! That climb was truly crazy and expanded my abilities and my trust in them. This tree is a beech with a massive trunk and the only branches for the first 30 feet aren’t even as big around as my wrist. Many of them just finger sized. But beech limbs are very strong. Incredible!!! And as usual, I am so excited to share with you the story of the reclimb for this tree, but you’ll have to wait 3 months. Sorry.
Also that day in May, one year ago, I wrapped Norman’s head to complete his body I had wrapped a few days before. Since I used cellophane, packing tape, and metal wire to provide structural integrity for his body, I did the same for his head. Cutting becomes difficult because scissors are required for the tape, and wire cutters for the wire. It’s a very slow process and I appreciate Norm’s patience and willingness to be my guinea pig for this process.
I thought he looked quite creepy in this slightly blurry shot…
Then with a flash, his facial features become more visible. I am starting to cut it off…
This is a good close up of the materials on his head…
Then later that night, I found the bodies I had been accumulating in my room began to form interpersonal relationships… very strange. I slept next to them for weeks.
Ok… now for yesterday’s climb. Again, with Will and Basil. I thought they were going to climb with me, but instead they just watched from below and got eaten alive by mosquitoes. I chose a tree near Basil’s apartment and it turned out to be a great climb. The tree had two main branches that split from the trunk about 3 feet from the ground. I chose one side and worked my way up as fast as I could. I was pretty worn out by the top. Unfortunately it was night and there were no real lights near by for good pictures. This was all I thought came out ok:
As you can see, I am well above the roof which I believe was a 2 story apartment complex. And, of course, the eerie glow of the Louisville night sky.
Climbing a tree everyday
