DAY 156
09.07.07
TREE 70
A busy night and busy morning but I got my show done. It is all up and ready for the opening tomorrow evening. Norman and I went to La Rosita’s for lunch. It is this amazing little Mexican place in New Albany. Norm treated which was incredibly nice and we ate some really tasty food. But it sat heavy and I came to my room and passed out. I woke up a couple hours later with a dazed fogginess. I knew I had to get my climb in before I went out to First Friday Gallery Hop. I grabbed my camera and headed out the door to just behind the retreat center. Last time I climbed this tree the strong winds made me think I might die. Well, coincidentally, today was a blustery day as well. But instead of fearing the climb, or even being a little apprehensive, I was excited. I was scared the first time, but it was still fun. So I knew that I was going to get back up in those branches and be rocked and tossed like crazy. I went right up to the trunk and jumped for that first knot, bent my legs bracing myself with my feet on the trunk, and then extended my right arm to the next knot. 
Then I was up the branches. The climbing was fast and the path quickly became familiar. 
I know I had to look for my first ribbon up this right side then transfer over to the other. I got to my first ribbon and pulled it off. The wind was really picking up and I was excited to get up there, but paused to make sure I really wanted to risk it again. But I had to. That second ribbon was waiting and I could never forgive myself if I didn’t. So I pressed onward. Limb to limb, spreading my legs to move across from one side of the tree to the other. 
Every step of the way feeling familiar. I remembered which limbs to trust and which to avoid. As I climbed and began to feel the sway I was surprised at my height. I had really climbed high. Finally I reached that forked branch with the seam down the middle where the branch must have been damaged and the bark healed over it. 
I put my foot in the crotch of the forked limb and reached for my second ribbon. 
As I started to adjust my balance and weight for the sudden powerful wind blasts, I pulled out my camera and began shooting. At level with the Chapel’s steeple, I had a good view from the break in the leaves. 
I crouched down on my leg and got closer, hugging the branch to free up my hands for taking pictures. 
Then it hit me… take a video. I hit record and slowly scanned the view from side to side to give people a sense of my position, pausing whenever a gust came up and bent the limbs towards me and away from me.
DAY 156 09.07.07 TREE 70 from Todd Smith on Vimeo.
The sound of the wind ripping through all the leaves was amazing. At one point, after a really big gust, I came to a realization that if I go, I go. I’m happy and there would be no better way to go, but I wasn’t going to let that happen. I trusted this branch this time and felt more relaxed but was exhilarated at the same time. I stopped the video, took in a few more moments of good swaying then headed back down. Man do I love wind in the treetops!
9-7-08: That was a good and memorable climb. The first time I was scared and really thought I was done for… but one this second climb I could relax a little more and enjoy the movement. If you watch the video, stick around till about 2:30 and that is when the wind really starts to pick up. And to give you an idea of the size of the limb I was on, that picture of the damages branch… well I was above that and the limb was skinnier as well. As long as there are green leaves out on the end, it’s generally pretty strong. Much stronger than you’d think. I used to freak out at any slight bend or movement… but if you’ve watched trees sway in a thunderstorm you know they have a lot of movement before they snap.
Last night I went with Drew and MaryLiz (I guess were the crew now… always hanging) to Richo’s by IUS to eat some pizza and drink some beer with Norm and some of his friends from back in high school. After the meal we went to Norm’s place and I went right to finding a tree. Like the last time I was at Norman’s I walked up his drivewayto St. Johns Church Road and looked for a decent tree on the side. Right across his driveway was another good maple.
It is a little bigger than the one I climbed recently and it was also a much easier climb since there was still day light. I went up through the numerous branches to the top. I couldn’t see the road but I could see the top of Norm’s house.
I took some other pictures but the light was starting to fade quickly and many turned out blurry. I got a few decent ones.
I climbed back down and joined the rest of the group who were all checking out Norman’s work on his house. We had a bonfire and then headed over to the sauna. It was a great night.