DAY 186
10.07.07
TREE 108
After two hours of constant excersize in open gym at Flip City Gymnastics with Will I drove to Cox’s Park and walked towards the water. I wanted to climb a tree close to the river so I could have a really good view. I found a tree right next to the parking lot where many cars and people were parked enjoying the sunny late afternoon. My body was spent and I originally was hoping fo an easier climb but when I saw this tree I had to climb it even though it looked very difficult. The whole trunk was leaning towards the water. About seven feet up a humongous limb branched off to the right. I tried once to run up the trunk and hook my arm around where the limb branches from the trunk. On my second try I stuck. I was quite surprised that I succeeded as I thought I might not be able to get this one. I quickly took advantage of my grip and muscled my way up onto the limb. I had to cat-crawl up about six or seven feet to get my first good grip on a smaller limb.
From there it became only slightly easier but still I had to navigate some limbs that grew in my way. I snaked around them and came to my stopping point.
There was such a great view, just as I desired.
I took some pictures then realized I had forgotten my ribbon. I took a key ring off my keys and looped it around a small offshoot limb.
As I started to make my way down a man below me caught sight of me and shook his head. He said it looked scary and asked if it relaxed me. I said yes and was happy to see that someone could finally understand why I do it even if he wouldn’t do it himself. I realized that my level of tree climbing is beyond most people’s comfort zone or ability. I have become very specialized in an incredibly dangerous activity. The fear and the accomplishment truly drives me. I continue to look for harder challenges and taller trees. And now that I have secured a job as a “climber trainee” for a tree service I’ll be able to get even higher and access more trees than I ever could have before, only safely with a harness and rope. Though I like free climbing trees, I am not opposed to safety equipment. I have just never had the opportunity or know-how to get started. This tree was great and I can’t wait to start learning to climb in my job.
10-8-08: What a frickin’ joke that job turned out to be. “Climber Trainee” my ass. When I was at Sarah Frederick’s with Norman cutting bamboo down I also climbed up an Osage Orange tree and cut down a few limbs. We got to talking afterwards and she told me about her tree service she uses and how I should call for a job. I did, I interviewed, and I got it. I was all hopeful about learning to climb. Which I did get the basics, but just barely. Thanks to the only other guy there I got along with. Anyway… I am not looking forward to reliving all the awful moments of my job through my journal entries. You guys may enjoy them, though.
And in one last comment about DAY 186… sometimes I think my climbing is out of people’s comfort zone for just watching me. But that guy in the park that day really got it. He could totally understand that the physical exhertion and the fear was a positive thing for me.
I got up very early on Monday to walk to Zephyr, load the truck with art, and drive to Chicago with Chris Radtke, Patrick Donely, Peggy Sue Howard, Joel MacDonald, and Chuck Swanson. We went straight to the building to unload the work and take down the pieces they didn’t want anymore. I went into Ventas’ board room to check out the view. Being 48 floors up provided a pretty nice one.
This last picture is cool because you can see reflections of other buildings in the glass.
After loading the truck back up with the old work it was time to check into the hotel and get dinner. We had a nice meal at Rockit then walked through the streets to Millennium Park. Everyone I was with seemed eager to help me find a tree to climb and watch. We walked for a while looking at the big reflective bean, Gehry’s amphitheater, and walked over his foot bridge. On the other side I saw a tree near the tennis courts that looked pretty good. It wasn’t going to have the best view but it was away from most of the people and security.
I stepped up to the trunk and shimmied up like a bear. Then in the branches I climbed quickly as high as I could go. Still with many leaves it was hard to see all the great surrounding buildings.
As I shot pictures Chris shot pictures of me as well.
I began to climb back down shooting some images as I went and noticed that my fellow companions had left me behind.
When I finally slid down the trunk and started to look for someone I saw a man watching me from the foot bridge. It was a security guard. I finally saw Patrick and he explained that Chris’ flash drew his attention so they walked away to divert attention from me. He didn’t end up saying anything to me. I figured he was just glad I was out of the tree.
Big cities are hard to climb in, but they make for some nice pictures at night. After that we walked a little more around the park looking at the other art there…
then headed to the hotel.