DAY 205
10.26.07
TREE 129
I helped Karen, a friend of Will’s, move today. As the morning of moving went on my back felt worse and worse. The two vertical lines of muscles at my mid-back were in spasm. It really hurt to twist to the left. The worst was after lifting a washer and dryer. Luckily Karen is a masseuse and tried to massage it a little. She also told me to ice it and heat it. So after the promised pizza I dropped Will off at his apartment and headed back to the Mount without climbing in Louisville. I had spotted a good climbing tree yesterday on my walk in the woods with the IUS class. So if it came to it, I would just climb that one. I did some work then watched Knocked Up while icing and heating my back. That helped a little… at least while I did it. Then I did exactly what I had planned: headed straight to that tree I had spotted. It is a beech just at the turn in the trail by the left end of the lake where the trail becomes a board walk. It is a dark grey day with mists of rain. I just had to ignore any back pain because nothing will keep me from climbing everyday.
The beginning of the climb was a bit of puzzle. I only had tiny little offshoot limbs to use but as I have found with beech trees, these little branches are incredibly strong and usually support my entire body weight. After that, the rest of the climb to the top involved a lot of snaking through crazy, spindling limbs that cris-crossed and entangled each other.
Also, some good reaches and a few rotations around the trunk. At the top I really wanted to get out onto the large limb that leans out sideways. I eventually got there but it was very uncomfortable and unsafe so I went back a few branches to take pictures.
It is so beautiful out here with the fall colors finally taking over the view.
I was hoping for really good pictures but nothing can capture the view my eyes take in when I totally focus and see all that is in front of me and in my periphery. An amazing climb, and another at the Mount. I am going to miss this place, but I’ll be coming back here for all the reclimbs.
10-28-08: Oh, my back. It hurts right now just sitting here typing. A whole damn year has gone by and it is only worse. It is totally my fault for doing that gainer into the foam pit… no it was an accident. But it re-aggravated that same back problem. Now it’s just a little worse than last year. Getting older can suck sometimes. I never understood that when I was younger. How someone couldn’t run or do all the things that just came so natural to me. Because back then, I would get injured and heal quick and be right back at it. Now… the pain lingers on and I get it. So you may want to ask me: Todd, knowing this, why would you ask all these adults to climb trees? Well, I would answer that with… um… it’s easier than you think?!?!? No, it’s true, if you pick an easy tree and only go as high as you are comfortable then it really isn’t that strenuous. It will strengthen those weakening muscles and stretch them as well. For everyone else that flat out refuses… that is why I make work that gives you the experience or the perspective of climbing without you actually having to do it.
Saturday morning I met Julio and Mike down at the old River Road Country Club to watch the Cyclo-cross races. It is like an off road bicycle race with obstacles like steps and hurdles. The bikes are a mix between a mountain bike and a road bike. It was my perfect opportunity to climb one of the trees there. I have always looked at them when I drove past but never knew if it was public or private property. During the men’s elite race I picked a tree by the back of the course and told Julio and Mike I was going to climb. When I got to the base of the trunk the first limb was a little higher than I thought. I tried a couple times to shimmy the trunk was it was just too wet, mossy, and crumbly. There was a shallow knot hole that looked like I might be able to grip it, but with only one hand. The other would have to grip the trunk and who knows if I could squeeze tight enough with my legs to then reach for the limb. Plus I was a little self-conscious with all the spectators around. Bikers kept going by on the course and I was standing right next to it so I was in everyone’s view. I waited till most of the racers had gone by and at this point Julio and Mike walked over and asked what the hell I was waiting for. With their presence I felt more comfortable about going for it. I jumped and my hand stuck in the knot hole. My legs did grip and I reached and grabbed the branch. I did it! I began to climbed up the branches higher and higher as my friends watched from below. I got up to the very top which was quite high. I believe Julio and Mike were now the only one’s who knew I was in the tree, I was so high. I took pictures and tried to catch racers on the course below but struggled with timing. Then my battery died. Oh well… the climb was a good challenge that I overcame. Here are the pictures I got:
