DAY 232

DAY 232
11.22.07
TREE 156

Thanksgiving day.  It got really cold over night.  I took Scott to the Mount to see my show.  I was planning to climb a tree but we were on a time limit and I really had to trim some pots I made on Monday.  Plus I got into this long conversation with a resident there.  And to be honest, when I was outside, I didn’t want to be.  The wind was blowing and I feared for my hands.  We drove back home just in time to get ready to eat.  Then just after the meal, I could tell it was getting dark.  I had to climb a tree, but I wanted something quick and easy.  I grabbed my camera, put on a hat, and stepped out the front door.  I looked right and there was a maple in Clint’s yard I have been eying as drive by.  I got in close and realized the branches are too high and the trunk too big for my trunk crawl technique.  Not in this weather anyways.  I looked around frantically, trying to stay warm and not be out too long. 

In the same yard is a pine tree right next to a pole with power cables running from the street, to it, to the house.  The cable cuts right next tot he trunk of this tree.  Perfect… that’s the element of danger I need in such an easy tree!  I started to climb the many segmented limbs.  As I went I expected sap but surprisingly I ran into none.  Some passages were tight squeezes and others I didn’t have very big limbs to trust.  The one spot by the cable was a little tricky.  I didn’t have a lot of options.  I was climbing up directly below the cable and had to rotate around the trunk to get out of its path.  It was more difficult than I thought it would be.  The limb sections were so close on the trunk my only opening was where a utility worker had cut limbs to clear a spot for the cable.  I just ducked around it and thankfully didn’t touch it.  After that I climbed to the top and stopped at a very uncomfortable hard-to-hold position. 

I took pictures as best I could but by this point it was dark and I only had one hand to hold the camera so most came out blurry. 

I tied my ribbon and said that’s that.  I climbed down, hands aching, and ran inside.  I guess I was getting that climb out of the way… on to pie. 

11-25-08:  Thanksgiving was early last year.  The pictures are pretty awful.  I didn’t get one of the cable going by the trunk of the tree.  I guess I didn’t take out my camera till I was at the top. But like I was saying in the last few entries about synchronicities, they keep popping up.  Let me explain:

Last Friday was November 21st 2008, my nephew, Mitchell’s, 2nd birthday.  My sister, Amy, and Mitchell came to my parents for the weekend and I went straight to the house after my Friday shift at Zephyr.  By the time I got there it was already dark so I figured I would just wait till after dinner to climb a tree.  And I knew exactly which one I was going to climb.  I remembered that maple in Clint’s front yard from the past.  I tried climbing it once and just couldn’t make it to the first limb.  I wasn’t strong enough to shimmy that far on that large of a trunk.  But I have been getting stronger so I figured I might give it a try.  This is the exact same maple I wrote about in the above entry.  I had not re-read this entry when I thought of this tree, it just so happened to coincide.  Strange, right?  Another crazy coincidence happening on the same day one year ago.  Totally unplanned.  Anyway, we waited for my brother-in-law to arrive, ate, and then I headed out in the cold darkness to climb.  Thankfully the wind wasn’t blowing and it didn’t feel that bad.  A cold breeze can make all the difference between numb hands and usable hands.  I went out my parents front door and walked right to the base of the tree.  I looked up for the lowest limb and positioned myself just below it.  Then I wrapped my arms tightly around the trunk then jumped.  My knees bent and spread and when I hit the trunk I squeezed.  Then I started to inch upwards.  It was going quickly as I have gotten stronger.  This not only helps with endurance during the inching but allows me to make increased progress with every move.  I was soon to the branch and was delighted that my improvement was so apparent.  I had struggled so badly with this tree before.  Then I realized I had attempted to climb this tree in the summer when wearing shorts and a t-shirt.  This causes a great amount of discomfort to the skin as I shimmy.  So now, wearing pants and many layers of long sleeves is a definite advantage.  Anyway, Once I got to the first branch I climbed as usual.  It was very dark out, no moon in sight, and the few street lamps many yards away provided little useful light. 

I got to the top of the tree and took pictures.  I tried to capture some of my view without flash but not much was coming out. 

Clint’s house

The view towards the nearby development and horizon. 

My parents font porch.

It was nice, however, to not have anymore leaves on the tree to open up my view in all directions. 

Once I gave up shooting, I put my camera away and stood in the top of the tree to enjoy the still night.  I had finally conquered this tree and it felt very good.  I climbed down to the lowest branch, slid down the trunk and walked back to the house. 

I had asked in an entry a while ago if my abilities would always continue to improve or if I would plateau.  So far, the answer is the former.  I imagine if I continue to get stronger, my muscles endure more and more, I will continue to get access to trees that I once thought unattainable.