DAY 289
01.18.08
TREE 122
I knew I was going to be climbing downtown and it’s a Friday, so I didn’t go straight after work. I figured I’d wait till night, make plans with Will, and get more good city lights with night shots.
But first work…
At a home off Rudy Lane, on a cedar tree, I harnessed up and climbed my first tree! Jake Pratt, my foreman and instructor for today, tied all my knots so I hope I remember how to do them myself. Then I did this method of climbing the tree/rope where I put my feet on the trunk, lay back flat, and thrust up with my hips. At the same time I am supposed to slide a knot up the rope to hitch and help me advance my ascent. It was hard. My arms got tired very fast as the grip was awkward. Jake had to assist. It was a little embarrassing but once I got to a good limb that part was over and I was finally happy at work. I wanted to just climb but I had to saw dead limbs off. So I did and then I repelled down. That was really fun. So finally, I climbed. I was so eager to learn and the best part is I get to take my gear home to practice. I can’t wait to do it.
So… I went home and had dinner with my parents and then drove to Will’s. Leigh Ann arrived at the same time and we both went up to Will’s apartment. I invited them to come with me to my tree but it was damn cold tonight and they passed. I went alone, one foot down to the Brown School. I crossed the street and ducked into the space in the fence. I spotted my tree and got right to climbing. It was a pretty quick climb and one thing I noticed was I couldn’t see my ribbon but I did see I white plastic bag at the top. Once I got up there in the thin limbs my ribbon was there.
I quickly got to taking pictures but just had so much trouble because of the movement and sway.
And even with all those visions of downtown
and the great lights,
the shots I liked best were actually the ones of the plastic bag blurry against the still branches and grey sky.
I stood and listened to all the sirens and hoped none were for me. Then I climbed down and stealthily walked back onto the sidewalk. I then ran back to Will’s for a night of good conversation and a lot of Guitar Hero III.
1-19-09: The top image of this entry is definitely in my top 5 favorite from the project. I had this printed and it is hanging in the hallway in the Ventas office in Chicago.
That one little lesson was (I think) the only tree climbing lesson I had at work. Since then I have climbed many more times on my own and have figured out a lot by making mistakes. It was the one reason I got that job. That was the one day I was happy at work. I still go by that tree sometimes on Rudy Lane and think of that special day.
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Last Saturday night Julio called me up to see if I could help him lug up his new tv to his apartment and then hang out. I biked over and we carried the large box up. We set it up and watched UofL beat Pitt then played a bunch of Mortal Kombat vs. DC Heroes on XBOX 360. Then Mike joined us and the night slipped by. It was 10:45 and I had to stop playing and find a tree. I figured I was going to have to go pretty far to find a decent tree. I headed down Chestnut east, went across 2nd and saw Jefferson Community College on my right. It had some nice trees right around the building so I pulled up the main entrance and locked up my bike. I looked beyond the building and saw I was right next to I-65. I was just blocks from the sweet gum tree I had climbed in the entry above. I looked to the grass area behind the fence by the interstate and there was my tree.
I crossed 1st, sneaked behind the fence, and at the base of this large tree I planned my entry. I watched for cars and then jumped in. I climbed slowly always watching the streets around me for cops, and the sidewalks for anyone who might see me.
Thankfully this massive tree kept me quite hidden. I moved up through the large limbs to a point where I could go no further.
It was not near the top but I was satisfied.
I had a great view of the nearby hospitals,
interstate,
the JCC,
and the church across the street with the skyline in between them in the distance.
I took many pictures still careful not to be seen.
Then I climbed back down, waited for the right moment to drop, then walked briskly back to my bike. I was so happy I had found a tree so nearby. Plus I saw so many more that I could climb in the future.
