DAY 278
01.07.08
TREE 109
I went to the Mount for the first time this year to reclimb a tree. When I got there I found Lisa, Ardis, and Norman in the office. They were busy so I went to the gallery down the hall to see if it was looking good. Lisa came down to say hi and to give me the news that Lynn, the painter of the works that surrounded us, had suddenly died of a virus. They weren’t sure exactly what it was, but it was a shock and she was only 50. Then I talked to Ardis in the office and they told me one of my bodies had blown out of a tree. Then I walked with Norman to the clay studio and we planned to have lunch after I climbed and he finished a few things. I stopped in at the Friary to see if Father Paul was in, but then remembered he went out of town. I walked down the main driveway towards the entrance and then went right towards my tree.
I walked up to it and got right to climbing. This tree was so familiar I didn’t have to think twice about my moves. Though, in some places I think I improved my efficiency from the last time. I like this tree because the limbs split off low but grow up almost vertical and they are close together. I had to change limbs here and there to make my way up to the very top where my white ribbon was blowing in the wind. And it was a windy day today. Great for the tree tops, especially these skinny, straight limbs that have lots of sway.
Half way up I got hot and took off my hoodie and threw it to the ground. It’s hard to believe it’s January with 70 degree weather. I finally reached the top and stood with each foot on a different branch.
I held tight with both hands because the wind gusts really had me moving. It was a great ride. I looked up at the sky and studied the greyness. No beams of sunlight radiated from the edges of clouds like last time but it was still nice.
I’ve realized that looking up at trees and looking out from trees has forced me to also look up at the sky. I find myself enjoying so many sunsets, moons in all different phases, cloud formations, and other aspects that people tend to ignore or just don’t see. The tree climbing has truly given me an appreciation for all things observable in nature. Especially those things that exist above me. I took pictures as best as I could balancing up there on the tips of branches.
It really felt good up so high. I grabbed my ribbon and then began my climb down.
It was swift till I got my shoe stuck at the last split in the trunk. I took my foot out of my shoe, swung around to the other side of the trunk and pulled it out and put it back on. I did all this before I had touched the ground. I wish I could do everything up in trees. It felt good to be back at the Mount, and with this heat it almost felt like summer again.
1-12-09: I took a video that day from the top of the tree. I spoke but it is hard to hear me over the wind. And I tried to capture my sway but it doesn’t come out well. I’ll post it here if you are interested:
I think the most memorable part of the climb was the end when I unstuck my shoe and put it back on my foot before I touched ground. It was inefficient but a fun challenge.
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I waited till night to climb last Tuesday night, January 6th 2009. It had been very wet all day and I didn’t want anything too complicated. After all the shimmying I have been doing lately, I needed a break. So I walked over near the skate park. I found a tree just on the other side of the fence by the interstate.
I climbed onto the fence and from there moved into the low, large limbs. It was wet but the small tips of the branches were drying making a beautiful contrast of dark, wet large limbs, and bright white, small limbs.
I managed to move up to the top of the tree with minimal shimmying just as desired. This tree had very strong limbs and I took pictures of the damp night and streaking lights.
My favorite shot of the night:
I had a nice spot to sit so I lingered a few minutes before climbing down.
When I reached the bottom branch I was having trouble reaching the fence. There was a long branch that came up from the ground that was near.
It was bent and leaning away and I wasn’t sure if it would support my weight. I tested it’s strength, and though it bent and leaned slightly more, I was able to transfer completely and slide down
till I could easily get to the top of the fence.
Then I climbed down to the side walk and walked back home.
A last picture that was a beautiful mistake. I made this by having a long exposure shot and moving my camera from one spot to another:
