DAY 270
12.30.07
TREE (196) & 197
A cold day. All I had planned to do the whole day was climb a tree, go to a music store, and go out to eat with my family. Since the music store was near downtown I called Willto see if he was up for hanging out. And of course he was. We played a little Guitar Hero III then it was time to climb. We typically head north or north/east from his apartment so I thought heading south or south/west would aid in finding a new tree. But after less than a block the feeling of the neighborhood changed. It looked a little run down and more people just hanging out on the street. We came up to a tree on the corner of a street block and I considered it for the climb. But then, across the street in the distance I spotted a huge tree perfect for climbing. As we approached it I could see that it was tucked in a corner of a building. The building next to that was the Wayside Christian Mission and there were a few people in the parking lot just loitering. I knew I would have a little audience and they might say something, but I don’t think they’d care. So I hopped up onto the lowest branch, reached for another nearby, and then lifted myself in. I worked my way up through and around the many large, entangled limbs. This tree felt good and I had a lot of options. It spread out fast and wide without one main leader. I paused more than half way up to consider which path to take to get to the highest point. I looked back down at Will watching me and noticed 15 to 20 people watching me. Where the hell did these people come from? I went back to focusing on the tree then a guy on the ground approached the tree fast and it caught my eye. He shouted, "What the hell are you doing? Do you want to go to jail? Get down outta that tree!" Damn! Should I tied my ribbon? Take a quick shot? I thought. No, just get down. I did not want to piss anymore off. I was a little frazzled so I did my best to calm myself to concentrate on climbing down. And I did take my time. As I went the same guy who yelled at me yelled at everyone else to clear the parking lot. I had very quickly drawn a large audience. I finally got to the ground and apologized profusely. He went on and on about it being private property and another guy there said it was a "lawsuit waiting to happen" and asked if I was a rock climber. I told him I just climb trees and that again, I was sorry and I didn’t mean to cause any trouble or concern. Will and I walked away. The interaction made me feel frustrated. It made me feel bad about my project, or maybe just about my decision to climb that particular tree. I don’t think they really could send me to jail, but it really bothers me how the simple act of climbing a tree makes people so uneasy. They think of lawsuits immediately and not of the good things about tree climbing. Ownership, property, liability, money, that’s peoples’ biggest concerns. But it won’t stop me.
I debated whether to climb another tree today. Technically I did climb but I didn’t tie a ribbon or take any pictures, and I definitely won’t be climbing that tree again. So after dinner with my mom, dad, and aunt, I drove over by Tinseltown.
I walked to the back to get to the Gene Snyder Freeway but a tree by the parking lot caught my eye.
The trunk went straight up with a bunch of limbs.
So many, as I began my climb they got in my way and some broke off. But so many of them were dead I didn’t feel bad. Really, there were only just enough big, strong branches to make it feel like a normal tree with even spaced limbs. I got close to the top and was nervous as hell.
I was well lit and people were coming and going to the movies. After what happened earlier today I did not want anymore human interference. And I was lucky. I tied my ribbon and took my pictures.
Then I climbed down fast. I did not want a hassle. When I reached the ground I was relieved. A disappointing day of misunderstanding was almost over.
1-6-09: That first climb from that day was by far the worst reaction I have ever had to climbing. I have never been back by that tree, not even the intersection. It was, though, the biggest crowd I have ever had. A day for the record books.
The second tree of that day, the one pictured above, was clouded by paranoia. You can see how well lit it was. People were going to and from their cars and I was just sure I was going to get spotted and told on. My heart raced the entire climb. I am glad I got over that. I have realized that the hassles, though I like to avoid them, make for good stories.
Now to my climb from Monday, December 29th 2008. The day was filled with blogging and catching up. Much like my days right now. I put off climbing till much past dark. I did make soup but forgot to pick up toilet paper which I told Drew I would get earlier in the day. So I hopped in my truck and went to the Kroger on lower Brownsboro Road. I stopped first at the parking lot where my mom’s H&R Block is located. Across the street is a small park where I have climbed a few trees before. There is a few mid-sized oaks just past the basketball courts that I had always thought were too big and branches too high to be climbable. On that night, with my ever-increasing shimmying skills, I figured I could conquer one. As I walked into the park it was dark. Then suddenly a tall light popped on. As I studied the grouping of trees and selected my choice for the night I saw another, more green light flicker on. I wasn’t sure if it was a bad connection or the city’s way of saving money by having them go on and off periodically. If they were meant to go alternately so as to always have some light, they failed.
I looked at the trunk and the lowest limb which was 20 feet up.
I prepared myself for the coming task and reminded myself to breath, pace myself, and I’ll make it. I placed my hands on either side of the trunk and jumped. My legs quickly squeezed and I wrapped my arms and gripped. Then I lifted my knees, tightened my leg hold, walked up my hands, and repeated. Before I knew it the branch was in reach. I flew up this tree. It was only 4 or 5 movements and only took 10-15 seconds. I astonished myself and it really showed me how fast I have been improving on that maneuver. Delighted with my entry, I eagerly climbed up the branches towards the top of the tree all while the lights clicked on and off.
Sometimes I was in complete darkness, then from one side or the other, and other times lit from both sides.
As I started to take pictures this became an annoyance. I would plan pictures with the light I had, and then just before shooting it would flick off.
With patience and a lot of shots I did get some good ones.
I also got a pretty cool picture of a house nearby on the hill. It looks like something from a horror film. Kinda.
It actually turned out to be a very rewarding and fun climb.
I climbed back down, slid down the trunk in a flash and snapped a couple more shots before walking back to my truck to fetch the TP.