DAY 44

DAY 44
05.18.07
TREE 40

Today I climbed a massive tree by Hogan’s Fountain at Cherokee Park. Aaryn joined me again as well, but this time didn’t climb because the first part, all of it really, was quite challenging. She watched and took some pictures. There were so many large branches with leaves growing off of everywhere that some passages were difficult to maneuver. But I continued higher and higher. I believe I passed a squirrel’s nest and really scared one squirrel. Towards the top about 15 feet from the highest leaf, I debated stopping. But more and more I continue to press forward and go as high as the tree lets me. At my highest point I was just 3 feet from the highest leaf and for the first time in the climb I had my first break in the leaves where I could see out. But the leaves were so thick everywhere else I couldn’t ever see down to tell how high I was. Aaryn took some pictures of my peaking head and while I held that position my muscles started to get very fatigued. The climb down was quite difficult and scary because of this. But I made it and it was an extremely rewarding climb.

5-18-08:  It was nice to have Aaryn in town from Colorado.  I hope she returns sometime again soon.  I think the picture she took is hilarious.  It really shows you how leaves can get so think they obstruct your view. 

Yesterday, after helping Drew paint the hallway of his office and getting some mexican food, I met back up with Will and Basil and we went to Dog Hill in Cherokee Park to climb.  Basil picked a massive beech for us to climb.  As we started some kids were talking about us tree climbing so I asked them to join us.  One of the kids saw my shoes and knew they were for parkour.  He seemed to be up on his stuff.  The sat on a picnic bench and watched as we climbed.  I couldn’t hear all they were saying but I think they thought I was crazy.  At least one of them did.  The other one was saying how he’d seen videos of guys standing on the tops of trees.  I would have liked to get to the top of this one and show him I could do that too, but this beech was just too damn big.  I did manage to walk way out on a high limb where I took a video and some pictures of the the people below.  Most did not come out well due to the lack of light. 

Here’s the kid who thought I was crazy giving me the peace sign. 

And here is just an image looking back at the main branch I came from.  With the flash and the leaves, there is no way to guage how high I was.  I couldn’t even really tell.  But I think I was pretty high.  Basil had a lot of fun below me monkeying out on limbs and forcing them to bend down to the ground with his weight.