DAY 46

DAY 46
05.20.07
TREE 52

My ability to spot climbable trees is increasing. Probably as much as my ability to climb them. My preferences are also getting more particular. I like to climb high and as high up in the tree, towards the highest leaf, as I can. I prefer the trees with one main trunk that continues all the way up. The ones that branch earlier, I tend not to go as high. Today’s tree was on the edge of the woods. Nice and tall with just little, sparse branches towards the bottom. I am becoming more comfortable with those little branches. I made it up pretty high with a lot of upper body pulling. My perch was pretty comfortable and I made sure to rest my muscles before climbing down. I also trust my abilities more and allowing myself to lean out over nothing, dangle with no foothold, and leave some of the work to gravity. I used to be more scared going down. Now it’s reversed, once I’ve gotten up, I know I can get down.

5-20-08:  That was one of the first trees where I had to work to get to the first small limb.  Then once I was hanging from it, work my way up onto the limb to get a foothold, then stand up and reach of the next limb.  It takes serious balance and thought.  Now I do that move without even thinking about it.  Fear used to cripple me but it’s amazing how repetition and practice can make that fear just fade away.

I am very sore today, and was yesterday from parkour on Sunday.  I got up early yesterday morning to help move pottery equipment for Sarah Frederick, then I helped Julio Driggs move into his new awesome apartment at the Henry Clay.  I was pretty tired but there was a break in the rain right after dinner so I parked at Ballard High School to climb.  I walked around the campus looking for a good tree but most were just too small.  You’ll see in future entries all the trees I have climbed at Ballard.  I am running out of good options.  But then as I walked along the biology pond out front, I saw a nice tall tree across Herr Lane behind McDonalds.  I knew that was it, so I headed straight for it.  It was a great climb.  It shows that by a quick glance from a few hundred feet away, I could immediately see it was a good climbing tree.  Here is a picture and stupid little video I made:

The ominous dark clouds made for a nice shot.