Out on a Limb

Limbwalking requires planning in order to minimize the risks that exist even with us being tied-in.

Some people may think climbing trees is too risky for them, others may not hesitate. Believe it or not, professional climbers fall closer to the first category as there are definitely risks associated with being at height and using trees as your support structure. However, we understand there are ways to minimize these risks.

Carpenters have a saying, "measure twice, cut once", implying that if we don't double check that the measurement is correct, we are more likely to make a bad cut. Mistakes in this case lead to wasted lumber and added time.

For tree climbers, a saying could be more along the lines of "inspect before you climb". We're hesitant to go "out on a limb without a safety net", so to speak. If we do not plan thoroughly & properly, the consequences can be more serious than wasting a piece of lumber.

One of the first things we need to do prior to climbing a tree is perform a safety inspection. Time should be taken to identify items and conditions that might present excessive risk for the climber. There are many things that might pose a risk to a climber, therefore it is wise to take a methodical approach to running through a list of items to consider.

Tree Inspection & Assessment
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A pre-climb inspection, in large part, aims to identify potentially compromised tissue and assess structural integrity of the climbing tree itself.

Even if you are not a trained climber or arborist, you can probably list off some of the items we may look for prior to heading up. Cavities or cracks in the trunk. Broken or dead branches. Mushrooms growing out of the trunk. Power lines running through the branches.
 
The structural integrity of the tree is certainly a key component to consider when assessing the climbing tree. You may not need to be told to avoid climbing dead trees. Unfortunately, not all of the potential issues are blatantly obvious. With a trained eye however, we can perform visual inspections and make assessments on the structural integrity of the trunk, large limbs, and branch connections even when "red flags" like visible cracks are not present.

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Cracks and mushrooms might be visible and typically associated with compromised structural integrity; but, some may be easily overlooked if you do not take time for thorough visual inspection.

A thorough tree inspection will assess conditions in the crown of the tree, the main scaffold limbs and trunk, as well as the base of the trunk and potential root/soil issues. Since our facilitated climb offerings involve a large number of climbers as well as spectators, there are additional considerations we take into account during the pre-climb inspection.

This looked like a nice climbing tree walking up to it, but a quick walk around revealed compromised structural integrity given the extensive column of decay.

I also like to learn from other people, be it directly or indirectly. A couple of the common oversights I see people make when it comes to the tree inspection includes forgetting to walk around and view the tree from all sides (trees are 3-dimensional!) and complacency (particularly common when we are returning to a tree we are familiar with). Because these are common oversights I've seen, they are at the forefront of my mind during my inspections so I do not make the same mistake.

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There have been and will continue to be situations where I return to one of our regular climbing trees which passed my inspections every time before, yet I find an issue that needs to be addressed prior to the tree passing inspection for that day’s climb. Consider a storm blew through the area and caused a branch to break but not fall to the ground. If easy enough, I may be able to remove the broken branch and its associated risk.

​Structural integrity certainly deserves a large amount of consideration and may account for the bulk of a pre-climb inspection. Given the broad scope of considerations, professional climbing classes like our 2-day Beginning Tree Climbing course dedicate about 25% of class time to tree inspection alone.

​Is structural integrity of the tree all we are concerned with?

What Are the Chances
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One of the more unusual situations I've encountered was the time I had already finished the pre-climb inspection and had set up the climbing systems in preparation for a full day of climbs. I moved my vehicle to the parking area & returned to the tree for final prep. As I was walking back to the tree I watched a raccoon emerge from a nearby wooded area, head straight to our climbing tree, then bolt up the trunk as I approached!

I don’t mind climbing with squirrels as they want nothing to do with us – they either head to the ends of the branches and leap to neighboring trees or they run down the opposite side of the trunk to get away from me. Raccoons are a little riskier as they often become defensive since they are likely to feel cornered (definitely so if they have youngsters with them!).
 
That day we were able to coax the raccoon out of the tree with only minutes to spare before our first climbers arrived. Had that not been the case, we would have cancelled the climb. Similar concerns can arise from hornet nests, poison ivy or other flora & fauna within the tree.

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Inspection may start with the tree, but other hazards and concerns may warrant consideration.

Can We Climb Yet
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Even with all that said, we've barely begun to compile a comprehensive list of items we should assess prior to climbing a tree. At least it should help build an appreciation for the necessity of inspecting a tree to identify and understand some of the more notable risks we may be exposed to.

​But is there anything beyond the tree we need to take into consideration?
 
Did you check the weather forecast? It may be obvious that we do not want to climb trees when the forecast calls for storms that might bring high winds and potential for lightning. While light precipitation or low temperatures alone may only be a concern in relation to personal comfort, paired together they might lead to safety concern due to hypothermia.

​State of mind is an easy one to overlook, especially since utilizing safety equipment like rope & harness may instill a sense of confidence. The two most memorable near-misses (accidents which could have resulted in serious injury) that come to mind from my 30 years of climbing trees were related to mental fatigue and not having my mind "in the game". My thoughts were elsewhere.

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Both mental and physical fatigue can negate the benefits of safety equipment used in technical tree climbing. There are a wide variety of accidents and injuries we can encounter, even more so if we climb when our mind isn’t focused or our body is fatigued.

Surely That's Everything
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My inspection checklist runs through all of these checkpoints: Weather, self check, base of the tree, trunk & scaffold limbs, branches & crown. 

Since we are not climbing in a closed environment, especially when we are climbing in the forest, we should also give time to assess nearby trees within the vicinity of our climbing tree. 

Consider a situation where your climbing tree is an ideal candidate for climbing, but it has a dead standing tree next to it. Wouldn't it be wise to inspect and assess the potential for that tree or one of its branches to fail if you'll be in striking distance?

It may not be possible to mitigate all risk, but we have a better chance at minimizing safety risks if we take time to observe those which are readily visible.

This article by no means identifies all of the potential risk factors we might look for during a tree inspection, but hopefully it provides food for thought with the items you may wish to consider during your pre-climb inspections. Through further study and awareness of tree physiology, more subtle characteristics may become visible to the trained eye, such as bark or growth patterns.

I Just Want to Climb

The vast majority of our guests climb with us at our facilitated climbs: Rec Climbs through their local Park/Rec Dept, or one of our Open, Open-Advanced, Girl Scout, or Private Climbs. With these climbs, you can leave the inspection to us!

Every day begins with our trained staff performing the pre-climb inspection when we arrive at each tree. Our safety checks go far beyond the climbing tree itself as we are also providing the equipment, setting up the climbing systems, and managing the climbing area during an event.

This is why all you need to do is show up with a sense of adventure! We want you to focus on the excitement of the activity and have a positive interaction with trees so you are receptive to the impact the experience has on you.

In order for us to achieve these goals, we have to be sure we have taken sufficient steps to minimize the risks for climbers, staff, and spectators.

It is common to hear some of our climbers comment to their parents how they'd love to "get one of these for the tree at home", referring to a climbing system. While our facilitated climbs do not cover the information needed to climb on your own, comments like that give me the impression that we make it look easy. 

Truth be told it makes me a little uncomfortable because they don't understand how much goes into to getting everything checked and readied for climbing.

​Ultimately, I take it as a compliment that we have presented an environment & experience where our guests are comfortable and willing to "go out on a limb", literally.

​Case in Point - City of Muskego Rec Climb Program
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​​Even with trees that have been a part of our climbing program for many years, conditions within the tree itself or nearby trees can change. This was the case with one of our climbing locations this past year.

These particular climbing trees grow in the forest with a number of trees within our perimeter of inspection. A nearby oak declined over the past few years. After a tree dies, the structural integrity of the wood begins to degrade. At some point, branches will begin to fall.
 
While the area in which these particular branches are likely fall is just beyond our climbing area, the situation alone is enough reason for concern to where we will discontinue using our climbing trees until the risk from that tree has been addressed. Until that time, the climbing location no longer passes my pre-climb inspection even though our climbing trees still look great!

​For our friends who climb with us through the City of Muskego, your Recreation Department and I have searched for a suitable climbing location in a number of City parks to no avail.

Rather than discontinuing the program, we will hold your community Rec Climbs in Mukwonago Park. It is a little further drive for you, but I am confident you will enjoy the amazing white oak we climb! It is a different climbing experience than the trees we climbed in Muskego Park, with a lot more opportunity to get on branches!

In 2026, we will run our Muskego Rec Climbs in Mukwonago Park. Pearl, our white oak climbing tree, is a beautiful tree & one of my personal favorite climbing trees!