Climber Resources
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Sections:
1) Climber safety reminders 2) Equipment a) Equipment buyers guide b) Manufacturers c) Suppliers d) Equipment inspection references e) Equipment provided in class/training 3) Video tutorials a) Climbing line installation b) Tying climbing system knots & hitches c) Modifications & accessories 4) Equipment care & transport 5) Tree climbing organizations 6) Climbing & Tree resources 7) Personal recommendations |
SAFETY REMINDERS:
1) Remain clipped-in at ALL TIMES you are aloft. No "free climbing".
2) Components in life-support orientation: should have minimum breaking strength rating of 5,000# / 22.24kN / 2,268Kg or greater.
- Includes: climbing rope*, carabiners & rope snaps, pulley (e.g. in hitch-climbing system), hitchcord, screw links, swivels, false crotches/ring-to-ring anchor straps, lanyards/positioning straps (all components), etc.
*ANSI Z133-2025, pending final approval, will re-list climbing line minimum breaking strength at 5,000# (currently 5,400#).
3) Carabiners used in life-support orientation should take multiple actions to open and close & lock automatically. e.g. screw-gate & non-locking carabiners are NOT for use in life-support in technical tree climbing systems.
4) Refrain from climbing trees near electrical conductors. Maintain at least 10 feet distance, if not greater, from conductors such as house-drops (pole to house), pole-to-pole primaries (<50kV), etc. This includes your body (direct contact) as well as contacting any object that is in proximity to an electrical conductor (indirect contact - such as the climbing tree's branches, pruning tool, etc). There are professional certifications for people who work in closer proximity to electrical conductors.
...there are plenty more items to be considered as covered in class, the class manual, and general tree climbing guidelines put forth by climbing industry organizations.
1) Remain clipped-in at ALL TIMES you are aloft. No "free climbing".
2) Components in life-support orientation: should have minimum breaking strength rating of 5,000# / 22.24kN / 2,268Kg or greater.
- Includes: climbing rope*, carabiners & rope snaps, pulley (e.g. in hitch-climbing system), hitchcord, screw links, swivels, false crotches/ring-to-ring anchor straps, lanyards/positioning straps (all components), etc.
*ANSI Z133-2025, pending final approval, will re-list climbing line minimum breaking strength at 5,000# (currently 5,400#).
3) Carabiners used in life-support orientation should take multiple actions to open and close & lock automatically. e.g. screw-gate & non-locking carabiners are NOT for use in life-support in technical tree climbing systems.
4) Refrain from climbing trees near electrical conductors. Maintain at least 10 feet distance, if not greater, from conductors such as house-drops (pole to house), pole-to-pole primaries (<50kV), etc. This includes your body (direct contact) as well as contacting any object that is in proximity to an electrical conductor (indirect contact - such as the climbing tree's branches, pruning tool, etc). There are professional certifications for people who work in closer proximity to electrical conductors.
...there are plenty more items to be considered as covered in class, the class manual, and general tree climbing guidelines put forth by climbing industry organizations.
EQUIPMENT
Comprehensive Arborist Equipment Buyers Guide: ArbClimber Buyers Guide
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EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS
Arbsesssion Bailey's Bartlett Bishop Forestry Suppliers Grand Arbor Supply Knot and Rope Supply Sherrill Tree* TreeStuff** WesSpur * Some Vermeer equipment dealers have arborist climbing gear in stock. ** GOTC members receive 10% discount on all purchases. |
EQUIPMENT INSPECTION
(Follow manufacturer's recommendations for each piece of equipment. Here are some general inspection resources you may also find helpful.)
Climbing gear inspection checklist (pdf)
Arborist gear inspection checklist - Sherrill Tree
Rope Inspection - Teufelberger (videos)
Rope Inspection & Retirement Guide- Samson (pdf)
Carabiner Inspection - DMM (video tutorial)
Carabiner Inspection - DMM (pdf flowchart)
(Follow manufacturer's recommendations for each piece of equipment. Here are some general inspection resources you may also find helpful.)
Climbing gear inspection checklist (pdf)
Arborist gear inspection checklist - Sherrill Tree
Rope Inspection - Teufelberger (videos)
Rope Inspection & Retirement Guide- Samson (pdf)
Carabiner Inspection - DMM (video tutorial)
Carabiner Inspection - DMM (pdf flowchart)
EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE IN OUR CLASSES/TRAININGS
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HELMETS & SADDLES
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ROPE & CORDAGE
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CARABINERS/SNAPS
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MICRO-PULLEYS & SWIVELS
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MISCELLANEOUS GEAR
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MY PERSONAL GEAR (used regularly)
Here are some of the pieces of equipment I tend to use most often during personal climbs. I've included personal opinion and characteristics I might prefer from a piece of equipment simply to provide food for thought as you begin to discover your personal preferences. Your opinion, climbing style, preferences, and tolerances can vary greatly from mine! |
VIDEO DEMONSTRATIONS
INSTALLING CLIMBING LINE
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INSTALLING ROPE - overview of the rope installation sequence (2:28)
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Attaching rope to throwline - 3 basic ways to attach (2:13)
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TYING CLIMBING KNOTS, HITCHES & SYSTEMS
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ATTACHMENT KNOTS - Tying the anchor hitch and fisherman's knot. (3:16)
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BLAKE'S HITCH 5-3 - Tying the Blake's 5-3 (2:16)
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BLAKE'S HITCH 4-2 - Tying the Blake's 4-2 (1:57)
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Blake's 5-3 or 4-2? - Why opt for one over the other (1:18)
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MICHOACÁN HITCH - Tying the Michoacán (5:19)
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MRS TRADITIONAL 4-KNOT CLIMBING SYSTEM (2:34)
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MRS HITCH-CLIMBING SYSTEM (2:03)
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CLIMBING SYSTEM MODIFICATIONS/AIDS
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TYING FOOT LOOPS - Using foot loops can aid in the ascent process (7:11)
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SELF-ADVANCING BLAKES - Modifying the Blake's/Footloop system to reduce fatigue & frustration and expedite your ascent (3:46)
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BASIC LANYARD USE - Ways to use lanyard to stabilize for work-positioning or prevent uncontrolled swing during limbwalk (3:38)
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EQUIPMENT CARE/TRANSPORT
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COILING ROPE - Learn the Butterfly "coil" for rope storage and transport. (6:58)
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CLIMBING ORGANIZATIONS
Global Organization of Tree Climbers (GOTC) Supporting tree climbers and promoting tree climbing for recreation, education, and research. Facilitator and instructor credentials. International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Fostering professional arboriculture worldwide. Certified Arborist credentials. Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) Supporting businesses with safety and training programs. Climbing & arborist training modules and certifications & credentials. |
TREE RESOURCES
TreeBenefits.com - Calculate the economic and ecological benefits of a tree TREE IDENTIFICATION - National Audubon Society Guide to Trees of North America - Fruit & Twig Key to Trees & Shrubs - William M. Harlow - PictureThis App- annual fee, accuracy: 97% to genus, 84% to species - iNaturalist App- free, accuracy: 92% to genus, 70% to species CHAMPION TREE REGISTRIES - American Forests (USA) - Illinois - Indiana - Michigan - Minnesota - Missouri - Nebraska - Ohio - Wisconsin |
CLIMBING INSPIRATION
I hope your time in the tree was enough to inspire and draw you back into the treetops for many years ahead, just as my first climb into that majestic white oak over 30 years ago. Here are a few resources which continue to stoke this passion for me:
I hope your time in the tree was enough to inspire and draw you back into the treetops for many years ahead, just as my first climb into that majestic white oak over 30 years ago. Here are a few resources which continue to stoke this passion for me:
Treeverse follows a pair of climbers who traverse from treetop to treetop over the course of 5 days. (27:09)
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Richard Preston joined the global community of recreational tree climbers to help him tell the story of The Wild Trees: a gripping story of climbers in search of the tallest tree.
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Julia Butterfly Hill lived 2 years in the top of 1,000 year old coastal redwood, She tells of her experiences in The Legacy of Luna, from her reason for being there, the storms she rode out, and her connection to the tree itself.
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TREE-O-CACHING: a fun destination adventure organized by TreeStuff. Find tree-o-caches in your area or areas you'll be traveling to/through, pack your gear & hit the road!
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BIG CANOPY CAMPOUT: annual campout to protect native forests. The international community connects from canopies around the globe via social media.
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TREE CLIMBERS RENDEZVOUS: annual gathering of tree climbers from around the world, sponsored by the Global Organization of Tree Climbers.
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