What are the differences between tree climbing and rock climbing?

[crtreedude]

Hi all,

I have a question. I own a tree plantation in Costa Rica and used to rock climbing (about 6 years), however, there is not much rock available around me anymore - mainly jungle and pasture.

I do eventuallly need to have some of the large trees that are valuable cleaned of epiphiates, the way that they normally do it is to just free climb (shudder) and knock them off. No way am I going to permit that on my land.

So, before I left the states, I went out and bought ascenders, static rope, biners, descenders and added it to my already large collection of stuff from rock climbing.

Also, I did take a ropes course, on how to use ascenders, descenders in the states.

My question is, especially for those who have rock climbed, what is the gotchas in tree climbing that a rock climber would not know about?

I plan on taking it low and slow and making sure everything is done very carefully. Also, if any of you pros take a vacation in Costa Rica, boy do I have a deal for you!

 

[MasterBlaster]

Hello CR, welcome to AS. They are both the same, but as you can guess each has different techniques. I'm not sure how much tree technique has carried over to rock climbing, but a lot of rock climbing tricks have been used by tree climbers.
Rock climbing might put you face to face with a hawks nest, where trees will have squirrels, bees, wasps, 'possums, raccoons, etc. Also, trees move and rocks don't. You need a dynamic sense of balance. And a rock ain't gonna sap up and foul your gear.

I'd like to climb a cliff, someday.

 

[crtreedude]

So, lots of overlap with fun and surprises along the way. Of course, I am more likely to run across a howler monkey or sloth. Howlers have a rather disgusting habit, if you get too close, they take their poop and throw it at you. That's not a common problem on cliffs!

Of course, a boa or two will probably liven up the day as well.

I have one tree that is about 8 feet in diameter and a good 200 feet tall, with probably 150 before you hit the first limb - not planning on climbing that one for a LONG time. Thankfully, it doesn't seem to need much. (it is an ojocheta if you are curious).

Thanks for the welcome, looks like a neat place to learn stuff.

Climbing a cliff requires the gear - but finger strength is a lot of it. I have heard that physically climbing a tree is not that hard (depends of course), but climbing a cliff is something completely different - of course depending on the grade. It can be a lot of fun though.

I have an old mango tree that really need help - and it has lots of limbs, and the first one is only about 12 feet off the ground. Sounds like a great starting place.

 

[MasterBlaster]

If ya can, post a pic of that big tree. That would be the first one I would tackle!

 

[Base]

i suggest you do a search for single rope technique and Double rope technique on this site there is loads of info on this and i am too lazy to explain lol

 

[crtreedude]

Well, if you go to this link, you will see some of them. The only picture I have of the big one is the third from the right on the top with my partner looking up at the base.

http://www.fincaleola.com/trees_of_costa_rica.htm

 

[crtreedude]

Okay, will do - no point you rewriting what is already posted.


By the way MasterBlaster, my rope isn't long enough for that tree - what would you need 300+ ?

You can get nose bleeds just looking at it. The average trees are about 120 to 150 feet, with 2/3 without limbs, but the emergents are 200+ Thankfully there are some trees around that have limbs much lower.

 

[Base]

i'm waiting for someone to suggest spikes and flipline lol crtreedude using spikes on on trees you are not dismantling is very bad practice if you did not know...

looks like some of thoses trees could be a laugh to climb

 

[crtreedude]

Yeah, I figured spikes would be a bad thing - and you don't trim trees you are dropping - these things are so big that you have to leave the leaves and limbs up top to slow down the fall and cushion the impact - can you imagine a log say 150 foot long, and 4 feet or more in diameter?

Before anyone gets upset, we only drop trees we planted or are about to die anyway.

 

[ORclimber]

Originally posted by crtreedude
what is the gotchas in tree climbing that a rock climber would not know about?

The main difference is trees are alive and rock is dead. Understanding how trees are put together, and the strengh differences of different species. Recognizing tree defects. You want to make sure you pick a good tie in spot.

What is an epiphiate?

 

[crtreedude]

Something I can not spell, the real spelling is epiphyte, it is a plant that sits on a tree and grows, it is non-parasitic and does not damage the tree, except that the weight of them can eventual pull down the tree.

The usually only occur in large amounts in rainforest, since they get all of their water and nutrients from the constaint moisture as well as the humidity.

An Orchid is a good example of an epiphyte.

 

[wct4life]

What is an epiphiate?

Spanish Moss is the most common that I can think of in the states OR.

 

[arboromega]

lichen, moss... a symbiotic relationship.
CR i welcome you to the world of tree climbing. you will need a good teacher... i will need two plane tickets to costa rica, aplace to stay and a livable wage. oh yeah, ii hope you like dogs and we will be throwing away you static line when i arrive.

 

[crtreedude]

Depends where you live - I might just do it. Of course, do you know what a liveable wage is in Costa Rica? We pay farm help 300 colones per hour. (Try 75 cents per hour)

No problem with the dog, and I have a place to stay on the finca. If 164 acres isn't enough space, that is one busy dog!

So, why do you say, you would throw away the static line? Someone above said that for ascenders, you should use a static line. I agree, I would never free climb with a static rope, great way to break your back, but wouldn't ascending one be a good way to go?

 

[jkrueger]

Fred,

Your in business, let's look at it all in away that will give you the real results you want.

There are some brillant tech climbers around here and on tree buz, that are top in competition climbing and big tree work. They also, know how to teach and bring out the student in ways that words are limited.

Big John, Jim Roach and others here, aswell as Mark C. on tree buz, you can pm or email them from their id, ckick on it.

You could invit them or one of them down with their families for a winter retreat and, ...., rest is up to you and them.

Picking away trying to sort out the real stuff from the big head braging is a waste of your time. Sure you could have some fun communicating with all that and?

Jack

 

[MasterBlaster]

Originally posted by crtreedude
We pay farm help 300 colones per hour. (Try 75 cents per hour)

Wow. So, how does that relate to our wages? I have to work maybe 5 to 7 hours to pay my rent. Would that work there?


When I first saw the title of this thread, I thought it wuz a troll, for sure...

 

[wct4life]

cr, you never want to use static line for your attachment to a tree. This should explain it better than I can. The foto's from sherrill.

 

[crtreedude]

Trust me, I would never even let someone stick a toe on the plantation without a complete checkout - as you say, I am in business. I like to be gentle and non confrontational, but that does not mean I am wet behind the ears. Since I don't have much to prove, I can afford not to be obnoxious.

Well, the cost of living is much lower in Costa Rica, for example, a middle income person makes less than 6,000 dollars (USD) per year. However, housing is pretty cheap, a rental in the country is about 100 dollars a month, and food can be very inexpensive.

Also, there are no heating or cooling bills, so your only utilities are phone (15 dollars), electricity (10 dollars) and water - nearly free.

Public transportation is quite good, and I can go from Ciudad Quesada to San Jose, about 100 kilometers, for about 910 colones, less than 2 dollars.

By the way, just to get everyone hating me, where I live, the temperature, year round, is 78 degrees F.

Regarding someone coming down, it just might happen, but first I am going to play a bit. Since I have been rocking climbing for several years and because I am paranoid, I will take it low and slow. Also, since I don't have anything I really need to do critically, I have time. However, if someone was planning a vacation and wanted an insiders view and the ability to do a lot of the tourist stuff for free, we might actually work out something. Way too early to be thinking about that though, we just met!



Fred

 

[MasterBlaster]

Originally posted by crtreedude
By the way, just to get everyone hating me, where I live, the temperature, year round, is 78 degrees F.

 

[crtreedude]

Regarding static line, yep, just like in rock climbing, you never want to fall on static line. Using it to ascend is another matter, correct?

Once you are in the tree, you use dynamic line (got lots of it) to tie off with, and of course if the tree allows you to belay yourself up it, you will never use static.

By the way, what is a troll? I'll admit to looking like one, but how did you know?

By the way, another tidbit of information, probably why I feel like I look like a troll. In Costa Rica, the average man is about 5'4 inches, and about 140 lbs. I am 6'2" and about 205, I feel like Lurch in the Adams Family.

:alien: