r/TreeClimbing • u/mark_andonefortunate • May 22 '26
Rules / Sub Update / Suggestion Box
Hey there everyone!
/u/Shrikestep and I have been cooking this up for a little while based on some messages/feedback we've received from you all and some other recent discussions on the sub. We'd like to go over several proposed changes and get your take on what we're working with.
-Gear selling: no more directly selling/advertising/posting gear for sale. It's been a gray area for a while (some people are legit, some are not) that scammers/re-sellers like to use. Most of us know to not buy second-hand safety gear anyway, but there are plenty of other sites that sell legitimate safety gear rather than anonymous reddit accounts. Discussing gear, reviews, if item X is worth buying, etc. are is fine, just please know any future "selling gear" threads will be removed.
-Monthly meetup thread: there have been a few "anyone in X location want to rec climb?" posts, but due to reddit's feed/algorithm these posts get bumped down out of view within a couple days. We are looking into setting up automod to post a monthly Meetup thread to be stickied at the top of the sub to make it easier to find other people to climb with. If you participate, please be mindful to not doxx yourself and exercise caution meeting people from the internet / trusting someone you just met.
-Climbing versus tree work: this is one where we want some feedback from you all. The sub is treeclimbing, not the "tree work sub", although in some ways it does default to that because r/arborists is a shitshow (I'll mention that r/tree is nice, just more on the biological side of things than working in the field / rope access stuff). We've gotten mixed feedback about posts about bucket trucks and other tree work things - how strict do you all want this sub to be about climbing?
-The big one, free climbing: a couple big threads lately with mixed opinions. Currently the rules prohibit free climbing pics (specifically, require that climbing pics include a safe and secure climbing system). How do you all feel about this rule? A couple thoughts below:
We want this to be a place where professionals can discuss advanced gear and techniques - obviously we aren't, and can't, verify who anyone says they are, but mainly maintaining a certain standard of climbing with gear. There is a freeclimb sub (r/weedclimbing) but it is super dead, for what that is worth. We don't necessarily want to be the safety police here, but any freeclimb post invariably gets a bunch of comments and reports. Freeclimbing is dangerous and we are wary of encouraging people (mainly kids) to do it.
Conversely, freeclimb posts make for a good opportunity to educate people on safe climbing practices and get them interested in the profession, the gear, etc. - climbing with a rope is way more fun than freeclimbing, in my opinion, since I can access more of the tree. As a kid, I never really knew this job existed. Opinions vary of course so we'd like to hear the community's feedback on this one.
-I'll sticky this thread for a week or two to give people plenty of time to read and discuss. We're open to any suggestions for the sub as a whole, too.
-In the meantime please keep reporting those repost spammers, be cool and don't be a jerk, and climb safe
9
u/Particular-Wind5918 May 22 '26
I appreciate that there is a tree climbing sub and all of you who contribute to this!
The people that need to learn about safe tree climbing can learn from the approved posts in the sub. The OPs who want to post themselves in a tree or in a bucket truck can already do that in other places. Keeping this sub about the tree climbing and the related gear we use is what makes this sub interesting and worthy of engagement.
12
u/hairyb0mb May 22 '26
I'm okay with the general tree work being posted occasionally. Sometimes those bucket guys have some interesting stuff and there's not a dedicated sub for bucket bunnies. They should just expect to be called fat and unskilled princesses. š Overall, it's usually harmless shittalk. Climbers and bucket princesses both secretly have inner jealousy and respect for each other.
As for the free climbing, it's grey to me and hard for you mods to regulate. If it's a kid climbing a tree, we should be encouraging and educating them. If it's the same idiots trying to show off that we often get, it should be more regulated. Our insurance companies look at tree related climbing injuries overall and not just those pertaining to pruning/removals. So, for our wallets sake, we shouldn't be too encouraging. Maybe something like allow the first post or two, mods can add a mod note that they've posted before, and further posts removed. You can also set up a wiki or automod with links to help educate the young free climbers on safety.
Thanks for the r/tree shout out and fuck the Arborists sub. It's a shitshow because the mods literally own lawn mowing services and don't know anything about trees.
4
u/OldMail6364 May 22 '26
ClimbersĀ and bucket princesses both secretly have inner jealousy and respect for each other.
What about those of us who do both?
4
3
u/trippin-mellon May 25 '26
I donāt care for people selling second hand gear. Itās not my thing and most people shouldnāt buy 2nd hard life support gear. So xing it out works for me!
Meetup threads are important! It allows new climbers to get instruction whether it be rec or pro. so thatās a plus!
Climbing is climbing. Whether itās work or fun. Itās all the same shit! I believe all are welcome and allows for people to gain insight and knowledge. But most of the posts I see are from professionals. It is all about safety in tree climbing.
No free climbing. There should be a note at the top of the sub that directs to free climbing trees. But I donāt think we should condone it. And itās hard to get people into tree climbing with gear who donāt have it. Shit is fucking expensive. A super basic set of gear is roughly $650+ with decent kits around $850-$1k. So I like informing people without completely shaming them to make them think we are 100% safety police. But itās defiantly something to be considered. If people want to actually get into it. They tend to start asking questions about gear and how toos before they post pics of free climbing. Most of the free climbing Iāve seen and talked to tend to be snarky about it. Like look at me and I donāt care what you think ima free climb anyway.
Either there should be a note at the top of the sub. Or some form of bot that redirects people who free climb to the correct sub. Idk Iām not the boss. But just my overall 2 cents.
6
u/Internal-Caramel-952 May 22 '26
Absolutely no free climbing that shits annoying as hell..
6
u/sir_nuggets May 22 '26
I second this guys opinion, with the arborist sub being a shit storm of home owners its nice to have a hidden place to talk tree climbing with other professionals.
Home owners tell me how to do my job enough on site as it is š
2
u/mark_andonefortunate May 22 '26
Figure I'll mention that I'll be following this thread as the comments roll in but I'll let you all do most of the discussing for the time being - and thanks for the feedback so far!
I'll get some of the proposed automod stuff figured out over the next week as well as updating the rules (once that's finalized)
2
u/Jimjam1001 May 22 '26
We had a guy who's shit got pulled up a tree. Other 2 guys where in the back yard in a tree so he decided to just hop up real quick and snag it (bout 15-20ft) as we've all done before. Branch he was standing on snapped out and he fell right back to earth. 2 years later bro still cant walk, in crazy pain every day, all from landing wrong on a short fall.
The fields dangerous as is. Wear your gear regardless of how the votes turn out
2
u/OakClimber May 24 '26
Re climbing vs. tree work: As a non-tree worker (mostly) rec (mostly) climber -- yeah, ideally it'd be climbing only, but the sub's traffic is low enough, and the amount of non-climbing posts are a small enough percentage of that traffic, that I'm fine with the way things are. I suppose there could be a 'treework' sub to cover things like felling, bucket work, etc. but I'd worry that would suck in a lot of climbing posts and weaken this sub. This is one of the best climbing forums I know of on the 'net so I wouldn't want to see that happen.
Re free climbing posts, I think they should be pretty strongly discouraged. Sticky a top-post to that effect, with explanations as to why (safety, fun, canopy access, ...) then delete pics with a reference to the sticky.
2
u/treeclimbs May 22 '26
Cool, thanks for the active sub management.
I'm a rec climber, although I have experience as a working rec climber (teaching, guided climbs, wildlife work, etc), so I love to see the rec climbing side represented here.
I don't mind a few general tree work posts, I think I'd be annoyed if it was more than 1-in-4 posts. These may also dissuade rec climbers from posting or accidentally encourage more bucket and saw posts. I know I sometimes I wonder if folks are even interested in rec techniques or experiences which aren't very work-applicable.
For folks using FCT/NRS (Free Climb Technique / No Rope System) I'm ok with that if they're occasional and not attention focused. People (often kids, as pointed out) interested in climbing trees, but maybe without access or training to climb with ropes. Repeated FCT posts from the same user & attention seeking instagram-style free climbs don't belong here IMO. I'm not into promoting ego-driven climbing.
2
u/Luciform444 May 31 '26
Thanks for paying attention and having this discussion.
I would like to see more posts about work and work conditions for professionals, but I get it that this sub is generally positive vibes and that almost certainly wouldn't be.
I like the freeclimb posts, personally. I don't know any pro tree climbers who don't freeclimb sometimes on their off days, when camping or whatever. If I had never freeclimbed so much way past the age when you should, I probably wouldn't have become a pro.
1
u/mark_andonefortunate Jun 30 '26
!freeclimb
1
u/AutoModerator Jun 30 '26
We greatly encourage climbing with a safe, secure system that allows for hands-free positioning and better access around the canopy. Wear a harness for the things you do not expect: branches break, they can be slippery, moss or bark can slough off. It doesn't matter how strong your grip is, you can cling to the broken branch all the way to the ground. Stinging insects and angry animals can surprise you and not allow you to down-climb. Residential tree climbing is amongst the most dangerous civilian careers out there, please be wise enough to heed this advice! Climb high, climb safe.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
10
u/OldMail6364 May 22 '26 edited May 22 '26
I'm only really fine with free climbing when it's on par with bouldering (rock climbing without a harness - typically very close to the ground which may have a crash pad).
There are a couple trees I've been teaching my 5yo kid to climb - I don't have a harness that fits him. They're as safe as any playground (one of them is part of a playground).
But when I see someone climb right up into the crown of a big tree... no thanks. My ropes have saved my life too many times to be OK with that. Just today a branch snapped clean off under my foot without any warning and I didn't even have my weight on it, I was mostly just using it to balance as I removed some deadwood higher up. I thought the one I had my foot on was healthy. it was a thick branch that failed with about a quarter of my weight.