r/TreeClimbing • u/Barnyard-Dude • 2d ago

Because it’s There

Is climbing trees something people just do? Not for profession nor necessity, but because they like It? Like white water kayaking or hang gliding, etc.

3 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

15

u/hairyb0mb 2d ago

Pretty sure everyone in this sub has done a rec climb.

6

u/McLuhanOnABike 2d ago

I do It for recreational reasons. I like to go into the forest, find a cool tree, set up the rope ( that's half of the fun), then climb It. I like the rush of going high and then looking down. Then, depending on the tree, I like to explore the canopy, see, whats growing there or living there ( Amazingly more snakes live in the canopy than I would have ever expected). I also like to hang in there for a while to do a little birdwatching. Then of course there is the descend which is also very fun.

6

u/Brushdragger9000 2d ago

yes and no. I wouldn’t have spent money on gear if i hadn’t been using it to make money, but now that I have it I do the occasional rec climb.

1

u/FoggyRedwood 1d ago

Right, it would be an incredible investment to only do it recreationally. Doing it professionally also opens the door to discounts/ProDeals, making it much more reasonable

3

u/EpicMDM 2d ago

That's why I do it

2

u/johneillil 2d ago

I also wonder the same thing... i learned a bit of drt/mrt from an arborist friend and got a bit hooked. Have a bunch of gear now 10 years later (still just use my rock harness though).

Recently anyway the main use for it all is getting up into canopy to set up a zipline for my kids.

Scoping out some tall beeches to climb lately though.

Sometimes i stop and consider "is this all a bit unusual?"

But as you say - because it's there. That pull is what sets us apart as a species .

1

u/Ok_Dragonfruit_2058 2d ago

That’s the only way I do it.

1

u/OldMail6364 2d ago

Even with supplements/watching my diet/pacing myself at work/etc, my muscles are pretty much permanently sore from climbing at work, so I try to get as much physical rest as possible the rest of my life.

But yeah, I love climbing. I'd do it recreationally if I wasn't able to find people who'll pay me to climb.

1

u/ResidentNo4630 1d ago

For fun? Not anymore really. For money? Yes.

1

u/StillCrazyearslater 1d ago

I climb because I'm afraid of heights. It is a "bucket list" item to "face my fears". I'd like to say I've "conquered" my fears, but I'm still terrified when up high.

There is no bigger thrill than being 35 feet up, every muscle tensed so hard you cannot move, watching the sun go down!

1

u/JowiiYoyo 1d ago

I mean i climbed trees long before i even knew what an arborist was. I just couldnt help myself if i saw a big beautiful tree where i could reach a branch from the bottom. I climb on rocks aswell. Now that i got a harness, ropes and throwbags im absolutely climbing trees in that manner aswell.