Going To The National Tree Climbing Championship? You Know You Want To!

[matcom]

<snip>

PITTSBURGH -- The International Tree Climbing Championship has been planned for Aug. 7 and 8 in West Park, where the world's top tree limbers will test their skills on the mammoth oaks near the National Aviary.

The competition, which attracts climbers from around the world, is part of the 80th Annual International Society of Arboriculture Conference and Trade Show, Aug. 7-11 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

"We have everything from the guys who climb and drag bush every day to Ph.D.'s doing research on trees," said Jim Skiera, interim executive director of the Arboriculture Society. "And all those people will be in the park ... for the finals of the International Tree Climbing Championship."

Up to 3,000 people are expected to attend the convention, including 50 elite male and female tree climbers.

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2004/02/19/gathering_in_the_steel_city_will_be_all_about_the_wood/

[waterman]

1. This will be a hoot. I started climbing my 70ft. oaks last summer and

there is nothing like it. A little freaky at first, but if you trust the gear, and the particular branch, and your knot-tying, then it is safe and so much fun. Equipment a lot like rock climbing.

[underpants]

2. I stopped climbing about 10 years ago

A friend of mine lived in an apartment with a tree that you could get up about 50 feet in. I stopped when I realized that without ropes and gear I might fall, when fear creeps in it is over.