Karl -

Put a bookmark in that sycamore. I'd like to come check it out one of
these days. They are very cool trees, unfortunately they aren't found
much up here on the tundra.

The exfoliating flakes of bark are normal, don't worry about them.
The powdery stuff, I suspect is the residue of the layer of cells
that seperate the layers of the outer bark. Rubbing it off just
exposes the new layers of outer bark and doesn't damage the trees.
They are known as thin barked trees though so more care has to be
taken than with, say, a walnut.

Having never actually climbed a sycamore, I would welcome input from
others to confirm or deny. I suspect that Dan has had some experience
with the species in the tropics of Kansas City.

Spring has arrived here as well. Went back to the camping tree
yesterday and  surfed around in the wind for a while. Nice to get out
and climb when I can actually look down and see my saddle without
having to haul in a bunch of winter clothes!

Dick

Dick or others,
We did a fantastic climb in a great sycamore yesterday.  Spring is
here!
The question is - how sensitive is the bark of the sycamore?  We tried
to not knock off the loose outer flakes (and had sleeves at all
times!), but noticed that our contact rubbed off some very light
powdery residue and left exposed a greenish underlayer.  Is this okay
or are we stressing the tree unduly?
Karl

Mr. Flowers,

I never knew that our paths would cross. I know and respect your work
and I am glad that we can share.

My best Beech tree location must be the hedge of Beechs planted along
a road photographed by Thomas Pakenham. "Meetings with Remarkable
Trees" is a must have for any tree nut like us. I hope one day to see
them in person. I asked many arborist and have mixed results. Would
you think that the trunks of these old trees would have grown
together into one continous living being? (they were planted around
1745 AD at 18" apart for one-quarter mile)

I can only guess how many central leaders it would have and now that
they are over 100 feet tall what a mass of cambium connected tissue.

My best and see you at the top,
Dan TreeHouse House
Kansas City TreeClimbers

Mr. Flowers,

I never knew that our paths would cross. I know and respect your work
and I am glad that we can share.

My best Beech tree location must be the hedge of Beechs planted along
a road photographed by Thomas Pakenham. "Meetings with Remarkable
Trees" is a must have for any tree nut like us. I hope one day to see
them in person. I asked many arborist and have mixed results. Would
you think that the trunks of these old trees would have grown
together into one continous living being? (they were planted around
1745 AD at 18" apart for one-quarter mile)

I can only guess how many central leaders it would have and now that
they are over 100 feet tall what a mass of cambium connected tissue.

My best and see you at the top,
Dan TreeHouse House
Kansas City TreeClimbers

Hello,

I have been climbing for 2 years.  If you go back through the posts
on the TreeClimbing.com message board, you may see me occasionally
under the name CJ7.  No I don't free climb, I tend to use arborist
equipment such as a Weaver single D leg strap saddle, blue streak
rope and I tie in with a split tail rig.  I have been using a Dan
House style cambrium saver (electrical flex conduit).  I usually body
thrust using a micro-ascender with a wrist loop to help me grip the
pull-me-up portion of the rope and a Blake's hitch with a small
pulley keeper to attach the split tail to that same portion of the
rope.  Although I am a bit of an equipment junkie (I guess it comes
with being an engineer), my climbing skills are still in the
intermediate level.

Ole

Dick,
I agree with Karl. Please, keep 'em coming. =)

Nice to meet you!

My name is Nathan Hartley. I live in Lansing, grew up in Stockbridge and the
best times of my life were spent on Big Norway lake near Farwell. I am married
to Julie who you will see on here as Rebbie12. We have 4 kids; Taylor 7, Rebecca
5, Emma 3 and Elijah 2. I have been recreational tree climbing for over 5 years
now. It is the one hobby/sport that has survived my responsibilities. To tell
the truth, lately the gear is used most often as giant swing making materials at
family functions. A real hit with the kids.

So do you free climb these trees? Or use a particular technique?

Karl,
I would love to climb tomorrow. Give me a call and I will attempt to call you,
one of us will catch the other.

Are you still able to get cheap leather? My wife thinks her machine should be
able to sow those cambium sleeves. I'd love to try it.

As for your nick name you can change it here: http://profiles.yahoo.com/treeslub

- Nathan

I must not have been clear, I live in Highland Township in northwest
Oakland County (have for 53 years).  I'm a civil engineer (at least I
try to be).  I have friends that live on Big Platte Lake near the
Sleeping Bear National Lake Shore (NLS).  I get up there 4 or 5 times
a year and sponge off them.  They have a couple of nice Red Oaks on
their property I have climbed, 30 feet to the first branch.

--- In tcmi@y..., Dick or Karen Flowers <flowers@t...> wrote:
> This the first in a series of articles that I intend to post on the
> species of trees that we are likely to hang around in. Gaining
> knowledge about the trees we climb can be as much fun as the
climbing
>
> get a copy of "Forest and
> Thicket" by John Eastman. It is one of the sources that I used for
> this note and one of my favorite plant guides.

Dick,
Great article - keep them coming!  I always like to learn more about
the trees, and especially how we can help or avoid hurting them.
Will look up the book, too.
Thanks,
Karl

Folks,

A few of us are going to climb in Okemos on Saturday (late AM or
early PM). Contact me at aslub@... for more info if you are
interested.

Can you join us Nathan?  We've got a sycamore all picked out.

Karl (who's still trying to get this Yahoo name and nick thing
straightened out).

Dick, I created a folder to store your tree guides in after they are posted.
Thought it would be nice to compile/store them for the group.

And then I tested out the e-mail notification. =)

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the tcmi
group.

   File        : /Trees/Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
   Uploaded by : stryder@...
   Description :

You can access this file at the URL

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tcmi/files/Trees/Northern%20Red%20Oak%20%28Quercus\
%20rubra%29

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit

http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/files

Regards,

stryder@...

Not sure what I was thinking. I realize now that Oakland county is
where you winter...

--- In tcmi@y..., "Nathan (Stryder) Hartley" <stryder@i...> wrote:
> Wow, it's getting cozy in here. Good to see everyone. I have 4 or 5
> friends that I was sure would have joined us by now....
>
> Dick, I am honored to have you join in the fun.
>
> And to the traveler who summers in Oakland county I am glad to make
> your aquaintence. Where is it that you winter? =)

Wow, it's getting cozy in here. Good to see everyone. I have 4 or 5
friends that I was sure would have joined us by now....

Dick, I am honored to have you join in the fun.

And to the traveler who summers in Oakland county I am glad to make
your aquaintence. Where is it that you winter? =)

--- In tcmi@y..., ole@j... wrote:
> Any really good climbing areas in Oakland County or up near Sleeping
> Bear Dunes (I get there in the summer)?  I am getting tired of
> climbing the 60 foot Pin Oak in my back yard.  Besides my neighbors
> must think I'm crazy.

I'm in Traverse City. I have a list of climbing areas somewhere in my
hard drive that I prepared  for the classes that I teach. Several are
in the NLS. If I can find where I saved it, I'll post it.

There's nothing wrong with your neighbors thinking you're crazy!

Dick Flowers

Any really good climbing areas in Oakland County or up near Sleeping
Bear Dunes (I get there in the summer)?  I am getting tired of
climbing the 60 foot Pin Oak in my back yard.  Besides my neighbors
must think I'm crazy.

You guys read this too, right? =)

Anybody know if TCI is planning a trip to Joyce Kilmer this fall?

--- In tcmi@y..., "Julie" <Rebbie12@y...> wrote:
> I'd love to go!  Maybe we can even get the kids looked after. :)
>
>
**********************************************************************
> >
> > It has been a couple of years since I have been to Joyce
Kilmer...
> > <sign> When my kids get old enough to all climb we would like to
> take
> > a camping trip down there. (My wifes in the group lets see if she
> > agrees. ;)

Not a bunch of crazy fools?

I like it. When I was starting the business I wanted to have
something along the same lines. I ended up adapting Peter's ethics
that he had given me a copy of before they were posted on the web.
(http://www.treeclimbing.com/tci-13.htm) I'll have to show you this
and the climbing registry I made up.

The registry was a neat idea stolen from Peter as well. Basically you
would in some way leave it in a favorite climbing tree for people to
sign in on. I thought it could also be a good way to keep tabs on the
health of trees, the last person to sign in could send it to me with
how the tree was doing. A big problem was what to keep this paper in
and how to secure it to the tree. We found that a large plastic
peanut butter jar (dish washed) worked well, but the critters were
quick to eat through anything you tied it to the tree with that later
wouldn't strangle the tree. Probably the best bet would have been to
use a clean drywall screw. But that only brings us back to the ethics
of leaving something in a tree at all. <grin>

I wrote this up for a demo we did a while back.
It was designed to give people some comfort in the thought that we
weren't just a bunch of crazy fools.
It could possible be something kids could take away from a
session, too.  It is based loosely on the Boy Scout model.
I post it here for discussion and improvement.
Treeslub


A TREE CLIMBERS CREED
I climb to appreciate nature.

A TREE CLIMBERS MOTTO
Safety for me and the tree will be foremost in all the climbing I do.

TREE CLIMBING RULES
· I will inspect and respect my equipment - so it will protect me.
· Before I climb, I will inspect the Tree and the area around it for
hazards.
· I will do no harm to a Tree or the environment it lives in .
· I will not climb in bad weather, and  will leave the tree before a
storm arrives.
· I will revere and cherish the Trees I climb.
· I will never climb with spikes or spurs nor injure the cambium of a
tree.
· I will respect the rights and privacy of those who live near or own
the  trees I climb.

--- In tcmi@y..., "Nathan (Stryder)" <stryder@i...> wrote:
> Lovely snow today.
>
> Where would you like to take me climbing next week? =)

Nathan,
Sure - given the winter is finally gone.  I've had just enough of
winter climbing this winter.
Oh, Treemoose was taken - I got 'Treeslub' as second choice. Can't
think of who would have Treemoose - hope they post here.

I'd love to go!  Maybe we can even get the kids looked after. :)

**********************************************************************
>
> It has been a couple of years since I have been to Joyce Kilmer...
> <sign> When my kids get old enough to all climb we would like to
take
> a camping trip down there. (My wifes in the group lets see if she
> agrees. ;)

Lovely snow today.

Where would you like to take me climbing next week? =)

The Michigan label is not there to restrict the group.

I know I would be honored to have you among the group, both digitally
and physically.

It has been a couple of years since I have been to Joyce Kilmer...
<sign> When my kids get old enough to all climb we would like to take
a camping trip down there. (My wifes in the group lets see if she
agrees. ;)

Nat,

Yes I live in Kansas City and if you were at Kilmer then your should
remember the food that Stan and I cooked. Also, the Outside Magazine guys
were there to shoot for their March 2000 issue.

Looks like you will have a good grove to start off with and I will be happy
to join you in MI someday.

Until then, If you allow can I cybershare with your club?

See you at the top,
Dan TreeHouse House

Good to see, well sort of see, you Dan!

Dick Flowers and Karl Pearson (Tree Moose) should be joining the
group soon.

Am I correct in thinking that you are not from Michigan?

I know we have chatted on the TCI board, but I am trying to remember
if I met you at Joyce Kilmer.

Welcome to the Yahoo! group dedicated to tree climbing in Michigan.

Yahoo! groups were once eGroups. I have been using eGroups for
several years now and love them dearly. Thankfully Yahoo! has left
eGroups as they were with only a few minor changes. I would like to
give you a quick run down of what all of the Yahoo! group features
are.
My hope is that people will be able to use them in ways that will
benefit the tree climbing community.

  * Messages - The heart of groups is the messages. These can be
    e-mailed to and from you. Sent in a digest form. Or viewed on
    the web. All messages are archived and searchable.
  * e-Mail only interface - If you would like to only send and receive
group
    e-mails you never have to log into Yahoo! groups. Here is how:
    To subscribe: tcmi-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
    To send a message to the group: tcmi@yahoogroups.com
    To unsubscribe: tcmi-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
  * Chat client - Set up an online meeting, put it on the calendar
below.
  * 20M of file space to store what ever the group desires. Pictures,
    climb/tree tracking software, the PDF files to Dick Flower's
latest
    book...
  * Bookmarks - Allows members to post their favorite links.
  * Database - Very basic database. I currently have two tables setup
    one for climbers looking for climbing partners and another list
    favorite trees.
  * Polls - Slick line or braided (starter cord) throw line? Post a
web poll.
  * Members - There are settings to allow you to turn off the
displaying of
    your profile.
  * Calendar - For that climbing barbecue, overnighter, Joyce Kilmer
car pool.

I hope that you will enjoy your stay here at TCMI.

Sincerely,

Nathan (Stryder) Hartley