Saturday, September 5th, 2009
Hoffman Challenge Course, Dryden, NY
Before tree staff training, an email went out to all COE instructors from Mark (head of tree climbing) saying:
"I have received a number of requests from folks about attending the Fall 09 Tree Staff Training. If you are interested in learning to tree climb, the best thing to do is to take the class. If you are interested in teaching tree climbing, either PE classes, camps, or private lessons, you should come to the training."
Apparently, lots of people wanted to come to the training just to try it out. We ended up with 17 people coming, which is only really shocking if you know that basically the entire tree staff consists of 8 people.
To accommodate the large number, we split into groups of more- and less-experienced tree climbers. My group went with Keith, one of the original pioneers of tree climbing, to the platform that we use for the tree overnight. Here, we played around with the yo-yo, frog, and unicender methods of climbing, rather than our usual Texas kick. These basically just involved different pieces of equipment, with each methods having its own pros and cons. I tried the yo-yo method, which involves using a gri-gri. Lots of people enjoy this method, but I found it irritating.
Sarah, one of the instructors this year, getting set on her motion lanyard.
After ascending, we used our motion lanyards to rig the platform tree with some hammocks for those at the training who were spending the night. Me and some others who had already slept in the platform several times bowed out so that the tree could accommodate all those who wanted to try it.
Lilian, another co-instructor, rigging hammocks
Day 2: Rescue Scenarios
Sunday, September 6th, 2009
HCC, Dryden, NY
For breakfast, we met up with those who had spent the night in the tree. Then we split back into our groups, with my group going to the platform tree again. Our morning wake up was a race using gri-gri direct aid, a method that allows you to lead climb a tree with no branches on it. After that, we all headed up to the platform again.
Today, I got my chance to try the unicender. This very unique piece of equipment is the brain child of Morgan, a friend of marks who is both a tree climber and a machinist in his spare time. He developed the idea for this piece of gear that would allow you to go up and down easily and auto-lock, and that can be used to ascend or in a motion lanyard. Once he had the idea, he hand machined all the parts himself, resulting in a very limited number of very expensive pieces of equipment. I found it very convenient to ascend on, as it is auto-advancing. I also enjoyed the new foot locking method that I learned from someone else at the staff training who spent a lot of time as a canopy photographer in Costa Rica.
Ascending under the platform on another beautiful day
We ran through some rescue scenarios while on the platform-- what happens if a student get knocked unconscious and rolls off the platform durning the overnight? After successfully saving the helpless student with a haul system, we wrapped up for the day. On the way down, I asked if we could test out our evacuation drill, which involves trying to lower several people at once. In theory, this is a very safe and easy method. In practice, I'm glad we tried it out. I was one of the people being lowered, and it was more nerve-wracking than I thought it would be. It was hard to get us all off the platform together, and once we did, all the extra weight on the rope made the tree groan. However, the person on the ground lowering us had no trouble with the added weight, and we all got down safe and sound (after they suspended us in mid-air to take some pictures-- we looked pretty silly.)
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