Scrapbook Archive Files

"Tree Climbers are Happy..." by Tom Chaffin

Sports Illustrated was the first major national publication to do a piece on TCI. It drew a lot of attention to tree climbing and caught the attention of a famous author, Robert Fulghum. His 1991 book, It Was On Fire When I Laid Down On It, has a chapter on tree climbing in which he tells his readers he's a card-carrying member of TCI. Fulghum sent Peter a signed copy of the book with a short note: "Get a bigger mailbox!" Sure enough, a week later TCI's post office box was bulging with inquiries. These were the snail mail days. It was really fun!

"Tree-mendous Fun!"

Cover story! This article was written in the early days of TCI, before we required the use of helmets. Be sure to look at Part 2!

"Tree-mendous Fun!" continued.

"Out on a Limb" by Jim Morrison

This magazine is published by American Airlines for its passengers. Jim Morrison put together this article before he wrote his more famous article in Smithsonian Magazine. He had to come down to Atlanta first to see if TCI was for real!

"Offbeat Social Climbing"

Sure it's only a paragraph. But ... we got into LIFE Magazine!

"Tree Climbing for Grown-ups" by Jim Morrison, photographed by Louis Psihoyos

Perhaps the most beautifully photographed article about tree climbing ever published. This piece tells about Peter Jenkins, his connection with Tree Climbing Japan, and the heroic climb of a giant sequoia by a Japanese woman who was severely disabled in a motor vehicle accident. Be sure to download Part 2 as well.

"Tree Climbing for Grown-ups" continued.

"Tree Climbing Takes Root"

This is an edited transcript of the film that kicked off the CBS "Sunday Morning" series "To the Fullest." Aired on October 20, 2002, it's the story of Peter and Patty (a polio survivor dependent on crutches to walk) Jenkins' adventure preparing for and climbing a 1,000 year old Sitka spruce and spending the night at 167 feet above the forest floor. Get a good look at their incredible tree, meet some of the folks who they were with, and be sure to read through to the surprise ending!

The 2004 Tree Climbing Rendezvous

This picture of participants at the 2004 Tree Climbing Rendezvous in Nebraska, organized by Tim Kovar ("Tengu"), is pretty neat. Do you see anyone you know?

No thumbnail image here! Be surprised at what you see -- like we were! -- when you open this up.

"You're in the Oak Room, sir" by Nicholas Roe

You'll get a kick out of this reporter's account of the first night he spent aloft. The "grove" featured is the Mighty Oak Tree Climbing Company, in Cornwall, England. Here they offer two meals and overnight camping in the treetops. If you've ever wondered what it's like to sleep in a tree, you'll enjoy this piece.

"Top Ten Outdoor Adventures"

TCI found out that we were rated #9 on the 2006 "must do" list of activities by National Geographic Adventure Magazine when we started to get a barrage of emails from friends who had seen the companion piece on ABC's Good Morning America show. Pretty exciting stuff!

"Sittin' On Top of the World" by Sam Boykin

This magazine is on all US Airway flights. The story is about Bob Wray, who runs Blue Ridge Tree Climbing, which is nestled in the Appalachian mountains near Meadows of Dan, Virginia. Wray has a unique perspective on life, as many recreational tree climbers do. This article highlights Wray's art, gently showing a new climber the peace which can be found in the treetops.

"Into the Treetops..." by Kari Bodnarchuk

Bodnarchuk has penned many good articles about recreational tree climbing, and this is certainly one of them! It features tree climbing facilitators Andrew ("Moss") Joslin and Paul Buck, and master instructors Tim ("Tengu") Kovar and Genevieve Summers. The Globe spotlighted a climb in Franklin Park with some good photography.

"Up a Tree" by Janice Arenofsky

This piece highlights some well-known women climbers, including Sophia Sparks of New Tribe; and gives lots of important advice for tree-climbing wanna-bees. It's a very useful article for new climbers.