40 Foot Fall in Costa Rica

Wild Tree Climbing and Guiding Others

(Posted by Patty on behalf of Tim Kovar)

This post has been prompted by the recent accident that happened on Feb. 5th 2014, when a few tree climbers led a group of both novice and experienced tree climbers into the tropical jungle of Costa Rica.

The accident occurred when Andy Anderson, an experienced tree climber, was climbing solo in the tree on a system that he developed. He fell 40’ and was only inches from the ground before his climbing knots caught him. His incident report is posted in this thread, above. A private page on Facebook has also been created (ask the admin for access).

Andy admits he did not follow standard protocol. I talked with him about a week after the accident, and he explained the situation to me in great detail. We agreed that several safety issues were overlooked, some of which may have prevented his fall. It is not my intention to pick apart what went wrong. There is plenty of discussion about that on Facebook and the TCI message board.

I believe that professional Tree Climbing Guides (guides who run tree climbing expeditions as a business venture, with paying clientele) have serious obligations when they take people into wild areas. In addition to having the proper training, they need strong leadership qualities, and need to be prepared for a variety of unique set of circumstances before guiding others into a wilderness environment.

Also, guiding an expedition-style tree climbing adventure requires a different set of rules than facilitated tree climbs. Hosting a facilitated tree climb in a city park is completely different from taking climbers 200 feet up into a coastal redwood or into the trees of a tropical jungle.

I would like to address how Tree Climbing Planet (TCP), with the blessings of Tree Climbers International, conducts tree climbing expeditions into wilderness areas. I have been leading guided tree climbs into tropical environments for 15 years and learn something new on each trip.

The following points are not a replacement for proper training, but are some of TCPs protocols and guidelines for leading group climbs into wild trees.

• All guides have successfully completed the proper training courses (according to the TCP/TCI protocol) and have ample climbing experience in the chosen environment.

• An opening ceremony and safety talk is given at the start of every expedition, and every member of the expedition must be present.

• A ratio of 3 climbers (of any expertise level) to 1 trained TCP guide is mandatory on all expeditions. When novices are aloft in a wild setting, the ratio is 2:1.

• TCP guides will be Rescue Ready at all times.

• All climbing systems will be approved by TCP guides, regardless of the experience level of the climber. (We know that there are a thousand different ways to climb a tree. It is a safety concern.)

• Proper and appropriate tree climbing equipment is mandatory. Helmets, saddles, hardware, PPE and ropes will be inspected by TCP guides. All climbers will also wear closed-toe shoes in wild trees.

• No solo climbing is allowed at any time, day or night. Every tree being climbed will have at least two climbers, and all will respect the buddy climbing system rules.

• Radios and/or whistles are required on every climb. Every climber will have a whistle.

• Evacuation policy is in place. When traveling to remote areas, you may need to arrange an on-call emergency helicopter or speed boat prior to setting out on the expedition.

• When climbing in unfamiliar territory (for example, jungle setting), a local guide is required to help with tree identification and inspection, and who can discuss and prepare the group for possible hazards.

• All climbers will have a small first aid kit on their saddle. A complete and proper first aid kit will be available on every climb.

• A satellite phone with GPS is mandatory when the group is out of cell phone range.

• Primary anchors will be approved by TCP guides prior to climbing.

• Every tree climbed will be inspected by all climbers.

• Ideally, first ascents into a wild tree will have a retrievable anchor in order to rescue the climber from the ground.

• Transfers aloft will be approved by your climbing partner.

• It is highly recommended to have travelers insurance. (see Andy’s statement)

• If traveling to foreign countries, a minimum of one expedition leader must be bi-lingual to communicate to locals.

• Slow methodical climbing is encouraged. No speed climbing around the canopy.

• Communication is a vital part of every expedition. Even novices are encouraged to speak up if they think they see something unsafe. Debriefing after each climb is a great way to pull the expedition team together and bring deeper meaning to everyone’s experience.

As more and more people enter the trees in our world, it is our responsibility as trained guides, facilitators and instructors to offer our students and clients a safe experience led by trustworthy guides and teachers.

Tim Kovar (Tengu)
International Master Tree Climbing Instructor
Tree Climbing Planet
International “Ambassador”, TCI

Thanks for another helpful post, Andy. As for the protocols, they are Tim's. He took the applicable TCI standards to a new environment, adapted them, and then created new standards appropriate to a type of expedition that is unfamiliar to those of us who climb in a temperate forest.

Hope you're healing well from your surgery.

patty