Tree climbing as unconventional behavior

I'll be serious here for a minute) :

I normally just comment that i'm doing arboreal canopy research, pertaining to oxygen and Co2 levels in the canopy vs ground level saturations. Wave your cellphone about to mimic taking readings, orr carry a cheap O2 sensor device, take notes on a pad of paper, they people ont he ground cant ttell the difference....

SRT-Tech that's the best line yet!

Bring a small kite with you folded up and quickly stick it on a branch when the gendarmes arrive. "Er umm, I'm getting my nephew's kite down! He cried all night about it and couldn't sleep, it's an act of mercy for which I'm risking my life". Or some such baloney. It helps to leave a dozen fresh donuts and a thermos of hot coffee at the base of the tree, if you're not in bear country. If you are in bear country just leave a thermos, bears are wacky good fun when they're caffeinated plus you can really improve your limbwalking skills trying to escape from them. I can stand on twigs, no problem!

But... it's not so much a worry when you're addressed by an officer of the law from the ground, unless there's a big sign that says no tree climbing $2,000 fine or 30 days in jail. You just get out of the tree. You have the opportunity to educate. Want to try hanging on the rope officer?

Clearly the challenge is how to convince the powers that be to allow you to stay in the tree. But this has never happened to me. Luck or cunning calculation? Or just the fact that people rarely look up even with bright colored ropes dangling in front of their face. "Hey up here, yes officer I'm up here, oh forget about it, enjoy the donuts and leave me some coffee, thanks!"
-moss

A cat stuck in a tree seems like a legitimate reason to climb.

Can we train cats to climb trees for us? Possibly a new sport similar to falconry.

Although less convenient than a folded kite, a cat in your pack could make for a convincing story.

Ok,OK, already! So here we stand conditioned by our society to be “normal” and abide by the rules. Many of us here have been caught in the act of tree climbing. I personally have been verbally abused by “men of the law.” They have hollered up to me telling me to “Come down out of that tree!” and I have complied, just like when my mama yelled at me when I was a kid. (I must admit to passive aggressive behavior during down climbing as I took my own sweet time to come out of the tree. A few fake slips served well to heighten the drama).

Has anyone else here suffered a worse consequence of tree climbing? Anyone go to jail yet? Anyone been stoned (rocks – darn you!). Lawsuits anyone? How about financial loss (losing a bet does not count)? How about loss of a relationship? Maybe it is best not to go there. What punishment has been dealt out to you other than not getting what you want- a great climb in a lovely tree?

Have I stopped this thread because there is no direct answer to the question of consequences related to tree climbing? Is the silence here confirmation that no one has had a direct punishment dealt out from tree climbing activities?

This is why I am asking for details. I witnessed rock climbing from the early beginnings as a boy in Rocky Mountain National Park. This area is the number two area for rock climbing in North America next to Yosemite. It used to be illegal to climb in the park. Climbers that got caught had their gear confiscated and they got a fine. In time it became a rite of passage to climb and get caught. In other words, getting caught was not a deterrent. What I want to know is if people are currently getting caught climbing trees and getting fined? Where is tree climbing in this respect when compared to the history of rock climbing?

I have heard one ranger rant about how if they discovered a climber in their trees, how they would stake the tree out and prosecute the climber to the fullest extent when they came down. But to my knowledge this has not happened yet. This might be partially due to the fact that tree climbers by nature are respectful kinds of folks that avoid confrontation. After all, there are plenty of trees to climb, so why rock the boat? I can certainly say that in my youthful rock climbing days (early 1960’s) a respectful distance from the law was not an issue. Conflict was actually an attractant.

An interesting post note to this unlawful Colorado behavior is that the rangers found themselves spending too much time chasing climbers that the real threat to the natural lands (thoughtless tourists) was left unattended. In time a system was opened up to where it is now quite legal to climb in the park. You have to sign in first and sign out (or they come looking for you with a rescue team) and be responsible for any rescue costs. You can’t climb when certain birds are nesting (falcons I think) and rock disfigurement is banned (pitons and bolts). It is a classic case where climbers were resisted but in time were accommodated because there were just too many to deal with.

Please excuse my diversion here. We were talking about (in a light hearted way) what to do when we get yelled at and why don’t they leave us alone and go for some real bad actors. Maybe we should continue the original topic. What do you think?

Is there a holding "cat" instead of a folding "kite" as mentioned by Guardabosques, that you can carry with you in the tree? Maybe this should be in the "gear" section of the board.
No encounters w/ the law to report yet.

Sevral times I've had concerned members of the public try and acertain whether or not i'm suffering from depression and intend on causing an incident. They usually leave baffled when i say i'm having fun.

Anyone else have their mental health questioned?

Suicide?
No, that would be “freeclimbing” Sir!

Bareroots,
As I recall, your preferred style of climbing might indeed appear as an attempt at suicide to the untrained eye.
Click on the following link and let me refresh our viewer’s memory. . .
http://www.tci-forums.com/viewthread.php?tid=287&page=2#top

Confidence and physical strength in massive doses:
Freeclimbing!

Society decides what it accepts. All you decide is whether or not that deters you from being yourself and doing your thing. Example, Harley's were the motorcycle of criminals. Then it changed and society thought they were cool. What changed? Society changed what it accepts.
As for climbing rock faces or trees, they're different. Yes, they are both "at-risk" activities. But, tree climbing is much more subversive. Heck, I've even seen a book that shows how to grow certain plants up in trees.
I agree with Peter that tree climbers are non-confrontational types who usually are willing to get yelled out of a tree. Yeah, it bugs us. But we keep risking it because we like to climb. I don't see myself as part of a movement that is going to change the public's view of tree climbers.
I'm not interested in what the public thinks. I'm too busy trying to get up in a tree and keep my body in good shape.
I appreciate that there is a community of tree climbers who value their tree time.

I think that one way into the parks is to teach introductory climbs to at-risk and disabled youth.
I think a normal value of society is that "you have to care enough to do for others" to make a difference.
Compared to rock face climbing, tree climbing is accessible (still subversive for adults to be doing it). But, I know many non-climbers who would love their kid to be able to climb DRT.
So, I think that is the dichotomy that could support us into the parks.

a wise person once said that its easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission