These Tree Climber and Tree Climbing newsletters from 1987 to 1998 are priceless for the information and stories they contain from the early years of recreational tree climbing. In them, Peter "Treeman" Jenkins, founder of TCI and "father" of recreational tree climbing, and other early leaders and enthusiasts talk about all things "trees" (climbing, mostly)--with invaluable information about methods, gear, gatherings, etc. THere's lots to learn and lots to laugh about, too. Enjoy!

TCI gratefully acknowledges the contributions of those whose writings and photographs helped to build our organization and pioneer technical tree climbing as a recreational activity.

Newsletter Archive Files

Premier Issue:

Premier Issue: "Discover Adventure" (1987, 16 pgs.)

  • Entire issue by Peter "Treeman" Jenkins

  • For the not-yet-climbing public: What is technical tree climbing all about?

    Also in this issue:

    The Mailbox: some of our favorite letters
    "Saddle Up! Choosing the Right Climbing Saddle" (John "Ratman" Koch)
    "Champion Trees" (Mark Collins)
    "Tree Camping" ("Flying Fred" Franklin)

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"The Treeboat" (1987, 20 pgs.)

  • By Tom Ness and Sophia Sparks

  • The gear that climbers are still using to sleep in the treetops

    Also in this issue:

    "Fantastic Climbs: The Banyan Trees of Kauai" (Ness)
    "Climber Profile: Mike Oxman" (Peter "Treeman" Jenkins)
    "True Tree Tales: Deadly Climb" (Jenkins)
    "Some Trees You Just Shouldn't Climb" (Ness)
    "Reading Hazard Signs in Trees -- Before You Climb" (Jenkins)

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"Climbing the Gennett Poplar" (1990, 8 pgs.)

  • by Tom Coffin

  • Adventure in the largest tree yet discovered in the Chattahoochee National Forest

    Also in this issue:

    "Introduction" [TCI Progress Report] and Report on the First Annual 'Tree Climbers Gathering'" (Tom Watson)
    "True Tree Tales: Bring My Birdie Back" (Peter "Treeman" Jenkins)

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"Starting a Grove" (1990, 8 pgs.)

  • by Peter "Treeman" Jenkins

  • Everything you [used to--ed.] need to know about starting a tree climbing club

    Also in this issue:

    "Overseas Report: From the Denmark Grove" (Allen Bo Jensen)

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"The Big Tree: Climbing a Coastal Redwood" (1993, 12 pgs.)

  • By Mike Oxman

  • A report on climbing some of the world's tallest trees

    Also in this issue:

    "Basic Throwball Techniques" (Corky Gallo)
    "Reading Trees" (Mark Collins)
    "Tree Trawling: Traversing with a Sharkhook" (John Koch and Corky Gallo)
    "Climber Profile: Swami Punkananda" (Tom Coffin)
    "True Tree Tales: 'That's OK, I've Already Had Two Beers'" (Peter "Treeman" Jenkins)
    "The International Scene: Bonjours des 'Accro-Branche's'" (Bernard Spenle)

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"A Rope & Harness Gets You Higher" (1993, 8 pgs.)

  • by Peter "Treeman" Jenkins

  • For the not-yet-climbing public: What is technical tree climbing all about?

    Also in this issue:

    The Mailbox: some of our favorite letters
    "Saddle Up! Choosing the Right Climbing Saddle" (John "Ratman" Koch)
    "Champion Trees" (Mark Collins)
    "Tree Camping" ("Flying Fred" Franklin)

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"Community in the Trees: Climbing with Author Robert Fulgham" (1994, 8 pgs.)

  • by Tom Watson

  • TCI's best known member/publicist, Robert Fulghum [All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten] meets TCI and Nimrod in person

    Also in this issue:

    "Adventure Ecology in the Rain Forest of Puerto Rico" (Roman Dial)
    "The Ascender Rig: Climbing Single Rope Technique" (Jeff Pugrant)
    "The International Scene: From Another Part of the Planet" (Bernard Spenle)

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"The Ethics of Tree Climbing" (1994, 12 pgs.)

  • The debate over the impact of climbing wilderness trees

    "Ethical Climbing in Wilderness Trees" by Kevin Hillery, Jon Shaffner, Steve Sillett, and Donna Attewell

    "Response to 'Ethical Climbing in Wilderness Trees'" by Tom Ness

    Also in this issue:

    "Ethics Charter Regarding the Exploration of Trees and Related Activities" (TCI/France)
    "(Proposed) Rules for Harmless Tree Climbing (Sophia Sparks and Tom Ness
    "Leg Spikes and Spurs: Unconscionable Tree Killers" (Mark Collins)

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"Tree Climbers Gathering '94" (1994, 8 pgs.)

  • A report from Black Mountain, Georgia

    Also in this issue:

    "Elders: Abe 'Sloth' Winters"
    "Tree Climbing Ethics" (Peter "Treeman" Jenkins)

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"Spring Climbing" (1995, 10 pgs.)

  • by Peter "Treeman" Jenkins

  • The delights and perils of climbing in the springtime

    Also in this issue:

    "Climbing Solo" (Scott "Mouse" Thompson)
    "True Tree Tales: Surprise in the Baobab Tree" (Anthony Kennet Kebba Kinan)
    "Southern Swamp Trek" (Corky Gallo)
    Book Review: "The High Frontier: Exploring the Tropical Rainforest Canopy" (Roman Dial)

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"Summer Climbing" (1995, 8 pgs.)

  • by Peter "Treeman" Jenkins

  • Everything you need to know about climbing on a hot summer day with bugs and birds

    Also in this issue:

    "John Muir, the Original Tree Surfer" (Tom Ness)
    "Heat Sickness -- Hyperthermia" (Jenkins)
    "Baby Birds: What To Do When You Find Them" (Carol Barrett)

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"Bat Boxes" (1996, 8 pgs.)

  • by John "Ratman" Koch

  • A practical applicaiton for rope and harness climbing!

    Also in this issue:

    "The Forbidden Fruit" [hornets' nest] (Peter "Treeman" Jenkins)
    "Tree Climber's Poem" (Cyndi Craven)
    Book Review: "The Baron in the Trees" (Corky Gallo)

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"Tree Climbing on Public Land" (1996, 4 pgs.)

  • By Tom Ness

  • What you need to know...

    Also in this issue:

    "'Tickle the Sky' Released..." (David "Mr." Stark)

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"Bow and Arrow Tree Entry" (1997, 10 pgs.)

  • By Tom Ness

  • Everything you need to know...

    Also in this issue:

    "A Treeclimber's Saga" [a game of hide-and-seek in the treetops] (Gerry "Jester" Moore)
    "What's In a Name: A Proposed Difficulty Rating System for Tree Climbers" (Peter "Treeman" Jenkins)

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"Haven't Been to Camp Since I Was a Young'un'" (1998, 10 pgs.)

  • By Tom "Brewmeister" Coffin

  • A Report from TCI's first "Tree Training Camp"

    Also in this issue:

    "Gearhead Talks Rope" ("Yoyo Bob" Waszkiewicz)
    "Grove Report: Sharon Grove Notes" (Abe Winters)
    "Champion Trees" (Patty "Juggler" Richardson)

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"Winter Climbing" (1998, 10 pgs)

  • by Peter "Treeman" Jenkins

  • Everything you need to know...

    Also in this issue:

    "Gearhead" [talks rope again] ("Yoyo Bob" Waszkiewicz)
    "Hypothermia" (Jenkins)
    "'Leafing' Through TCI's Scrapbook"

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"Tree Climbing Japan" (2000, 12 pgs)

  • by John “Treewalker” Gathright

  • A special report from the founder of Tree Climbing Japan

    Also in this issue:

    "Tree Mischief" (Peter "Treeman" Jenkins")
    "Sharon Grove Report" (Abe Winters)
    "Gearhead" [on carabiners) (Bob "Yoyo" Waszkiewicz)

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