Will and Bob: Thanks--beautiful. Must be wonderful to climb these trees. I am 70 now and probably past the time I could do that even if I had training and an assistant, but I am in absolutely wonderful shape, if I do say so myself. Haven't gained a pound, or an inch.
I used to climb the spruce and pine trees on my timberland--to cut out forks that would split in storms if left to grow. Of course I just climbed up the limbs, sometimes using a ladder to get up to where the limbs started. No equipment, except for straps to safely anchor me after I got to where I had to do the cutting. I would often climb up to about 50, or once in a while as much as 60 feet--and up to just about the tippy top. It was wonderful to look out over and into the tops of all the surrounding trees. Sometimes I would climb up on windy days and sway back and forth. What exhilaration! One time a big vulture swooped over me--within four feet or so. What a perspective. But what I did was nothing. I have read "The wild Trees" and enjoy the pictures of the champ lobolly you sent me to. What joy it must be to be in the tops of trees like those. --Gaines -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
