Tree climbers branch out in Brigham City

BRIGHAM CITY — Brigham City has long been recognized for its trees with a Tree City USA designation, but this weekend, another group visited the city just for the trees.

Top tree climbers from around the state competed in the Utah International Society of Arboriculture Utah Chapter's 15th Annual Tree Climbing Championship, held at Rees Pioneer Park.

According to Mike Marett, past president, the tree climbers come from all over the state, and many of them work either for independent tree-cutting businesses or for city tree-care programs.

The five areas in which they competed Saturday afternoon involve specific skills required in their profession.

While mechanical lifts can often help them reach high tree limbs, Marett said it is not always possible to get a lift into confined areas, like someone's backyard.

The most difficult competition, and the most critical in the real world, is the aerial rescue. In this case, the climber must climb the tree and access a limb where a dummy hangs suspended from his safety harness, as if he has been injured and is unable to get himself down to the ground.

During the entire climb, the rescuer speaks to his partner as if to reassure him that help is on the way and assess the extent of injury. Once he reaches the victim, he connects the ropes and harnesses and uses the dummy's equipment to lower them both safely to the ground.

The entire thing must be completed in less than five minutes, because in the event of an actual injury, there are cases when speed is critical.

The throw-ball technique is used to help a climber get his ropes into a tree. A small, weighted ball attached to a long, lightweight cord is thrown over a strong limb and then attached to the ropes.

"They can sometimes wrap the end of the rope into a ball and get the ropes over that way," Marett said, "but they're usually just too heavy."

Two of the competition categories involve specific climbing techniques. In the belayed speed climb, the arborist almost "walks" up the tree, using a vigorous thrust of the hips to propel him forward each step. But if, for some reason, the trunk of the tree is inaccessible, then the climber uses a special loop in the rope around his feet and ankles for a foot climb.

The work climb allows the participants to demonstrate their ability to climb the tree and maneuver through its branches, completing several tasks in the process.

Twenty-nine arborists participated in all five events for a chance in the Masters Challenge, where Utah's top climber will compete in the International Tree Climb Competition in Providence, R.I., on July 24 and 25.

The International Arboriculture Society, Utah Chapter, is a nonprofit organization chartered in 1991. They and the Utah Community Forest Council have designed an arborist apprenticeship program at Utah Valley University to help individuals become certified arborists and work to educate the public about the proper care of trees.

E-MAIL: amy@benewsjournal.com