How Long Have You Been Climbing?

[Greenhorn]

Have you been climbing / what age did you start?

I've got almost 6 years, started when I was 24. First two years all I had was a copy of Climbers Companion and a really old school instructor for occasional help. Then I went to a competition and met the locals and really started learning. Always worked for myself though, would have learned alot more working with experienced climbers first.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I think my first tree was around 5 or 6.

 

[Sep]

I've been climbing for about 15 years, my dad was tired at the end of the day and sent me up. Have been climbing and picking up new stuff ever since.

 

[klimbinfool]

Almost 19 years here. Didnt start until I was 25 26

 

[sotc]

Since about 17 years old in the woods. 24 or 25 years old when I got into rope climbing

 

[SkwerI]

You started early, Butch. My first tree was at age 7, when I spent the summer with my Grandfather.

For work, I just started as an extension of my lawn business. I did stuff I could reach from the ground or freeclimb, hired climbers on bigger stuff until I bought a saddle and spikes from a pawnshop. Spike climbed without a rope for a few months until I got another climber to show me the 'climbing knot'. Mostly self taught for the next 10 years, stopping and watching other climbers whenever I saw treework being done and picking up what I could from a distance. Was about 30 before I got any formal training at all. About 10 years ago I got a computer and eventually started picking up better info online. About the time I started getting real good is about the time I bought a bucket and quit climbing so much.

But to answer the question, almost 25 years since I bought that first saddle and spikes.

 

[Old Monkey]

I got a juvenile citation at age 12 for being 70' up in a eucalyptus tree on city property: misuse of park property. I started doing it full time in 1999.

 

[Wagnaw]

since 2004.

 

[treesmith]

Hired on with Asplundh at 18. Climbed for 5 years...then foreman for 2 1/2 years. Went into business for myself nearly 17 years ago. Twenty-four years total in the saddle.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

2005 I started on spikes. Climbed trees like crazy as a kid.
Had to learn how to climb because of my business in fire protection. The more I climbed, the more I realized I needed to learn better and more safe and modern techniques.. So I started to do some research.
Self taught with research and the help of my fellow housers.

 

[Greenhorn]

Dont feel so bad about starting a lil late then. My brother is 38 and just started, doing well too. He stays in outstanding shape though.

 

[Monkeywithasaw]

about 12 years started with the forest service during wildfire season up in idaho

 

[OTGBOSTON]

First job with a tree co at 21 in 1997. Started climbing shortly thereafter...got my CA in 2000.

 

[squisher]

I can't remember exactly around 8 years of bush climbing and I've been learning the ropes for about 4 years now.

 

[rangerdanger]

Like Butch, since I was 5 or 6. Rope climbing since 8 or 9, serious rope climbing for 1 or 2 years.

 

[simplypete]

4 years in the trees and about 5 years before that on rock and lift towers. Ran saw for the Forest Service. Wildfire and thinning projects. Ran fence in the Idaho mountains clearing brush. The first tree I climbed I set protection and had a belay from the ground. I am glad I took those first steps. I started doing my own work about 3 years ago. Lots of books and Internet learning. I am a novice.

 

[top hopper]

I started in 92'. So I guess that'd be 17 years now. I was 19 years old and indestructible.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I started getting paid for climbing in '77, straight outta the Navy.

 

[top hopper]

The old veteran.

 

[Stumper]

Rope and saddle.......38years. But I didn't climb very much prior to 1985.......and have never been a great climber.

 

[thattreeguy]

like butch i was the 5 to 6 yr old climbing everything, school trees, golf course....
started trimming around 6th grade (hack),
I was the kid on the bicycle, that someone put to work
rope and saddle 7th grade1988
stayed on full time 40 hrs a week, and went to continuing ed high school 40 hrs a weekso six years graduated in 94
before i took 2 yrs to go in the army, and again ever since 97 when i got out
geez now it 2009, traveled about 1/3rd of the us doing tree work
go 21 yrs of doing it minus a 2 yr break......19 yrs of climbing full time

 

[rumination]

First job with a tree co at 21 in 1997. Started climbing shortly thereafter...got my CA in 2000.

I'm the same age as you and started climbing the same year too.

 

[Blinky]

Trees? since I was 5 or 6... trees full time for money? since 2005. Vertical rock? since 1977

 

[DMc]

Started in the tree care industry in 1968. The guy I worked for was a Berkeley cop and though he had insurance it was pretty much the typical part time "hack"; pickup, chainsaws, no chipper. The difference was Ed was a former logging camp worker and pole racer of some note so he knew what he was about. Ed went on to become one of the most prominent names in the tree industry.

Have seen a lot of changes. Some I like, some I can live without.

So I guess about 40 years. Do like trees.

Dave

 

[Widow Shooter]

Climbed out of my crib at 12 months and since then, everything I could my Mom says...

Trees as high as I could from about 4 or 5, I would guess, Rock climbed in my early twenties, lots of roofs, bowhunting from trees for 20 years plus, spur climbed first about 6 years ago, rope climbing for the last few,

Wish I had of got into it sooner, but I'm in good shape and like the Arborwear logo says, "built to climb"

I figure i have another 25 years or more of good climbing