Tree climbing is one of the more obscure outdoor activities offered at the City of Eugene’s River House Outdoor Program, but climbing the large arbors around the city is more strenuous than it seems. The program, which has been running for the past five years, hits its peak during the late-spring to early-fall months, and today’s session at Petersen Barn kicks off the season.
“It makes it sound really easy that they’re just ascending up a rope and down a rope, but actually holding yourself up on a rope is a great form of exercise,” ?Brendan Currie, a tree climbing instructor for the Outdoor Program, said.
Tree climbing participants are belayed up trees, deep into the canopy, and Currie said they can reach heights exceeding 70 feet. It’s mandatory that climbers use all the necessary protective equipment, such as ropes, helmets and harnesses. Certified instructors must provide participants with everything in advance.
“We use a double-rope tree climbing system, which is a self-belay,” Currie said. “So you have two ropes that are coming down to the ground and a knot is tied that allows people to slide up and hitch up the rope, and when they want to come they can pull gently and there’s a fireman’s belay at the bottom to monitor that.”
Hanging out 70 feet above ground in the forest canopy is a good opportunity for photo enthusiasts, bird watchers and thrill-seekers alike to take advantage of the ecosystem in the tree canopy because it’s an entirely different world than the ground. Similar to rock climbing, tree climbing provides participants with significant core and upper-body workouts.
Other events that the River House Outdoor Program will host include surfing, kayaking, rock climbing and sailing, none of which require any previous knowledge or experience to attend. Instructors with appropriate certifications are on-site at all times to instruct for safety. There are even occasional certification classes offered through the various programs.
The University’s Outdoor Program and the City of Eugene Outdoor Program have been able to work relatively closely together on their events.
“It seems like we’re pretty well affiliated,” Currie said. “We have a rafting event coming up where we’re taking a whole elementary school rafting, and I know that we’re going to be working with them.”
The program also collaborates regularly with the Eugene Public School System through its Full Moon Rising program that brings environmental education to first- and second-grade classrooms. Conservation and the environment are at the forefront of the Outdoor Program’s agenda, right alongside enjoying and playing in the outdoors.
The next tree climbing session is today from 4 to 7 p.m. and costs $10. But if you can’t make it this time, don’t worry. Classes are offered bi-monthly from now through early September, so there’s ample time to fulfill all your extreme tree-climbing fantasies.
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