Peter "Treeman" Jenkins

Gear Check for Winter Down Time

Some tree climbers don’t climb year ’round. Here’s a situation: It’s cold outside. The temperature hovers around 10 degrees and the wind is howling more than 25 miles per hour, making a wind chill of -11 F. You live in the North, so the concept of being cold is not an alien visitor as it would be to someone living in the South. But climbing right now just doesn’t fit your comfort level and going for a survival experience does not seem to motivate you. What is there for a tree climber to do?

 

It’s time to inspect the tree-climbing gear. Why do this?

•        Functionality. You want everything to work properly.

•        Safety. You don’t want any piece to fail.

•        Connection. It is something to do and keeps you connected to your favorite outdoor pursuit.

•        Timing. You won’t have time to do this once the chilly season backs off and climbing season returns.

•        Love of gear. You love your gear, and caring for it brings pleasure.

 

What do you inspect? Start with the gear that supports life:

•        Ropes

•        Saddles

•        Carabiners and screw links

•        Lanyards

 

Then move on to the other pieces of gear that make tree climbing possible:

• Throw bags
• Throw lines with accompanying storage devices
• Helmets
• Slingshot rubber and pouches
• Rope bags and tarps
• And the pile of tree-climbing toys…. er, tools, that keeps mounting higher.

 

 

How long will this take you? What are you worrying about? You now have time! If you have a lot of gear, it will take time. It will be lengthy for me because I run a tree-climbing school with mountains of gear. But for others it might not take so long.

 

Enjoy your quality time with the gear. Thank that shiny carabiner for not letting you down. Click the gates and hear it lovingly talk back in special language only you can hear. Guys, you might sniff that perspiration-stained saddle and debate if it warrants a washing. Be the gear! It will be your best friend when climbing season comes around again.

Winter Tree Sounds for Tree Climbers

Here is an obscure word for tree climbers to banter around. It’s “psithurism .” It’s a mouthful of a noun not often heard these days but certainly appreciated by practicing tree climbers and other outdoor folks.

 

Here is what Wordcraft has to say about it:

“psithurism – the sound of the wind rustling the leaves

 “A lovely concept, but a strange-looking word. I wonder if this is in any way related to the genus name of parrots, Psittacus.

“A reader notes: I'm almost certain that ‘psithurism’ comes from the Greek word ‘psithyros,’ which means whisper.  A second reader confirms, from OED.  Thank you!”

The sound of wind passing through a tree has always fascinated me. To me, trees have vocal chords and wind passing through creates the “voice.” Some trees have a high hissing voice, like hissing pine trees. Oaks have a particular voice, depending on leaf size and density. Magnolias have a leathery flapping sound much lower in pitch because of the leaf size. But winter brings an entirely different sound to the voice of trees we are familiar with while in leaf.

The bare tree’s voice produces a moaning quality in winter that brings a feeling of something lost. The level of emotion changes with the wind. One moment it gently groans while the next moment it moans with a piercing melancholy. 

“Something is lost,” the trees say. “I’ve lost my leaves that gaily twitter in the wind. I don’t make food for myself like I used to do. I don’t have sex and I’m not having babies sprout up nearby.” It’s a lonely world for the tree as it snoozes, waiting for spring to arrive.

Mood is something for the sensitive tree climber to notice. It’s something that is never static because it changes with the seasons and weather.  It’s a world of contrast for those with ears to hear.

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Differences between Wet and Dry Snow Tree Climbing

Snow changes the tree-climbing experience. Adventurous tree climbers grab their ropes and head for the trees while most folks scoot closer to the fireplace as snow falls. The latter don’t know what they are missing.

 

According to Jason Haby there are a number of differences in snow. The Inupiat Eskimo Dictionary by Webster and Zibell lists 32 types. The Eskimos LIVE snow. Most of us just experience it from time to time.

 

But for tree climbers we will just class snow into two types: wet or dry. Meteorologist Jeff Haby (http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints/346/) had more to say about the differences:

 

“Wet snow is snow that has a high liquid content as it reaches the surface. The wetness of the snowflakes makes it easier for snowflakes to stick together as they fall, thus a wet snow will often have large snowflakes and a lower number of snowflakes.

 

A dry snow has little to no liquid water content, thus this snow will be less dense than average. Dry snow is not sticky and thus it is difficult to make snowballs with it, and the wind blows it around substantially even after reaching the surface.”

 

What does this mean to the tree climber?

• Wet snow is visually pleasing. It’s like watching shredded tissue paper drift slowly to the ground.

• Wet snow is sticky. It piles up on tree surfaces. This can be dangerous at times if the snow is early in the season. Deciduous trees still in leaf catch the snow, sometimes causing branches to break. In extreme cases, trees topple. 

• Dry snow isn’t as pretty with its smaller flakes. It’s usually accompanied by colder temperatures and higher winds.
  

• Dry snow can be blown into drifts. 

 

Dress appropriately whether it is a wet or dry snow event.

• Expect wet shoes during wet snows. Use Gore-Tex shoes or grease down your leathers.  
                                                
  
• Wear water-resistant outer garments, especially a pullover with a hood and mittens. A change of dry socks nearby is advisable. 

• Wear ski goggles for dry snow if high winds are predicted. Wear an extra layer of clothing using waterproof outer garments to cover both legs and body.

 

The altered sights and sounds during snowfall are delightful. Expect unusual silence during wet snows and brisk, blurry snowfall during high wind, dry snows.

The Sound of Sleet

One of my favorite winter tree-climbing adventures is a sleet climb. What is sleet? This is what the Illinois State Climatologist Office has to say:

 

Sleet - also called ice pellets. Sleet is formed when raindrops or melted snowflakes freeze as they pass through a below-freezing layer of air near the earth’s surface. Sleet does not normally stick to trees and wires, and usually bounces on hitting the ground. An accumulation of sleet often has the consistency of dry sand.

 

Why climb during a sleet storm? It’s a natural multi-media experience.

• Sight. Little pellets bouncing all around. If it lasts long enough you get a ground coating quite different from a blanket of snow.
• Texture. Hard frozen grains of ice. They roll around in your hand like BBs.
• Sound. This is my favorite experience. Nothing sounds like falling sleet. The volume is about mid-level, much noisier than snow fall. The sound of sleet-fall on bare branches has a much different pitch than when it falls on a conifer. I climb my magnolia tree for maximum noise levels. Those leathery 4- by 9-inch leaves put out a big rattling sound you won’t hear from other trees. The bonus to magnolia climbs is privacy. No one is going to see you through those thick glossy leaves.

 

What to bring on a sleet climb:

•      Dress warm. You don’t want to get cold.

•       Wear a windbreak shell. Sometimes the sleet is mixed with rain or the sleet turns to rain altogether. You do not want to get wet while aloft.

•        Wear eye protection. You do not want your eyes struck by falling ice pellets. Prescription eye glasses, safety glasses, or comfortable ski goggles work fine.

•       Bring a high-energy snack. You do not want to get hungry out in the cold.

•       Bring a little something to drink. It’s easy to forget to drink when it’s cold. Hot is good!

 

Think I’m crazy? Tell me how crazy I am ONLY after you have experienced it for yourself.

Wind Chill and Tree Climbing

It gets mighty cold for tree climbers aloft, especially in winter. The reason it’s colder in the treetops is because there is more wind. How cold is cold with wind in your face? Check out this wind chill chart to find out just how cold it will feel to your skin. 

 

Here’s an example: It is 30 degrees outside with a breeze of 10 mph. You have on a long-sleeve shirt and a jacket and go running out the door to your favorite tree. You get up to the top where the wind is a STEADY 10 miles per hour and you freeze! It’s a wind chill of 21 degrees up there and you do not have enough clothes on. Those expensive leather gloves aren’t doing you much good either because you can barely feel the rope in your hands, they are so numb.

 

Here are some things you can do on your next climb:

• Dress in several loose-fitting, lightweight layers. Wear another layer for your legs with an outer garment if you intend on hanging around in the top of the tree.
• Cover what you put on with an outer garment that is water-repellent. Make sure it also has a hood, because the head needs protection too.
• Use mittens instead of gloves. You get warmer hands when your fingers are touching each other than when they are separated. Down fill or fiber fill are best. Get the ones that have a tight weave shell and drawstrings at the wrist.
• Wear a hat or cap inside the helmet. Then pull the outer garment’s hood up over the helmet when you get to your resting place. If the wind kicks up, pull the hood up earlier.
• Have a high-energy snack with you. Eat BEFORE you are hungry.
• A hot beverage makes your adventure worth all the effort at the top.
• NEVER toss a layer of clothing out of the tree if you get too warm. Wrap it around you if you take it off, or slow down your climbing pace.

 

Don’t let wind chill keep you away from the trees in winter. You don’t have to buy top-of-the-line mountaineering clothing. Dress sensibly in layers and you will be fine.

Winter Tree Climbing Food - Keeping Your Bodily Fires Burning

It’s a law of survival to stay warm if you go out in the winter to climb trees. But it’s not just about wearing the appropriate clothing. It’s about eating food to burn calories that create heat. Now is the time to eat foods high in caloric count. Winter is not the time to think about losing weight if you are going to climb trees.

Think of food like you would a campfire. Princeton University University has a unique way of classing different types of food while comparing them to wood. 

•        Kindling. Simple sugars - They burn up quickly. Sugar, honey, and molasses are examples.

•        Sticks. Complex carbohydrates - They burn brightly like sugar but maybe a little slower than kindling. Bread, rice, vegetables, dried fruit, and macaroni are examples.

•        Logs. Protein - They burn slower than carbohydrates and double as body builders. Meat, fish, dairy products, and grain are examples.

•        Logs. Fats - They burn even slower than protein because it takes more energy and water to break them down. Nuts, cheese and eggs are examples.

How much of the above categories do you need to eat? Refer again to the Princeton food table .

•        50% kindling and sticks (sugar and carbohydrates)

•        20% logs (proteins)

•        30% logs (fats)

You’ve heard of counting calories, right? It’s usually associated with losing weight. But counting takes a reverse course when you’re thinking about staying warm: More is good. If you are sitting behind a computer, like I am now, you need only about 2,500 calories a day. But if I grab my 50-pound pack and head for the woods, I’ll need double that amount of calories, if not even more on a cold day.

One last thing about fuel, calories, and tree climbing: Do as the athletes do; eat before you are hungry or cold. It’s too late if you run out of gas and then eat. Force yourself to eat if needs be for maintaining energy and heat levels. You’ll have more fun tree climbing when you are fueled up for energy and warmth.

Hypothermia Away From Home

Winter is the extreme of extreme seasons as far as tree climbing is concerned. The farther  away you go from shelter, the more risk you take on with hypothermia. When acute hypothermia sets in, it’s not just a simple walk to safety because the body of the victim is shutting down. The victim needs warming immediately or they could die. Here is what Tom and Joanne O’Toole in  Backwoods Home Magazine have to say about this dangerous condition:

“Once it is determined a person is becoming hypothermic, it is essential others offer aid to prevent additional body heat loss. Skin-to-skin contact is an excellent way to transfer body heat. A field measure for rewarming is to remove all clothing and place the victim in a sleeping bag or in a blanket with one or two rescuers who have also removed their clothing.

If this is not possible, build two fires and put the person between them. Even better would be four fires, to surround them with heat.

If the victim appears dead, continue trying to restore body heat. Often hypothermics appear lifeless. Yet their vital organs continue to function—but at a much lower rate—and they are alive. The medical adage is, “No one is dead until they are warm and dead.”

 

Hypothermia is a serious event, not to be taken lightly. Here are some things you can do to help make your cold-weather climb turn out as an adventure, not a survival experience.

•        Climb close to home. It won’t be nearly as perilous as a deep-woods hike to a climbing tree.

•        Forget about solo climbs. They can wait for better weather.

•        Climbing with a buddy increases safety. You can watch each other’s back, especially looking out for symptoms early on, before they get acute.

•       Having dry clothes, a blanket, or sleeping bag nearby is good insurance.

•        Having a cell phone with strong batteries is a must in case of emergency.

 

Winter is not the only time you can be hypothermic. Authorities say you can be affected with temperatures as high as 50 degrees. All it takes is a wet person and wind exposure. Even a sweat-drenched body can fall to hypothermia! You need to know what this condition looks like and be ready to act.

What Not To Do with a Hypothermia Victim

It is human nature to come to the aid of a victim. Tree climbers are especially gregarious folks, but what might appear on the surface as common sense might be the wrong aid for a hypothermia victim. Here is what Tom and Joanne O’Toole  in Backwoods Home Magazine have to say about what NOT to do:

• don’t massage the arms or legs
• don’t raise the legs
• don’t put the person in hot water
• don’t allow any type of exercise
• don’t give alcohol or drugs
• don’t administer hot drinks or hot food

“What you should do is promptly get them out of the elements, cover the head and neck to prevent further body heat loss, remove wet or damp clothing and replace it with dry garments, keep the body warm to maintain the vital organs, and handle the person gently. Gentle handling is extremely important so as to not cause ventricular fibrillation—a condition when the heart quivers but does not pump blood.”

It’s critical to do the right thing in an emergency. But half the battle is knowing what not to do. A review of these points is useful at the briefing before the tree-climbing team goes out on a wintry day.

What Hypothermia Looks Like

Tree climbers need to know the signs of hypothermia so they can act quickly. It’s good to review signs with your climbing partners before going out into the cold winter air so you can watch each other’s backs. Here is what Tom and Joanne O’Toole in Backwoods Home Magazine have to say about what hypothermia looks like.

“Once the affliction begins, many people are unable to counteract the process by themselves. When the blood to the brain is slowed, the mind fails to function correctly. There are many symptoms, but it is usually the other person who recognizes them in someone having the reactions. Frequently the person experiencing the tell-tale signs becomes too disoriented to realize what is going on.

Ignore protests that everything is okay. Denial of being cold is common, and a hypothermic may truly believe nothing is wrong. Their judgment is impaired. They become drowsy, and usually want to drift off to sleep—but to sleep is to die.

Victims can range from appearing drunk or in a delirium, to acting desperate or combative. Any of these reactions are probably a signal someone is suffering from hypothermia:

•       Difficulty with simple tasks (clumsy actions)

•        Dull eyes

•        Listlessness

•        Slurred speech

•        Incoherency

•        Confusion

•        Forgetfulness

•        Fatigue

•       An inability to control the hands, arms, legs, or feet

•        Stumbling

•        Slow breathing

•        Cold, stiff muscles

•        Uncontrollable shivering or trembling

•        The stomach cold to the touch

•        Apparent exhaustion

•        Someone dozing off and being hard to arouse

Advanced stages of hypothermia render a person unconscious, the skin turns bluish-gray, muscles are rigid, breathing is shallow, and the pulse is weak. Re-warming is crucial, and medical assistance is necessary.”

Winter is a wonderland. It is also an extreme season with the coldest days. You’ll have a memorable adventure when you venture out on that chilly day armed with good tree-climbing technique and basic survival skills, like keeping warm, dry, and knowing when trouble is on the horizon.

Hypothermia - An Enemy to Tree Climbers

Hypothermia is a deadly condition that can sneak up on a tree climber, even if it is not winter. The temperature might be fifty degrees, but if you are wet and the wind is up, you could be in trouble. Common sense says get out of your wet clothing and get to a warmer environment. But normal mental functioning isn’t always happening when a victim is in denial. “I’m all right. I’ll be OK,” the victim says through chattering teeth.

What is hypothermia? Here is what Tom and Joanne O’Toole have to say about the subject in Backwoods Home Magazine:

“Hypothermia is the rapid and drastic chilling of the body’s core temperature (normally 98.6 degrees F) during adverse conditions, and begins when the body loses heat faster than it can be replaced. As the body temperature drops because of exposure to cool air and cold water, things begin to happen in a predictable sequence. Left unchecked, it affects one’s mental condition and physical reactions, and can result in unconsciousness. The ultimate result is death.

“There are two types of this debilitating condition—chronic (long onset) and acute (rapid onset).”

Tree climbers fall into the chronic condition most of the time. The times I have experienced it is when I have been climbing after a brief, sudden rain shower without waterproof outer garments and reaching a stopping position high in the tree. My circulation slows down and the wind has increased. I’m in the treetops where winds breathe freely and panoramic views hypnotize. Suddenly I am very cold.

But  then there is acute hypothermia. Slipping in the water while fording a shallow creek seems innocent enough until the teeth start to chatter. Winter makes a tree climber more cautious but what about those not-so-cold days?

“Be prepared” is prudent advice. But spontaneous tree climbing doesn’t always fit this pattern. There are things you can do if you find yourself in a predicament of hypothermia. But first you need to know what hypothermia looks like.