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Cornell University

Tree Climbing Resources

A crossbow used in tree climbing

While there many possible tree climbing techniques, we have settled on a subset which satisfy the following criteria for a class of 8 to 12 students and four instructors:

  • Students supervised at a 1 to 3 ratio or greater
  • As much of the gear as is practical should be sharable with collegiate rock climbing programs
  • Rigging should be lowerable as often as is practical
  • Rescue should be simple and operable without the participation of the climber
  • Systems should be minimum impact

Skillset Videos 

Tree Climbing Knots(link is external)

Getting the Rope in the Tree — Tossing(link is external)

Getting the Rope in the Tree — Rope Attachment(link is external)

Descending — Rappel(link is external)

Ascending — Texas Kick(link is external)

Ascending — GriGri Direct Aid(link is external)

Ascending — Full Circle Rig(link is external)

Ascending — Frog Type Systems(link is external)

Ascending — Double Rope Technique(link is external)

Anchoring in the Tree(link is external)

Line Launching with a Crossbow(link is external)

Blake's Hitch Drop Testing(link is external)

Expedition Videos

Tree Climbing in Borneo(link is external)

Climbing the Giant Sequoia(link is external)

Ground to Crown - Climbing the Giant Sequoia(link is external)

Tree Climbing in Costa Rica(link is external)

Tree Climbing in Madagascar

Redwoods Tree Climbing

Tree Climbing in the Republic of Georgia

 

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