Professional Tree Climbing

Only available September-March

• Topics covered and duration of program are determined by the participant’s experience level, climbing style, and what they would like to learn.

• Perfect for tree work companies with new climbers, or climbers who are looking to improve their skills and learn techniques to increase productivity and reduce accidents and fatigue.

• Eliminates the frustration and risk of job site training.

• Also suitable for those interested in recreational tree climbing.

• Tree climbing safety will be stressed in accordance with the ANSI Z133 safety standard for the tree care industry.

Topics:

• Tree, site, and gear inspection

• Choosing a tie-in point

• Throwline and setting a climbing line

• Knots and friction hitches

• Double rope ascending techniques (footlocking the tail, foot ascender, body thrust)

• Advancing your climbing line

• Safety lanyard use

• Limbwalking and body positioning

• Redirecting your climbing line

• Cambium savers and floating blocks

• Body positioning while cutting

• Rigging – applied forces and mechanical advantage

• *Using spikes and other removal techniques – climbing on a spar

• *Proper pruning cuts
*We do our climbing seminars in public parks, some techniques will be discussed and simulated, but not practiced.

All Climbing

Frequently Asked Questions

By appointment only – call or email to schedule

How difficult is it? -Climbing requires a moderate level of physical fitness and uses muscle groups that most people don’t use on a regular basis. Most adults find it to be relatively challenging.
How many people are in a class? – Our professional climbing courses have a 2:1 maximum participant to instructor ratio.
How long is the class? -Classes are usually about 4-6 hours of hands-on instruction and climbing.
How much does it cost? -$325 per participant.
Who teaches the class? What are their qualifications?

–Scott Ross has been working in the arboriculture industry since 2003. After working as a climbing arborist, he combined his experience in the tree world with his background in outdoor adventure programming with Riverside Outfitters to build the foundations of Riverside Camps and Climbing. He is an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Tree Climber and an ISA Certified Tree Climber Skills Evaluator.

–Jocelyn Lohse has worked in recreational tree climbing with Riverside Outfitters since 2010. She spent the off seasons doing production tree work for True Timber Arborists and earned her International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist and Tree Worker Climber Specialist. She has been competing in ISA’s climbing championships on the international level since 2011.