Underground, Overground, Climbling Free

Susan and I discovered a fun new activity while strolling through the large fig trees in Civic Park, Newcastle last week – CLIMBLING! 
OK – that’s obviously a typo, but it was on every sign, and we love it. Like ambling and climbing combined – casual climbing! Say it out loud – climbling – doesn’t it just roll off the tongue.

What the climblers do (sorry, I can’t help myself) is like an obstacle course on high. They have to scamper about the branches of enormous trees accomplishing all sorts of tasks, like using pole pruners and handsaws or ringing a precariously placed bell.

Now before you scoff at grown men and women scarpering about like monkeys, the International Society of Arboriculture says that these competitions are all about promoting safe working practices, demonstrating improvements through equipment and techniques and providing industry recognition to the public. Susan compared it to sheepdog trials being all about honing the skills of the dogs. Not sure if the arborists would like being compared to Lassie, but it kind of fits.

So all you parents who can’t keep your kids out of the branches, take heart. There is both a career path and an international sport awaiting them. CLIMBLING!