I am not a big gear review person. I believe there is a piece out there for everyone, and if you keep fine tuning your climbing style you’ll find the one that fits you most. Sometimes I think it can be overrated, and we lose sight of our most essential tools as arborists: the mind and the body.

Sometimes I feel a sense of harmony in the trees I work. Especially the larger, intimidating crowns getting full treatment. This harmony, in a sense, is a trinity of the mind, the body and the tree. In my most fluid moments, this harmony takes over. As a climber I’m able to transcend all the material components of my system. Climbing with such conviction, everything turns perfect and there is a rare unison evident. You lanyard in, and you’re floating there with the dynamic movement of the tree. The work position is so rock solid that you could literally do anything that you needed with complete control. These moments are very few and far between. It is a very difficult thing to achieve consistently, especially as a production climber, when rest or dialing the tenacity back is necessary for longevity and preservation of the body. But when I experience that harmony, I know that my most essential tools are not the ones waiting in a box at the front door.

A slip, a little too much fiction or not enough on the hitch, fumbling the lanyard, and all of sudden the flow is broken and I’m immediately reminded of those tools from the material world. And then maybe it’s back to the drawing board. New hitch, new pulley (or old one repurposed), another rope, another tether.

I think I’m losing myself a little bit here to the philosophical and spiritual. muses. But I don’t care. I’m speaking from the heart when I say we need to consider the physical act of tree climbing that our bodies experience. We need to be flexible, strong, hydrated, eating well, focused, organized and well prepared. These are all aspects of the body and the mind. So if you’re more in tune with these things, it will immediately spill over into how your gear works for you. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for more efficient hardware. But don’t jump the gun with thinking that your gear makes you. Your attitude, your composure, your knowledge and the spirit you bring to tree care is what makes you.

I think it’s important to stay in shape physically as much as we can. I was fumbling around on YouTube recently and came across some cool videos from Rob Shaul’s Mountain Tactical Institute. I believe their fitness model can really be applied to how the production tree climber considers their base fitness training.

We are already in a very modern time. Gear is evolving so quickly, but I also believe that climbers are also evolving. You won’t be able to keep up physically with the demand from the market if you’re not durable enough. Injury may occur, or, as a business owner, you will feel the need to have to spend money on growth. But, I believe you can also grow by getting stronger in the mind and in the body. Instead of buying a bucket truck you think you need, maybe change your diet and start cross training. Maybe you can find the growth and productivity you need from within. Maybe not. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking over here.

I guess my point is, no one ever asked what brand of hammer John Henry swung.