From my childhood, I distinctly remember two particular trees. The first was actually a group of old pine trees, maybe twenty feet tall (they might have been smaller, I think I was about 10-12 years old), planted in a row like a wind-break next to my best-friend’s house. There might have been ten or more of them in that row, all the same size, scraggly, but they were planted so close together that the lower branches had threaded together – and you could wind your way through the boughs from one end of the line, tree to tree, all the way to the other end without ever touching the ground. You could be Tarzan traveling along the upper reaches as you swung from limb, to sap-dripping limb. It was heaven.

Over the years those trees held forts, rope bridges, tire swings, look-outs, and a thousand games and scenarios for a very thankful group of small children. And since I don’t remember anybody breaking any bones there, I imagine our parents appreciated them too.

The other tree was an old oak tree that was in the backyard of our own house in that same neighborhood. I was a single, nondescript, oak tree with massive arms, one of which held an old green porch-type swing that I believe still hangs there now. That tree was a real climbing tree, but it was only for a few, select, close friends – no forts, no other trees to hop to, just big strong branches that could lead you to the roof, or just allow you to sit – and look out across the world.

Florida was pretty flat, it didn’t take much height to see out across the distance, but to be high, and to see out, was to rule the world – at least it felt like it at that age.

I believe I even had my dog up in that old tree a few times. And when I had a “pet” possum for a few years, I could hang “Opie” on a branch next to me while we hashed out details for a raid on the kitchen.

Life was good. Trees have provided me with great memories. I also remember groves of orange trees nearby, but they had thorns the size of a toothpick – they were only worth climbing when the fruit was in season.

High School, and then Life slowly took their toll on my association with both trees and pets. I seemed to have abandoned both without a second look while I made way through adulthood (except for a brief visit to my childhood home for my 20^th HS Reunion – pictures below).

And while it has been a long, wonderful adulthood – and pets had made their way back into my life here and there, trees had almost vanished from my psyche entirely. At least until I readjusted my view of muscle structure, and the proper way to workout (see my proper workout blurb), a few years ago.

I was lost, and now I am found (in an evolutionary, physical sense).

Currently, I live on a roof, and I own no trees. Oh, I see them in other people’s yards, but that’s no help. Luckily however, there are many parks around – but you would still be surprised at how few good, big, climbing-type trees are planted among the ornamentals (those little plum trees and whatnot). And, while the City Park Service must feel it has a duty to trim-off any branch that is lower than 8 feet from the ground, at least I haven’t found any NO Climbing signs posted yet.               So… after a few months of searching, I found three or four acceptable “climbers” within walking distance that I can rotate amongst. The requirements of a good climbing tree are few. But basic:

• Strong, thick Branches low enough to start the climb.
• A tall enough tree to make it worthwhile (It’s nice to be able to climb up another 10-15 feet once you are in the tree). The view might be the goal!
• Horizontal branches are better than those that aim upward from the trunk. The more horizontal branch space, the better – you can sit, and you can enjoy the tree.
• It’s not in someone else’s yard!
• It’s easy to return to.

That’s not many requirements, or rules. Just stay safely within your limits. Don’t fall (the more branches – the lower probability). If you haven’t climbed anything for a while, start slowly to improve your grip and balance – BE SAFE. Work up to a half-hour in a tree per week – over maybe 2 or 3 trips.

You will amazed with what that evolutionary spark will do for your body. This is what a large part of your physique was designed to do – millions of years of design. The tree was the “go-to” survival place for thousands of generations of your DNA. They ceased to be “homes” at some time in the distant past, but they continued to be a place of refuge until only a recent few thousand years ago.

For your muscles, tree climbing is the push, the pull, the lift, the hold, the hang… it is the ultimate utilization, and coordination of your arms, legs, and torso. It is not about being a child again, it is about using those muscles again.

Go up, come down, go up, climb around, and come down, again – 15 to 20 minutes worth. Repeat when possible. Enjoy!

Here is what you will notice after a little time in the trees: First, is that is is entirely unlike the gym. There are no horizontal standard-grip iron bars to grab, there are no cables, there is no one grunting next to you while they try to over-develop their evolutionary frame. There is just you – and a hundred different hand-holds – none with the same diameter, none with the same angle. Then, the limbs of the tree are warm to the touch, the pushes and pulls that are required to reach the top of the tree are all unique – every time. The weight that you are lifting is your own, and the muscles and tendon connections that will develop from this activity are the structure that that allow you to be a fully developed Human being, not a caricature. A Human being with fluid motion, and innate balance.  The experience of the tree, versus the gym, is day versus night, out-of-the-box versus IN-THE-BOX – Iron bars versus freedom…  not to mention the cost.

A tree at Neverland:

“I love climbing trees, I think it’s my favorite thing….” – Michael Jackson

(who knew? – a quote from mjjcommunity.com)

Even goats get it. Just kidding.