My First Tree Climb in the Jungle
"I'm telling you dude, it's going to be the coolest climb of your life". My longtime friend and climbing YouTuber Noah Kane was convincing me to go tree climbing with him. Tree climbing is a growing sport his friends in Monteverde, Costa Rica were spearheading by using traditional rock climbing techniques to scale strangler fig trees in the jungle. Noah, born and raised in Costa Rica, was returning back to the cloud forest and was trying to convince me that a trip to Monteverde to document him and his friends developing the sport of tree climbing in the jungle was going to be worthwhile.
It didn't take much convincing after that because two weeks later I was standing barefoot on the jungle floor, roping up for my first tree climb.
My Climbing Background
Although I live in Boulder, Colorado, and regularly film, photograph, and write about climbing, I don't consider myself an accomplished climber. I've tackled about a dozen 5.9s outside, a couple of multi-pitch routes, and frequently go to the climbing gym with a group of friends. For me, climbing is more about the experiences it offers, rather than the grades I can check off on Mountain Project.
So, when I gazed up from the base of a 100-foot overhanging strangler fig tree in Costa Rica, I felt a twinge of intimidation.
Before ascending the tree, I was instructed to remove my shoes. The local crew of tree climbers, who are experts in physically demanding tree climbing, adhere to a strict environmental code when scaling these strangler figs. Trees differ from rocks despite their similarities in climbability. They are living beings, and climbing them requires mindful approaches.
Passionate about environmental preservation, the Monteverde tree climbers aim to share this unique sport in a meaningful and educational manner.
Environmental Code of the Costa Rican Tree Climbers
The main environmental protection rules for tree climbing that they established are as follows:
1) Minimize your impact on the tree. If you have to harm parts of the tree to reach the top, it's not a true ascent.
2) Refrain from tearing off branches, moss, or plants. If the bark is adorned with moss, plants, and animals, avoid climbing it.
3) Climb barefoot. Shoes can leave lasting marks on the tree and hinder its growth potential.
4) Obtain permission before climbing the strangler fig trees. Since some strangler figs grow on private property or in established nature reserves, ensure you have approval from the appropriate authorities before ascending.
5) Enjoy the climb and take in your surroundings! This recreational activity allows you to explore the canopy, so make the most of it!
Ascending the Strangler Fig Tree
After familiarizing myself with the rules, I started my ascent, reaching out blindly to find a secure hold on the tree. I located a robust root extending from the top to the base, providing a perfect grip. Climbing higher, I felt an exhilarating sense of freedom as I soared above the neighboring trees.
Finding the “holds” on the tree bark
A little over 50 feet up the route I had gained some confidence and started to develop an understanding of what parts of the bark I could trust to hold my weight and what to avoid. That confidence immediately disappeared when I reached the crux when the roots stopped running vertically down the tree and I was frozen looking at a seemingly blank tree trunk above me. I collected myself and turned my brain into problem solving mode. I looked around and discovered there was a crimp located halfway between where I was and a hole that would likely allow me to pull myself onto a jug sized root through this difficult section.
I leaned out to the sloping crimp, a strange bubble in the bark, and secured the second move to the root, scrambling my feet stressfully as it seemed there was no place on the bark for my feet to feel safe.
Taking a Moment to appreciate the magic
I collected myself at this resting location and had to remind myself that I had just completed a physically challenging rock climbing move on a few inches of tree bark in the jungle, not at a well-established crag in Boulder where most of my climbing takes place. I was still in a tree and had to get to the top. The higher up the strangler fig tree I climbed I had to push through some thin branches, climb around sections with moss to leave as little impact on the tree as possible, and avoid getting nauseous as the tree was swaying violently in the misty wind.
But finally, I made it.
100ft above the forest floor I heard tropical birds singing to each other on the other trees, felt the mist that was hydrating the plants living on the tops of the tree branches and saw a wide range of orchids bringing an impressive amount of color to what felt like a desolate and inhabitable place getting blasted by wind. Then, I repelled to the bottom. My feet didn't touch the overhanging tree after leaning backwards off the top branch and I descended through the sky blissful and happy.
Noah was right.
It was the coolest climb of my life
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This photo was taken just moments after I finished the tree climb :)
Roo is a commercial/documentary filmmaker and photographer based in Boulder, Colorado but travels all around the world for his filmmaking career. He has directed documentaries for Patagonia in California, produced films for Outside Magazine throughout Europe and Africa, camera operated for Netflix in the Rocky Mountain West, photographed among indigenous communities in South America, and has received notable recognition in his hometown of Orcas Island in Washington State for his work telling uplifting stories in the outdoor space.
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