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Glossary of tree climbing and related terms
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A
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Aeration:
Breaking up of soil matter to allow for more air to penetrate down.
Anchor (point): (also see Tie-in point or TIP): The
spot in a tree over which a climbing rope is either looped or tied off.
Arboriculture: Cultivation and caring for trees and
shrubs. |
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Arborist rope:
Standard for tree climbing due to its polyester outer sheath, which is
more temperature resistant that the nylon sheaths of rock climbing
static or dynamic ropes.
Ascenders: Mechanical device(s) used for going up a
rope, usually in SRT. |
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B
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Biodiversity:
Short for biological diversity, includes the variety of species,
genetic diversity within a species, and the diversity of ecosystems
within a recognizable area.
Biomass: Organic material.
Bitter end: A stopper knot tied near the standing
end on a doubled rope system to prevent the climber from descending off
the end, thereby disconnecting the doubled rope and falling.
Branch: Part of a tree growing out from the trunk,
leader, or other main limbs. |
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Branch collar:
Junction between branch and another branch, trunk or leader, often a
ring of wood tissue.
Branch route: A climbing route that ascends or
descends away from the trunk.
Bridge: In the doubled rope system, that portion of
the rope that connects the "up" rope (working part) with the "down
rope" (standing part) |
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C
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Cambium:
The sensitive, thin layer of living, dividing cells under the bark of
trees.
Cambium saver: Device used to protect the sensitive
tissue of a tree from the abrading effects of a moving climbing rope.
The two basic styles are hoses/tubes which rest on top of the branch or
in a crotch and through which the rope slides; and false crotches,
which are draped over the anchor point and have two rings hanging
below, through which the climbing rope passes.
Canker: Dead or diseased trunk, often with missing
bark. A climbing consideration.
Canopy: The uppermost parts of trees in a forest or
grove, forming a continuous cover.
Canopy shyness: The crown of one tree retreating for
the encroaching crown of another due perhaps to either shading or
abrading effects.
Carabiner: A coupling link with a hinged gate, often
spring loaded. Carabiners come in many shapes such as pear, oval, "D",
and styles such as auto-locking, screw-gate closure, and accessory
(non-life support). |
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Champion tree:
A tree judged the largest of its species in a certain area, using a
point system combining the diameter at breast height (DBH), the tree
height, and the average crown spread.
Climax community: A plant community at the final
stage of its successional sequence.
Clip-in point: Place on the harness where a rope is
attached by means of a carabiner or other device.
Community: Species living and interacting in an area.
Compost: Decayed organic material that acts or can
be used as fertilizer.
Conifer: Tree or plant bearing a cone, and whose
leaves are either needles or scales.v
Coniferous: Category of conifer trees.
Crotch: The fork formed at connections between
branches, leaders, and trunk.
Crown: The branching, spreading, leafing upper part
of a tree. |
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D
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Deadwood:
(n) nonliving tree tissue, such as dead branches, twigs, etc. - (v) the
act of removing dead wood from a tree.
Deciduous: Category of trees that shed their leaves
annually. Also known as broadleaf trees or hardwoods.
Descenders: Mechanical device(s) used for coming
down a rope, usually in SRT.
Delta screw link: Triangular shaped coupling device
with a screw down closure often used for harness clip-in points, whose
principal advantage is being equally strong in all three directions,
providing more omni-directional loading flexibility. |
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Disturbance:
Natural or artificial occurrences that affect the normal dynamics,
functioning, or successional state of a patch, landscape, or ecosystem.
Double(d) Rope Technique - DdRT or DRT: Climbing
technique using one rope looped over a branch or crotch, in order to
gain a 2-to-1 strength advantage and utilize a single system for both
ascent and descent.
Drip-line: Circumference of the crown, as outlined
on the ground. |
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E
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Ecosystem:
The sum of interactions between a community of species and the
non-living components of its environment, such as temperature, soils,
water, and elevation.
Ecotone: Area of transition, edge, or overlap
between at least two distinct ecosystems.
Emergent tree: A tree whose height rises above those
surrounding it, providing unobstructed vistas. |
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Endangered
species: A species or subspecies that is in jeopardy of becoming
extinct.
Endemic species: A species found nowhere else in the
world.
Epiphyte: A non-parasitic plant growing on another
plant or tree.
Evergreen: Plant or tree that keeps its leaves
throughout the year, or sheds leaves after having first grown new ones. |
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F, G
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False crotch:
See cambium saver.
Friction hitch: Hitch whose design and physics
allows the climber to ascend, descend, or remain in place. Often the
main climbing hitch, e.g., Blake's hitch.
Facilitated climb: Climb where facilitator remains
on the ground helping climbers into and out of equipment, managing
climbers activities aloft, and being responsible for overall safety.
Facilitator: Person who conducts a group, program,
or similar climb.
Flush cut: Branch pruning technique whereby the
branch collar is removed along with the branch, resulting in increased
risk to the tree from disease, decay, or physical stress. |
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Grove: A
small assemblage of trees. In tree climbing, the physical site of
climbing activities. Also used to describe a community or group of tree
climbers, or a recreational tree climbing business.
Growth ring: Delineated annual addition of wood,
whose width and characteristics reflect growing conditions.
Guided climb: Climb in which all climbers, including
the leader or lead climber, leave the ground and climb together. |
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H - K
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Habitat:
Physical conditions that determine where organisms live and get the
food, water, shelter and living space they need to survive.
Hand: The feel of the rope.
Hazard tree: Tree posing a significant risk to
people or property.
Heartwood: The densest, inner section of the tree
trunk, surrounding the pith/core.
Hitch: A knot that fastens a rope to another rope or
to something else. |
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Indigenous
species: Native to the area; not introduced, exotic, or invasive.
Instructor: Person who teaches others climbing,
facilitator or instructor skills.
Knot: Interlacing of material in one or more ropes
to either secure or form a lump. |
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L - O
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Lateral: A
branch growing out from the side of another branch, leader, or trunk.
Lead climber: The climber who proceeds first and is
responsible for either setting lines or inspecting conditions above.
Leader (tree): A major upright trunk portion.
Leaner: A tree that deviates significantly from
vertical. A climbing consideration, depending on species, degree of
lean, and other inspection factors such as root upheaval.
Limb: Similar to branch, but generally more
substantial. |
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Mature tree:
Tree that has attained the majority of its full crown height and
spread, or a significant portion of its expected life span.
Mulch: Material such as wood chips, bark chips, or
grass clippings spread over the ground or around a tree or plant to aid
in soil moisture retention, reduced soil compaction, or otherwise
benefit the tree, plant, or soil.
Niche: The function, opportunity, or "job" available
to a living thing in an ecosystem. |
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P - R
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Phloem:
Wood tissue layer that carries photosynthate sugars (the product of
photosynthesis) and other nutrients down from the leaves.
Photosynthesis: The process by which green plants
manufacture simple sugars and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water, in
the presence of sunlight.
Pioneer species: Early successional species that are
often first to colonize habitats not yet suitable for other species.
Pitch: 1) The act of throwing (v); or the throw
itself (n), of a line or rope into or within a tree. 2) Tree or pine
resin.
Pith: The center core of the wood, surrounded by the
heartwood.
Pollination: Transfer of pollen from the male part
to the female portion of a plant.
Pollinator: An organism that pollinates flowers.
Pruning: Purposeful removing of branches, twigs,
leaves, etc. |
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Restoration:
As a management strategy, the process of attempting to reestablish the
original condition of a degraded environment.
Recreational tree climbing (RTC): Climbing for
purposes other than commercial or tree care/work. Climbing activities
that focus on experiencing the tree or the relationship of the climber
to the tree, forest, or nature.
Root collar: Above-ground junction between root and
trunk, often flared. |
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S
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Sapwood:
Most recently added wood layer, between heartwood and bark.
Shout calls/commands: Universal RTC language called
out to others in or near the tree as shorthand communication concerning
dangers or conditions. E.g. "Headache!" to warn of a falling object.
Single Rope Technique - SRT: Climbing technique
using a single rope, usually with one end either cinched around a
branch, or tied off to the base of a tree. Has the advantage of a 1:1
strength to vertical movement, and the use of most of the length of the
rope for elevation gain.
Soil compaction: Compression of soil material from
surface pressures of heavy mechanical or human use, resulting in a
reduction in aeration and moisture infiltration.
Species: Populations of individuals that look and
behave similarly, and are able to breed and produce fertile offspring
under natural conditions.
Split-tail: Short accessory line between harness and
main climbing rope incorporating the climbing hitch in order to reduce
friction and wear on the main climbing rope along with other benefits.
Standing end/part: The non-working end of the rope,
or the part below or moving down in DdRT (the "Down" rope). |
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Stopper knot:
Inline knot tied near the tail to prevent another knot or hitch from
moving or rolling off the tail.
Succession: The natural process by which plant
communities replace previous ones over time.
Sucker: Shoot arising from the base of a tree or
from an underground root.
Sustainability: Maintenance and use of ecosystems or
human systems to ensure prolonged functioning of natural processes,
preservation and non-depletion of resources.
Super System: A modification utilizing pulleys top
and bottom to turn a doubled rope into a tripled rope, thereby granting
a 3:1 strength advantage to climbers.
Switchover: Setting a new anchor within the tree
once aloft, usually using the standing end of the climbing rope, for
the purpose of proceeding up, down, or laterally.
Symbiosis: Literally "living together"; two
organisms living closely associated for extended periods of time, with
at least one species benefiting from the relationship. |
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T
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Tail:
Either end of a length of rope.
Tame tree: A tree that has been previously climbed
and has received pruning or deadwooding attention.
Thinning: Removal of a portion, or a limited number,
of the trees in a forested area, usually of varying sizes, ages, and
species as part of a forest management plan.
Threatened species: Species or subspecies in
jeopardy of becoming endangered.
Throw line: Thin line used for tree entry and
switchovers, used to connect to and set main climbing rope or stronger
throw line.
Throw weight/bag/ball: Weight tied to the end of the
throw line and thrown over a branch or into crotch for the purposes of
setting a climbing rope. |
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Tie-in point
(TIP): (See Anchor) Also used by some to refer to the clip-in
point, the place on the harness where a rope is attached by means of a
carabiner or other device.
Traverse: A switchover between two trees.
Tree entry: The initial pitch or throw into the tree
from the ground using a throw line, climbing rope, or other means.
Tree-line: The transitional zone or edge (see
Ecotone) between forest and alpine tundra. Also known as timberline.
Trunk route: A climbing route that ascends or
descends in close proximity to the trunk. |
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U - Z
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Widow-maker:
A hanging or hung-up branch or limb in danger of falling and
potentially causing serious harm.
Wild tree: A tree that has not been previously
climbed, and has not received pruning or deadwooding attention.
Working/running end/part: That end of the rope that
contains the friction hitch in DdRT, or that part of the rope that
leads up or above the climber (the "Up" rope).
Wound: Break or opening in the bark, caused by
cutting, abrasion, insectology, disease, etc. A climbing consideration. |
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Xeriscape:
Sustainable landscaping practice, mimicking natural ecosystems by
utilizing native species and local, non-living physical attributes,
resulting in increased biodiversity and reduced input needs.
Xylem: Layer of stored wood or heartwood in the
trunk that transports water and nutrients.
Yo-Yo system: A climbing system on a single rope
utilizing accessory line and mechanical assist devices near the climber
to achieve some of the benefits of a doubled rope system. |
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