The State
HOBBIES
Not Just for Kids
K
PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES ARE WELCOME AT THIS TREE CLIMBING CLASS IN OKC LED BY KENTON PETERS. PHOTOS BY BRENT FUCHS
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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2018
Recreational tree-climbing becomes a draw for OKC enthusiasts – some into their 50s, 60s and 70s.
enton Peters learned to Conley says he climbed trees in a less-safe climb a tree with ropes and manner to trim branches and put up Christmas a harness so he could safely lights, but he also wanted to take up the hobby. perform his job. Now he’s “I’ve got two teenagers that want to do it, sold on doing it just for fun. but I’ve got to figure it out first,” he says. “It’s exhilarating, being able to climb to Tom Zercher, 75, says he has wanted to a place you normally couldn’t,” says Peters, learn since stumbling across The Wild Trees, who teaches recreational tree-climbing for a book about people who pioneered climbing the Oklahoma City California’s redwoods. Parks and Recreation “It was absolutely “My wife will be very fun,” Department. “It’s fun Zercher says after happy that I do this making it to the top of and it’s safe. You are tied in, and the ropes are his rope. “I could have safely now.” not going to break. It’s a just dangled up there for great workout.” a while. I just might go buy the gear and do Peters mastered the technique when it was this again.” his job to trim trees at the Crystal Bridge John Borgert, 65, an elementary school art Conservatory at Myriad Botanical Gardens. teacher, got the itch after taking his 10-yearHe’s taught classes for about 10 years and old son to one of Peters’ classes. typically draws teenagers and 20-somethings. “Getting off the ground was a big learning But after an adults-only class was advercurve,” Borgert says. “Once you are in the tised in August water bills, more registrations air, you can’t use your other leg.” came from the bucket-list crowd. In addition to pulling with their arms, “I thought if I can play tennis, I can do climbers propel themselves, each with one this,” says 74-year-old Paul Gragg, who has leg placed in a foot loop, a separate rope ata pecan tree in his yard that he’s itching to tached to the main one. climb. “Trust your knots and relax,” Peters says After ascending to near the top of a 60to his four students as they start up the tree. foot elm in Will Rogers Gardens, where Ephraim Taylor, 31, of Broken Arrow, Peters works as a naturalist, Gragg adds: “I trims trees for a living; for fun, he enters am very glad I did this. It takes more energy International Society of Arboriculture compethan I had expected.” titions. This year he won the fast rope climb With knowledge from the class, Kevin by ascending 50 feet in 11 seconds. Taylor Conley, 52, plans to go home and practice his says competitors share new techniques, focus knots. The Blake’s hitch, the figure eight and on safety and learn aerial rescues. the overhand are essential to tree-climbing. “It’s a blast,” Taylor says of the competi“My wife will be very happy that I do this tions. “I’ve become a much better climber safely now,” Conley says. “She signed me up because of it.” for this.” KIMBERLY BURK
