I was attending a recent ISA event and overheard a young climber seeking advice about doing the gnarly stuff in tree work. The response was well intended and does have a bit of truth: “It’s easier with people you trust.”

Being with those you trust is necessary for a rooted communal confidence, but it is not immediate enough to remain in the moment during dynamic situations. Such situations require release of the thinking/calculating mind and use of the much faster, smoother, instinctual mind, just below consciousness. To help invigorate this way of being, we can take care of the mental hurdles that arise during situations of distress.

A simple practice

Once you get to your main tie-in point for working the tree, before you start planning your route, ask yourself, “Why am I up here right now?” Know why you are putting yourself into situations most people would do anything to avoid. The unique opportunity of reading the lay of the canopy, feeling movement involving swings with immediate flow down a hurdle of branches, maneuvering around smaller epicormic growth. All while managing the fall of your tail and maintaining sensible rope angles.

The act of being present in this moment is one of the reasons I have kept climbing. It may be the simple urge you can’t explain to be with the trees. Knowing yourself in the everyday enjoyment will lead to being able to focus on more demanding situations. The feeling of unanswered inquiry is a motivational aspect of our being. You can feel it in the pit of your stomach.

While I was climbing tall and crooked coconut trees on Oahu, the recurring thought I had was, “What am I doing up here right now?” The wind would be blowing, and my heart would be pounding. I would finish the trim and look around. Hundreds of people bound to the earth would never get to experience where I was in North Shore Oahu from the perspective of a coconut tree.

Big-wave surfers train for being sucked under the wave, not saving that emergency situation for the question of, “What am I doing here?” The type of internal inquiry they practice is the same we should be doing, well before we get to the stage in the arborist career that involves high risk.

Breathing exercises and other helpful actions

Though we likely will not need to be able to hold our breath for minutes at a time, we can take a page from the surfers’ book. There are many breathing exercises that are free and always available without putting another gadget on your harness. Hard and full, deep in-and-out breaths purposefully leading to longer, slower, more drawn-out breathing will slow your heart rate and help regain dexterity lost from the anxiety shakes.

“Why am I doing this?” The nervous system asks this when surprised by something new and potentially harmful. Instinct typically takes over, the body feels cold and starts shaking; your nervous system is telling you to get out of this situation. Self-reflection in the milliseconds of required action can mean the difference between health and injury. Preparation, open-mindedness, fluidity in escape options allow the journey-worker climber to put themselves up against ever-
increasing high-risk scenarios without incident.

Situations, when they go beyond what we can control, need to be controlled or trained from the personal aspect. We often joke with each other at work right before going up against a project that is clearly not straightforward with, “What’s the worst that could happen?” This lighthearted mantra brings about a spirit that calms the nerves and is much different than being empty of care.

Acting with great care, on the other hand, is behind the actions of an exceptional climber. The attitude of completely ignoring or not planning for the possibilities in each scenario while climbing is what gets apprentice climbers into trouble.

Self-awareness is key

In essence, my intuition says that the young climber was asking the right question. It was shaded with her uncertainty of whether she wanted to pursue that course. That said, the most important part of the journey, asking yourself “Why?” is self-awareness.
That gem at the center of emotional intelligence, when held with integrity, will be a guiding light while making your way through the canopy.

Charlie White, Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP), ISA Certified Arborist and Certified Tree Worker, is a climber with Northern Tree Service LLC, a 48-year TCIA member company headquartered in Palmer, Massachusetts. Additionally, he has studied Subtropical Urban Tree Care at Windward Community College.