A tree-climbing competitors involves Bucks County – Model Slux

Revealed by Mike Newall for the Philadelphia Inquirer on 15 Could 2025

On Could 17, the area’s greatest aggressive climbers will try to be simply that in Pennsylvania’s annual, roving, Tree Climbing Competitors.

Alex Roberts has been climbing bushes for a dwelling for practically 30 years. Nonetheless, every time he clambers atop a really distinctive tree, like, say, a 130-foot tulip tree overlooking the verdant grounds of Fairmount Park, the veteran arborist will permit himself a second to take all of it in. That doesn’t occur when Roberts climbs bushes for competitors. Then, it’s all enterprise. “You attempt to keep calm and chilly,” mentioned Roberts, proprietor of a tree service known as Mountain Arborist in Valley Forge. “One of the best aggressive climbers are clean and below management.”

On Could 17, greater than three dozen of the area’s greatest aggressive climbers will try to be simply that in Pennsylvania’s annual, roving Tree Climbing Competitors, held this yr at Pennsbury Manor, William Penn‘s 43-acre reconstructed property in Bucks County. Organized by the Penn-Del Chapter of the Worldwide Society of Arboriculture, the two-day occasion follows final month’s Arbor Day of Service, when Roberts, who’s leaving the competing to youthful up-and-comers this yr, and different native tree staff, volunteered at Pennsbury Manor, expertly pruning and assessing the sprawling property’s sycamore, tulip, and oak bushes. The decades-old competitors represents the head of Pennsylvania tree-climbing, mentioned Roberts, who this yr can be volunteering as a security technician. “If you’re a severe climber, that is sooner or later in your calendar that you’ll not miss,” he mentioned.

‘The primary occasion’

Set in opposition to the picturesque banks of the Delaware River, about 30 males and 6 ladies will face off in 5 occasions designed to check particular on a regular basis arborist abilities, like velocity, precision, and emergency response. Opponents earn factors. Prime performers advance to the Masters Problem scheduled for Could 18 and sort out a frightening climb that includes setting ropes, accessing stations, and safely descending inside a 20-minute restrict. “That is what we might name the primary occasion,” mentioned Roberts, who’s 48, and competed for 10 years. The winner strikes to a world competitors this fall in New Zealand. The final time a Penn-Del competitor gained the worldwide crown was when two-time winner Bob Weber took the title in Oakland, Calif., in 1992. Prizes, like chain saws and ropes and different tree-climbing gear, are given out for every occasion. The competitors is free for company. There can be meals vans. Opponents are damaged into two courses: apprentice climbers with two years or much less expertise, and journeymen, who’re extra veteran climbers. “It’s all concerning the new era of climbers,” mentioned Roberts. “They work so exhausting all yr on their jobs and bettering themselves. That’s an enormous a part of being a climbing arborist — continuously engaged on your self. It is a day to have a good time them and to provide them one thing again.”

Lifelong journey

Roberts is a real tree-climbing believer. He was 19 when he first went to work for a tree service enterprise. He was hooked. “A working arborist has the very best job on the earth,” he mentioned. “You get to make use of your thoughts and physique. It combines science and artwork.” He spends his days tethered to a rope, excessive above the bottom, pruning bushes on folks’s properties, eradicating useless limbs to enhance bushes’ security, well being, and aesthetics. “I really feel blessed and grateful to feed my household climbing bushes,” he mentioned. His 10-year-old son, Bo, has already climbed his first tree — a yard sugar maple. The household coonhound is called Chestnut. For Roberts, climbing bushes is a lifelong journey. “Daily you’re studying one thing new, and there’s at all times one thing to enhance your self on,” he mentioned.

Pace and ability

The competitors is the check, he mentioned. It begins with a throwline occasion, the place climbers display their capability to put in a tree-climbing line. Subsequent, comes the velocity climb, the place climbers race up a tree as quick as attainable. “Identical to a toddler would,” Roberts mentioned. Then comes an ascent occasion, when climbers ascend a 60-foot tree utilizing solely a rope, racing to ring a bell on the highest department. “Think about a rope climb from gymnasium class again within the day,” he mentioned. “Pure brute energy.” There’s aerial rescue, the place climbers get right into a tree and rescue a 200-pound coaching model. “The judges are watching each transfer,” Roberts mentioned. Lastly, the primary occasion: the work climb. Climbers begin up a grandiose oak tree, accessing hard-to-reach work stations, the place they carry out duties, like chopping branches and ringing extra bells, all whereas shifting safely and with finesse by the branches. “That’s all tree-climbing ability,” Robert mentioned. The competitors, just like the job, comes with bumps and bruises.

The spirit

“We think about ourselves industrial athletes,” Roberts mentioned. He’s unsure if his days competing are over. He by no means gained a title, however definitely positioned in his share of occasions. However it’s extra than simply about profitable, he mentioned. It’s additionally concerning the day of service, the place dozens of tree staff lent their time and ability to spruce up the bushes the place William Penn lived 400 years in the past. And it’s concerning the family and friends and crowds who come to cheer the climbers. “A lot of the bushes at Pennsbury are 100 years outdated,” Roberts mentioned. “And they’re nice for climbing.”