Back when I visited the giant cedars, our ropes were simpler.

I took a trip to see the big cedars in Washington state a while back. We climbed with thick hemp ropes and stiff leather gloves that felt rough. Now, I notice everyone uses light synthetic ropes and comfy harnesses. Back then, tying knots felt like a direct link to the tree itself. Today's tools make the work faster and keep people from getting hurt. That visit taught me to really look at how massive trees can be. It's wild to see how much tree care has shifted since those days.

2 comments

2 Comments

davis.dakota1d ago

Which knots did you use most back then? I learned on Manila rope too, the kind that really digs into your hands. That rough feel made you pay attention to every wrap and tuck. Modern gear is safer for sure, but something about that old way made you feel part of the climb in a different manner. It was slower, but you noticed everything.

baker.riley1d ago

My buddy still talks about the time his bowline almost killed him on a sandstone face. That manila rope was so frayed he didn't see the tail was too short after a long day. The thing slipped just as he weighted it, and he took a twenty-foot swing into the wall. He credits that rough hemp with teaching him to check every knot three times, no matter how tired.