This weekend in Midland’s Emerson Park, tree climbers from across the country are taking to the treetops.
The Michigan Tree Climbing Competition is hosted by the Michigan Chapter of the International Arboriculture Society. This year, 44 climbers are competing.
Bethany Kemppainen is part of the committee that plans the event.
“It's this collaborative thing where you get to meet all these other people in your industry from around the state that you wouldn't otherwise meet,” Kemppainen said. “And you build connections here that'll last a lifetime.”
Kemppainen has been helping with the competition for 11 years. She says they always hold the event in public spaces in hopes that more people will learn about arboriculture.
“A lot of people don't always know what arborists do or get to see us do work in in a safe, controlled, fun fashion.”
Arboriculturists care for trees and other woody plants. Abdon Leon-Espinosa, one of the climbers, described it as looking out for the health of the plants and the soil they live in.
“You're a doctor for the tree, pretty much,” he said.
Lucas Drews has been competing since he was 20 years old. He lives in South Carolina and has been to international tree climbing competitions five times. He said the feeling is “camaraderie like none other.”
“Of course, we're all competing, but at the end of the day, everyone's here to better their neighbor and themselves,” said Drews.
Friday, the competitions kicked off with a ‘belayed speed climb.’ Climbers were timed as they raced up the tree to hit two cowbells.
Other climbing competitions will include aerial rescue, throwline, ascent, and a work climb. On Saturday evening, there will be a world record ascent event
Saturday will be the busiest day of the three-day event, with four climbing competitions happening simultaneously.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be an fair with arboriculture related vendors and activities, and a chance for kids to try climbing for themselves. Sunday there will be a masters challenge and an awards ceremony.
There will also be a mobile blood drive at the competition on Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The first 75 donors will receive a free tree sapling.
