Texas Women's Tree Climbing Workshop

As I started my drive to Wimberley, I was already running late.  I had had so many final tasks to do before being away from home, email, and phones for a 3 day weekend.  I was feeling stressed, had I forgotten anything?  Last year I forgot my blanket and was so cold, did I have everything this time?  I went into the workshop with 2 main goals – network with other women in arboriculture and get my gear all set up (and know how it all works together).  I was looking forward to hanging with awesome women and learning new skills, but I was nervous too – I had bought my climbing gear with the plan to join other women for rec climbs, but plans had never worked out and now it was almost a full year since I’d been in a tree.

I turned off the main road onto Flite Acres Dr and immediately started feeling less stressed.  I was going to be on time, and I’d soon be seeing old friends and meeting new ones.  It’s a long drive along Flite Acres and I saw some of the properties that had been impacted by the Blanco River flood.  I’d helped Retreet plant trees at some of these properties and it was nice to see trees doing well – especially after the ice storm.  Finally, I got to University Road and I was almost there.  Just a long, narrow road to drive down and I’d be at camp.  I wondered who’d gotten there before me.  Bear had sent out a list of who was attending, so I knew I was looking forward to seeing women I’ve known for a while, but had had limited time talking with, plus I was going to be meeting several new women.  Bear and Melissa had made the drive from Massachusetts in the WTCW van full of climbing gear, they had left snow and below freezing temps to come to Texas and 80 degree temps, other women were local and wouldn’t be as shocked by the weather, but would the PNW folks find the projected daily swings (from 40s overnight to 80s midday) surprising?  Would it be cold for the woman from Puerto Rico?

Then I was there the outside world dropped away and I was immersed in tree climbing, leadership and learning.  I no longer remember if we got into the trees that first day or not, I do remember that all of us got into the trees before the workshop was over.  I watched as so many of the women displayed a natural talent for climbing that made me more than a little envious.  I learned some fabulous training techniques that I look forward to implementing.  By the end of the workshop, I was exhausted, sore, and fulfilled.  I had ordered foot and knee ascenders and joined the local group for rec climbs.  I had met my goal of getting into the trillium and the hammock and practicing some limb walking.  And I had expanded my network with new women from Puerto Rico, Washington, Idaho and California.  And I was reminded that the Women’s Tree Climbing Workshop is so much more than climbing, it’s an empowerment retreat.