What’s the first step arborists take before climbing a tree?

Before climbing, arborists inspect the tree for safety. They examine the trunk, crown, and ground for signs of damage, decay, or hazards to ensure the tree is safe to climb.

How do arborists get their rope into the tree?

They use a tool called a throw ball—a weighted pouch on a string—thrown over a branch to guide the climbing rope into place. This step requires precision and sometimes patience.

What equipment helps arborists climb safely?

Arborists use a harness, rope, mechanical ascenders, and a secure climbing system. These tools allow them to use leg strength rather than upper body alone, making climbing safe and efficient.

How do arborists bring tools like chainsaws up into the tree?

They tie the tool to the bottom of their climbing rope and pull it up once they’ve reached the desired height. This keeps both hands free while climbing and maintains safety.

What does Leaf & Limb mean by the value 'We are safe at all times'?

'We are safe at all times' is a core value at Leaf & Limb. It means every team member receives extensive training, follows strict safety protocols, and uses non-invasive techniques like rope systems instead of climbing spikes—protecting both the climbers and the trees.

Video | How to Climb a Tree Like an Arborist

Disclaimer: This is a fun and informative video that gives a high-level overview about what it takes to climb a tree. Our trainings are much more in-depth, and we require our team, even our most skilled climbers, to keep current on safety training. Please do not try this at home.

We get asked all the time: how do you get up in that tree? Well, in this video, I will show you how!

Hi! I'm Archie, I'm an arborist, and today we will be talking about how we climb trees. The first thing that we do when we go to a tree that we are going to climb is that we inspect it to make sure that it is safe. So we will be looking at the trunk, the crown, and the ground underneath the tree. Just to make sure we will be safe the entire time that we are climbing.

The first step in getting into a tree is this guy right here, and this is called a throw ball. We use this to throw over a branch that we want to put our rope in and pull our rope over the branch that we threw at. So it is a little weighted bean bang on some string and the end of it. I tell new climbers that this could be the easiest or the hardest part of your day, depending on what you're having. It could take three shots, or it could take as many as three hundred shots on a bad day.

Ahhh! That was perfect, but it got all tangled up! All tangled up on the way out. And through the magic of video, I got it on my first shot. Shhh, don't tell nobody.

So now that we have our throw ball over the limb that we want to put our climbing rope through, we are going to go ahead and tie our rope to this end and pull it through.

So now that I have the rope around the branch that I want, I need the rope not to move. Every climber's system is going to be a little bit different, but what I like to use is a ring and carabiner to cinch the rope around the branch that's in the tree. Now that we are all set up, I am going to put my whole weight on this rope and make sure we are good to climb.

I use a mechanical device as well as my harness to suspend myself from the rope. Then I use ascenders like this little guy right here to walk myself up the rope. This makes things a lot easier on my body because I am using my leg muscles instead of my upper body to climb up the rope and get up into the tree.

Obviously, I am going to need my chainsaw up in the tree, but it makes it harder to climb up the rope. So what I do is tie my chainsaw to the bottom of the rope so that when I get into position up in the tree, I can pull it up to me.

So here I am taking my mechanical device and attaching it to my harness; then the next step is putting my foot ascender on the rope. I'm going to take my lanyard and put it around my back, attach it to my mechanical device to pull it up with me. I get some tension on the rope, and the last step is to put my knee ascender on the rope and put my foot through. And we're ready to climb!

Welp, that's how we climb trees. I hope you had fun watching because we certainly have fun climbing.