Recently, the Fuzhou Mountaineering Association held a youth tree-climbing event in Geling, Yongtai, Fuzhou, which was very popular among children and parents.
The children used professional equipment to climb up the treetops
“Tree climbing activities among youth not only help develop survival skills but, more importantly, aim to spark their curiosity and spirit of exploration, as well as build psychological capital such as self-confidence and resilience.” — Coach Xiake from the Fuzhou Mountaineering Association
In July last year, news that Xiamen University would offer a “tree climbing class” sparked heated online discussion. Now, Fuzhou also has its own “tree climbing class.” With a safety harness on and a helmet securely fitted, one foot stepping on an auxiliary rope, standing up and sitting down repeatedly — this motion lifts a person half a meter off the ground. After repeating this a few times, 10-year-old Lin Qianhan reached a treetop about 10 meters high within minutes and rang a small victory bell.
Recently, the Fuzhou Mountaineering Association held a youth tree-climbing event in Geling, Yongtai, Fuzhou, which was very popular among children and parents. Many parents said the climbing activity helped children build courage and gain new skills — both beneficial and fun.
The children were like Spider-Man
How do the children manage to move up and down trees easily, quickly, and safely like Spider-Man? Reporters learned that this tree climbing event is vastly different from traditional free-climbing. It involves climbers wearing safety harnesses and using professional static ropes and auxiliary ropes to reach the treetops without touching the trunk — a unique form of “tree climbing.” The most critical aspect of this sport lies in several mysterious knots.
According to Coach Xiake from the Fuzhou Mountaineering Association, the climbing activity they conduct is also known as tree climbing sport, which originated in the United States in the 1980s. Today, there are over a thousand schools in the U.S. offering such climbing courses. This sport uses a series of tools such as ropes and various carabiners to perform movements like ascending, descending, and rotating, with the ultimate goal of moving freely among tall trees.
With ropes hanging on trees and being pulled back and forth all day, does the friction harm the bark and damage the trees? Xiake explained: “We thread the ropes through rubber tubes before attaching them to branches, so the ropes don’t directly touch the branches.” He said this method minimizes damage to the trees and also prevents the ropes from wearing out due to friction. This approach also aligns with the LNT principle (Leave No Trace), which every outdoor enthusiast must follow — to protect the natural environment.
Both Building Courage and Practicing Skills
Nine-year-old Chen Jingzhi climbed just over a meter before getting stuck, which left him feeling a bit frustrated. But after observing the climbing techniques of other participants, receiving guidance from the coach, and with the cheers of his friends, he tried again. This time, he reached the top at an impressively fast speed.
What brought about this change? Xiake said it was mainly due to Chen Jingzhi’s improved proficiency, increased ability to imitate through teamwork, and the crucial role played by encouragement from his peers.
Eleven-year-old Shu Yi has loved climbing trees since she was young. Although the method she used this time was newly learned, she handled it with ease. Shu Yi’s father has always supported her tree-climbing hobby since she was little. He said that urban children rarely get to interact with nature, and tree climbing allows them to explore many of nature’s mysteries. The tree climbing activities organized by the Fuzhou Mountaineering Association not only teach climbing skills but also self-rescue abilities. Children build courage while also learning outdoor survival techniques.