Daily Climb

November 2nd 2009 - Looking back, this was one eventful week. Lots of good climbs and fun times. I love fall. It is so beautiful right now. I got a lot of hiking in and had a good Halloween.

And with this I am officially caught up. Let's see how long it lasts. Be sure to go back and check the other entries I posted today. I did all of September and October today so there should be 8 new entries in total. Be sure to collect ALL 8!!!!

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DAY 932 10.22.09 - A couple trees next to my house numerous times to set up my hammock and rope system to get in the hammock which was suspended about 20 feet over my roof.




This was shot through the mosquito netting which is why it looks so blurry




Me pretty happy with myself for accomplishing this feat which has been a dream for a while now. I could lay in the tree tops and relax. I read, napped, it was a thing of beauty. No wonder I was smiling.


Later that night I went to the BBC to show Rob the bartender this picture. I have been making origami christmas ornaments to sell at the BBC in the back room on the night of the December First Friday (Dec 4th). I am making ones from BBC beer labels and out of topographical maps.

DAY 933 10.23.09 - Huge Oak on the corner of Shelby and Jefferson.





I walked behind the fence to the tree and there were a few smaller branches to get into the large ones. I kept climbing and got all the way to the top which was four or five stories up.



I had a great view on this warm fall day. The leaves were really changing and the clouds gorgeous.





I got a call from Amanda Bishop and we made plans for the night.

DAY 934 10.24.09 - Poplar near intersection of Chamberlain Lane and 146.



I was leaving my parents and went to Little Caesars to get a $5 Hot & Ready pepperoni pizza. I parked then walked out to the street and the tall Poplar caught my eye. I went over and saw a way up an overhanging limb and went for it.



I got into the trunk and the next branch was too big around for me to get onto. I was disappointed but took some pictures and appreciated the climb nonetheless.



DAY 935 10.25.09 - A beautiful Maple on Millenium Trail at Bernheim.



Garett was below watching.



It was early in our 14 mile hike so it was a good stretch for me legs. I went up the Maple and transferred over to this large dead tree covered in fungal growth.





Even though it was completely dead and missing most its smaller limbs, it was steady as a rock.





I took a bunch of pictures but didn't want Garett to wait to long so I scurried back down. It was a really good hike and now my feet are killing me... but such a beautiful day at the peak of fall around here.

More shots from the day:













DAY 936 10.26.09 - Large Maple in Thurman Park (one across River Road from Cox's Park). I had climbed it before in the spring when the leaves were new... spring of '08 perhaps. Don't even remember. Will these years of climbing start to run together? I guess I'll find out. I got up easy with a trunk run, and then went up the taller side of the two trunked tree. I got to the top and the sunny day was beautiful from up there.



Leaves yellow, and you know, most of the changing leaves right now are yellow.



I wonder if it's a result of certain conditions or if it's just the Maples' time so it just seems all yellow out there. Lots of little white bugs flying in a cloud too. I went down after shooting pictures and went out the same limb I crawled out the last time I climbed. I dropped but was prepared for the distance this time. When I walked away an old woman in cool sunglasses was eying me hard.

Random share. With the BBC Bourbon Barrel Stout labels I invented an origami fold to make them look like little Bourbon barrels. I think I will put them on a string of lights and see how they look. What do you think?



DAY 937 10.27.09 - Cool wet night. I walked down Brownsboro Road and realized there are a lot of apartment complexes along there. I found a nice tree in front of one. It had nice low branches but they were all very slippery. It didn't stop me from getting near the top with some problem solving and risk taking. Shots were hard to take in the low light and wet conditions.



I climbed back down carefully and walked home just in time to Drew to invite me to his place for burritos, so out the door I went and back down Brownsboro Road.

DAY 938 10.28.09 - After a long 3 hour session of Parkour at the Waterfront I followed Christian (and Mark followed me) to New Albany for a movie night. By the time we got to Christian's house it was 11pm and I really needed to climb. He said there was a maple in the back yard that could be good and he showed me the way. It was nice, both Mark and Christian followed me into the tree. At one spot I was out of limbs to get higher so I shimmied on the damp limb. The other two didn't follow but I stopped at the top and tried to get a picture of them below me.



It's nice to have company sometimes since I am so often solo on my climbs.



DAY 939 10.29.09 - Another beautiful Fall hiking day. Matt Milewski texted me about going to hike a part of the Knobstone Trail in Indiana. I looked out my skylight and saw blue and couldn't pass it up. I walked to his place and we drove to the Memphis, IN exit off I-65 and drove the Jackson Trail Head. Then hiked in to the KT and out a few miles.







We stopped at the peak of a knob to snack and rest



and I climbed an Oak tree.





Matt and his girlfriend Kelly watched and took pictures of me.



The view from up in the tree was pretty incredible.



The trees are just gorgeous right now.





Then I climbed down and we hiked a little further out before resting a few minutes and hiking back to the car.







I can't wait to hike the whole KT. Hopefully that will happen soon.

Unfortunately with this pulled muscle in my butt, I may have to put that hike off :-(

DAY 940 10.30.09 - After a BBQ dinner with Drew at the KBC on the corner of State and Frankfort I walked down State towards Brownsboro Road. It was dark and raining. I spotted this large tree on the very edge of the sidewalk. It's large yellow leaves were dripping and dangling over the stree. It had massive branches that angled out like strongman arms and then shot straight up. It was entangled with cable and phone lines. Wires were actually wrapped around branches and strung in it like a mess. I tried three times to get into this very challenging tree. The rain didn't help one bit. I finally solved the puzzle and got onto the first branch. I climbed carefully up through the limbs avoiding the cable lines and the dead limbs.



I was getting soaked as I used all parts of my body as holds so as not to fall. I crept slowly to the top where the tree was mostly dead and covered in fungal growth and limbs with broken ends. I tried to take pictures but I and the camera was getting soaked.



It was too dark anyway. I put the camera back in my wet pants and enjoyed the view with my own eyes. Something I forget to do sometimes when I am so into taking pictures. Then I start the climb down. I went a different way since certain sections made me nervous. I made it down to the last limb and wasn't certain I was going to be able to reverse my original entry. As I tried a couple different ways, I was about to drop my legs, my body was literally holding to the side of this large limb, when I heard a door shut. The apartment building (house) right by the tree opened and a woman walked out.



I froze in place not wanting to scare her. I was in plain view but just hoped that if I didn't move she wouldn't look the couple feet up from her head to see me there dripping with my bright red rain coat on. She never did... head down, right past me. Once she was on the street and to her car I rotated back up onto the limb. My muscles were strained. But I wanted to get down so I dropped down once again, got my hand holds and dropped to the leaf covered street. A soft landing thankfully. As I felt my clothes and checked my electronic gadgets I noticed a slippery spot on my pants. I must have crushed a slug. Eck! I was soaked through and ready to get home. But I still had a few minute walk left in the rain.

Later that night I went to Zanzibar to see a cheap Wax Fang show. Good stuff. Lots of funny costumes too. Papa Smurf was my favorite. He didn't win the contest though, Abe Lincoln did. What the eff?







DAY 941 10.31.09 - Climbed a Maple near the intersection of Ewing and Frankfort last night before some people came over.



I had on my duct tape pants but nothing else from my costume. I was a shark this year. Last time I climbed this tree Natalie was with me and we had just gone to Nita's Liquor Store to get a bottle of bourbon for Drew and Shelly's trip to Chicago. I believe that was July 15th. We had placed the bourbon on the ground and climbed. This time it was night, the leaves are bright yellow, and I think some of the branches had been cut off. I still got in the branches, climbed up and took some pretty sweet pictures of the leaves and the moon in between them.



My pants looked pretty cool in the light too.



A Halloween entry wouldn't be complete without pictures of the night and all the costumes and friends!!!!


Garett, aka Doogie Houser MD & Morgan, aka Anti-abortion Protestor


Amanda, aka the Mermaid (with legs and some really cute shoes... or so Morgan thought)


Ty, aka Sea Diver with mustache that suggests he's french. They are why I was a shark, thought it would fit their theme.


Ty's essential diving gear


Daniel, aka Dustin Hoffman from Outbreak, which I had issue with since his suit was yellow in the movie. But he did a good job dealing with his own weather system inside the suit.


We went to Zach's after my place and he had quite the food layout and decorations. I was most impressed with his homemade Ernie costume.





Later we ended up at Zanzibar for dancing. I danced, but couldn't move much due to the wheels on my heels. I wore my Heeley's so that I could make it look like I was swimming like a shark. I decided to walk home that night which took about an hour and a half. I rolled down the down hills which was awesome and I think totally weirded out the people driving by late at night. Duct tape shark... look at him go! I fell once and almost fell a handful of times. But it was a fun night. Better than last year, that's for sure!

Sorry there is no picture of me in my costume. I never had one taken with my camera. As soon as I get one I will post it.

November 2nd 2009 - This week seems to be the first in a while with a little more consistency in entry length and picture taking. Short and sweet with a few images. But the Cottonwood climb at the Falls below is a favorite as of late. I really should climb more during the day. The images seem to have a better chance of turning out.

Speaking of which, I have been catching up so long on this blog today, it's already dark out and I haven't climb yet today. Oh well.

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DAY 925 10.15.09 - Bunch of trees by off ramp of I-64 onto Mellwood on my way to the BBC.

I connected between about five trees that were mostly trunks with a few limbs to grab hold of, but most were dead or dying.



DAY 926 10.16.09 - Another large Beech in median area in front of Drew's house during chili potluck.



Got to the top.

All I had was my phone so the image below is quite poor. I was trying to capture all the friends' cars out in front of Drew's place.



DAY 927 10.17.09 - Huge Cotton Wood at Falls.

A parkour meet-up at the Falls of the Ohio that ended up just being Mark and I. He watched skeptically as I started to climb this massive tree. The lowest branches looked dead and week, but I managed to use them successfully without breaking them. Love this tree. I got up near 70 feet I believe and since Cottonwood leaves go first in the fall, it was practically clear leaving the view open to the wonderful day and incredible surroundings.



that's Mark right there.









That driftwood is an entire tree.

DAY 928 10.18.09 - Catalpa at Clifton Park singing ad-lib country songs.

I am not going to explain that one. I was just singing with a twang some stupid lyrics I was making up.







DAY 929 10.19.09 - Big Maple on the corner of Morgan T's street, Rosewood, and Baxter. I had wanted to climb it in the past but was too chicken shit to do so. Now I think there are no people living at the house so I felt at ease to trespass.





DAY 930 10.20.09 - Hackberry by the Clifton Center Community Garden off Payne.



It was a rough and painful shimmy up the trunk to the first limb.



Tree covered in old dead vines. I didn't go up any further, just over to a limb that ended up providing a very comfortable seat.



To avoid the painful shimmy down I just hing from the limb I was on and dropped.

DAY 931 10.21.09 - Climbed a little Sycamore growing between the amphitheater steps near Tumbleweed on the Waterfront.

Novermber 2nd 2009 - The week of the moves. I helped Drew and Natalie move in, out, you name it, we were all over the place in the rain, cleaning. Fun times. I got the climbs in when I could and didn't have my camera on me much. Except on the 12th when I was apparently camera happy.

You'll also notice how much I love my Macro function on my new camera. So beautiful.

Again the italic sentences are thoughts and memories I just added today.

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DAY 918 10.08.09 - I walked to the BBC from my new house in the rain. Before I left my front yard I climbed the River Birch. It was wet and dirty and soaked my wrists. But I moved quickly, paused shortly at my high point, then climbed quickly down to get to the bar. I am going through the trees in my yard pretty quickly. Might want to think about saving some for bad weather days or sick days.

DAY 919 10.09.09 - Helping Drew move on this lovely rainy, dark day. At the end of it, I went out front and tried to climb this one big Beech but couldn't get a grip on the slippery bark. So I walked a little further down the grass median on Hite Ave. and found another Beech with some low limbs I could reach. As I climbed up I thought I saw Tish Quesenberry, a fellow Zephyr artist leaving her house. I know she lives on Hite and I almost yelled something, but then looked closer and was not really sure it was her so I stayed silent. Probably a good idea. No need to scare people on dark, wet nights. I climbed back down, soaked, dirty and ready to call it a day.

I was totally right, it was not Tish. She lives more towards Brownsboro Road.

DAY 920 10.10.09 - I climbed a nice big Beech tree in the median right in front of Drew's place. I had tried the other day but failed due to the heavy rain slickness. But with the dry weather I was able to maneuver up pretty high.



Still waiting for the leaves to fall to get a more clear view out of the trees. Fall... where are you?

At the beginning of this climb I ran into a spider web and brushed it from my face. Then I felt eight little legs gripping my lower lip. I frantically swiped it away and had to sit there and just shake the ECK out of my mind.


This leaf is from that morning when I met up for breakfast at Nancy's with Drew and Natalie. Natalie saw this leaf and wanted to take a picture of it. I thought it was really nice so I am sharing it. Devin also happened to show up at Nancy's. A pleasant surprise.

DAY 921 10.11.09 - First bright red Maple of the season. I was driving through Cherokee and went up by the new fenced in Dog Park area. I had climbed a Maple there last October and remembered it being quite lovely. It was the same one as last year and once I saw the brilliant reds I was drawn in.



I went up the branches carefully as I saw a lot more bark damage... not sure from what. Birds or some sort of pest. The limbs were plentiful and made for a very fun climb. I stopped at the top and was disappointed I didn't have my good camera on me. I want to climb this one again soon to get some nice shots.

DAY 922 10.12.09 - Walked down Frankfort and found a HUGE Hackberry tree right next to the railroad track across the street from the hardware store. It took some figuring to see how to get up onto the first branch, but i did. Thank god for the strong ridged bark of the Hackberry tree. It made for nice finger holds. Then from there I worked my way up with the early evening sun shining through the browning leaves. I made it all the way up to the top



and had a great view of Frankfort Avenue



but still am chomping at the bit for the leaves to change colors and fall. I took a bunch of pictures







then started to climb down. It was a great fun tree with a couple nice challenging spots. Very rewarding and a nice jump and roll to the ground to finish off the experience.

Later that evening Charlotte drove in from Lexington to see me show with her mom. And Leigh Ann show up too. Thanks guys.







Then we met up with Drew, Natalie, Shelly, Morgan and Ole (Drew's friend from IU) at Maido. Then to the NACH! After the bar a few of us went to the Felkers' place since we met up with them at the bar. I took more pictures there I like.

Ben Felker

Drewser

Charlotte was watching something on Ole's phone about genocide. Thought that might explain the look on her face.

Natalie Felker. I think I just caught her listening to the record she put on.

DAY 923 10.13.09 - Waited till late again to climb. Natalie and I met at Whole Foods and picked up ingredients for a nice Thai dinner. We went to Drew's and cooked. I made spring rolls and a peanut dipping sauce and Nat made an amazing tofu, pasta, veggie with peanut sauce dish. Some good beer to top it off and I was sleepy and stuffed afterward. We started to watch this special on KET2 about "Obama's War." It was really depressing so I went out and found a Ginkgo tree in the grass median. I went up the small limbs with a little difficulty and then took some nice night shots at the very top.





It was a nice challenge that warmed me on the cool night. Then back down.

DAY 924 10.14.09 - Climbed a very slippery maple in front of the Presbyterian Center during a cold and wet Parkour jam. It was just Mark, Math and I. We were having a decent work out despite the bad conditions. I was drawn to the lights from the new stadium being built so I went up the tree but was disappointed I didn't have my camera on me. I took one shot with my phone but the lights were too bright for it. I also scared the crap out of a squirrel and sent it scrambling all over the tree. It was very freaked out. I, on the other hand was very calm as this same thing has occurred recently and I now have less fear of being attacked.

Earlier that day my mom brought in her Homemakers Club to the gallery to see my show. Thanks for the support, mom!

November 2nd 2009 - The week of the opening. Light Maps at Zephyr Gallery 610 E. Market Street. Gallery hours Wednesday - Saturday 11am- 6pm. Show is up till November 14th. Also open this coming Friday for the First Friday Trolley Hop 6-9pm.

zephyrgallery.org/todd_smith.shtml

I have included a lot of images from the opening reception. Enjoy!

It was a big culmination and build to this event. Years in the making really. Couldn't have done it without the help of my Photographers and friends Natalie Biesel and Drew McChesney. They did so much more too to make this a reality. Really, I can't thank you guys enough.

Oh, and I climbed some trees that week too.

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DAY 911 10.01.09 - Tree in front of Lottery building across from Drew's studio. I went up while I waited for Natalie to show up. I could see into the lottery building but saw nothing interesting. When I saw Nat's car I climbed down and crossed the street and scared her.






DAY 912 10.02.09 - Tree on waterfront with Hilary. Talked for a while before she broke a limb and freaked out. Left during after party.

The opening! What a long but great day. All these wonderful friends came out to support me, Natalie Biesel and Drew McChesney's work. Morgan Hamilton and Shelly Biesel helped so much with food, drink and music to make the night so successful and scrumptious. Everyone was just so awesome. Thank you all so much. Drew threw an after party at his studio which was amazing even though my feet were so tired and sore I couldn't dance. Natalie Felker DJ'ed and the music was excellent.

It was during the after party I invited Hilary Plum, a college friend in town from Massachusetts, to join me for a climb as I mentioned above.































Love you guys! Especially Natalie and Drew, thank you and congratulations to you, it was an amazing and successful show!

(And thanks to Natalie and Shelly Biesel, and Julia Davis for taking these wonderful pictures:-) )


DAY 913 10.03.09 - Three trees at Waterfront between Tumbleweed and UofL boathouse. I have climbed those trees three times before but on this fourth time around I went up higher than I ever had before. Scott and Julia watched. Julia shot some pictures.



Earlier that morning many of my friends from in and out of town met up at North End Cafe for brunch.

Jennifer and Norm, and myself

Natalie

Drew and college friend Hilary

My bro Scott and his gf Julia.

Cassandra, Jason, and little adorable Ani from Akron.


DAY 914 10.04.09 - White birch in back yard at dusk. Not very high, not very interesting.





Worked really only as a way to wake me up.

DAY 915 10.05.09 - Climbed tree in back yard with metal cables stuck in overgrown bark. I went up after dinner with my parents. Once I got into the limbs I kept climbing higher and higher till I reached the top.



I could see some neighbors doing something... I think they were putting a dog kennel together. They never saw me. I took some pictures and could see just a little bit of the Louisville skyline. Sweet tree, I'll definitely be back up in this one many times.



DAY 916 10.06.09 - I went to eat at Havana Rumba with Natalie and Drew. Then we went to Drew's new place on Hite to check it out. It's a sweet pad. Nice house, basement, garage, backyard, awesome front porch, and a nice big front yard with the largest River Birch I have ever seen. I walked up to the trunk and looked at my options. They didn't look good. All the branches were too high to reach and I had on a nice sweater and feared the damp tree would make me a mess. But spotted a nub of a pruned limb close enough for a short shimmy. I felt the trunk and it was mostly dry. I prepared, jumped, squeezed, reached, and was in the limbs. I shot up fast to the top and had an okay view of the neighborhood.





I definitely want to climb this one again in the winter when all the leaves are gone. (Sweet house, Drew, nice find! Can't wait to hang there.)

DAY 917 10.07.09 - I climbed another small Sycamore at the Waterfront Playground by Tumbleweed during Parkour. I took a picture of the Weed with my phone from the top of the tree.



Math was below patiently waiting to take his turn at the tree. It was a fun night of Parkour. I had taken too much time of from it during that last month with all the moving and show prep. Good to be back. And thank god I didn't get injured.

November 2nd 2009 - I got my final prints for the show and hung them in this week. It was a hectic finish but I felt the show came out great. The members of Zephyr really gave me great responses.

Again it made for some brief entries. I have again added my memories in italics.

I also noticed that I climbed a lot of trees that I had climbed in the past. I think I was just not in the mood to spend time searching for a new tree. I would just think of one I knew was nearby and get to it. It was nice to revisit them.

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DAY 902 09.22.09 - Wet and rainy barefoot climb in Holly tree out front.

This was a goodbye climb to one of my favorite trees... the Holly in the front of the 1309 E. Washington Street house. I was moving at the end of the month and this was the tree I had climbed for a whole week as an experiment of climbing one over and over. It had been damaged at the top from the ice storm which created an open view at the top. There was a nice seat up there too. Just so peaceful and I had some serious deep thoughts up there. It was the first tree I wrote in my journal while actually in a tree. And the first tree I brought food up into. I am going to miss having that just outside my room.


Let me explain... that night of the torrential down pour and Day 900 from the week before, I was driving home and got to lower Frankfort Ave and could still barely see in the night rain. I suddenly came to a very deep puddle that seemed to go up all the way to my headlights on the truck. I immediately slammed on the breaks, put it in reverse and backed out of the water. My truck continued to run and I U-turned back to River Road. The next day my truck wouldn't start. My dad suggested that maybe I just ran out of gas. So I strapped the tank to my bike and went to the gas station. That was not the problem. I ended up having to get the truck towed to a shop and the get dried out.

DAY 903 09.23.09 - Beautiful Oak next to Blind School just before midnight.

The branches were thick and strong in this Maple. The movement inside the tree was fluid and silent. It felt great.

DAY 904 09.24.09 - Catalpa tree next to interstate by Slugger Field after BBC. Thought the cops found me but really they just caught someone going the wrong way on Main.

I had climbed this Catalpa twice in 2007 & 2008. It is up the hill from the fence to the Interstate. A no man zone. It is completely alone and exposed, not to mention well lit from all the lights from the stadium and stadium parking lot. So naturally I was hyperparanoid about being seen. When the lights started flashing I freaked. But not for long.

DAY 905 09.25.09 - Walked down Payne and climbed a Maple by the Distillery Commons. It was small but I found the most comfortable seat. Sat there for probably 20 minutes trying to nap. A nearby street light kept turning off and on. Plus I had a nice twig hook for my cell phone.

That was one of the most comfortable seats I have found in a tree. I still have yet to actually fall completely asleep in a tree, but this was close. If it hadn't been for that light coming on and off and on and off I just may have. When I dropped down there was a group of young teenagers walking down the sidewalk. I think I totally freaked them out. I love messing with teenagers. I have no concern at all about scaring them. Adults is a whole other issue.

DAY 906 09.26.09 - The two maples in Norm's woods at dusk. I heard people walking by on the path. I made owl sounds but heard no comment.

Norm and Jennifer's Sicnic with the nearly 200ft slip and slide. I walked out to the woods just as it was getting dark and was practically black by the time I reached the top. I had climbed these two trees months earlier and some how intuitively found them off the path to his parents' place. It I love those two trees, it's a fun two tree climb to about a 60 or so foot height. I believe the people on the trail were Hope and a friend of hers, and Ben Felker just behind them. They were completely unaware of my near presence and were surprised to see me pop up at the top of the berm right behind them. Fun party too.

DAY 907 09.27.09 - Barret Middle School.



Maple, Squirrel just inches from me. Women walking dog didn't see me when I dropped down.



Unfortunately I did not get a picture of the squirrel who I scared out of his nest. He bolt just a foot from my face and freaked me out. It stupidly went up the tree and I followed right after him. He jumped all over the limbs to try and get away from me. He finally made it down a limb below and me and took off the rest of the way out of that tree. Sorry dude.







Also hung my show at Zephyr. All kinds of friend came to help and support. Thank you all so much, Natalie, Drew, Natalie, Morgan and Morgan. And thanks to the Zephyr Installation crew who helped, Joel, Joel and Stephen. (what's up with all the repetitive names here?) And to Patrick for lighting it later. Really looks great and couldn't have done it without your help.

DAY 908 09.28.09 - Crab Apple tree to Hackberry tree. Corner of River Road and Witherspoon. Night, cool, after meeting at Zephyr with my show.





This is yet another tree I had climbed in the past. But climbing so late with so much going on I took little effort to find new trees. Sometimes I long for a familiar tree and it is often very satisfying to feel the familiar.

DAY 909 09.29.09 - Tree in front of Lincoln Elem. I went up higher than previous climb. I felt fluid and had a great jump and roll off the low the limb. First cold fall night of the year!



Also climbed this tree the year before. Norm was with me then and took a video of it. This time I was alone and I felt much quicker within the limbs. I know I mentioned it above, but the drop and roll off the lowest limb was so fluid and fun I still look at that tree whenever I walk down Main Street and think of that roll.

DAY 910 09.30.09 - Climbed tree in my new backyard. Went up, went fast and took one picture of the light coming through the skylights.



Again I was in a rush to get the climb done with so I picked the closest one. Usually I try to keep some that are nearby for rainy or sick days. But I have thrown that responsible practice to the wayside. My new trees are all climbed. Oh well. Hope I don't get sick.