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The Art of the Ascent Tom Dunlap’s Legacy in Tree Climbing By Cindy L. O’Hara
standing of tree biology and proper tree care. Dunlap also began drawing on his recreational pursuits, including rock climbing, ice climbing, and mountaineering. Each discipline offered a dif- ferent perspective on rope sys- tems, movement, and efficiency. He began exploring how those techniques could be adapted to accessing trees and navigating their canopies. Over time, his work expanded beyond the field into education, public speaking, and climbing competition judging. He became an advocate for incorporating single-rope techniques into pro- fessional arboriculture, helping fellow climbers discover ways to work more safely and efficiently while reducing the physical de- mands of the job. FINDING A BETTER WAY TO CLIMB Dunlap’s interest in alternative climbing systems grew through experimentation. One winter, he began testing different ropes,
After more than 50 years in ar- boriculture, Dunlap reflects on the evolution of climbing tech- niques, the impact of technology on the industry, and his lifelong mission to protect both the trees he loves and the people who care for them. When Dunlap founded Canopy Tree Care in 1979, he was just 25 years old, but he had already spent half his life in the indus- try. What he didn’t know then was that he would eventually help shape how arborists ap- proach tree climbing and care. His early climbing skills were rudimentary, developed under the mentorship of a telephone company pole climber. Although grateful for that instruction, Dunlap began questioning whether conventional climbing methods were the best approach to working in trees. After graduating from the Uni- versity of Minnesota’s forestry program, he launched his com- pany with a friend and began attending trade shows and con- ferences. There, he sought out
experienced arborists, absorbed new ideas, and looked for ways to improve his skills. “I started going to conferences and … listening to speakers, and they’re talking about people that spike-climbed these trees,” Dunlap recalled. “And I said, ‘I don’t want to be that.’” That realization helped define his career. He set out to devel- op better climbing techniques while deepening his under- Tom Dunlap seen during his appearance on the educatedclimber.com podcast.
ArborTIMES ™ Fall 2026 | 73 ArborTIMES™ Fall 2026 | 73
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