er; instead, they could combine the two to improve access and positioning. His approach was to ascend on a sta- tionary rope and then transition to an MRS for positioning within the canopy. “When we set a rope into a tree, gen- erally we set it up so that one side is clear, [and] it’s not going around or between branches or zigzagging too much,” he explained. “[On] the other back side of the tree, after it’s gone through a suitable tie- in point, there’s a bunch of branches. So, by climbing single rope, we’ve got a route up the tree that is not over and around other branches,” he added. Selecting a clear route for the station- ary climbing line allowed Dunlap to ascend with fewer obstacles along the way. Once he reached the desired height, he could transition to an MRS for positioning, complete the necessary work, and descend. He summed up the approach simply: “single up, double down.” “I didn’t invent SRT,” he said. “But I put my shoulder behind it because there’s so many ways of using it, and that’s a good system. It’s something we can use.” Dunlap’s contribution was not invent- ing a new climbing technique but helping other arborists recognize the versatility of stationary rope systems and encouraging them to experiment with different approaches. By demon- strating how SRT and MRS could work together, he helped broaden the indus- try’s understanding of the tools avail- able to professional climbers. PROTECTING THE CLIMBER AS WELL AS THE TREE For Dunlap, improving climbing tech- niques was about more than efficiency. He also saw an opportunity to extend the working lives of professional arbor- ists by reducing the physical demands of climbing.
friction hitches, and cord diameters, searching for combinations that would allow him to ascend smoothly, descend when needed, and reliably hold under load. His goal was to apply what he had learned through recreational climbing to make working in trees more efficient without sacrificing control. A pivotal moment came in 2005 at a tree care conference in Long Beach, Calif., where he met Morgan Thomp- son, creator of a device that could travel up and down a rope without requiring the climber to disconnect. That device, known as the Unicender , was manufactured by Rock Exotica . The encounter opened new possibil- ities for Dunlap, who was already ex- ploring ways to incorporate single-rope components into traditional climbing systems. “I was learning to integrate various sin- gle rope components to my double rope or MRS [moving rope systems].” Rather than viewing single-rope and moving-rope systems as competing ap- proaches, Dunlap saw an opportunity to combine their strengths. His interest centered on finding the most effective way to use each system, depending on the task and the conditions in the tree. COMBINING SRT AND MRS In a moving rope system (MRS), also known as the double-rope technique, the rope moves through the climbing system as the arborist ascends or de- scends. In a stationary rope system (SRS), commonly referred to as the single-rope technique (SRT), the climb- ing line remains stationary while the climber moves along it using compat- ible equipment. Both systems have applications depend- ing on the work being performed, the route into the tree, and the climber’s equipment and training. Dunlap recog- nized that arborists didn’t necessarily need to choose one system over the oth-
“By incorporating and changing over from double rope technique to a single rope technique, spending the money to get the gear, and changing their climb- ing system, they [arborists] realized that their climbing career was extend- ed,” he said. In a profession that requires workers to climb repeatedly, maneuver through complex canopies, and perform stren- uous tasks at height, climbing sys- tems can have a significant impact on both safety and long-term physical well-being. That concern became central to Dun- lap’s philosophy of arboriculture. As he reflected on his career, he developed a personal vision statement that would guide his decisions and the knowledge he shared with others. “Over time, I thought I should have a personal vision statement,” he said. “And what it came to be was I want to have old, healthy trees and old, healthy tree care workers.” The statement captured the two pri- orities that had come to define his work: preserving trees and protecting the people who care for them. Wheth- er evaluating climbing equipment, refining techniques, discussing tree care practices, or teaching others, Dunlap sought solutions that would benefit both.
FROM THE CANOPY TO THE CLASSROOM
Dunlap’s commitment to continuous learning eventually led him to educa- tion and public speaking. While attend- ing a keynote presentation by Dr. Alex Shigo , a biologist and plant pathologist widely regarded as the father of mod- ern arboriculture, Dunlap began envi- sioning a similar role for himself. “My goal was to know a topic and know enough about something that I’m called on to speak,” he said. Just as mastering climbing techniques required years of practice and experi-
74 | Fall 2026 ArborTIMES ™
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