Many different techniques (free climbing, self-belayed climbing

with a Doubled Rope Technique, Single Rope Technique, and

lead climbing) are used to climb trees depending on the climber's

 individual style, purpose, and preferences. Generally though,

climbing is performed by lapping a long rope over a limb and

 ascending the fallen end using a friction knot tied from initial

 tie's excess "tail." The difficulty of any particular climb depends

 on many factors: the regularity of branching, the brittleness of

 dead wood in some species, whether the bark is rough or smooth,

the width of the trunk and branches, the height of the tree, the

 location of the tree, and the weather are all factors.

The first obstacle is getting into the tree, which may employ

techniques of aid climbing such as ascending a fixed rope, ladder

or etrier, or else free climbing up limbs or other structures into the

 tree, but generally it's throwline technique which is used. This

 is done remotely from the ground utilizing a throw weight and

 line. The throw weight is a small canvas sack filled with shot

 and adorned with a ring on one end for attaching a lightweight

pilot line. The weight is swung from its attached line like swinging

a plumb-bob and then launched toward the targeted branch.

 Once over the branch the weight returns to the ground and is

removed and replaced by the climbing line before being pulled

back and into work position. In 1998 SherrillTree patented the

 Big Shot, a large sling shot mounted on an 8-ft. stick that

improved access into tree crowns.

Lead climbing

Lead climbing is employed by climber where points of protection are

formed by girthing the tree's limbs with slings. Once the lead climber

 ascends the tree, he or she may create a belay or top rope anchor or else

simply rappel down. In the event that an anchor is created, other climbers

can subsequently climb the tree on belay without having to lead. Drawbacks

 to this method include the probability of hitting a lower limb or the main

 trunk in the event of a fall. Due to this risk, climbers typically wear

climbing helmets.