Here is a photo of FloridaCracker1768 standing at the base of "Spring Lady". She was located by Pinyata, Countrygirl, Capt.Creole, and Lisa during a mini swamp shindig that produced some wonderful new trees. Story soon to follow...

Can't even see me
I'll try to write something up later when Hell Week down here at school is over. (5 prepositions!)

I see you! That's a pretty good sized tree! It didn't look it at first, but after I saw you, I had a better perspective of how big the tree is. Good find!

As we all know, the photos never quite do justice to the real thing. Spring Lady is an awesome and very inviting tree.

I had hoped one of the FIVE other climbers that were out there that day would write up a report. No such luck. Well I can't really tell thier stories for them, so I'm heading out to climb Spring lady solo today. I figure I can come up with my own story, and maybe some video.

News at eleven....

Right! Getting someone else to write something is an exercise in futility most of the time.

Everybody wants to see more "articles" on the "articles" page but nobody wants to write anything. The only way most articles get written is if I blackmail the authors or threaten to write something myself and put their name on it!

Enjoy yourself out in the swamp today! We have a formal group climb here and then I need to take our guest, Jessie, back to the airport.

Tell Jessie I said Hey!!! She was funny!

Video from yesterdays climb...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bwXinLd ... re=channel

Yesterday I explored the top half of Florida, today I'm headed out to explore the bottom half. I'm going scuba diving in underwater caverns. Nothing better than knowing your state inside and out!

Thanks for bringing us along for the climb. I'd have no idea how to assess the climbability of a tree with that much hollow, clearly Bald Cypress is a whole different scenario.

Always enjoy birding Hunab's video. The Wood Stork (early) on breeds in cypress swamps. Watching Turkey Vulture fly over when you're in a tree is always great, I wonder if they nest in any of the hollow cypress, probably. Northern Parula (small northern woods warbler) sings once at 6:13 is heading north from the tropics, will make it up into Massachusetts late April, early May. Also hear Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse and a few others also found in New England.
-moss

Great Video Dave!

I'm glad you showcased the hellish, soupy mess surrounding that tree.

Ironically, that swampy morass made for a greater sense of discovery when we initially came upon the tree.

We were so preoccupied with moving forward in the unpredictable muck that we didn't even notice the tree at first.

When I looked up I knew it was a new tree and immediately all of the hassle of our intrepid folly was gone...just the rush of another ancient wonder we're blessed to see and know.

The following picture is of Lisa....she named the tree. It was her first trip to the creek and she was totally stoked.

On Tuesday, her and John begin their thru hike on the Appalachian Trail ....leaving the bottom lands in grand style after ascending the Spring Lady!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26200570@N07/4455218345/

Linda enjoyed the swamp in fine style...it ain't so bad as long as
you have a hammock!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26200570@N07/4455375409/

Thanks for sharing the climb David. I only hope that I can re-visit you one day and share a climb in one of your majestic giants with you. And, thanks for not trying to slide down into that narrow opening into the hollow. Gravity always works and you might have made it down in, but I cannot imagine how much "fun' it would be to try to get back out when the opening is too narrow to use your arms effectively to pull your way out. I'd much rather see you at Bob's Blue Ridge Climb-In than read about someone finding your mummified remains a few years from now. Great report. keep em coming.
Wiley Coyote

I could have squeezed in there. And Wiley, if you were there I would have. There are just some things you don't do alone in the middle of nowhere when nobody knows you're there. I was at that point. Get on down here!!!

For what it's worth I had a friend with me in the underwater cave the next day.

Moss, believe it or not I bird in my videos just for you. I was recently gifted a three CD set from Audubon about eastern bird calls. It's awesome and I am learning a lot. It is just like when you start tree climbing, you start to really notice trees in a different way. Now I am hearing the woods in a whole new way. It's like a new dimension.

I was to slow with the camera to catch all the hawks, barred owls, pileiated woodpeckers, wood ducks, and kingfishers I saw, and heard.

Hunabku wrote: "I could have squeezed in there. And Wiley, if you were there I would have. There are just some things you don't do alone in the middle of nowhere when nobody knows you're there. I was at that point. Get on down here!!!"

David, I take that as a real compliment. Thanks. Hopefully, I'll see you at Bob's BRP Climb In and we can discuss scheduling just such an adventure. Till then climb often, climb safe.
Wiley coyote