Went out this morning and headed over to Dawson Forest (A state-run forest with lots of woods just a short distance from home) to scout a potential area that I figured might have some good climbing.

While Dawson Forest is not an area that I would consider a "seriously-ninja climbing area" it is one of those places where I have never asked permission and have no idea whether I'm legal or not. It's one of those sort of places where I go quietly and don't advertise my presence.

The area that I wanted to scout is in a densely wooded area that follows a sloping gully for about a mile downhill toward the Etowah River.

Imagine my surprise when I saw a big sign announcing "Warning: Military exercise in progress!" alongside the dirt road approaching my "area of interest". Imagine my further surprise as I passed numerous troops in camouflage clothing, rifles in their hands, walking up and down the road. Looking off into the forest I could see tents, tarps, trucks, and even more cammo-clad bodies moving about. Me, WildBill, and my vehicle were getting a lot of curious looks. Arriving at the place where I intended to park and begin my hike, I found a vehicle with a government tag parked alongside the dirt track in "my" space.

I decided on the spot that there would be no climbing, no scouting, or anything else around here today. Evidently somebody had tipped them off that a ninja climber was approaching and they were ready to exercise force to see that I didn't get by with anything. I "exfiltrated" the area immediately and headed for a friendlier "demilitarized" zone a few miles away.

WildBill, who was along for the ride, and I, then had ourselves a very nice hike through a section of forest I had never visited before and we have found a new area in which to explore and climb. I will be going back next week to climb.

It seems that the North Georgia College and State University (NGCSU) ROTC department was having a training exercise and half the students at the college were out there in the forest decked out in their cammos and playing war.

Apparently there are times when ninja climbing is not appropriate! Maybe a better approach might be guerrilla climbing?

Joe,
Since they were busy pursuing their war games, maybe you should have volunteered to help with surveillance by climbing some of the tallest trees. You might have even convinced a few of the young bucks to try climbing. Who knows, you might be able to inspire the military to start a course in safe tree climbing for snipers. However, avoidance still seems like the best policy. Hope you find some nice trees in your new area.
Wiley Coyote

See there ya go! You use any little thing as an excuse. What if we all behaved like that!

I bet if you had pulled that 150' of Black PMI 9mm EzBend out, you would have had every one of them 'eating out of your hand' as it were.

But, nooooooo, tuck and run.

I returned to my "Area Of Interest" yesterday with SwampFox and we explored the area and found a number of interesting things.

There was no further "Military Action" in progress. All was quiet.

First off, as we started down the gully we found the remains of a "likker" still.

Then we found ourselves a "Moss sized" swamp.

Finally we found lots of good trees and several really great trees. We finished off with a nice climb in a big yellow pine that took us up more than a hundred feet, before oncoming rain brought the climb to a halt.

I was trying my hand at doing video and if I am successful with the editing I will post something late. Doing video is something I don't really understand.....

Gosh, I hope that little "swamp" wasn't the latrine from those military exercises!

That is not a "little" swamp! That is a "for real" Moss-sized New England swamp!

I agree that it might be mistaken for a latrine, but Hey, nobody up there in Massachusetts would know the difference anyway!

I'm working on the video....I'm working on it. I don't know or understand what I'm doing, but I'm working on it. I can see the video on my computer screen. Half a dozen short clips and I am trying in desperation to edit them and put them together, but so far it ain't happening....

This video is pretty good at explaining how to use Microsoft's Movie Maker (comes with Windows). There are better software suites out there (free too!) but this one is good enough for your average video I've seen people use it to make some quite impressive ones as well!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZXK68NS7gU

No need for ninja climbing on the Chattahoochee National Forest. Alan Polk, former Blue Ridge District Ranger and current Recreation Staff Officer, told me several years ago that I could climb anywhere I want. If anyone asks, just tell them Alan said it was OK.
Last week on the forest near Suches I came across a really fine, huge white oak, Good big climbing branches at least 100 ft up and lots of room to move around in the crown. Anyone wants to climb it, just let me know. Anytime--I'm looking for an excuse to get off work.

I'm traveling up to Virginia for the next day or so but I'll be back by next Wednesday. Count me in! I'm happy to provide an excuse! I'll give you a private message as soon as I'm back.