MENUWhen most people look up and see a Gunnison climber in motion, they notice the ropes, the harness, and maybe the saw hanging from the saddle. What they don’t always see is the strength, focus, and awareness it takes to do that work well. Tree climbing isn’t just hard labor - it’s a form of athletic performance at height. Our climbers are true industrial athletes.
Every day in the canopy demands power, endurance, and precision. Ascending a tree calls for core strength and cardiovascular fitness; making a precise cut takes steady hands and a clear head. Moving from branch to branch requires balance, flexibility, and a constant awareness of ropes, limbs, and swing. It’s a full-body, full-mind effort performed high off the ground, with equipment that weighs as much as a small gym bag.
Professional athletes have an entire support system behind them (doctors, nutritionists, physical therapists, and massage therapists). Arborists don’t. Our athletes perform at a professional level without those recovery resources and without the recovery time athletes get between games. We climb, cut, haul, and repeat, often the next morning. That reality makes it even more important to pay attention to fatigue, hydration, technique, and recovery.
At Gunnison, we see this athleticism every day. Climbing crews train, practice, and look out for one another. Tree work isn’t a solo sport, it’s a team event built on trust and communication. Every person on the crew plays a part in making each lift, each cut, and each job happen safely and efficiently. Good performance happens when people support each other and when the system sets them up to succeed.
Being an industrial athlete takes more than muscle. It requires adaptability and awareness. Every climber is constantly reading the tree, the ropes, the weather, and their own limits. They’re problem-solvers who use judgment and skill to navigate unpredictable situations. The goal isn’t to be perfect, it’s to stay ready, to learn, and to make the next climb better than the last.
Recovery and preparation matter just as much as strength. Stretching, hydration, good sleep, and healthy routines help our teams stay strong and focused. We invest in continuing education, new techniques, and equipment improvements that make the work not only more efficient, but more sustainable for the people doing it. Small design choices, how gear fits, how schedules are built, how crews rest, can make a big difference in long-term performance.
Calling our climbers industrial athletes isn’t just a compliment, it’s recognition of the skill, endurance, and commitment they bring to the canopy every day. Arboriculture pushes the limits of human ability, precision, and teamwork.
So next time you see a Gunnison climber high in the canopy, remember, you’re not just watching someone at work. You’re watching an athlete in their element, performing with purpose, strength, and heart.