22 January 2023
There are a few old fire spotting trees near Pemberton. They were used in the days before planes and helicopters. The brave can still climb them.
These are not exactly small trees either, with the viewing platform on Gloucester Tree a respectable 45m high. The Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree was a whopping 65m to the top platform. The climb is up steel pegs driven into the trunk; no handrails or fall protection and at stages are near vertical.
Abby had made it clear all week she would not be climbing. Christian was on the fence. The girls were banned. When he saw the tree though, Christian decided to give it a go. Slowly climbing the 182 pegs to the top platform before an even slower descent. The view was pretty good and it was an exercise in conquering fear and concentration.
