Giant Ascent: Chris Sharma Free Climbs Huge Redwood w/ Help of Scientists

Check out the full story on Sharma in The Red Bulletin: win.gs/ChrisSharma
In a quest to return to his climbing roots and to advance the understanding of California’s giant Coast Redwoods, Chris Sharma recently embarked on an unprecedented free climb in a Northern California forest glade. Using only his hands and feet and protected from falls by a rope and harness, Sharma collected valuable data from a soaring Redwood, located in a city park in Eureka, to measure tree water status as an indicator of how it has been affected by the current severe drought. Red Bull worked closely with two UC Berkeley Tree Biologists in preparing for and executing this project.
The UC Berkeley tree biologists are currently developing funding to evaluate the impact of the current historic drought on redwood trees and forests in the Santa Cruz Mountains near the southern edge of the redwood range; a link to their fundraising site can be found here: win.gs/rgad
Donation offer starts 6/15/15. Offer ends the earlier of 7/31/15 or when 100,000 unique views are reached. Donations are not tax deductible to you. Excludes residents of AL, MA and SC. Void where prohibited. Benefiting Entity: University of California, Berkeley Foundation.*
*The University of California, Berkley nor its Foundation are affiliated with, sponsor or endorse this promotion.
_
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[@Landoni25]

I always slam a few redbull's before climbing... nothing like a jittery sugar and caffeine buzz to get me in touch with the old growth red wood forest.

[@foreverCaroline2]

Landoni25 that's why Red Bull will never sponsor Alex Honnold.

[@kingswarm6417]

Red Bull doesn’t give you wings when you fall

[@culbyj3665]

REAL SARCASM HERE!! and then post on ur glten free copper free electronicooo phone with fiber woods moistend as the mosfets and ICS on the Printed circuit board made of wheat bread, IM upvoting You

[@Cptmayhem55]

I bet it gives great typewriter leg though.

[@avitasvul]

next, cactus climbing in Arizona.

[@KaraokeNig]

Arts Roy Friend of mine did the famous climbing in Arizona you speak of. She said its not very good.

[@jrdnnss]

+6Bene i'll send prayers

[@rtharmon454]

Arts Roy hahaha I live in az actually fell on a cactus today

[@KaraokeNig]

+Rt Harmon Did you survived?

[@rtharmon454]

Bene barely

[@kathleentyson6727]

For those of you who have never seen these MAGNIFICENT ethereal trees ......DO IT!!!! It is a humbling experience to be in their midst it literally took my breath away the first time I laid eyes on them. I can't imagine how it felt to climb one.

[@humboldtrootz]

there are people who live in redwood tree houses for decades to fight clear cutting old growth redwoods. I love my Humboldt hippies!!!!

[@christophersmithcountrytim7109]

that be me north coast earth first my name is SKY 14 years and a vetran tree sitter,but this hear is a small redwood :)

[@tooney012345678910]

Wow I'm from Europe and I didn't imagine such big trees exist in real life ! I'm impressed really impressed !

[@guscorry6592]

If you ever get the chance, visit the Sequoia and Redwood National Forests. It changed my life

[@williamroberts364]

haha 😂 you haven't senn the trees of the amazon jungle!

[@SAMEntalhealth]

That's bigfoots home lol

[@ChristopherJacob]

Beautiful combination of sport and education, thanks RedBull

[@aaronhanes7114]

SICK!! props to Chris Sharma for taking climbing back to the roots!

[@alanweak]

Chris is one of my personal heroes.

[@adrianrichter6743]

You've created more awareness for trees! I appreciate it :)

[@samwilliams662]

Dude looked pretty reluctant taking that single sip out the red bull can

[@dojanglesclimb]

I mean it's practically poison, but hey, sponsorship.

[@AM23.]

Dojangles agree

[@samwilliams662]

Dojangles the look on his face looks like he tasted it for the first time

[@toddmulligan2609]

Wish there was more childlike joy in this but i like the big achievement can suck it I’m just gonna have a fun day but then yeah the redbull angle on this one wtf

[@BenjaminEmbrace]

Garbage chemical water Not good for athletes I sure don’t drink it

[@foxtrotwhisky4061]

@tripmind I love climbing trees, and when I saw the link to this I immediately felt inspired to go and attempt to 'free climb' a redwood - you are correct about that. However, seeing Chris Sharma take numerous falls and describe it as 'super hard climbing' tells me my climbing level is nowhere near good enough for this. I won't be attempting this, even though I want to.

[@Ian-pn9hl]

Drinking that pink industrial chemical delight, right after studying the cute little freshly picked up pine buds... How cute, how inspiring, gives me wings.

[@droppedspaghetti8005]

Ian Fellbom RedBull isn't pink...

[@christopherantimie1613]

Ian Fellbom Just leave it to natural selection to get rid of the ones dumb enough to believe this drink compatible with a healthy life. Otherwise, it's still nice to have all these events sponsored by redbull, mountain dew, etc.. You can watch and just ignore the advertising for the most part. The people dumb enough to fall for the marketing are probably already drinking that trash anyways.

[@rickytrockclimbing2935]

I came here to make this exact comment.

[@thomasjameson5761]

Lol

[@foxtrot789]

Not often you see someone as legendary as Chris Sharma top-roping... lol

[@McTokesterOven]

I live in Arcata CA and I love having the redwoods in my backyard!

[@CraigPlus2]

Having grownup in Santa Cruz it was so cool to be able to see these massive trees up close and get massive respect foe=r these massive old trees!

[@zacharymeisel2597]

Thanks for representing my hometown Red Bull! I love that forest just as much!

[@emilgiese]

Just now seeing spectacular, wonderful climb! Stunningly beautiful! Thankyou!

[@davideg4418]

Life is climbing. I need more videos of climbing. I climb and it's the best thing of the world

[@MrBand]

Very good !

[@JotaXtremoDuroAdventure]

Beautiful forest and trees🌳...!!!

[@stefanzahariou5028]

easily one of the best videos on youtube

[@javierr.castillo1101]

Tree's are alive. Just luke Rocks and boulders and cliffs and peeks. Great vis. Ty!

[@antichris78]

Ten bucks that can has got water in it

[@hopebear06]

Chris L I reckon it is Red Bullshit in the can because he was struggling to look as though he was enjoying it.

[@iamcharizard5468]

Lol. He didn't even actually swallow, so there was probably nothing in it.

[@sharonperegrina5301]

amazing!!! just have been there also getting in touch with this amazing trees trying to climb them, but then i noticed how delicate they are and that you really have to climb them super carefully to not hurt them... i learned that if you don´t know very well what you want, just sit next to a tree and meditate, meditate for a while, maybe for a day, a week, a month, but finally you will get an answer of this amazing life trees...

[@FlutistPride]

Chris Sharma is amazing.

[@pitot1988]

Looks like Chris has reached another level in his own personal journey! Inpsiring

[@Whom1337]

Grateful to have one near me in the UK they're a sight to behold up close these trees are taller than the tallest building in my city

[@rosscayley8773]

looks grat. and brings back memories. used to cut laps around the trunk of a large swamp gum growing in the paddock behind my parents house as training as a kid over 25 years ago in victoria, Australia. not tall, but fatter and more variety. That tree had the works- a 15 move v6 slab to a mantle into a fork between two big branches, and an overhanging crack-system where it had rotted out one side, merging up into a v5 power sequence. And a circuit. Its still there, but I haven't touched it in a while.

[@glenjamindle]

Chris Sharma....top roping...

[@charlie_table2674]

3:36 such hesitation to drink that Red Bull. He knows it’s poison, but he needs the sponsorship.

[@nathanwilliams4005]

And the wings.

[@foreverCaroline2]

Disappointed. But I can't judge. He still rocks...and trees.

[@Tornnnado]

@Moonlight does basically anything you might wanna re-read what they said lmao

[@rosscayley8773]

looks great. and brings back memories. used to cut laps around the trunk of a large swamp gum growing in the paddock behind my parents house as training as a kid over 25 years ago in victoria, Australia. not tall, but fatter and more variety. That tree had the works- a 15 move v6 slab to a mantle into a fork between two big branches, and an overhanging crack-system where it had rotted out one side, merging up into a v5 power sequence. And a circuit. Its still there, but I haven't touched it in a while.

[@jamesvillegas877]

Something different I've never seen. Very cool.

[@jefkoele-wijn8872]

Amazing to see a person climb a tree like that

[@BariumCobaltNitrog3n]

Of course it's free climbing, how could they charge you to climb a tree?

[@drcrow5767]

BariumCobaltNitrog3n lol

[@Yashodhan1917]

Anything is possible under capitalism

[@dharker7595]

Dad, you're here!

[@SuperCavaliersfan]

😂

[@dailydosesofgrass2500]

I can't tell if you are joking or not lol

[@chochopav]

Beatifull forest...living beings!

[@gleisous]

redbull & chalk don't fit in this environment

[@auroravuitton90]

Maybe some bark grinded down into powder form to replace chalk

[@xpartanreach]

i would love to do that.

[@WyeExplorer]

A beautiful experience. Exciting, educational and sensory.

[@MichaelPalmer70]

safe to say chris sharma is a top rope tough guy!

[@lindsaymarich1352]

I love this. Long live the Redwoods

[@rushweaver2807]

I'm a tree climber. But I use hooks. This is insanely difficult. Not to mention redwoods are insanely big. Highest I've ever had to climb is 120

[@jonathanryals9934]

I only spike up if I'm felling the tree. Ok maybe I'll spike up a difficult tree if it's thick bark and really healthy... but, not If it's in a highly visible area.

[@em0p0ny]

@@jonathanryals9934 agreed, i learned to do removals without spikes first. Lots of pruning/ball moss removal over here

[@DavidBylsma]

great video...thank you

[@matdinkleburg2755]

watched this as ismoked a bowl.... dope experience

[@francoismanne8079]

Thx for this amazing and magic moment!

[@genuinehearts8247]

One day I would love to learn.

[@channel1_channel]

Tough climb! ..great vid

[@girmantasst103]

Beautiful & Magical

[@CasperKiev]

молодцы ребята, дают жизнь следующим поколениям людей

[@wroat9591]

Ich wünsche jedem auf der Welt nur das Beste:)

[@siouxdoughnem221]

Coastal redwoods are not generally watered by rain. Fog rolls in from the sea, condenses and drips to their roots. It is no surprise that these trees would not be stressed by drought. I'm curious what their hypothesis is, and the data that turns up later in the season

[@jimlahey5354]

Good thing they have those hats on

[@-davorite-]

I think every human could this far in the past when big trees like this were everywhere

[@anthonymardiros4070]

Sharma should compete on American ninja warrior. A pro climber like him would definitely be able to go all the way.

[@nv631]

That's his warmup every morning

[@ninjaempire9093]

Correct, the first two victors of the show Geoff Britten and Isaac Caldiero were rock climbers. But they did also specifically train for ninja warrior for a few years because there are unique elements about it that aren’t in rock climbing

[@seamussnow9555]

mad respect from a canadian arborist

[@CHRISSY001-o2x]

wow congrats go on and dont forget to safe your life. god bless

[@leoniegluck3958]

Ich seh mir das Viedeo jetzt solange an bis ich den Regenwald gerettet habe!

[@shroudys]

Incredible giants.

[@IsaacNewton1966]

I bet being in those forest is humbling. People look so small there. I just bought a couple giant sequoia trees, that I am making videos, of unboxing, planting, and growing. I sure hope the do ok here. Love the video!

[@rushthezeppelin]

+Issac Newton I've been to Sequoia and it's amazing.

[@TacoShuriken]

^

[@angelestells1773]

!!!LOS GIGANTES MÁS HERMOSOS DEL PLANETA TIERRA!!!

[@foreverCaroline2]

How did they get the rope up there? What type of anchor?

[@Croach61]

My question as well.

[@JDeanMurray]

What a great video

[@ChristianLevesque]

Great idea + great video. !

[@ryanburbridge]

Hey bro those trees have been around on their own for a long time... they will be fine.

[@adamwest3264]

lol, cause the scientist dedicated to studying them is unaware of their age... -West

[@RJTheMountainSage]

Redbull and self reflection, meditation. A match made in heaven

[@neobrandon86]

ive done it with no ropes...stupid looking back on it now but still a proud moment for me

[@chanchitotheturtle]

I couldn't tell where was Justin Vitcov was looking... and that's totally fine.

[@scottpatrickvest]

Santa Cruz!

[@loganmcclinton4492]

What is the name of this route?

[@EveryoneHarmonyPeace]

Nice Video, Love it!

[@watermelontreeofknowledge8682]

What we learned today: don't free-climb tree trunks even if u think you're a beast

[@Dbt7be]

awesome video!!

[@thekill1197]

Read Wild Trees. They've been doing this for a while now! Cool stuff.

[@jalisco1jalisco140]

best video I ever seen

[@miguelyea123455]

Trees are life

[@em_joy4473]

time to add "see the view from the top of a redwood tree" On to my bucket list

[@maxhilton8770]

redwood is beautiful

[@ysf-psfx]

All pinches and sidepulls. Looks heinous

[@michaelmcgovern9881]

I can feel the splinters

[@TokinWhiteKid]

Michael Mcgovern redwood bark is corky and up to two feet thick. Not gonna get any splinters from a live tree

[@michaelmcgovern9881]

+Geoff Melle yea but still little shreds of bark come off and go into ur skin

[@TheFarleyMowat]

its also decently soft/malleable compared to many other tree barks, a thin piece would bend long before it entered your skin.

[@michaelmcgovern9881]

+Esbjorn Klein (Björn) alright I get it you guys are smart I'm stupid you can stop

[@tree2climb839]

Impressive climbing!

[@ryanhenry21]

serious strength

[@XVINERX]

Sharma is such a bean

[@pieterjoziasse4287]

Für den guten Zweck

[@chube5738]

Got a couple of trees near the trails here that can be climbed like that.. not nearly as tall, but still a challenge!

[@andrewbmaher9443]

awesome video.

[@tomclimber3125]

This video is so good and natural, but I hate the Red Bull Marketing behind the scenes

[@Rubensgardens.Skogsmuseum]

He should climb some baobabs. They are fantastic for climbing.

[@mikeFolco]

glucose-fructose-caffeine soda polishing their image

[@lukeRstrickland]

Michel Folco sucrose* fructose is naturally occurring in fruits and other whole foods

[@mikeFolco]

@@lukeRstrickland So are snake Venom, arsenic and asbestos.

[@Nuglar]

Never thought I'd see the day when ecophysiolgoy featured on a redbull channel! All I want to know is was that water potential from the lower or upper branches?

[@Ricardo_Moto]

I tried this in a park, first few m is so much easier than higher up.

[@TransHaus]

I miss Humboldt :(

[@Dautar748]

those are massive

[@WonderingAboutThat]

beautiful

[@backrowproductions1608]

I love how you guys cut to him drinking a Red Bull while they’re talking about something unrelated. It’s subtle but great marketing at the same time lol

[@muonneutrino]

How do they secure the rope? You can't lead-climb it - there are no bolts. So how it is done?

[@helder1340]

now swap trees often to alleviate the damage into the barks

[@pablohyslop]

So cool! Anyone know the name of the song at the beginning??

[@raslc]

How did they even get the rope at the top of the tree for his harness?

[@westguthrie3190]

That’s pretty amazing how he can grip that tree

[@namhci]

nice job !

[@GrogDC1]

Just curious, do these guys ever do a single days work?

[@whitchellegera291]

If you work hard enough and get really good at something you love, you'd actually get to have fun while working.

[@priceyt6839]

If you enjoy what you do you'll never work a day in your life

[@longebane]

@@whitchellegera291 buuuuulllllshiiitttt

[@whitchellegera291]

@@longebane look at them. Do you not realize that that's their work?

[@vizion4724]

Long Dao why is it bullshit?