A third-generation arborist, Mark Chisholm is as at-home in a tree as he is on solid ground. This month, the Howell resident will be reaching for his 20th-straight victory in the regional tree-climbing competition sponsored by the New Jersey chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture.
Scheduled for June 9 at Rutgers Cook Campus in Middlesex County, the all-day annual event is expected to attract about two dozen climbers competing in six events that can take them up to 100 feet above the ground in a test of strength, speed and agility. Events include an aerial rescue (climbers attempt to extricate a dummy from a tree) and a speed climb that can cover a distance up to 60 feet.
“For me, it was the natural instinct to climb a tree,” says Chisholm, who works at the family-run Aspen Tree Expert Co. in Jackson. As a boy, he recalls visiting his father at a work site and wanting to follow in his vertical footsteps.
Chisholm started competing at 19 and finished fifth in his inaugural event. Now 41, he began his winning streak in 1993; he also has earned three world titles, most recently in 2010.
“I personally like larger trees to climb because it challenges your ability and endurance,” says Chisholm.
Competing carries risks, he admits, and fatalities are not unheard of. “It’s relatively safe, but there is a potential for human mistakes,” Chisholm says. “I’ve never had a serious injury, just some bumps and bruises. I’ve banged my knees and have had a hard time walking for a few days.”