Just what kind of people want to hang out with Shady Characters? Actually, the answer is practically anyone-anyone with a taste for adventure, a willing and open spirit, and a desire to connect with the largest and oldest living creatures on our planet Over the past 25 years, people from 2 to 82 have experienced the joy and reaped the rewards of recreational,"edge-ucational," experiential, expeditional, and adaptive tree climbing. (And you probably thought there was only one way to climb a tree ) These fortunate individuals have discovered that tree climbing is so much more than an "eccentric hobby"-or even an "extreme sport." It is a life-changing and life-affirming adventure. Here, in Hanging Out with Shady Characters, those who dare to climb share their knowledge with you: tree climbing is a unique experience that allows us to draws closer to nature, closer to ourselves, and closer to one another. Tree climbing transcends gender, age, culture, and even physical limitations-setting hearts, minds, spirits, and souls free to dream within the canopies. These are tales of adventure, laughter, love, comfort and hope-stories of people finding the BEST in themselves and sharing the gift of trees with others. Through these pages you have the opportunity to see trees from a new perspective-and get a glimpse of the amazing people who open the canopies up for groundlings, newcomers, experts, friends and colleagues alike. The trees have so very much to teach us. So open up the pages and let yourself remember what it is like to touch and be touched by a tree . . . .