I am covered in tree fern pollen. It is 10:30 am, in the base of a deep gully in a State forest in the Yarra Ranges. The ecologist is looking for a Northofagus* with a camera in it's canopy, next to an Acacia with some delicious bait, I on the other hand am looking for a foothold on a fallen Eucalypt in order to cross a valley stream and catch up to her, all while the Kookaburras laugh from high above in the canopy at my weak attempts to struggle through the understory. The gaiters around my legs are warm, but I take solace in the fact that the Kookaburra won't be enjoying the sight of me getting bitten by a brown snake or any of its friends.
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This is my job right now: Drive down rugged loggin roads and head into the thickest bush in Victoria, walk across logs with 50 pounds of climbing gear on my back, find a tree, climb it to collect a camera and bait, pack up and head to the next tree. It’s basically the greatest Easter egg hunt in the world. We work in two teams of two. One ecologist, one arborist. The arbs follow the ecologist while they frolic through the bush with their woefully light packs, and we (or I, as the other arb is much better than I) crash through the bush like lumbering tortoise-gorilla manbeasts, packs, helmets, and all. We’re doing endangered species surveys in logging regions. For the first time in weeks, I’ve started to miss the throngs of tourists that are great at getting in the way of my camera, and are ever present throughout Australia. Yes, I recognize the irony in that statement.

It is 3pm, I am covered in the bark of Eucalyptus regnans and about 10 meters up a tall tall tree. Eucalypts shed bark, you see. Nobody I’ve asked is really sure why, but I’d go out on a limb and say it’s to frustrate arborists. Not only does it come down in 1 to 3m strips that get caught in everything (ropes, helmets and so on), but it also comes off in a fine dust that smells terrific, and coats everything. After wrapping up the camera collection a tad early, my partner Brent offered to take me up a Eucalypt (something ‘small’ around 50m). As this was one of the main reasons for my adventure, I had to abide.

The added advantage is that Brent is a local, in fact, he climbs these trees regularly and was introduced to arboriculture through Mountain ash seed collecting, meaning that 50m is small to him. Meanwhile, as I ascend past huntsman spiders, and organisms that live their whole lives without ever touching the ground, I think of how all the ‘big trees’ I have worked in are laughably small scale, like micro machines are to monster trucks. Upon reaching the canopy we can see for miles, though the thick cover of the forest means, all we can really see for miles are trees. No complaints there.

Shortly after reaching the top of the tree, time is scarce. It's taken us about an hour for the ascent, and both of us are ready for dinner. It's a quick trip down to the truck where we bounce down logging roads for 30 minutes before reaching anything paved. It gave me a good opportunity to really consider how much this country has to offer, and how I've only begun to scratch the surface. 
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*​Nothofagus is one of the incredible evolutionary anomalies preserved unchanged in Australia for millions of years. Originally an Antarctic tree (yes you read that right), it is believed to be a predecessor to modern beach that are found throughout the Americas and Europe. 

I've just said goodbye to many new friends after nearly a week of tree anatomy and mingling with some of the keenest and most interesting minds in urban forestry and arboriculture. The conference was attended by professionals from Australia, Sweden, Canada, America, Hong Kong etc. It's a long list of countries and people who are interested in this industry. I'd call them tree huggers, but most are tree planters, managers, cutters, pruners, removers and c;limbers. Tree hugging is far too narrow a designation. The adventures at the conference have led me to compile a list of possible ‘side quests’ to explore in anticipation of the next year down undah:

• Investigate urban forestry in Hong Kong
• Visit M. in Adelaide and learn about Tree Environs
• Arb Australia in Adelaide
• 2 Stories for Arb Aus
• 2 Stories for Ont Arborist
• Visit A. for Climbing in Brisbane
• Climb a Red Gum with M. in Melbourne
• Visit Centurion (Tallest flowering tree in the world)
• Meet Tom Greenwood (again)
• Tell someone in Canada about M.C. and his project
• Track down A. T.

No guarantee they’ll get done, but that’s why they’re side quests…. Simply bonus adventures to add depth to the main story. Hey, they may even lead to a better ending score.

The major idea that I’ve got walking away from the conference is that this country is so big, the techniques so varied, and my time so short that I’ve resolved there’s only two approaches:

1. Accept the fact that I can’t do everything I want to do
2. Forgo sleep and save all the tiredness for the ride back*

I think we know the answer to that question. Now, this isn’t including trips to Hong Kong, PNG or New Zealand. I figure I can sleep on the plane there too…

*this doesn't mean skipping out on naps though. Especially the ones on nice warm days in the park. Those are their own adventure...