Tree-climbing

The Williams campus has many lovely trees which are great for climbing, if you like that sort of thing. Here are some favorites of the Williams tree-climbing community.

Magnolia beside Thompson Chapel

This tree is located between Thompson Memorial Chapel and Griffin Hall, in a sort of nook created by the chapel's buttresses. It's fairly low but provides for some nice, undistracted sitting, especially in early May when it is in blossom.

Sugar maple in front of the physics building

This is one of my favorite trees to climb, located in front of the physics building and across the street from Jesup Hall. Getting into the tree initially is a bit of a trick; it requires standing on the railing dividing the sidewalk from the grass, grabbing the nearest branch, and swinging one's legs up onto an adjacent branch. Once in the branches, however, it is quite easy to maneuver and continue climbing up. There is a nook about 20 feet up where three branches come together which is perfect for sitting in, whether to bask in the sun, take a nap, or do a problem set. It's also fun to talk to people coming out of the physics building and watch them turn about in bewilderment trying to find the source of the voice. However, in the spring, one does have to watch out for gypsy moth caterpillars.

Red maple in front of the chem/computer science building

This is a lovely, large tree that is perfect for group tree-climbing parties, as it can comfortably accommodate quite a few people in its branches at once.

Sugar maple in front of West

This tree is located just in front and to the right of West College as one stands at the door of West looking towards the science quad. It's rather small as trees go, and quite easy to climb. However, when its leaves are out, they are quite thick; anyone sitting in this tree will probably not be seen even by people ten feet away. A good place to hide, if that's what you want to do.

Copper beech in front of WCMA

This is a large, beautiful tree (the only tree of its kind on campus, to my knowledge) which would be impossible to climb were it not for some unfortunate disease or fungus which has rendered its trunk incredibly gnarled and knotted. As a result, getting up into this tree requires not so much actual tree-climbing skills as it does rock climbing skills. It's mostly fun just for the challenge of getting up onto the first branch, but once up it does afford a nice place to sit. It's possible to climb up higher into the tree, but not advisable without actual belaying equipment (which has, in fact, been done).