Tree climbing apparatus

A combination tree climbing and seating apparatus for an occupant wherein the occupant's legs furnish the sole power to move the occupant up the tree comprising:

• a lower climbing support including a foot platform provided with front and back end portions and a top surface extending generally horizontally, platform brace means connected to said foot platform and selectively engageable with the tree when the weight of the occupant is supported thereon, said platform brace means being disengageable from the tree by tilting said lower support upwardly by the occupant, and foot engageable means attached to said top surface adjacent said front end portion for firmly engaging an occupant's feet to allow the occupant to raise or lower said foot platform by lifting the occupant's legs to disengage said platform brace means and lowering the occupant's legs to re-engage said platform brace means on the tree and a climbing upper support including a seat platform having a top surface extending generally horizontally on which an occupant sits with the occupant's back against the tree when said apparatus is used for sitting and facing the tree with the occupant's knees spaced apart and straddling the tree as the occupant's legs are lifted to disengage said platform brace means and lowered to re-engage said platform brace means on the tree during climbing use of said apparatus, seat brace means connected to said seat platform and selectively engageable with the tree when the weight of the occupant is supported thereon, said upper support brace means being disengageable from the tree by tilting said upper support upwardly by the occupant, said platform brace means including a first front blade means connected to said foot platform for engaging the front of the tree, a first back blade means for engaging the back of the tree, and a pair of elongated members disposed on either side of the tree for attaching said first back blade means to said foot platform, said seat brace means including short connecting means located generally medially of and extending away from said seat platform and towards the tree to dispose said seat platform spacedly outwardly from the tree, said seat brace means further including a second front blade means connected to said short connecting means for engaging the front of the tree, a second back blade means for engaging the back of the tree, and a pair of elongated members disposed on either side of the tree for attaching said second blade means to said seat platform, said seat platform being disposed above said foot platform substantially above said foot engageable means when said platform brace means and said upper support brace means are disposed in weight bearing relationship on the tree truck, said foot platform pair of elongated members being longer than said seat platform pair of elongated members, said seat platform terminating generally medially of said foot platform, said short connecting means being sufficiently short to minimize the spaces on either side of said short connecting means and the respective said elongated members of said upper support for the occupant's legs during climbing and descending and to maximize the available foot room on said foot platform for the occupant during sitting of the occupant on said seat platform with the occupant's back to the tree when said apparatus is used for sitting of the occupant.