How to climb a coconut palm

Select your tree carefully! Avoid those with heavy mossy growths on the shady side. Ones with polished trunks from neighbouring fronds can be extra slippery. Start with the short ones to develop your own style.*always stretch well first*

Barefoot (clean your feet of sand and dry them well) in shorts or jeans start gripping on the raised shoulders of the trunk with your toes and put your fingers around the back of the trunk. Keeping pressure on the trunk with balls of your feet and toes,  walk up, alternating feet and hands. As the trunk straightens and you may tire, change to using the soles of your feet, bent legged, against the trunk. Place one hand up and behind the trunk and the other hand at chest level on the front of the trunk.  Applying pressure from both sides lift your body on your arms extending one leg or both to assist, then bring up your feet one by one using your soles to clamp into the new position, repeat this to the top.

This technique is reversed on the way down and can be abrasive on the forearms so start out in long sleeves and take it easy. It is extremely focusing and physically demanding. Once you reach the head of the tree you’ll encounter some loose fibres on the trunk where recent fronds have fallen; take your time on this slippery section. You may be required to remove a hanging  frond of flower pod with your front hand before reaching up to hang your weight on a solid frond. Never grab the bottom row of fronds; they can be ready to drop off at any time. Similarly, once up in the tree, don’t step on this bottom row.

I now climb with a rope for lowering whole bunches, a folding pruning saw and of course a COCOTAP to sample the best bunch while up in the tree. Good stretchy climbing rope makes it easier to descend.

There have been appliances developed to aid climbers and even schools of climbing in India. There is a technique used by steeplejacks employing a prussic knot which gives you a loop for each foot and a girdle around the trunk. This method, as well as some other fine points, are well described on this Caribbean site: Ambergris Cay.

I've described my own experience and take full responsibility for my own health. If you employ any of these suggestions you do so at your own risk. Be patient, teach yourself carefully; you are responsible for you, COCOTAP is not!

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