Hacker News Reader

Comment by dTal | Hacker News Reader

>Based on the skeletal structure of the child's foot, specifically, the base of the big toe, the kids probably spent more time in the trees than adults.

Fascinatingly, this is still true today! Kids love climbing trees. I used to love climbing trees. It's funny to think that the true reason for my disposition was a deep, ancestral fear of being eaten.

View on HN

I not only climbed trees as a kid, I opened doors with my feet well into my teens. I miss being in the kind of shape that would allow me to use a foot as a third hand while my arms are full or whatever. Sadly, I'm old, fat and ugly.

(I mean...um, old, fat, and less spry?)

hehe, we used to climb a lot too, surprisingly high, unattended and completely improvised.

A new generation of kids from new neighbors is spending a lot of times in trees, to the despair of their parents (and mine since it involves a lot of loud voices)

Natural selection likely favored kids that were good at climbing. Best strategy to stay away from some predators, until they were big enough to wield weapons (sticks, throw stones?) and come down from the trees.

Also, tree houses are fascinating for kids.

Also true of Bears. Cubs can climb trees while adults can't.

Adult bears definitely can climb trees. [0] So can adult humans, obviously.

[0] http://www.bearsmart.com/about-bears/dispelling-myths/

I'm curious if that is just a mutilation of "Cubs can climb trees that adults can't." Not that "Cubs can climb trees, adults can't."

That said, I thought it was common knowledge that bears are good climbers. There are some wonderful videos of bears climbing up to a hunter's tree stand. Would have to be a terrifying experience.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com