ORIGINAL: rybohunter
I did that enough before climbing aids were invented(or may I just didn't have the money for one). There's no way I'd hug a tree to climb it anymore.
Same here rybo, I have a Loggy climber platform which I only use as a lock on now. When I first bought it I was a tree hugger. I then invested in the climbing aid that Loggy offered. It wasn't fun going up, kinda fun coming down like a firemans pole though.
I believe my cousin still does this, at least the last time I saw him.