How to turn a bad day into a good day...

[TREEfool]

I was reluctantly studying today and my brain was ready to give up when I got hit with the bright idea to go hang my homemade portaledge in a tree for the first time and study in the tree tops! This is the outcome:

The tree was way taller than I originally thought as my ledge was 65 feet off the ground and the summit was way higher.

Can anyone name the tree type for me?

Note the beautiful autolocker on my grigri that was generously given to me at the MN workshop by a fellow climber who didn't want to see me die while using my screw gate biners. I never got to say thanks at the workshop so thank you sir!

I didn't study on the ledge like I had promised myself but only because it was so comfy that I decided to take a nap instead, haha. It was a beautiful climb and it refreshed me for some more studying. I do recommend this to everyone.

-Logan

 

[Treeswinger]

It is a sweetgum.

 

[RopeShield]

Red Maple Eh! Like the Canadian Flag.

 

[banjo]

Looks like a Sugar Maple to me.

 

[JeffL]

Sugar maple.

 

[TLHamel]

I'd call it Sugar maple (Acer saccharum).
Jeff, is that a Sugar in your avatar?

It was Jason McCarville that gifted those biners to you.

Thanks for attending the workshop, Logan. Great to do a bit o climbin' with ya.

 

[oceans]

I figured Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) based on:

The growth habit- numerous upright leaders with slender branches and twigs

The bark- the long vertical seams in the bark

The leaf- although the lobes aren't very deep (there are many variations in leaf shape within a species) the leaf sure looks sugary.

Looks like fun. I spent some of yesterday afternoon in a tree boat. Shoulda taken the caritools off the back of my saddle for ultimate relaxation.

 

[Bixler]

Nice portaledge... did you get any studying done after all?

 

[pajeepman]

Chinese Weeping Pin Maple

 

[JeffL]

Its a sugar in my avatar. Couldn't recall exactly but I remember what a pain it was bucking up the butt log, sugar maple is hard!

 

[macswan]

Rock maple, when they get that big.

 

[moss]

[ QUOTE ]

Looks like fun. I spent some of yesterday afternoon in a tree boat. Shoulda taken the caritools off the back of my saddle for ultimate relaxation.

[/ QUOTE ]

Evidence, Oceans stopped hopping around the tree for a minute to relax...

-AJ

 

[TREEfool]

Taylor thank you! I was too embarrassed to admit that I had forgotten Jason's name even after being introduced and hearing it like 50 more times before departing from the workshop. So ya, THANKS AGAIN JASON!


Moss, that is awesome! I was realllly debating between trying to build a treeboat or portaledge but the ledge won as I am also a rock climber and figured a tree boat wouldn't really work on the rock, haha. Thanks for the picture though as I could not find any good action shots of the treeboats. Looks comfy!

 

[moss]

[ QUOTE ]
Moss, that is awesome! I was realllly debating between trying to build a treeboat or portaledge but the ledge won as I am also a rock climber and figured a tree boat wouldn't really work on the rock, haha. Thanks for the picture though as I could not find any good action shots of the treeboats. Looks comfy!

[/ QUOTE ]

Portaledge is definitely easier to hang but, weighs a lot more if you're doing longer hikes with gear to trees.

I've never failed to find a way to hang a treeboat but it does get tricky sometimes.

I've been thinking about a simple conversion method to rig a treeboat like a portaledge, would require two tubes/stays horizontal, one on each side of the boat. I've got a really nice piece of bamboo I cut recently, I'm thinking I could build it with that.

I think this is my most epic treeboat hang, at 190', Giant Sequoia, pretty nice place to wake up in the morning...

-AJ

 

[oceans]

Not bad at all, Moss...not bad at all. I'm sure thinking of making or buying one for myself. These photos (and thee experience, of course!) are just pushing the thought process a bit faster.

 

[jmcscrap]

Looks like a good time! Glad to help you out with a couple carabiners - nice to meet you at the workshop!

 

[TREEfool]

Jason, it was indeed!

Oceans, a cheap way to see if you like it is to grab an old cot off craigslist. I got mine for free plus some quick adjust buckles and some webbing. I now know how enjoyable it is so I am really considering getting a Fish economy ledge which has a price just at $300.

Moss, YES! My favorite part about this is backpacking (sometimes bushwacking, haha) into a new forest to look for my next tallest tree. I really want to sleep above 100' in MINNESOTA but I am sure I will be searching for a tree that can help me accomplish this for a long time. My goal for next summer as a celebration for the end of school is to go to California and sleep in the Redwoods. I don't know how I am going to find the huge ones, I dont know what gear I will need, I dont know of anyone willing to join me, and I have no idea where I will get the money but I will sleep above 200' next summer. My rock friends think I am crazy to travel that far and not climb yosemite but the big walls will always be there, these trees will not.