WANTED: SRT/MRT teacher

[data farm 26]

@bonecycle Welcome to TreeBuzz. I did a test climb on cone picking when I first got into tree work to ascertain what I wanted to bid my time at. One thing I noticed was the trees were all pumping sap pretty well. Any gear and methods you select toward should probably handle sap well. And then still have plan B and C for dealing with sap.

An old hand on another forum that was in the forest service and spoke of cone picking has said that the more desirable cones are in the very top % of the tree. He spoke of tying off SRT at one foot diameter or so and then having slings for remote tie off every few feet of additional elevation as they went up to prime territory. And yes, he did refer to breaking out at times.

Sounds like Burnham

 

[Merle Nelson]

Wespur sells a spray bottle of sap cleaner called Zap I believe. That old hand used to recommend Goop hand cleaner to clean off ropes etc.

Sean (SouthSoundtree) probably has lots of day in day out interaction with sap to have ideas. I'm able to avoid it in most of my work.

 

[data farm 26]

I re-learned recently just how much sap can ruin your day.

 

[bonecycle]

One thing I couldn't help with is learning how to set a line in really tall evergreens, we just don't have that here. I gather that's pretty tough, and dangerous. Going from zero to the top to get cones in 3 weeks might be rushing a bit. It takes a while to get familiar with the gear and procedures, in my opinion. Whatever you do, be careful! By the way, great website. I really like the furniture. Northern nm has no shortage of cool!

Thanks Levi!! I’ll be in touch…

 

[Merle Nelson]

I re-learned recently just how much sap can ruin your day.

Alcohol wipes for glasses(Ziess at Walmart) come in handy for me. Sometimes just a few drops of pine sap will bring progress to a halt using the Akimbo. Wipe off the friction surfaces and I'm good to proceed again.

 

[data farm 26]

Nice tip, thanks. I got sap all over me recently, Bulldog bone was completely ineffective. Kind of a dangerous situation!

Burnham's cone picking anecdotes are part of the reason I considered it might be a difficult venture. He had some great photos though. Him and his wife (?) climbing to the tops of fir trees to the point that their heads were above the tops!

 

[bonecycle]

For those interested. This video gives a sense of what I’ll be doing and the outfit I’ll be working for.…
https://www.google.com/search?q=kqed+harvesting+seed+harvesting+reforestation&sca_esv=09379ecd0b6efd91&sxsrf=ACQVn0_v6KJOXpX4ujg__6JdsJ7V-9t2QQ:1713556869182&source=hp&ei=hc0iZun-CMDfkPIPpPy8mAc&oq=kqed&gs_lp=EhFtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1ocCIEa3FlZCoCCAAyBBAjGCcyBRAAGIAEMhEQLhiABBixAxjRAxiDARjHATILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwEyCBAAGIAEGLEDMgsQABiABBixAxiDATILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwEyCxAAGIAEGLEDGIMBSKIoUNgMWMwacAF4AJABAJgBiAGgAfUDqgEDMC40uAEByAEA-AEBmAIFoAKaBKgCD8ICBxAjGCcY6gLCAg0QLhjRAxjHARgnGOoCwgIHEC4YJxjqAsICEBAuGIAEGNEDGMcBGCcYigXCAgoQIxiABBgnGIoFwgILEAAYgAQYkQIYigXCAg4QLhiABBiRAhjUAhiKBcICBRAuGIAEwgIQEAAYgAQYsQMYQxiDARiKBcICDhAuGIAEGLEDGNEDGMcBwgIKEAAYgAQYQxiKBcICCxAuGIAEGNEDGMcBmAMIkgcDMS40oAfXKQ&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-hp#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:5069c7ca,vid:iLxFLi5IO0Q,st:0

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Hey! Thanks for the insight! Yes, I’m aware of the sap dynamic. I’ve been told petzl zigzag is pretty good under those conditions. That’s the device i have…

It is wonderful for sap. The chicane for srt will be very functional for your setup, particularly when retying in and slack tending. Also consider your lanyards, as they get sap laden as well. You'll want a minimum 16oz throwball too. Anything lighter and it won't come through the canopy well.

 

[Matias]

It is wonderful for sap. The chicane for srt will be very functional for your setup, particularly when retying in and slack tending. Also consider your lanyards, as they get sap laden as well. You'll want a minimum 16oz throwball too. Anything lighter and it won't come through the canopy well.

I had an 18 oz solid core doodad, like the FTC meteors, that was great for that purpose. I should get another of those while I'm thinking about it

 

[evo]

It is wonderful for sap. The chicane for srt will be very functional for your setup, particularly when retying in and slack tending. Also consider your lanyards, as they get sap laden as well. You'll want a minimum 16oz throwball too. Anything lighter and it won't come through the canopy well.

A steel 1” bar ground like a bullet on both ends and a half link of chain welded. Shoot with a 12oz for height, take the bag off and use the steel for manipulation

 

[evo]

300’ of line is the minimum for base anchored tall conifer srt.
Climb to your anchor point and choose if you pull your tail up with a pre tied double rope system to advance.
Or bring a 30-50’ lanyard with a double rope system on either end.
Sap will be so bad you’ll feel like a fly on fly paper. Ideally this is why switching over to a short climbing line is advisable.

Once in small wood set slings every 3’-6’ to get into the really little wood. Typically I do this by using a running bowline in substantial wood, and don’t bother with anything other than a hitch.

Stopper knots on everything as you might climb higher than your preset access line. Beware there may be no quick way to bomb out of the tree without changeovers. Having a hook on a stick can pull the top to you or tips of the limbs within reach

 

[Treeaddict]

Not a ton of DH. Mostly technical climbing and descending. Some endro too

I love me some climbs. I don’t speed down anything anymore after a nice facial scar. Just can’t risk breaking bones. The fitness comes from pointing the front tire up anyway and that’s the big reason I ride, to keep heart disease and diabetes at bay.

 

[Treeaddict]

Thanks so much! I’ll give him a call today

You got his number from the DM I sent?

 

[Brando CalPankian]

300’ of line is the minimum for base anchored tall conifer srt.
Climb to your anchor point and choose if you pull your tail up with a pre tied double rope system to advance.
Or bring a 30-50’ lanyard with a double rope system on either end.
Sap will be so bad you’ll feel like a fly on fly paper. Ideally this is why switching over to a short climbing line is advisable.

Once in small wood set slings every 3’-6’ to get into the really little wood. Typically I do this by using a running bowline in substantial wood, and don’t bother with anything other than a hitch.

Stopper knots on everything as you might climb higher than your preset access line. Beware there may be no quick way to bomb out of the tree without changeovers. Having a hook on a stick can pull the top to you or tips of the limbs within reach

Evo knows the terrain very well. Whidbey has some biggens. Yet another amazing professional if you want to know how to do it @bonecycle. That's nearly my exact setup while I was climbing big conifers.

 

[bonecycle]

You got his number from the DM I sent?

I got inundated yesterday...contacting him this morning. thanks again!!

 

[Friedrich]

if you go conepicking, bring a bottle of vegetable oil with you and constantly apply that to your hands and hitch. that will dissolve the pitch…

 

[Matias]

if you go conepicking, bring a bottle of vegetable oil with you and constantly apply that to your hands and hitch. that will dissolve the pitch…

We used to do that when harvesting a different kind of sticky cone that grows around here. That is a great idea. Gross, but very effective. Coconut oil solidifies at reasonable temps and is a little easier to work with.

 

[data farm 26]

Looking for someone who’s open to teaching single rope technique and multi rope technique. I have the gear. Please read what I posted below….


I’m willing to pay you for your time. I don’t mind traveling for lessons. I can take care of my own accommodations. I’m also willing to pay for your travel/accommodation (within reason) if you’d rather do it in central/northern New Mexico.

Any references or suggestions are welcomed. i’m new to this forum… This is my first post. Here’s a little bit more about me: www.rosslunz.com.

Thanks so much!

How goes the tree climbing journey?