Climb 1

Climb Number: 1

Date: 10/06/08

Location: N 43 47.068, W 121 36.161. Outside Sunriver, along South Century Drive

Tree Type: Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)

Tree Name: (given) K42 (Kate's 42nd Birthday was that day)

Weather: Sunny, cool, slight wind, occasional passing cloud.

Placement: Big shot. It took several attempts to get over the right branch, and some back and forth with throw bags, and two snags over dead small limbs that had to be broken off with the rope, but managed to isolate a strong branch about 50 feet up.

Rope: Poison Ivy, 200 feet

Anchor Type: Around single branch, slipped up with oval screw link and throw line for removal

Ascent: Yo-yo, foot anchor on top ascender (Petzl) with webbing. Could only advance about a foot and a half per step. Secured in only with I'D

Pitches: On main pitch to a higher branch about 10 feet up. Original anchor had holder knot overtop of limb and would have been near impossible to get down from the ground unless it was repositioned. Second placement positioned much better for removal from down below.

Movement in the tree: Tall conifer with little movement in canopy. Some movement was achieved using laynard and Cincher. Mostly for back-up security and positioning for throws

Decent: With a Petzl I'D. Tried to film it (first part), may post with this entry at a later date. Slight gear tangles coming down, to be expected.

Problems:
1) With change over to "B" rope, the Petzl I'D was placed wrong. Problem corrected before movement was attempted.
2) Not enough time to get as high in the tree as I'd wanted
3) Rope burn to my L antecubital area from throw bag line in tree running across it
4) Ascent is much slower using Yo-Yo (might be better to attach I'D to "D" ring to allow a little more room on the rope)

Things that went well:
1) Location and scenery were beautiful. From up in the tree you could see Mt. Bachelor and other mountains, a river below, and lots of forested hills.
2) Although it was tricky, and took a while, getting a line isolated near the trunk, high up, in a dense conifer is an accomplishment.
3) Perfect weather
4) Good ground support and photography from my wife

Additional Comments: This is my first tree where I am actually tracking a lot of the details. I hope there are many more.