2008 ISA PNW chapter annual meeting

[Paul B]

is in Boise for 2008... hope you have a sturdy coffee maker OM, might have you some stoppers by! :D

2008 PNW-ISA

Annual Training Conference

Boise, Idaho

September 22-24, 2008

[Old Monkey]

We have a small place but all are welcome. I am usually busy in September, I'll try to save a fun job for that week too. Can I put you down for a large removal Paul?

[Paul B]

reserve the biggest crane in town Darin, and the wobbly man basket, I am the go to guy! HAHA!

[Old Monkey]

I am forgetting myself. You'll be a dad then and have to be more cautious with yourself. No more unnecessary risks for you. You'll have to abandon your reckless ways.

[Paul B]

indeed. so much for the craziness. guess I should focus on consulting now.

[MasterBlaster]

Then you'll never have to worry about falling six feet out of a tree anymore! :P

[Paul B]

exactly!

[sotc]

ill have a cup please:)

[Old Monkey]

I am not certain we have a coffee maker. The wife knows where all the Starbucks are though.

[sotc]

thatll work, ill have mine hot, black and fast:)

[Old Monkey]

Well I have been listening to lectures at the Idaho Horticulture Show this week in the venue where the Chapter Meeting will be in September. Its a nice place right in the downtown. I am probably going to get wrangled into helping in some capacity for the Meeting or for the Climbing Competition. I would be competing but they don't have an old fat guy bracket.

It sounds like Tom Dunlap will be here teaching an SRT course and an Arboriculture Ethics class. I am not certain if that is firm yet. The city does have some nice trees for the competition and I think we can put on a pretty fun show here. I met a pretty cool climber with a company here in town and he is spearheading the effort to get Tom here. Zeke is his name and he is now our chapter President. He is younger and disgustingly enthusiastic about everything. I like him despite those obvious character flaws.

[sotc]

haha! make it nice and comfy for me darin:D

[Tom Dunlap]

See you there! Isn't the PNW-TCC the weekend before?

[Paul B]

most times its the same weekend I think Tom, lemme go check the PNW Chapter site and see if it says whats up.

edit: Hm, doesnt say, I am pretty sure its the same weekend though.

[sotc]

usually its on sunday then the conference starts monday

[Old Monkey]

Well its finally here. This Sunday is the climbing competition and the Conference starts on Monday with a field day. I will be attending Sunday and Monday and will skip Tuesday and Wednesday. Anyone else coming?

[Paul B]

Not going to make it, didnt pan out for me. Maybe next year... Have fun!

[Old Monkey]

Isn't next year in your backyard Paul?

[Paul B]

nope, however it is in Squishies back yard, a 3.5 hour drive for me I am going to try to get up there fo sho! :)

[squisher]

What? Where is it?

Kelowna?

I'm outta touch.:|:

[Paul B]

2009 PNW-ISA

Annual Training Conference

Kelowna, British Columbia

October 4-7, 2009

[squisher]

Awesome! I'll be there next year fo sure!:)

[Paul B]

lets reserve some campsites! tree guy part-ay!

[sotc]

why you skippin darin? ill be there mon-wed. next years out though

[squisher]

Might be chilly for camping! But hell I'm down with a partaaay! Kelowna is only like 30minutes away for me. But if I'm partying it'll either be camper or hotel.

Hell I could probably stay in a hotel there and write it off even!:D

[squisher]

next years out though

Willie c'mon man.:what:



:D:lol:

[sotc]

im to old for never never land:D

[squisher]

Aww never to old to party with the squisher! 8)

[Paul B]

yeah, mebbe I will just fly up and hotel it. My guess is it will be at the Grand anyways... or is there a different conference facility up there?

[squisher]

Hmm yah there's a few goodsized ones down there now, names escape me but there's atleast a couple more lakefront hotels with conference set-ups.

[sotc]

main prob with pnw is its always during elk season, if darin wasnt in boise id probably skip this year to. gotta hang with the old monkey whenthe chance comes along:)

[squisher]

Oh ok I see how it works now.:what:

Darin's ok for missing hunting but us canucks, forget it eh?:P



:lol:

[sotc]

haha, i been telling him for ages i was coming out, hate to back out now. and its alot closer. ive got a home show fri-sun, i tear down sun afternoon, and head for boise, get home wed night. friday afternoon i head for calif to a wedding, and all along the phone is ringing like mad:dur: should stay home........ but ive paid already

[squisher]

Yah it's a busy time of year for it to happen in the PNW. I'm starting to think I'm gonna run outta fall before I run outta work this year.

[Old Monkey]

I'm not backing out I am just not doing the classes. I'll plenty available for socializing.

[rbtree]

I'm leaving tomorrow nite or Fri AM. Driving to Clarkston to visit my bro and 94 yr old mom on the way. arriving Sat mid day or later......looking for a camping spot, cheap motel, or your backyard, Darin. Promise I won't mess with any farm animules......

Look forward to meeting you hosers....willie, Darin.....and you lurking fools, you!!

Call me, 206 909-2644...

My knee is recovering, I've done a bit of climbing, bringing my gear and the GRCS for Dan Kraus to use for his Monday speed line demo class.....

I'd blow off some conference classes to help ya wreck something big, Darin....but ya ain't got nuttin but puny li'l twigs, ya keep sayin'.....:cry:

Dodger....

fack, just talked with wiley, he's laid up with a bad flu/cold/cough...sounds miserable. Said it was mebbe the 6th time he'd ever been sick...which sounds about the number for this ole coot as well.....heal up, fast, good fella!!!

[sotc]

punched ya in my phone rog, twill be good to meetcha

[Old Monkey]

I unfortunately don't have any fun removals in the docket right now. There is yard and floor space for camping out here. We are about ten minutes from the competition site and conference center.

[Old Monkey]

Well we've been in the mid 80's and sunny for weeks and today we got buckets of rain from a morning and then afternoon thunder storm. I got a cat rescue call and Haley and I responded to it. The cat had been in the tree for three days and suffered through this morning's storm. I usually bag the cat and repel down but this kitty climbed on my shoulders and stayed there for the trip down. It was a really nice cat. After that we stopped by the Park were they are setting up the competition. I wish I had signed up because the trees are not that hard. The master's challenge tree is the best one and I think it would be fun to climb. My back is pretty tweaked so its probably for the best that I will be on the ground. We are looking at 68 degrees and partly cloudy tomorrow. I saw Tom Dunlap at the park and two different versions of the Unicender. RBTree just got into town a few hours ago. I think Willie will be here very late tonight. It should all be pretty fun.

[MasterBlaster]

Tell everybody I said HI, especially 'ole Tommy boy! :beer:

[Paul B]

careful of RBtree, he is a dodgy one! If you get him and Oxman in the same room its trouble fersure!

[sotc]

late tommorrow night!

[Old Monkey]

Oh yeah, that's right.

[sotc]

now you can say late tonight:D

[No_Bivy]

careful of RBtree, he is a dodgy one! If you get him and Oxman in the same room its trouble fersure!

arch enemies?

[Paul B]

more like a pair of trouble makers. :)

[Old Monkey]

It was a fun day today if a bit damp in the trees. I talked briefly with Roger, Tom Dunlap, Dan Krauss and I met Kathy Holzer. I spent half the day watching the competition and the other half in a climbing class put on by some Davey Tree guys and a fellow from Kewlona, BC. Roger took a bazillion pictures and was running here there and everywhere. Dan Krauss is going to put on a speedline demo tomorrow with my GRCS. I'll never wash it again.

[MasterBlaster]

I still can't believe I saw you on the NBC freaking evening news. That was amazing.

[Paul B]

I am jealous OM, I met the same folk here in Victoria a few years ago, looking forward to next year. Keep an eye on the RBTree feller, he is like a whirling dervish when it comes to taking pics!

[Old Monkey]

He may crash here tonight at Casa de Mono but then he may go out drinking with all the climbers and sleep in his truck again. I hope I have the money and time to go to next year's show and meet you Canadian types.

[Paul B]

ha, when Ox was here he was asking me about graveyards to crash out in !

[Tree Guy's Wife]

Didn't make this years show (obviously) but will be there for next year. Tree Guy has about 800 acres he's working on in Penticton over the next few years (development project) so I'm sure we'll be combining trips. I wish I could attend, but you'll just get to meet Tree Guy and Tree Guy's dad.

[Paul B]

heard about that 800 acres, wondering if tree guy is gonna call to pick my brain, he threatened to last winter... :)

and why cant you and tree guys kid attend? a road trip is no biggie for the young one, we took our little guy for a 7 hour road trip at 6 months, tree guys kid will be like 2 for next years conference! :D

[Tree Guy's Wife]

Oh, we'll be there with him, just not at the actual conference. We don't usually do the banquets - just go for a nice dinner with the in-laws. Maybe this year we will though.

Travelling while they're under a year is easy. We still do it, but have noticed the change. We need to stop more now and let him have a run. As long as we do that and time it with naps all goes well.

The project has stalled a bit. I know you'll be getting a call when the time comes. :)

[Old Monkey]

Today was fun. I got to help with Dan Kraus's speedline demonstration. He is a really nice guy. I picked up a few tricks from him. The thing I liked best was they had him hooked up on the P.A. system so his every word in the tree was like God's voice booming down from the heavens. Maybe I could buy a Mr. Microphone and speak over people's car radios while climbing.
Willie(SOTC) made it into town last night and I hooked up with him this morning. In the afternoon we saw Tom Dunlap's class on Single Rope Climbing techniques and I got to try that Unicender Tom has been talking about. I liked it for ascending and rappelling. I did not like it for easing down just a little bit on a branch. It was very touchy. It may because I was new to it or because I weigh just a little bit more than Tom. Anyway its a clever piece of equipment that I will most likely not buy. He had another type of ascender (The Eddy) descender that I liked better but I am forgetting the name right now. Its like a Gri Gri but it has a safety feature the Gri Gri does not have that if you pull the lever too far it locks again.

This evening we had Roger/RBTree and Willie over to dinner. Roger brought some wine and Willie brought some cookies that his wife made. It was a very agreeable soiree. Haley enjoyed the company. I think I am going to be in trouble if one more Tree Houser tells my wife or Haley that they have seen a lot of pictures of her and feel like they've seen her grow up on the net.

[MasterBlaster]

That's cool, Darin.

[Paul B]

wicked. I feel bad for not attending, I could have brought my wife's home made perogies to supper.

Is Haley being reasonable about her crayons?

Devon, will you make the trek to Kelowna next year? I am already trying to co-erce the wife in to the trip with little Bub. :D

TGW. Cool, I am looking forward to it.

[Bodean]

That's great Darin, way to host a time!

[Old Monkey]

Hey Paulie, we held down the fort but woulda had more carousing if you'da graced us with your presence. Partied with Gareth, Scott Nyuli and a couple other competitors from BC....And Scott Nyuli won! He scored a ton of swag, and of course gets his way paid to Rhode Island ITCC next year.

I got some great shots of the competition, the drive down from SE Wa where I visited my bro and 94 yr old mom, and Dan Kraus's excellent speed line demo today.

Haley is simply an adorable young lady. Got some nice pics of her picking tomatoes from the garden for the delectable meal which Willie and I were treated to..

I'm kinda tired, so prolly won't post any of the hundreds of pics I've shot since leaving Seattle Thursday evening. It's a bit more work to mess with them on Darin's puter.

[Paul B]

Game on Roger!
Gareth is a good fella, hard to unnerstand when he is speaking but otherwise he is good folk! :D

I havent met Scott yet but if he is a winner in the cllimbing comp I look forward to it!

Haley pickin tomaters? thats cool, our little bub was trying to stand up on his own today, I love the pics of the treehouse little ones that are ahead of him doing their own milestone tasks.

:D

See you all in Kelowna next year hopefully!

[sotc]

home again from a good conference. probably the best pnw conference ive been to. was fabulous to meet darins family and great to meet roger. enjoyed a few conversations with tom also. im with darin, that unicender is a nice tool but out of my price range.

[squisher]

So none of y'all got any pictures of this shindig?

[Old Monkey]

Roger has about a bazillion pictures of it but it might take him a day or two to get them up. I have a few and I'll resize them and post them later.

[sotc]

roger did, i kept forgetting my camera in the hotel:dur:

[squisher]

Later tonight? It's already pretty late?:D

[rbtree]

I'm home already. Went back to the park with several friends including the Scotts Baker and Altenhoff, to do some rope walking. Tom tried his Unicender, but it didn't work on Scott A's 3/8th KM lll. Then went to Sierra Trading Post, got some t-shirts, and a nice pair of dry weather work boots for $54! Gained an hour with the time zone, and made the 480 miles in about 8 hours.

Got gobs of messages to listen to, calls to make, bids to do, work to set up, gonna be hard to get pics up, but will try to at least post up a few.....

Scott A uses a Laserhawk wrist rocket sling shot with 1.5 oz weight to set lines, at up to 150 feet...using 20 lb test line. Too bad the tool is no longer made. I'd used Oxman's briefly a few years back..definitely a cool tool. Scott and Tom were discussing fabricating one, perhaps from aluminum......wouldn't be that hard.

It was only his third time ropewalking---with a Petzl Croll chest ascender, one handled ascender with foot tether, and Pantin. He jugged up 40 feet or so danged fast, seemed like 10 seconds!!