On May 20,  4:44pm, Paula Franke wrote:
 
> The swarm has settled not too far from the hiveyard, which is convenient.
> The bad news is that the spot they picked to settle in is in the middle of
> a giant, overgrown and ancient blackberry thicket. And I mean in the
> MIDDLE!
 
What I would do is to get a long extension ladder and lay it down on the
blackberries.  Then you'll have something you can walk on to go get the bees.
 I'd walk carefully.  I retrieved a frisbee from within a 10 foot tall grove of
blackberries once by doing this.  It was about 25 feet in.
 
You could also take two half sheets of plywood and walk on one, lay the other
in front, repeat until you get to them.
 
Good luck!
 
Kris Bruland
Member of Mt. Baker Beekeepers Association
Bellingham, WA  U.S.A.