Ropes in Trees

A Guide To Better Temporary Rope Elements

By Philipp Strasser

Publisher’s Note: The publisher has tried to identify all copyright holders of quotations, texts, images, figures and illustrations. Unfortunately, this was not always possible. If we forgot someone, we kindly ask the copyright holders to contact us.

The authors are responsible for the form and contents of this book.

Bibliographical information of the German National Library

The German National Library lists this publication in the German National Bibliography; detailed bibliographical data can be found in the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de.

ISBN 978-3-940 562-92-0

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Special thanks are due to Walter Siebert who provided the Standard Operating Procedures for many elements and performed the final check on this book. His indefatigable pursuit of safety and his will to question everything over and over again – combined with the ability to listen to other people’s arguments and experiences and change his opinion if necessary – are very impressive.

Additionally, I would like to thank:

… Petra Schuster, whose presence gave me inspiration and her beautiful Ennstal house was the perfect location to write this book (and who also took the picture of me …)

… Anita Nemeth, Ursula Schürer, Traude Steurer, Veronika Wassertheurer, Andrea Obereigner, Rainer Kudrna, Andrea Pfeiffer, Barbara Tegtbauer, Sandra Wehowar and Thomas Wielander for their support at building numerous prototype elements

… Gert Schweiger, who owns the best forested land for temporary rope elements and made it available to us,

… Barbara Kleemair, Nora Schütz and Sigi van Bosche, Phillip Rehberger (cover photo) climbing models

… Michael Rehm for proofreading, his suggestions, and “a swift kick in the butt” to get this book eventually published

… Bahman Azarm and his team to get this book ready for the English speaking world

… All those who provided feedback to the first edition (in German) of this book and now made this second edition even more comprehensive, informative, and practical

Philipp

Contents

Preface

Introduction

Risks and Hazard Notes

Redundancy, Zero Accident and Other Safety Issues

What Is a Temporary Rope Element or Temporary Rope Course?

Material Stress on Temporary Rope Activities

Participant Safety Near Ground Level

Low V

The Wrapping Knot

The External Multiple Advantage Pulley System

Express Two-To-One Pulley System, Klemheist Knot, Munter Tied Off with Half Hitches, Mercedes Knot

Steel Maillon Rapide Versus Locking Carabiner

Postman’s Walk

Attaching Activity Elements To Tightened Ropes

Low Buckets

Pizzeria, Car Tires, Wobbly Logs

Attaching a High Rope Without Climbing the Tree

Hour Glass and Ship’s Crossing

Attaching a Heavy Duty Round Sling at Height Without Climbing the Tree

Multi-Vine Traverse

Pulley Walk, Deep Buckets

The Mohawk Walk

The Forest Playground

Low Wobbly V

The Alpine Butterfly Knot

Figure Eight Knot Sling Versus Alpine Butterfly Knot

Low Drawbridge

Steps On the Moon

High Temporary Elements

The N Belay

The Belay Triangle

Participants Belaying Participants

The Elevator

Long Way Up

Beko N Belay For Two or More Participants

The Giant Ladder

Lashing

The Vertical Maze

Static Top Rope With a Canopy Above the Element

Climbing The Crates

The Internal Two-To-One Pulley System

The Elevator With Internal Two-To-One Pulley System

The Fire Ladder

Revolving Top Rope For One Participant

Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing

Get Ready For Beaming

Assisted Wobbly Logs

Revolving Top Ropes With Canopies Above the Element For Two Participants

High Drawing Bridge

References

About the Author

Preface

About 20 years ago, I introduced the term “zero accident” for high rope courses. As a mountain guide I found myself increasingly in a bind: my customers had great experiences but I was also confronted with serious accidents year after year. So I was very happy when my friend Bill Daniels introduced me to the “zero accident” concept. I wanted to share my enthusiasm with other colleagues … and met with widespread refusal! So it goes, sometimes, with new ideas!

I am very happy to see that, with this book, Philipp Strasser refutes a frequent argument: that it is actually possible to set up numerous elements while applying the Zero Accident concept.

One example: He recommends spotting the Mohawk Walk and similar Low Elements with 4 spotters for every participant. It is known that this element is often done without any belay at all. So reading this book, how does a facilitator feel? A logical consequence would be to change the belay concept and from now on work with a team of four spotters. Unfortunately, my observations of some rope course operators in Europe have, all too often, shown that, although there are accidents, there is often little motivation on the part of the operators to correct the situation. “If a child breaks his arm, well, that’s part of the game”.

Such accidents do not have to be “a part of the game” anymore. And such attitudes will not be acceptable as ropes courses gain popularity in the United States, where there is less public tolerance when it comes to operator liability. This book will help show how we can keep the participant’s experience exciting and rewarding while simultaneously reducing accidents.

In this book Philipp Strasser has only included established elements and processes, to which he has added a new level of safety, while, at the same time, preserving the essence of the participant’s experience. By adopting his ideas, future courses can be built that promise both great experiences, accompanied by reduced risks.

Walter Siebert

Introduction

Nature has long been a place to find rest and adventure. At first it was approached in its pristine, original shape, accessible and enjoyed only by natural routes and means. Then, in the 20th century, the natural environment was adapted by mankind to make it more readily useful to the greater public and an expanding recreational economy. Ski lifts and slopes are obvious examples of these manmade intrusions.

More recently, the natural environment has been adapted for summer recreational activities. Summer toboggan runs and aerial adventure courses are booming. Today, there are daily discussions about using concrete in the woods or if drilling trees is really necessary.

It is time we ask ourselves: “Is it ethically acceptable to endlessly modify the natural world for recreational purposes? Is there a way to continue to have fun adventures in nature without destroying that world in the process?”

The use of temporary rope elements allows us to have fun and adventure in nature and yet leave nature in the same condition as we found it. It is, of course, inevitable that the presence of humans alone can disturb woodland animals, compact the ground, and leave small traces on the trees - even if tree protection pads are applied. But by employing temporary rope elements we can significantly reduce mankind’s negative impact on the natural world and work towards the goal expressed by the mountaineer Edmund Hillary: “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.”

Temporary rope elements are not only environmentally advantageous, they are readily adaptable to numerous locations as well. They allow us to create challenging rope courses in a wide variety of different places: trees, rocks, bridges, or houses can be used as well as concrete or steel buildings such as gyms or shopping malls.

Rope elements can be set up close to the ground or be built to elevate participants to dizzying heights. They can be set up in quiet forests and mountains or in buzzing cities. The possibilities are practically limitless.

But temporary rope elements do not only offer infinite location possibilities. A single element can also be altered to offer numerous variations for all kinds of participants. Small children or seniors, wheelchair users or people with special needs, accomplished climbers or sedentary office workers, individuals or large groups. Temporary rope elements offer a wide variety of options.

Temporary rope elements also offer rich rewards for teambuilding, interpersonal communication, anger management, social interaction and interpersonal growth. Courses can be designed to simply provide a fun easy climb, or provide the rigorous challenge and exhilaration of exercising at great heights. The beauty of temporary rope courses is that they are endlessly adaptable to the environment at hand and the goals of the builder.

Equipment such as ropes, locking carabiners, rappelling devices or pulleys originate mostly from mountaineering, but we must not forget frequently used equipment that is used in industrial climbing or urban forestry. Conventional climbing equipment often limit us as we get close to the ground, especially if heavy duty round slings are necessary.

Logs and other similar wood can be integrated in elements, as well as car tires, balloons, tarpaulins and fabrics, etc. – as long as all safety requirements are met, there are no limits for creativity.

This book introduces numerous new elements, while the more familiar elements were reworked and updated with advanced safety requirements in mind. The focus of this book is on designing, building, and installing these elements.

In the second edition, some tips and tricks were improved and some figures slightly modified. From reader’s suggestions, there is a chapter that deals with the different uses of steel maillon rapides and locking carabiners for temporary rope elements.

At first, low elements without belays are discussed. With the various techniques introduced, it is possible to build several low elements without leaving the safety of the ground. This can be beneficial for those who are not legally allowed to work at heights.

Second, high elements that are easily built and installed are described. For example, crate climbing only requires a top rope belay. Complex elements are also discussed such as the High Drawbridge or the Caving Ladder, which demand higher climbing and building skills. Each element is described and includes tips, techniques and safety instructions.

This book is sequentially ordered. First we explore tips and tricks of how to build an element and secure and use it. Then more elements are discussed where you can apply what you have learned previously.

Knots, ties, or designs that are necessary for setting up temporary rope elements are described in detail with many illustrations. Applications that are already generally familiar and frequently used in other areas, like the figure eight knot or the Munter Hitch, are not described in detail.

We applaud the fact that women are now more involved than ever in the world of outdoor recreation. Until the middle of the last century, there were almost no women working as mountain or ski guides. Today, the numbers are almost equal. However, in the interest of simplicity and readability we may employ single gender terms like “he” (when we are referring to either gender) in order to avoid sentences like: “He/she is responsible to show him/her, the safety procedures.”

This book not only addresses existing elements and new ideas but also introduces a discussion about techniques, safety, designs, and legal guidelines regarding rope elements. It also shows that there is no contradiction between creativity and safety – they can work hand-in-hand.

Risks and Hazard Notes

1.  This book is addressed to rope course trainers and/or facilitators and other qualified persons who are already trained in practical rope techniques. This being the basic requirement for building and using the elements that are described here.

2.  This book does not replace established rope work training.

3.  Some fields are not completely covered by this book. The reader is assumed to have basic experience and familiarity with: urban forestry, ropes and materials, weather conditions, outdoor legal aspects, safety, rescue, knots, and team leadership.

4.  This book covers the construction of temporary rope elements, their installation and use is secondary. Experience is taken for granted regarding installation areas, self-belay, belay of participants (ropes, spotting etc.), participant fitness etc.

5.  The contents of this book were believed to be current at the time of publication. Operators must still inform themselves about possible modifications regarding installation, use, materials, legal aspects, norms and standards, etc. Please check the elements for suitability and function and report problems and concerns, as well as your experiences.

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