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kato wrote:That setup would make me nervous. If he falls, the force multiplier on the line and anchors has got to be pretty high. I guess the anchors are bomber, but I'd still use a separate line to catch me.

But where would you put the second line?


Wes

Just run a second line from the same anchors with alot more slack. Longer fall, but less stress. And it ruins the visual effect.

But which side to you hang the teather to? If you fall to the other side, then the teather would run across the webbing, and that wouldn't be good.

Wes

You are right Kato, there is a ton of force on this system. But There are actually three lines. They are just tied together so it is hard to see in the pictues. In the first picture that I gave a link to, he is actually tying the 3 lines together.

Here is some info on the component of this system:

The top line (the walking line) is pulled to full tension and has its own anchor. The second line, is pulled to middle tension and the third is hand tightened (no pulleys).

The first line has anchors of its own. The second and third share anchors. Anchors are extremely redundant and equalized. There is no carabiners in the system except for on the bolts. In addition, each of the static lines on the anchors is doubled back on itself and tied in a figure 9 to avoid tight bends which would compromise the strength.

The anchors are connected to the walking line and to the back up lines by by "soft points" (ia rather complicated setup which I'll let Bart go into when he gets back from yosemite). Their purpose is to replace the need for a load bearing knot or carabiner; preventing the strength of the system from being compromised.

In this system, the weekest link is the tightest webbing (the walking line). If it fails then, There are two back up lines. Which are bomber! I'll leave it at that cause this post is giviing me a headache!



The

Thanks, that is a very cool setup.

Wes

I'll post some pictures of the anchors later if you like.

Thanks to Bart for setting up the highline at Torrent/ Via Ferrata. He will be doing a demo at Rocktober Fest Oct 11th. See www.thered.org/ for details.
looks bad ass. I think I'll set one up in the back yard and try to get somewhere on it.
Hugh

That's just what I was thinking, an extra line anchored on both sides. Thanks for the details, it sounds much safer than it looks. Has he ever had the walking line fail?

i got my first taste of a high line in squamish last month. 100 feet long over a 600 foot drop. it was insane. it was on top of the cheif. the guy who set it up walked it but the crew i went with just tyrolean traversed it. my friend luc stood on it for a few seconds and took the whip. it was crazy. here is a picture of me traverseing over it. i got seriously pumped.

That is an awesome photo merrick!!!