Reverse your order of operations. Pull unspliced through large side first then reinstall zig zag and you can climb and retrieve normally. This way the eye never needs to go through the small ring
There's the fundamentals book via pdf for $15 but I cant remember from who. Also multiple threads here regarding a transition. I can remember one reply saying "be ready to fall asleep in your spaghetti" or something similar
There have been several folks like yourself who have come asking the same questions. Try a search here or search google and find a tree buzz post. There's some great info and insight that would still be prevalent to you
I'd call it a red or "norway" (our state tree) pinus resinosa. I believe the field test is one needle breaks and the other bends. Austrians usually have codominents but this looks heavily afflicted by diplodia and or sawfly which are disposers of both but certainly Austrians which don't usually...
I cant remember where I've seen them but I've seen fuel tank steps attached to 1.5" cable as a "rope ladder". Seemed to be stable enough but still flexible i.e. bending inside the bumper when dumping?
I bought my jeep with one mounted on the hood. Probably 20". Bright as day. A couple friends have bought pods/bars as cheap as they could and have no complaints for at least 5 years now