I was playing around with knots recently and came up with this. I call it a Figure 8 bowline, since it starts out like a Figure 8 on a bight but ends up like a Bowline on a bight except different. Anybody know if there is a name for this knot?
Your body will break before you break a modern rope. And if you are using a saw without being tied in to at least two points of contact you deserve it if you cut one rope and fall.
If you are feeling vulnerable maybe you should start climbing on double ropes with a fall-arrest on the second rope. Some arborists are doing that. Just don't expect everybody else to jump on that ship.
Multicenders opened up a whole new world compared to the SRS techniques that we were using to climb big trees in the 1970's. But I am still teaching beginning climbers how to climb with a handled ascender and changeover to descent on a D4 or RIG in big conifers because it is the method that is...
I just watched Mark Przekurat's new youtube video on his latest mods to improve the hpLIFE splice on Tachyon. He says it is a work in progress, but If you are thinking of trying this splice you should definitely check it out.
The other thing to remember about owls in general is that it is fairly common for them to leave the nest before they can fly. They just jump out and often end up on the ground. Usually within a few days they are able to climb or hop up into an elevated perch. So, it is often difficult to...
You don't need to worry about imprinting unless you take them very young and raise them in captivity. If all you are doing is feeding them for a day or two before renesting them it is not an issue. Sometimes you have to take some small pieces of meat and stuff them in in their mouths to get...
We just had one about a week ago where the climber used an old wicker basket to create a more secure platform. The adults were back taking care of the owlet within a day. As a 50-year owl biologist I can tell you that there is no harm in feeding them a few dead mice if they will take them. If...
Hi Muggs. I love mechanical advantage for grabbing all kinds of things, but when you post, always remember that a lot of our fellow climbers on the Buzz are of the opposite gender and may not see the humor in some things. Just a thought.
Hey all, I have four copies of the old USFS atlas of uncommon hardwoods in the western U.S. and one copy of the uncommon hardwoods in the eastern U.S (see pics). These include nice range maps for each species. Does anybody want a copy? I will mail them to you if you agree to reimburse me for...
We have so much Douglas-fir firewood here in Oregon and Washington that it is often hard to give it away, especially if it is on a steep slope where you have to pack it out. The labor required to buck it up and haul it is just not worth it. If you watch August Hunicke's videos on Youtube he...