Hey JZ! I really dig your enthusiasm! PUClimber makes a good point... isolate your strop (cord) where it attaches to the carabiner. Use a girth hitch or a piece of rubber or tape. If you need to sit back or drop your weight onto the strop, the chances of side loading the 'biner are greatly reduced. Also, from a safety perspective(it's great that you notified your neighbor, but what can he do about a climber hanging at 30') girth hitch the ascent line to the branch or somehow assure that both legs of the line will remain stationary if you end up missing a lock and only standing on one leg of rope. Another way would be to send up the footlock line attached to a single static line secured to the base of the trunk; you can be lowered by someone on the ground. Further, perhaps you could set up a "regular" climbing line (DdRT) next to the footlock line. This way if you get tired and/or can't reach the Klemheist and/or drop the figure 8, you still have a backup for descent. Just reach over and clip in! Well, that stuff is hard to describe in writing! Keep havin' fun!
