Safety concerns for slacklining high in the canopy.

TREEfool

TREEfool

Participating member
Location
Sioux Falls, SD
I have a very good friend who is getting into the sport of slacklining and highlining. We were discussing how awesome it would be to walk on a high line that is suspended in the canopy between two trees. This requires tethers, clearance, etc but my main concern is the forces applied to the tree's themselves.

Most high lines use a pulley system to get them very tight. This is required so that the line is tight enough to be walked on. Is there any literature or past experiences that might indicate this is something we can do without dying?

Thanks guys!
 
FluffyFish said:
I have a very good friend who is getting into the sport of slacklining and highlining. We were discussing how awesome it would be to walk on a high line that is suspended in the canopy between two trees. This requires tethers, clearance, etc but my main concern is the forces applied to the tree's themselves.

Most high lines use a pulley system to get them very tight. This is required so that the line is tight enough to be walked on. Is there any literature or past experiences that might indicate this is something we can do without dying?

Thanks guys!
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Haha this is the best hybrid crossover topic. Use the slackline calculator I posted in the other thread to get an idea of the loads you’re placing on the trees.

If you’re rigging into 12” + diameter wood, you should be ok with reasonable low tension lines (under 100’ or so). As I mentioned in the other thread, watching the branch tips for movement is a good indicator on whether you’re approaching the wood fiber strength threshold. Once it’s rigged up, have a couple bounces on it and see if the tips move.

Lastly, although I think it’s a smaller risk, is the risk of actually uprooting a smaller tree with sufficient lateral force. If this is even a doubt you’re having, find a bigger tree. Stay below 2/3 of the trees height for your anchor points. Ideally 1/3 of the total height should be bomber as long as the wood is also sufficiently strong



Also when rigging mid lines or high lines in trees, try and use the natural topography of the terrain to your advantage to give you more height in case of a whipper. Another good safety measure for height is to hang off the backup with your full weight and making sure you’re high enough above the ground

Slackchat on Facebook is a wonderful resource with years of accumulated anecdotal information and experiences on setting Tree anchored high lines.
 
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CanadianStan said:
Haha this is the best hybrid crossover topic. Use the slackline calculator I posted in the other thread to get an idea of the loads you’re placing on the trees.

If you’re rigging into 12” + diameter wood, you should be ok with reasonable low tension lines (under 100’ or so). As I mentioned in the other thread, watching the branch tips for movement is a good indicator on whether you’re approaching the wood fiber strength threshold. Once it’s rigged up, have a couple bounces on it and see if the tips move.

Lastly, although I think it’s a smaller risk, is the risk of actually uprooting a smaller tree with sufficient lateral force. If this is even a doubt you’re having, find a bigger tree. Stay below 2/3 of the trees height for your anchor points. Ideally 1/3 of the total height should be bomber as long as the wood is also sufficiently strong



Also when rigging kid lines or high lines in trees, try and use the natural topography of the terrain to your advantage to give you more height in case of a whipper. Another good safety measure for height is to hang off the backup with your full weight and making sure you’re high enough above the ground

Slackchat on Facebook is a wonderful resource with years of accumulated anecdotal information and experiences on setting Tree anchored high lines.
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HAHA! What are the odds! I just saw your other post. I would not have started a new thread had I seen ur post in this thread:

http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/threads/hammocks-on-sale.39238/#post-583223
 
southsoundtree said:
Most slackline/ tightline anchors don't move. A swaying tree can break your line. You would need another system for life-support.
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Check out highlines, they’re invariably rigged at lower tensions than the short 2” wide slackline that youre most likely accustomed to seeing rigged low down.

A tree anchor would have to sway more than 7-8’ to pull all the remaining tension out of a short high line. If it’s swaying that much you shouldn’t be slacklining in that weather :)
 
evo said:
Butttt remember the trees are Garry oak, AKA oregon White oak. Very tough trees
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I didn’t know those two were the same ! Thanks for the added info

Obviously a cottonwood wouldn’t handle the same way haha.

It was just an opportunity to visualize show the tree reacting to the forces
 
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