85in1year: Tyrolean Traverse

Our project for 2014, doing 85 (mostly) outdoor tasks, is going well. Last week it was teaching my boys how to use an axe safely, and sharpen it correctly. Today it was about doing a Tyrolean traverse (their suggestion, of course) in the local woods.

Having done a lot of climbing over the years, we own all the gear suitable for trad routes. I grabbed an old rope, no longer used for lead climbing, some ratchet straps, and a few biners. 20 minutes later there was a rope from tree A to tree B. It wasn’t too high, plus the rope stretched, so the boys weren’t risking life or limb.

They first tried traversing hanging from the rope, and quickly discovered the strain on their hands, and the negatives of friction on exposed ankles. Then they got to grips with lying on top of the rope and pulling themselves along – much less stress, and easier to take a break.

Once the oldest (13) had made it all the way across, the younger two (8 & 10) HAD to succeed as well. They took strain, and we told them it wasn’t necessary, but all credit to them for toughing it out.

Now I just have to plan next weekend….

🙂