Okay now, what could be more fun than having a zipline across the lake!!! There is the practical aspect of being able to cross during winter freezeup and spring thaw, but really, just the thought of zipping across and maybe dropping into the lake on a hot August day, now doesn't that sound like a thrill!!??!!
After experiencing the fun of zipping at LaFleche park last year, I decided that we needed our own ziplines. Where to put them, across the lake of course!
The plan was to have two lines, one in each direction and the topography of the lake makes this possible. I spent a bit of time on both sides of the lake looking for the perfect spots to cross. From the cabin we have an uphill climb to the sauna and just past the sauna is a great pine with a clear view across the lake. On the other side is a great cedar, about 50 feet from the waters edge. A perfect run. We strung a poly rope across the lake in the fall (polypropene floats) and I measured about 430 feet across with about a 17 foot drop over 350 feet or a 5% drop. Six% is the recommended slope so I was close enough. Now to get my line and wait for winter freezup to drag the cable across the frozen lake.
A bit of research lead me to JungleGyms Canada and to Brent Bigelow who has his own 600 foot zipline. Brent discussed my plans and was quite enthusiatic. He confirmed my general design and agreed that 3/8 inch stranded galvanized cable would do the trick. I ordered 500 feet, had it shipped to my local Fastnal depot in Gatineau and picked it up a few days later. The spool was about 2 feet x 2 feet and I estimate it weight about 150 pounds. I could manage getting it into and out of the car, but just. Oh the price was 89 cents a foot, over half price from any other outlet. I ordered 500 feet as I didn't want to cut it too close and be short a few feet while putting the cable up.
The cable came in this February. My good friend Jack Hicks from down the road helped me get it into place. First we cut eight 2x4's about 2 feet long to protect the trees. Next I loaded the spool through a barclamp and clamped it onto the back of the ATV. The spool just cleared the backrack and we were able to pull the cable freely. We started at the sauna, Jack dropped a rope down to the lake where the cable on the ATV was and pulled one end up. We looping the cable twice around the tree before securing it with a cable clamp. I had marked some trees for the path in the fall but I lost sight of the markings (found them later) and we initially strung the cable on the wrong side of some trees along the lake. Once the cable was secured we crossed the lake and brought the much lighter spool up the other bank to the big cedar. We wrapped the spool twice around the tree and started to pull the cable in.
To pull the cable I used a Bachman knot (all good mountaineers know this knot) on a sling around the cable and used a hand winch to slowly tighten the cable. As the cable drew straight we had to cross back several times to fell trees in the way. I took a few more trees down than I needed to had we run the cable in a straight line but c'est la vie. At the end I used two slings and winches so I could easily loosen and reset one without loosing tension on the cable with the other. The cable needs one more tightening and triple cable clamps on either end before I try it. Oh yes, a block braking system at the dismount end would be a good idea!
How well the zipline performs depends on length, height difference, tension/sag in the cable, friction in the pulleys, weight of the zipliner, wind, beer, etc. I got a couple of pulleys from my friend JH of ??? . They are two different speeds and I have yet to try them. I'm thinking the faster one as I am just below optimum slope. Now to get my helmet on and give it a try!!!
After experiencing the fun of zipping at LaFleche park last year, I decided that we needed our own ziplines. Where to put them, across the lake of course!
The plan was to have two lines, one in each direction and the topography of the lake makes this possible. I spent a bit of time on both sides of the lake looking for the perfect spots to cross. From the cabin we have an uphill climb to the sauna and just past the sauna is a great pine with a clear view across the lake. On the other side is a great cedar, about 50 feet from the waters edge. A perfect run. We strung a poly rope across the lake in the fall (polypropene floats) and I measured about 430 feet across with about a 17 foot drop over 350 feet or a 5% drop. Six% is the recommended slope so I was close enough. Now to get my line and wait for winter freezup to drag the cable across the frozen lake.
A bit of research lead me to JungleGyms Canada and to Brent Bigelow who has his own 600 foot zipline. Brent discussed my plans and was quite enthusiatic. He confirmed my general design and agreed that 3/8 inch stranded galvanized cable would do the trick. I ordered 500 feet, had it shipped to my local Fastnal depot in Gatineau and picked it up a few days later. The spool was about 2 feet x 2 feet and I estimate it weight about 150 pounds. I could manage getting it into and out of the car, but just. Oh the price was 89 cents a foot, over half price from any other outlet. I ordered 500 feet as I didn't want to cut it too close and be short a few feet while putting the cable up.
The cable came in this February. My good friend Jack Hicks from down the road helped me get it into place. First we cut eight 2x4's about 2 feet long to protect the trees. Next I loaded the spool through a barclamp and clamped it onto the back of the ATV. The spool just cleared the backrack and we were able to pull the cable freely. We started at the sauna, Jack dropped a rope down to the lake where the cable on the ATV was and pulled one end up. We looping the cable twice around the tree before securing it with a cable clamp. I had marked some trees for the path in the fall but I lost sight of the markings (found them later) and we initially strung the cable on the wrong side of some trees along the lake. Once the cable was secured we crossed the lake and brought the much lighter spool up the other bank to the big cedar. We wrapped the spool twice around the tree and started to pull the cable in.
To pull the cable I used a Bachman knot (all good mountaineers know this knot) on a sling around the cable and used a hand winch to slowly tighten the cable. As the cable drew straight we had to cross back several times to fell trees in the way. I took a few more trees down than I needed to had we run the cable in a straight line but c'est la vie. At the end I used two slings and winches so I could easily loosen and reset one without loosing tension on the cable with the other. The cable needs one more tightening and triple cable clamps on either end before I try it. Oh yes, a block braking system at the dismount end would be a good idea!
How well the zipline performs depends on length, height difference, tension/sag in the cable, friction in the pulleys, weight of the zipliner, wind, beer, etc. I got a couple of pulleys from my friend JH of ??? . They are two different speeds and I have yet to try them. I'm thinking the faster one as I am just below optimum slope. Now to get my helmet on and give it a try!!!
Cable loaded on ATV
Pulling Cable to launch site
Up the Hill Hmmm What about those trees? (What about that chainsaw???)
Trusty Jack (and Grace) securing the line.
Across the lake
Securing the other end
Magic levitating tree
Let's tension this thing up and go for a ride!!!
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