Highline Rigging Discussion

[Jon]

Highline Rigging

Highline rigging is a real art and quite impossible to teach in terms of a one size fits all solution… Every highline is different and especially here in the UK where bolting is often not permitted, rigging can be quite a challenge.

With the rapid growth in numbers of people slacklining and wanting to highline I’d like to offer a few ideas and create a place for rigging questions to be discussed. I have to stress that it is the responsibility of anyone who is thinking of rigging their own highline to evaluate all information here and to make their own judgement regarding the safety of themselves and others. Little margin for error exists and the consequences are likely death or worse.

On that cheery note I think the first important step in rigging a highline is to make an assessment of the place you want to put a highline. At this stage be prepared to walk away if you are not happy with the assessment, there will be other venues if it is not right. I’m very fussy and have walked away from a few places when this has been the case. Things that I look for when checking a line are: how good are the anchors? Will they need a lot of rigging equipment, and if so how far does it need carrying? Is there any loose rock above you or others who may stop below? How long is the line? Are there two suitable steep take off places for you to walk from? Are they level? Do I need a fixed line to get to where I can tie in? Alongside all of these things you also need to try to look for any other lurking dangers which might stop you and then there is also the question of access?


The next thing to do is plan the rig of the line, practising low down on a line the same length is always the best place to start and the first golden rule to people new to the concept of highlining is to back up everything. I was lucky enough to have been given this advice by Leo Houlding a few years ago and it is really good advice! Normally backing up the line that you walk on means having as a very minimum a dynamic climbing rope and often an extra webbing underneath. These are then normally taped below the line you are walking on with either climbing tape or rigging tape, although be careful that the rings can slide over ok. Practise walking this with a leash tied to a climbing harness!

I think this is a good point to stop for the moment so that we look at any questions on choosing a site and getting started with walking a ‘heavy line’?

Jon

[Gus]

I could not agree more with you Jon,

As we have had several conversations over the phone and e-mail I can only add by the following.

I’m new to the concept of Highlining and have been surfing low lines for a couple of years and want to take things up a level. I started like most folk I guess, surfing the web for examples and fairly much drew a blank.

For note U Tube is not the place to learn about rigging as I’ve looked and there seems to be some proper dodgy ways of rigging. If like me you trad climb you can appreciate the consequences of not doing thing by the book.................Unfortunately slacklining has no book! yet!

For those reading this who have not got much experience with rigging and setting anchors, experience counts for everything. Get on the forum and post some examples of low line set ups for the more experienced eyes to comment on, this is what i intend doing as there is little in the way of like minded experience in Aberdeen for me to call on.

Thanks Jon for all the advice dispensed and let’s hope to hook up soon for a session.

Cheers

Gus

[Phil]

Have you got any advice/experience as far as using trad climbing gear goes for rigging high lines?

I have only rigged two highlines so far, one was between two big trees, walking from tree to tree, and the other was between trees but over a pool below a waterfall (using the water as my safety).
I have eyed up some more climbing venue type locations and have always been put off by getting on the wrong side of the UKC ethics type crowd.

[Jon]

I think the important things with trad anchors to begin with is that there are enough of them, that they are good, and that they can be well equalised to the place where you want to have your powerpoint.

To do this I have taken a load of gear and built an anchor and then sat and thought about it, made note on things that I might need when returning to rig the line fully. Something as simple as not having enough padding could seriously compromise a rig, especially on grit!

Now comes the question of forces? What force is a slackline capable of generating? This will depend on how tight your line is to begin with and a shudder of fright goes through me as I think of people using ratchetts with no idea of what tension they have... I've done it myself and it's a recipe for disaster!

Anyway - I have recorded forces of up to 1000kg on my lines and use the figure of 1500kgs as a figure to work from to allow for variance from data. Then I use a safety factor to work out how strong I think the anchor needs to be to have a Safe Working Load Limit (SWLL) of 1500kg.

I work on the idea that a factor of 5 should be the minimum and that 10 is ideal which gives us a figure of between 7500kg and 15000kg.

#THIS INFORMATION MAY BE WRONG OR CHANGE WITH TIME AS RIGGING EVOLVES - YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS#

Thoughts?

[Gus]

I have asked myself the same kind of question and can agree with anchors being 7500Kg and above. I suppose when I think about it when you trad climb and set a belay how many anchors do you use? Normally 3? so if your three anchors are to protect you and your partner with a combined weight of say 200Kgs, then the forces generated from a tension of 1000Kgs would set your mind up for what it takes to set the anchors?

Gus