The Unturned Stone

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We’ve added a handful of new things to the site in the last couple weeks, including a brief look at a couple of other trail projects , a definition of the evocative term ‘fluff-n-duff’ to the glossary

, and our first on-line zine.

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For the last three weeks, the trail crew has been ‘flying’ rocks down a steep, 175 foot ravine using a highline.

Highlines are elaborate cable and winch systems that allow us to move huge step stones safely and efficiently over otherwise impassable terrain. Typically the highline cable is rigged up in tall and very sturdy trees. There weren’t any suitable trees at the uphill end of this particular cable run. A specially built tripod lifts the cable about 18 feet off the ground, giving us the clearance needed.
The highline works on a tension and slack system. A stone is roped to the line and the line is then lifted. Once the stone has cleared the ground, it is carefully lowered, sliding down the cable on a pulley. When the stone reaches its destination, the line is lowered and the stone is untied. In this case, the stone is then transported several hundred yards to the site of the steps under construction.
Scott stands to the right, on belay. The belayer is responsible for controlling the stone once airborne. A rock climber’s belay braking device is used to lower the rock down the hill smoothly. Walkie talkies allow both ends of the highline to communicate.

At the bottom of the hill the stone is lowered onto a waiting power wheelbarrow. Miriam and Fred wrestle the stone into place. Once the stone is settled on the flatbed, the highline is slacked and the stone is freed and the harness is pulled back up the hill.

Highlines can also be used to deliver lunch.