Tree House Challenge Day 18 : 24-08-2017

I set myself a challenge today. With all my friends and advisors gone my task was to try to get  rope up a new tree and climb it solo. Read on to the next page to see what happened...

It's the one day of this expedition that I wanted to watch TV. Yoav went on Channel 7's Morning Show to talk about the Tree House Challenge. I rang him afterwards and he sounded like he'd coped well - it'd be nerve wracking answering questions on national TV don't you think?

It seemed only fair to do something equally nerve wracking down here. I've been learning a lot about how to do this tree climbing thing but I haven't ever put all the pieces together and rigged and climbed a tree on my own from start to finish. There's a whopping big double trunked regnans just down the hill from ground camp. If I could get up it there would be a great view back to the campsite.

The understory rainforest was open with only a few fallen logs to scamble over. Dr Tim was telling me how the fallen logs are important nurseries for seedlings to get a start in life without being scratched up by a lyrebird or nibbled on by a pademelon. The base of the tree was open with a good window to shoot for a high branch. The slingshot rubber is strong but I pulled back as hard as I could and let the bag fly into the air. It sailed right over the branch first time. Unbelievable luck. After making sure it wasn't also caught up in other unsafe branches behind I tied on the climbing  rope and hauled it up. It wasn't long enough! There as another short rope that would make it if they were tied together. A good knot to tie two ropes of unequal size together is a figure 8 rethreaded. 

Using a 'no knot' wrapped around a sturdy fallen log the climbing line was secured. Up I went. The rope was running over a large burl was up high so it pushed me out away from the trunk and it was like climbing in mid air. There were a few moments when I was nervous so I double checked all the knots and gear just for reassurance. The view down and all around was just amazing, and I could see the green tarp at base camp. That took me all day believe it or not and I only had a few moments to spare to hunt for rotting log beasties. 

Tomorrow will be busy with Windemere Primary coming for a forest adventure. There are a few spots still available for southern Tas students (with a parent) to come and explore the Tahune Airwalk this Sunday. Kids are free and their adult tag along is half price. Dr Sue is coming down so it'll be good fun and educational! Email andrew@expeditionclass.com to reserve a spot. 

Today's t-shirt winner is: Nora