Me and a friend have this really cool idea of spending a week living on a portaledge on the Climbing Wall at Tuks.

Would someone be generous (very) enough to lend us a portaledge for a week. We plan on doing this somewhere in late Feb. We would obviously pay to post the thing from Cape Town to Pretoria if needed. If you insist, we would also hire one.

Otherwise, has anyone built one before? Any suggestions on good models I can try copy?

Any help would be appreciated. Dirk

Got a poop tube you can borrow
Or will you be partaking in the 'bag toss' Not sure how TUKS will feel about this though

Seriously though, since weight is not an issue. you might do well to build a wooden framed ledge, attach the relevant straps and get someone to do the canvas for you?

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Climb ZA - Administrator

I am now thinking of just using an old bed, some old static or 8mm cord and some canvas. I think that will work out fine

Depending on your anchors (how good are they?) you could just hang a double bed off them...

To make adjustable bridle straps, the nicest/easiest way that I have found is to take 11mm rope and join it to both ends of a piece of 8mm using a double fisherman knot. You then make a prussik knot in the 8mm and feed the 11mm through it.

These are not the best pictures but you can get the general idea:
http://www.friendsofyosar.org/pictures/ ... rrentPic=7
http://www.friendsofyosar.org/pictures/ ... rentPic=31
http://www.friendsofyosar.org/pictures/ ... rentPic=38

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Happy climbing
Nic

Nic, that setup with the statics and a prussic looks brilliant. Nice and simple. Yes, our anchors are thick bolts ie. bomber.

Justin, we'll probably still go to class and other normal things so no need for a poop tube. Thanks anyway.

I have checked out some links to homemade portaledges. If when the time comes that I need a proper ledge and I don't have 8k lying around, I would make one myself. I saw a really cheap one made from PVC pipe (http://www.rockclimbing.com/Articles/Big_Wall-Aid_Climbing/How_I_built_my_Krustyledge_for_under_100_you_can_too__65.html

Thanks for the info

Dirk -do you still go to lectures?

Yes, it is very nice, we've used it before to make stretcher bridles. The only issue is tying the fisherman's knot with the two ends of the 8mm together (or at least getting it neat) can take a little practice. It is completely fail safe (if the fisherman's is tied correctly), if the prussik slips the rope will just get longer until it hits the knot. Using old rope is better, the fluffier it is the better the knots grip.

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Happy climbing
Nic

yes, I want to become smart and wise(ass) like my cousin