Ropes and Poles

Instant pioneering ideas: Scouts South Africa Pro-Plan charts

2024-05-16T10:56:00.039+02:00

One of the resources on the Scouts South Africa website which is worth exploring is the series of Pro-Plan charts - these are printable sheets for training in various Scouting skills, from Meerkats (our youngest age group in Scouts South Africa) through Cubs and into Scouting topics.

The pioneering projects list is an interesting set to work through, and has been compiled from various sources (including this blog). JP Percival was responsible for compiling this most recent set of Pro-Plan charts but the legacy goes back decades to the original set of 81 charts concentrating on Scoutcraft and outdoors skills.

Here's the full list including links to the PDFs which are ready to use in your Troop or Patrol:

Pro Plan Chart	PDF
Pioneering Projects 1	Stilt Tower (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 2	Monkey Bridge (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 3	Hour Glass Tower (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 4	Drawbridge (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 5	Brynbach Tower (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 6	Flagpoles (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 7	Javelin Thrower (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 8	The Giraffe (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 9	Monkey Bridge MkII (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 10	Swinging Derrick (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 11	Newmarket Balista (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 12	Guided Missile (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 13	Getting Over (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 14	The Basher (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 15	Bush & Friction Bridges (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 16	Tripod Tower (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 17	10 Minute Tower (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 18	Simple Log & Commando Bridges (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 19	Trestle Bridge (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 20	Square Tower (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 21	Pioneering Projects (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 22	Tripod camp table (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 23	A-Frame camp table (PDF)
Pioneering Projects 24	Quadpod camp tables (PDF)

The Brownsea 66 Tower

2024-05-02T07:00:00.040+02:00

Like the tilting mast tower, this is from the Dutch JOTA-JOTI handbook CD, originally in Dutch and published in English here for the first time. Here's a render from my SketchUp model, followed by a translation of the original Dutch article including drawings.

The Brownsea 66 Tower

This tower was designed by the "Brownsea 66" group in Rotterdam and used during the JOTA in 1977. It is a pioneer piece with a modern design and, in addition to its task as an antenna carrier, also works excellently as an "Eye-catcher".

The construction consists of two tripods that are attached to each other at the open sides with round lashings. Six crossbars keep the three-posts apart and the tower is braced with three guy posts.

The procedure is as follows:

1.Check the six posts that will form the three uprights for cracks and tears. Pay particular attention to damage that is transverse to the grain of the wood, because there will soon be tension on the posts. This increases the chance that new longitudinal cracks will develop. In short, use very good lashing posts for this construction.

2. Then attach two piles in line with each other using two scaffolding lashings per pile couple and reinforce the connections with wedges. Make sure that the total length of each upright is the same.

3. The top and the base of the tower are tied with figure of eight lashings. Always work towards the end of the posts. This prevents unnecessary pulling through of the ropes.

4. The cross bars are then pioneered between the uprights with square lashings. The posts will be placed on the outside of the uprights. The starting clove hitch comes on the crossbar because the pressure on the lashing runs in the direction of the crossbar. Make sure that the distance between the uprights is kept the same.

5. The tower can be guyed with guy lines that are attached to the bottom with pickets or with three-to-one handholds. In the design use was made of guy-posts, which were attached to the inside of the uprights with cross lashings just above the first group of sleepers. Optionally, the diagonal lashing can also be used for the top attachment of each guy-post, because this must after all prevent the tower from giving way.

6. The tower can be raised with a giraffe (a vertical pole or pair of shear legs which are tied to the tower, and then to a block and tackle to allow the tower to be lifted off the ground). The vertical adjustment can be carried out using the strut posts. It is recommended to bury the foot of the tower.

diagram of a giraffe in use on a simple mast

7. This tower is very suitable as a carrier for heavier antenna types that can be placed even higher with the help of an extension pole at the top.

The First Scout KonTiki event? Brynbach Kon-Tiki, 1951

2024-04-18T09:00:00.004+02:00

Here's a report from page 200 of the 1951 Scout Annual - as far as I've been able to discover, the first Scouting 'Kon-Tiki' event.

Here is the article in it's entirety, with text and photographs by Maurice Dybeck and sketches by John Sweet:

Brynbach Kon-Tiki

Emerson Park full speed ahead in the race

HAVE you ever slept in a floating tent? Deliberately, I mean. Not the sort of tent that becomes water-borne halfway through a thunderstorm, but one actually made to float? Inspired by the Kon-Tiki Expedition across the Pacific on a raft, we decided to run our own little expedition on the boating lake at Brynbach, the I.H.Q. camp site in North Wales. Somehow, a couple of rafts would be built, launched, set adrift, and camped upon, but as by no stretch of imagination could the lake be made to look like the South Pacific, we built up a story about backwoodsmen escaping from a forest fire. Here it is :

" You are a party of trappers who have been traveling for many days through dense country. You have just discovered that a forest fire will soon be upon you. Your only hope of escape is to take to the water and remain there, as far as possible from the bank, until the fire has passed (noon to-morrow). The fire will reach you at 8 p.m. by which time you must be afloat—or perish. " The natives (your own Troop) are friendly and may assist you in the building of your raft, and you may borrow equipment, including spars, cans, and rope from the Brynbach Trading Post. " You will of course have to cook your supper and breakfast on the raft using an open fire. You will also sleep on the raft. " In order to pass away the time to morrow morning before the fire has passed, you will-1. Have a race round the lake with the other trappers at 11.30. (Arrange this between yourselves). 2 Fish for any items from the bottom of the pond (especially tin cans). All booty to be brought ashore at 12 noon. 3 Make a sketch survey of the lake including all items of interest. 4. If any spare time left, think up and perform any other useful or interesting activity. ' You must be able to swim. A log of your voyage must be kept in proper nautical style. You must not touch land between 7 p.m. and 12 noon, and you must not receive any assistance after 7 p.m. The islands in the centre of the lake are a blazing inferno throughout the voyage. " If the raft capsizes or disintegrates, you must choose between drowning and roasting. There is no alternative !"

The Troops which accepted the challenge were the 8th Crosby Sea Scouts from Liverpool and the 1st Emerson Park from Hornchurch, Essex.

The start of the race with 8th Crosby in the lead

The lake side at 3 p.m. on the great day was a wonderful sight. Oil drums, tree trunks, corrugated iron, and even a tractor petrol tank had appeared from nowhere and were piled ready for use. The judges strode about with bits of paper in their hands, looking important. The sheep on the hill-side paused in their grazing to stare with glassy eyes. The competition was on. With quiet confidence the men of Emerson Park set about building what looked for all the world like an enormous low altar fireplace with knobs on. A number of five-gallon square oil drums were lashed fore and aft, and the hole in the middle—sorry ! the 'tween decks—was filled with a floor of Scout staffs big enough to take a hike tent. To add dignity a mast was erected, rigged and flagged, and, using this as one tent pole, a two-man hike tent was strung up facing for'ard. The problem of making a fireplace on this highly inflammable structure presented no difficulty to these intrepid backwoodsmen, who calmly laid out a nice lawn at the front door of the tent. Armfuls of bracken were taken aboard with the rest of the cargo, and with due ceremony the mighty vessel was committed to the water. The Sea Scouts meanwhile had been at work on a much lighter craft—built for speed, they declared. Two rows of cans had been lashed to a light framework of spars, with one large open-topped oil drum in the bow, the tractor tank in the stern, and a corrugated iron superstructure. Being Sea Scouts they had scorned the idea of a tent, and had rigged up a rakish looking tarpaulin shelter such as the de-signers of Kon-Tiki would have rejoiced to see. The finished craft had no mast and not much rigging, but it floated very well—and that, as the crew pointed out, was the main thing. After the launching the big oil drum, by accident or design, took on a gentle tilt and looked every bit like a liner's funnel. Rumour spread that there was an engine-room below, but in fact all the oil drum held was the breakfast for the crew and the night's bedding. By eight that night, punctual to the minute, the forest fire had enveloped the lake and both parties of backwoodsmen had taken to the water and were safely anchored in the middle. Loaded to the plimsoll as they were with bedding, cooking pots, fire-wood and provender, yet they rode the waters bravely. The Swiss Family Robinson could not have done better. Senior Scouts Geoffrey Parker and Derek Tyler were the crew of the Emerson Park raft, and like true men of Essex, despite the flaming forest around them their first thoughts afloat turned to the cooking of supper. It was a pity, perhaps, that the flames hadn't consumed the large crowd of spectators on the ' shore of the lake, who were extremely critical of everything they did. How would you like to cook your supper on a floating lawn the size of a pocket-handkerchief, practically surrounded by people whose only desire was to see you sink or drop something overboard? But Geoff and Derek bore up well and were enjoying a good supper with hot Oxo long before the sun had set. On the Sea Scout raft, David Carylon and David Pemberton, with but thirteen summers behind them, had youth on their side, and being considerably lighter in weight were warm favourites for the great race next day. Like all good Sea Scouts they decided to keep a watch all-night—though I honestly don't know what they were watching for. If a raft is going to sink in the middle of the night it will let you know, whether you are awake or not..

Side view of Emerson Park raft

Plan of Emerson Park raft

By midnight, with no greater mishap than a storm lantern overboard, they decided that all was well and turned in. The moon came up over Bryn Ocyn and laid a silver pathway across the lake where the two rafts rocked gently at anchor. An owl hooted in the wood. Derek Tyler snored. Apart from that all was peace. CAME the dawn, and to everyone's surprise the two rafts were still afloat. The crews emerged from dreamland after what must have been the strangest night of their lives. Breakfast, sketching and dredging kept them busy until the time of the great race. And then an unexpected complication arose. The Crosby craft, Robinson Crusoe, had apparently developed engine trouble. Neither of the two Davids could persuade her to move. Then, ten minutes before the race, when almost in despair, they dis-covered the source of the trouble. They had forgotten to haul up the anchor ! Quite a lot of the native tribesmen had survived the forest fire and turned up in force to watch the race. Big Chief Panther (Bailiff of Brynbach and one of the greatest living exponents of the art of producing fire by friction) arrived with stop-watch and starting-pistol. The long-suffering sheep on the hillside looked on with pained expressions on their drawn faces . . . BANG They were off. Almost at once Robinson Crusoe took a half-length lead over her opponent, Queen Mary. At the halfway mark it looked like a walk-over. Here the course narrowed and went sharply round an island. Robinson Crusoe took the bend in grand style and started confidently on the homeward beat. Then disaster overtook c her. A cable's-length from the winning post she ran aground and no amount of punt-poling would budge her. The Queen Mary bore slowly down upon them. Then, driven desperate by the frantic yells and screams from their supporters on the lakeside, the two Davids as one man jumped overboard, heaved the raft bodily clear of the reeds, and scrambled aboard again just in time to finish one length ahead of their rivals. Photographs, handshakes, speeches, and dry land again brought their adventure to a glorious conclusion. Sixteen hours afloat on their own raft ! The honours of the race went to the Sea Scouts of the 8th Crosby but for the rest the men of Emerson Park were declared the winners. A great race, and a great adventure — everyone was happy.

So ends the saga of the North Wales Kon-Tiki. But it may be that others will wish to emulate this great adventure, so let me conclude with a few tips from our own experience. Don't rely on wood alone for buoyancy. This may be all right for a " mess-about ' raft, but is no use at all if you want to keep dry. Use empty oil drums if you can get them—but do test them for leaks before-hand (nothing is more unsettling than to hear your raft going " glug-glug-glug " in the silent watches of the night !) and don't put- them in sideways. Bung-holes don't matter if you have them well above, or better still, believe it or not, right below water-level. Once you know what materials are available, rough out a plan in your note-book or on an odd piece of paper of the type of raft you are going to build, and then set about the job in a workmanlike manner. Finally, if you intend to cook your breakfast aboard, don't forget to take some water !

Eastern Cape Kontiki 2024

2024-04-04T09:00:00.060+02:00

Rafts launching at Eastern Cape Kontiki 2024. Image credit: Marilize Bouwer

The Eastern Cape South region held their " Heroes & Villians" themed 2024 Kontiki event over 21-24 March just outside East London. Like the KwaZulu-Natal Scout Raft Race, the rafts were built as lightweight racing rafts, rather than 'floating campsites' like the Gauteng and Western Cape events.

Alongside the 12 raft teams, there was a supporters' "fringe" competition and a Cub competition. 1st Knysna Sea Scouts, from the Garden Route region of the neighbouring Western Cape, were the winners - congratulations!

Thanks to Caroline Boshoff and the Eastern Cape influencer team for competition information and photos.

The Tilting Mast tower

2024-03-21T13:57:00.002+02:00

This design was included on the JOTA/JOTI resource CD, originally in Dutch and published here in English for the first time:

Figure 1

The tilting mast consists of two parts:

The pedestal
The tilting mast

The pedestal is based on triangular construction, which makes it very stable. Two long posts are connected at the top with a shear lashing to create a trestle. This trestle will be slightly inclined when standing and is therefore held upright by two posts, each of which is attached to one post of the trestle with a shear lashing.

Figure 2

These posts are secured at some distance below the top of the trestle. The strut posts must still have some length above the shear lashings, because after expanding the whole, V-shaped openings should be created above these lashings in which the axis of the tilting mast will come to lie.

Figure 3

The cross girder, which is shown in figure 3 below the fork lashing of the A-trestle, primarily serves as a stopper pole for the mast and then keeps the mast in a vertical position. The location of the attachment on the trestle depends on the thickness of the mast, the thickness of the shaft and the oblique angle of the A-trestle. Hinged through the shear lashings, the A-trestle and the two strut posts are successively extended. In order to maintain the expanded corners, the uprights of the pedestal thus created are connected to each other by means of the cross girders. In figure 1 only the sleepers between the piles of the A-frame and the associated strut piles are drawn. However, the sleepers can also be fitted between the piles of the lower trestle and between the two strut piles. The lashing to be used is the square lashing.

Figure 4 shows the supporting mast, which can consist of two or even more long poles which are attached to each other in line by means of round lashings. This carrier mast is attached to the axle pole with a square lashing. It should be noted that the bottom part of the supporting mast on which the counterweight can be attached, must be shorter than the distance from the axle to the crossbeam between the posts of the A-trestle - otherwise you won't be able to raise the tower all the way up!

Figure 4

Figure 5 shows how a trestle is fixed at both ends of the axle-pile, which is perpendicular to the support mast. The distance from the shaft to the top of this trestle must be wide enough to allow passage of the top of the A-trestle, which serves as a pedestal. At the top of the A-trestle attached to the axle-pile and at the ends of the axle-pile, the upper part of the support mast is rigged with three ropes.

Figure 5

Next, it is the turn of the pedestal and the mast to slide together. The pedestal is placed on the ground in such a way that the A-trestle rests on the bottom with both posts. The top is now lifted slightly, so that the mast is slid under it lengthwise, until the axle ends up in the two V-openings. This is held in the openings by two guy wires, which are bolted to the ends of the axle-pile and tied to the sleepers at the bottom (figure 5). A rope is also tensioned from the top of the trestle on the axle to the bottom of the tilting mast, so that the last top guy is also under tension. Furthermore, a rope is attached to the underside of the carrying mast with which the mast can be tilted into a vertical position. With combined forces, the trestle is placed on its legs at the intended place. These legs can also be buried in the ground if necessary. During the erection, the trestle will be in a tilted position. It is then checked whether the tilting is working as expected. Then the antenna is attached to the top of the mast. This increases the weight on the load arm. The force needed to pull the mast vertical again can be reduced by attaching a counterweight to the bottom.

New Instagram account and site news

2021-12-15T07:00:00.000+02:00

So it's been quiet here for a while... alongside everything that's been going on in the world over the last two years, I'm now the father of a one year old girl! Over the last 18 months, Rovers here in South Africa have been involved in community service, and you can read about some of these projects here:

Coming back to pioneering, I've started an Instagram account for the blog at @ropesandpoles, as well as the existing channels on Facebook and Twitter. Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting some of my favourite projects from over the years on the Instagram feed, and I have a few new posts queued up for you to read in January. As always, I'm interested to hear about any interesting pioneering projects you've seen, so please feel free to contact me with this form and I can share your project with the world.

Ropes and Poles at the World Scout Moot, Iceland

2017-06-23T08:00:00.001+02:00

I'll be travelling to Iceland for the World Scout Moot from the 25th of July to the 2nd of August this year. I don't have any plans to do pioneering while I'm there (Iceland doesn't have too many trees and bringing my own poles from South Africa would be tricky), but I'm keen to meet up with anyone who'll be there.

I'll be working as a Tribe Advisor, so I'll be based in Hafnarfjörður during the Expedition stage (26th-28th July) and at the main campsite in Úlfljótsvatn the rest of the time. Contact me (as a comment here, via email or on twitter) and we can arrange to meet. I'll have some Ropes and Poles patches to trade, and am looking forward to meeting you.

Minifig gateway at KonTiki 2017

2017-06-16T08:00:00.000+02:00

I've featured gateways built by Harmellia Gardens Air Scouts before, and this Lego-inspired gateway at KonTiki 2017 is their latest design. Harmellia are using a synthetic hawser-laid rope, which, unlike braided polyprop ropes, behaves in a similar way to traditional sisal cordage. the head of the structure is bent from smaller thatching laths, and car tyres make up the hands.

(more sculptures, including dinosaurs, superheroes, biplanes and birds, on the sculpture tag)

Elevated tent platforms at KonTiki 2017

2017-06-09T08:00:00.000+02:00

In rainy weather (and KonTiki frequently brings rainy weather), it can be a good idea to get your tent up out of the mud. Bush Hill Scout Troop built this four-tier stepped tent platform for their campsite at KonTiki 2017. The two highest tiers had enough clearance underneath to be used as part of the campsite as well.

I wrote about a three-storey tent tower built by 1st Walmer Scout group in 2012

Everything was awesome at KonTiki 2017

2017-05-26T09:44:00.001+02:00

KonTiki 2017 took place recently, and was the coldest and one of the stormiest KonTiki weekends in some time. In spite of the rain, wind, hail and frost, 55 teams arrived to camp, taking part on this year's theme of "Let's Play!"

Friday afternoon saw a hail storm that sent many teams running for shelter, but by the time I was on site in the vening, construction was going ahead under lights along most of the shore.

This year, many teams had LEGO-themed decorations in their camp sites, from bricks and blocks to minifigs.

The poor weather continued on Saturday, and in the end about a dozen teams spent the hwole night on the water through the wind and rain - here they are the next morning, when the sun came out for a beautiful sunrise and morning.

Congratulations to the over all winners, 1st Eagles. The full, detailed resulsts scoresheet is available here.

I'll be taking a closer look at some of the campsite details from this weekend in the next few weeks.

Kontiki 2016 timelapse videos

2017-01-27T07:35:00.001+02:00

The KonTiki organisers have launched the website for the 2017 competition, and along with it, a series of timelapse videos from last year's event. These videos give you an idea of the work that goes into the weekend (and also of the unseasonal rain we had last year).

Lego machines to make rope

2016-12-09T08:31:00.002+02:00

Most pioneering projects (but by no means all) use rope or cordage, so understanding how rope is made is a useful part of pioneering. There are some simple ways of making rope, but these Lego projects by Nico71 take ropemaking to another level.

The yellow machine winds a 3-strand hawser-laid rope, using Lego Technic components. You can see how the Technic gears are used to guide the three colours of yarn out of the spools and wind them into a cord before they are wound in the other direciton to lay up against each other in a rope.
Nico71 says:

After my mechanical loom is 2012, I wanted to build more specific weaving and braiding machine. After months of research, I came back with a new idea based on rope maker : a braiding machine which can make of course rope but also wristband ! Then, I have started in April of 2013 to make some prototype of weaving and braiding machine and succeeded in making one truly functional in December of 2013.

The Red machine is more complicated- it makes a braided rather than a hawser-laid rope, and is also faster.

Nico71 provides free (simple) and paid (highly detailed) versions of the building instructions for both of these, as well as a Youtube channel with demos of these and many other Lego machines.

Suspended Tensegrity Cube by 1st Halfway House Scouts

2016-10-28T08:00:00.001+02:00

Photo courtesy Shane Anderson

1st Halfway House, a Scout troop in Midrand, South Africa, recently built this tensegrity cube suspended between A-frames. The cube is supsended at 4 points- two underneath, and two at the top of the structure.

Photos courtesy Shane Anderson

Shane Anderson, ATS at 1st Halfway House, says:

The planned outcome of the project was to build and suspend a 10Ft Tensegrity cube between 2 x 15Ft A-Frames, (Bottom Support) and stabilised on the top by 2 x 20Ft A-Frames.

The project got of to a good start with the initial idea of building and stabilizing the cube with gadget sticks (staves) before adding the tensioning ropes, however that soon fell apart as the cube was being tensioned as the gadget sticks broke under the strain. Liam and his team then reverted to plan B, which was to stabilize with 6Ft pioneering poles.

The A-Frames where constructed by the Junior Scouts and when all was in place the cube was lifted using the 15Ft A-Frames and 2 x block and tackles while being kept upright by guy ropes.

If you look in the cosntruction photo above, you'll see the 'jig' of light lathes that was used to hold the cub in place while it was built. As Shane says, it's a good idea, but you'll need to use heavier poles to handle the strain.

Photo courtesy Shane Anderson

Here's the model used to plan for this project. Models are really useful tools for pioneering, because they help you plan the project, picking up some problems before building at 1:1 scale.

Congratulations to Liam and his team for building this structure!

Photo courtesy Shane Anderson

Congratulations to Liam and his team for building this structure!

This kit (sponsored Amazon link) will let you build a desktop model of a tensegrity tower

56m suspension bridge at Manjedal Activity Centre, Western Australia

2016-10-07T08:00:00.000+02:00

Greg from West Australian Scout Pioneering wrote in with photos and a description of the awesome bridge, supported by A frames on each end and a raft in the centre. Here's Gregs description:

Photo courtesy Greg Barbera

Project : Build a Rope bridge for the West Australian Cub Scout event – Enduro

Location: Manjedal Activities Centre (M.A.C) – Lake Jones

Depth: Varies from 4 meters to 15 meters Span: 56 m (40m over water)

Water Temp: Very cold

Weather: everything except snow

Duration: 16 hrs to build

Photos courtesy Greg Barbera

To help celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Cubs, the Organizing team decided to go with a “Back to the Future” theme. They also want to surprise the cubs by having an activity based around the traditional methods of pioneering that have been with the movement for over 100yrs. The West Australian Scout Pioneering Crew (WASP) were asked to build a bridge across Lake Jones that would be sturdy enough to withstand a very large number of Cubs and Leaders using it.

Over the two days of Enduro approximately 800 Cubs and a small number of leaders made the crossing. To ensure the build met the requirements of pioneering in Australia, the walk rope was set at a height of 1.8m from the ground so that helmet & harness would not be required (anything over 2m). This meant that we had to install some form of support in the middle of the arc to keep the ropes & cubs out of the water. Several suggestions where made of a tower, but owing to the erratic shape of the bottom of the lake there would be no guarantee that a level section could be found. It was decided that a pontoon would work providing it could be securely moored and be able to support the bridge as it pass over it. It was decided that a 4m x 4 m pontoon made out 100mm dia. pine logs with 4 x 200ltr blue plastic drums and 6 x 140ltr white drums would both support it and stabilize the middle section. In addition 2 vertical poles where fitted so the bridge ropes could be attached to the pontoon using Carabiners, this would still allow the ropes to be tensioned without moving the pontoon from its moored position.

We also fitted an arrival and departure deck which only covered the area under the bridge, a walkway was also fitted for a leader to use to assist those passing through the middle section. On the trial build of the pontoon we fitted guy ropes to the vertical posts but found that caused problems and a trip hazard for the leader, so this time we used 3 spars on each vertical and lashed them in place, to reduce the amount of rope required we made the first lashing a figure 8 and pulled the side poles out to create the angle brace. Then fitted one on the outside and lashed a horizontal spar in place so the walk rope could also be clipped onto the pontoon. For this span we fitted each line with 2:2 rope block combination and used the pontoon as a means to keep the lines tensioned as the combined weight totalled approx 350 kg. The main ropes where 20mm dia. sisal and to assist the hand rails to support the walk rope we fitted short lengths of rope which we refer to as stringers. Normally when we fit pulleys on to the main ropes to take up the tension, we used the prussic loop to attach the block, for this one we used the “Dog & Tail hitch”. This hitch does the job well and is easier to move when it is not under load.

On the shore we used “A” frame assemblies that are self supported by guy ropes and thus allowed the main ropes to be tensioned freely. Carabiners were also tied to the frames to support the hand lines. To stop the main line travelling along the horizontal bar, we used a short length or rope and tied a clove hitch on both sides. Normally we would use a log & picket anchorage for our rope bridges, but in this case the ground on both sides was too soft to get a good footing. On one side the soil was too moist and on the other side there was a very large ant hill, which meant we had to contend with hollow ground owing to the nest. We therefore bound the trees with hessian to reduce any damage to them.

To reduce the risk of the Cubs endangering themselves if they fell off, each person making the crossing was required to wear a life jacket and we had a rescue craft on standby (canoe). Out of the 800 cubs only 2 ended up in the water and 7 were rescued by the safety vessel as they held onto the hand rails.

Two-tent raft in Malta

2016-09-23T10:27:00.000+02:00

Sean from Mosta Scout Group in Malta shared these photographs with me- of a raft sitting in this stunning location against the cliffs in the Mediterranean.

Sean says:

"With 100 lashings, 40 staves, 30 barrels and 10 Marine Ply, a massive Double Floating Raft Camp served as our home for the past weekend. This is just a glimpse, from what Scouting is all about 😉"

(previously- pioneering from Mosta Venture Crew)

Ropes and Pole badges - selected design

2016-09-16T07:54:00.002+02:00

Thanks to everyone who voted in my earlier poll to help me choose a badge design for the blog. As you can see below, the Hy-par pavilion was by far the most popular design. I have sent the badge off for quotes and will have news soon about where and how you can purchase the badge. Thanks for participating!

Bamboo arches in Ghana- Haduwa Arts + Culture Institute

2016-09-09T08:00:00.000+02:00

Photograph copyright Baerbel Mueller

This bamboo stage pavilion was built for The Haduwa Arts and Culture Institute in Ghana by [applied] Foreign Affairs, an architecture lab at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. A group of students built the project as part of their architecture classes, after researching the project in Austria and on site in Ghana.

Normally, when we build pioneered structures for Scouting, we use the bamboo the way we would any other pole- as a rigid, straight pole. This structure makes great use of the flexibility of bamboo to curve the arches, and also uses the idea of 'bundling' smaller poles together to make larger arches. While this structure might be much bigger than the normal Scout projects, there is an opportunity to learn from the way the students worked with bamboo in this project.

Construction details. All photographs copyright Baerbel Mueller

Project credits:
Client: Haduwa Arts and Culture Institute architecture and concept [Applied] Foreign Affairs, Department of Architecture, University of Applied Arts Vienna
Project Leader: Baerbel Mueller
Project Team: Christian Car, Joseph Hofmarcher, Ilias Klis, Joana Lazarova, Ewa Lenart, Ioana Petkova, Philipp Reinberg, with Antonella Amesberger, Clelia Baumgartner, Stephan Guhs, Frida Robles, Andrea axis
Guest lecturers - bamboo construction: Jörg Stamm, Construction: Franz Sam, Structural: Klaus Bollinger, roof: Manora Auersperg, Christoph Kaltenbrunner, Performance Arts: Daniel Aschwanden

More information:
Designboom article
Architektur journal (Deutsch with English translation)

Vote for a Ropes and Poles badge design

2016-09-02T08:00:00.000+02:00

I've been contemplating having badges made, which would be available for sale here on the blog. Some designs are shown above, featuring various projects from the blog archives, and I'd like your help choosing the first one to have embroidered. Please scroll down and vote below, or click on this link to go to the poll. Thanks!

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Suspension Bridge from Feb 1937 Scouter magazine

2016-08-26T08:30:00.000+02:00

I found this suspension bridge article written by L.C. Sands in the February 1937 Scouter magazine:

No special credit is claimed for having succeeded in building the bridge described here, as it involves a principle in common use, but as the writer has not seen anything similar described in any of the books on pioneering, he considers that other Scouters might possibly like to try it out, and doubtless improve upon it. Its chief advantages are that it needs only simple materials, is easy to construct, and is one which could be crossed with ease by many people who might hesitate to venture on a monkey bridge. Any measurements stated here may be altered to suit local conditions.

Two Towers were constructed of four spars about 9 ft. long, with 1 1/2–2 in. butts, and seven Scout staves 5 ft-long. First the side trestles were made by lashing two spars together as near the top as possible with a sheer lashing, and then the ledger was put on with square lashings about oft-from the bottom of the spars. These two trestles were then connected together to form the tower by lashing a strong pole across the top in the V’s made by each pair of spars, and by lashing poles adjacent to or slightly above the ledgers of the original treetles. The base of the finished tower was about 4 ft. square. About 2 ft. from the ground further poles were lashed to both back and front of the tower: the one (A in the diagram) nearest the bridge proper bore the two hawsers of the roadway, while both bore the planking.

The Roadway was made with two 2 in. ropes to which were attached twelve Scout staves at intervals of about 1 yd., by means of lever hitches a few inches from the ends of the staves. This method is probably not the best for strength, but it is quick, although about 1 ft. of the rope is used up in making each lever hitch. When this is swung into position, the ropes at one end should pass over the front pole (A) on the tower, under the back one (B), and be made fast to pickets or some convenient tree if available. The other ends should be similarly secured, but if possible block and tackle should be used to tighten them at one end, as was used in this case.

Suspension lines were made from 1 in. cord throughout, twelve in all three for each side of each half of the bridge. These lines were attached to the pole forming the road-bearers of the bridge, and to passed over the top pole of their respective towers to pickets or suitable trees. In the case of the lines attached to the two centre poles (E and F.)loops should be made in the cords about 2 feet from the ends fastened to the roadbearers. The two loops in these two lines from E and F (see diagram) were then drawn towards one another by another cord until the angles between the roadway and the portions of the cords below the loops were almost right angles, and then made fast. This other cord was then continued in either direction, taking a turn round each of the suspension lines in passing to the towers, to form a handrail. The reason for so dealing with the middle suspension cords was to increase the angle between the suspension lines and the roadway, so as to get a better suspension of the centre part of the bridge This proved the most satisfactory of several methods tried.

The other cords from C. D. G. and H go straight from these points over the top poles of the towers to their respective pickets. These suspension cords should all be fastened on to the roadbearers at D, E, F, G and H before the suspension part of the bridge is swung into position across the gap to be bridged. All that then remains to be done is to pass the cords over the top bars of the towers and fasten to the pickets. Before use the suspension cords should be adjusted so that the centre of the bridge is slightly higher the the ends. This method of suspension was found to be the most satisfactory and easiest to make as any particular cord can be readily tightened up. Of course extra strength would be gained by adding similar cords to some - the other road-bearers, e.g., those between C-10, and G. H.

To complete the bridge some form of planking should be laid across the road-bearers and lashed to them. In this case, some fifteen inches (in width) of planking put on for the whole length, and this in itself was a considerable weight. The length of the actual bridge between the towers was 38 ft.

This bridge proved very satisfactory in practice. After it had been used a number of times the drop in the centre, while an average-sized adult was standing on it in the middle, was only 9 in, and it may be added that the writer rode his bicycle across it.

Cardboard box rafts- Akela 2016

2016-08-19T08:00:00.000+02:00

At the recent Akela 2016 camp, I was involved in running outdoor activities for the Pack Scouters, alongside the community service and crafts bases that were run. Alongside a tensegrity cube, I ran this challenge- to build a raft using staves, light cord, cardboard boxes and dustbin bags, and float a member of their team across a swimming pool (around 10 metres/ 30 feet).

Photographs courtesy Marissa Rakic

The idea is to build the cardboard boxes up, then seal them in plastic bags, and use these boouyancy 'blocks' tp build a raft. In practice, of the three teams who attempted it, only one got their 'sailor' safely across the pool. Here are the two unsuccessful teams at their moment of immersion:

The first team built a raft that had good, solid boxes, well tied together. However, they built a narrow raft which had very poor stability, and despite a few attempts, the raft was unable to remain upright.

The second team distributed the bouyancy more evenly, but one of their boxes failed around halfway through:

The third team, pictured at the top of the post, managed to get across without any incident. I allocated 45 minutes for this, and all three teams had sufficient time, even allowing for around half the team being unfamiliar with raft building. I can recommend this as a patrol challenge if the weather is good. I would suggest having a full set of boxes for each team- in the event that a box gets wet, it is almost impossible to re-use.

Akela 2016 "Wolf" Hypar Gateway

2016-08-12T08:00:00.000+02:00

I recently had the privilege to spend some time at the international Akela 2016 camp outside Pretoria, and this is the main gateway to the campsite - built by Harmellia Gardens Air Scouts.

The camp was held to celebrate the centenary of the establishment of Cubs, and the gateway was designed to resemble the head of a wolf- with a snout and two ears. The ears and snout are formed with sisal and eyehooks in hyperbolic paraboloid shapes. More information on how to set out the sisal to form the shapes is available here.

You can download the SketchUp 3d model here.

Kontiki 2016 Roundup and videos

2016-05-16T12:52:00.003+02:00

KonTiki 2016 came to a close yesterday morning, after 60mm of unseasonal rain left the campsite waterlogged. The majority of rafts spent the night on the water, and the competition went ahead- congratulations to 1st Morningside who were all the overall winners!

Hennie Hamman, from Arrowe Park, has produced a series of videos summarising the weekend:
Friday night:

Saturday:

Sunday:

I'll be blogging some more about KonTiki once the full results spreadsheets are out, and once the organisers relsease some more photographs- there were a few timelapse cameras running over the weekend, and I'm looking forward to seeing them.

KonTiki 2016: Saturday- Rafts and Land activities

2016-05-14T20:47:00.003+02:00

Saturday is the busiest day at KonTiki- rafts are completed, and after being checked for sea-worthiness, are launched and begin their competitions on the water. Meanwhile, on land, the Beaver Challenge competition has run for the Cubs and junior Scouts, campsites are being judged, and meals are competition meals are cooked.

Here are some of the rafts preparing for launch. Because of space limitations at the venue, rafts are built three rows deep from the shore. The theme for Kontiki 2016 is 'Jedi Knights', and you can see how some of the rafts have been decorated to match the theme.

Once the rafts launched,the weather (raining for most of the morning) improved briefly and I managed to get this photo of a rainbow. The organisers arranged for live GPS tracking of all the rafts this year, and this screen in the main tent shows the current location of all the rafts.

The Beaver Challenge is a series of challenge bases hosted for the Cubs and junior Scouts who visit Kontiki. Above are some of the bases from the challenge.

KonTiki 2016: Friday night raft construction

2016-05-13T21:18:00.000+02:00

KonTiki 2016 is under way, with most teams well into building their rafts. Here are some photos of then shorefront. Teams build three rafts deep in most places, and once ready tomorrow, will help each other launch.

Bottlecutter2.0: making 'rope' from soft drink bottles

2016-03-11T08:29:00.000+02:00

Image copyright Advocate Egerov

From Russia, via Youtube, comes this technique for converting a PET soft drink bottle into a strong 'tape' that can be used for lashings. (Advocate Egerov) has two videos that explain how to build the Bottlecutter2.0 device to strip the bottles, and demonstrates how to use the strips to make lashings. Because PET shrinks when heated, he uses a hot air gun to 'frap' the lashings and tighten up the structures.

Image copyright Advocate Egerov

The first video (available with subtitles English subtitles) includes some basic lashings and instructions on making the machine to strip the bottle:

While the second one goes through some detailed techniques and a rather elaborate willow branch chair:

Thanks to Clarke over at ScoutmasterCG for sharing this on one of his live chats- I recommend heading over there on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning (US time/afternoon European time)

Ropes and Poles

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The First Scout KonTiki event? Brynbach Kon-Tiki, 1951

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Ropes and Poles at the World Scout Moot, Iceland

Minifig gateway at KonTiki 2017

Elevated tent platforms at KonTiki 2017

Everything was awesome at KonTiki 2017

Kontiki 2016 timelapse videos

Lego machines to make rope

Suspended Tensegrity Cube by 1st Halfway House Scouts

56m suspension bridge at Manjedal Activity Centre, Western Australia

Two-tent raft in Malta

Ropes and Pole badges - selected design

Bamboo arches in Ghana- Haduwa Arts + Culture Institute

Vote for a Ropes and Poles badge design

Suspension Bridge from Feb 1937 Scouter magazine

Cardboard box rafts- Akela 2016

Akela 2016 "Wolf" Hypar Gateway

Kontiki 2016 Roundup and videos

KonTiki 2016: Saturday- Rafts and Land activities

KonTiki 2016: Friday night raft construction

Bottlecutter2.0: making 'rope' from soft drink bottles