Shambhala Gets Cable...!

...as in Zip Line Cable, Baby!

It's been rumored and now it's a reality -- Shambhala has a Zip Line. It's approximately 150 feet from start to finish.  I have not measured or calculated the angle of descent, but let's just say it is pretty damned ginormous.  Launch site is 20 feet from base to tie-off on an 11-inch diameter pine tree; in Zip Lining, size does matter.  The pine tree rests on a 30 foot high boulder precipice.  This is a great activity to find out if you have really good health insurance coverage that includes Life-Flight.

Before you can experience the thrill of watching the Maiden Run of the Zip Line, you are required to view the safety features that I've integrated into my Zip Line design.

Cable:  
3/16 inch Galvanized Aircraft Cable 
4200 lbs Breaking Strength
Safe Working Load 840 lbs for a Factor of Safety of 5

Connections:
Launch area - Cable wrap around 11 inch pine tree with no other connections
Landing area - double cable connections to cradle cable secured by stainless steel padlock and steel carabiner around 24 inch pine tree (see picture below)

Trolley Kit:
Trolley is aluminum construction, steel wheels, and pressure brake near handles
Adjustable harness
Maximum Load 275 pounds

Brake:
Plastic Impact Block
1/2 inch Bungee Shock Cord
As noted above, Trolley has pressure brake pad that can be applied by victim, I mean rider

Backstop:
17 inch automobile tire
Big Ass Tree

Now that you know my meticulous safety preparation, here is the video of the Maiden Run.

To think that my original plan was to stand directly in the path of the oncoming bucket to get the best angle for the video.  Had I not revised my plan, I may have gotten to experience, "...a magnificent central palace radiating a powerful, diamondlike light...", aka cold-cocked.

I made minor adjustments to the braking system after the Maiden Run, duh.  The successful run makes me eager to tweak this puppy completely so that I can enjoy what I've built.  However, I DO recall Newtonian Physics.  The Force with which the Zip Line trolley hit the brake at the end of the run is equal to the Mass of the trolley and bucket of water combined, multiplied by the acceleration of the Zip Line trolley, Force is equal to Mass times Acceleration (F=MA).  Wow, and I remembered that without going to Google.  So, that means that my fat ass will increase the Mass, thereby generating a greater Force on the brake at the end of the run.  I'm not sure if the brake will be able to stop the trolley with the additional Force.  

My approach to solving the problem relies on applying scientific principles and methodology; I'll sit Gabriel on the bucket.  The Mass will increase, but not by very much.  It he doesn't go SPLAT all over the tree, I think I'll try it.  I'll wear a leather glove so that I can drag my hand along the cable to slow my acceleration.  By reducing the Acceleration, you reduce the Force.  However, if the glove does not fit, I will not commit.

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Now that I've successfully created the Shambhala Zip Line engineering marvel,  I am sharing my talents with the world.  Below is a video of one of the world's most intriguing engineering conundrums and I've been asked to consult.  Many of the greatest scientific minds from around the world resigned themselves to allow the Cray Super computer to choose The Most Interesting Man in the World who could make this XX problem manageable.  The Cray concluded that the bridge and I have something in common.  Yes, I know it...