Hobbies And Interests
Landing Zone
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 200,000 children enters hospital emergency rooms for injuries suffered when using playground equipment. Injuries from falls make up 60 percent of these cases. The agency recommends protective surfacing on areas where falls could occur to absorb shock and minimize risk of injury -- for example under and around a zip line. Wood chips provide maximum protection, minimizing risk of life-threatening head injury from a fall from a height of 12 feet when the wood chip layer has a 12-inch depth. Other protective materials include double-shredded bark mulch, fine sand and fine gravel. The depth of the protective layer should be at least 6 inches to absorb shock of falls from a height of 5 to 6 feet.
Equipment
A zip line can run between two trees. If you don't have trees, set poles in the ground to use instead of trees. Install guy wires to hold the poles up, placing one end at the top of the poles and the other end in the ground, away from the zip line. Zip line cables come in various sizes to accommodate different weights; thicker cables can accommodate heavier adults and are safer for higher zip lines. A brake stops the glide so the rider doesn't slam into the anchor tree or post. You can use a break block especially designed for zip lines or a used tire as a brake.
Height and Angle
If you want the glide to be fast, leave a distance of at least 10 feet between the two anchors. A distance of 6 feet allows for a slow ride, which is safer for children. Speed also depends on the angle and sag of the cable. Aim for a drop of 6 feet for every 100 feet of cable and a sag of 2 feet for every 100 feet of cable. As you use the zip line, adjust the height of anchors and cable sag to get your preferred speed.