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Larry
Lashing
And his
10-step guide to pioneering big things...
Welcome to
Larry's pioneering master class. Today, we're going to build two
projects: a rope bridge and a greasy pole. Our guide will take you
through the 10 steps to success, making you a master pioneer! Sounds
great, so what are we waiting for?
Before
diving straight into the big stuff, we must refresh our basic
knotting skills. Have a look at our knotting movie clips
page for knotting practice. Refer to a responsible adult for lashing
practice.
Serious bit
When
activities are in or around water, be sure to conduct a risk
assessment for the location, and ensure appropriate safety
precautions are followed at all times. Water activities must always
be arranged in line with the activity rules of the Association and
supervised by an adult leader or other delegated responsible adult.
Remember, safety is everyone's responsibility.
The 10-step
Guide
 Step 1: Select your site. When
selecting the site for building a
bridge, it's usually a better idea to build it over water (refer to
serious bit above), of
an appropriate depth for the size of bridge and the ability of the
pioneers, for safety and enhanced enjoyment when someone falls
off.
Greasy
poles are better sited on grass, with adequate soft crash mats
underneath. Larry doesn't like broken bones at his
projects.
Step 2: Gather together your resources
- both human and material. Without
either, you ain't gonna have nothin' to play on, and there
won't be a step 10.
When
building big projects, Larry likes to enlist the help of big people,
particularly when it comes to lifting the 15' A-frames skywards.
Unsuspecting parents
are usually fair game. Don't be afraid to ask them, as they can only
say no. And they usually do.
Step 3: Delegation of
responsibilities. Even Larry can't do everything himself, and he
occasionally admits to having asked for help. Ensure you select
appropriately knowledgeable people to
lead each separate task, especially ones where failure of that part
of the project will lead to an embarrassing, but sometimes amusing,
collapse of the structure. Remember, the good ol' favourite -
teamwork!
Remember, your
safety is Larry's first concern. So if the thing is going to
collapse in a heap or topple over, ensure your leader is at the top,
and not you. If you didn't have your camera handy, try asking him or
her to demonstrate the collapse/topple again. Then run.
Step 4: Co-ordinate the project. As a
master pioneer, Larry is a great co-ordinator. He likes
to ensure that when building bridges, for example, both A-frames are
the same size. Co-ordination between the separate parts of the
project will result in a fine structure and
a thing of joy.
If things go
very wrong, and Larry has failed in his job as project co-ordinator,
he usually does one of two honourable things. He either blames the
innocent passer-by closest to him, or he explains that he has just
demonstrated how not to do it. Either cop-out usually
works.
Step 5: Select a suitable anchor. Most
pioneering projects involve high structures, which will require some
sort of anchor for stability. Bridges need anchors at each end to
secure the horizontal ropes, as well as anchors to secure the
A-frames.
Knowing
this full well, and for projects on grass, Larry likes to use
nothing better than steel marquee pegs, at
least 24 inches long. Remember to take along a suitable sledge hammer for steel
pegs.
Larry doesn't
like to build pioneering projects on concrete or tarmac, not only
for safety reasons, but he finds it difficult to get the pegs
in.
For
bridges, he usually recommends the old favourite 3-2-1 anchor for the
rope ends. Counting isn't Larry's strong point. Four single pegs
will be adequate to secure each of the A-frames.
Step 6: Knots and lashings. Every
Scout should know the basic knots, and should
be able to tie them in their sleep. Larry usually does, and ends up
tying himself onto his bed. But that's another
story.
All
lashings where the pioneering poles cross, and touch each other,
should be square lashings, except
where the A-frame's sheer legs cross, in which case a sheer lashing can be
used. Diagonal lashings should only be used where crossing
poles do not touch, and will have to be drawn
together.
Traditionally, clove hitches are used
to start and finish a square lashing, but different methods use
different knots. Some methods use only one knot - the reef knot. Diagonal
lashings are started with a timber hitch and
finished with a clove hitch.
Step 7: Preparation for the Big Lift.
Once all the separate parts of the project are completed and
inspected by Larry, he arranges for the Big Lift, piece by piece.
Ensure all the pieces are laid out in the right places, and that
ropes are not snagged or looped around someone's foot (we've all seen the cartoons, haven't we?). Larry
recommends digging a shallow pit to sink
the feet of the A-frames into the ground. This stops the feet moving
during playtime (see step 10).
Step 8: Up she goes! Clear the
immediate vicinity of excess people when lifting big stuff. For
bridges, one A-frame at a time is lifted, then secured. Larry
allocates knowledgeable people to keep an eye on the upright pieces
to ensure no excess movement after lifting.
Step 9: Take the strain! Once the
bridge is lifted, and the A-frames are secured, the main walkway and
hand ropes have to be tightened. This calls for big people with big muscles, who are able to make lots of grumph-type noises.
Parents who are pub bouncers are ideal. Larry isn't a pub bouncer,
so he likes to co-ordinate the block and tackle while
others do the grumphing bit.
Take
care when tightening ropes.
Constant vigilance is required for ropes and spars under strain.
Parents under strain are a worry too.
Step 10: Playtime! If you've followed
through from step 1, you can probably call yourself a master pioneer
by this stage. You have shown a clear and undiluted knowledge of all
things ropey, and you should walk about with that air of smugness
that reveals all master pioneers. Larry does this all the time,
hence his lack of close friends.
Ensuring
he remembers the serious bit about
pioneering on water (when appropriate, as the projects for this
guide were built on grass), Larry allows people to use the pioneered
projects. He is responsible for the conduct of those using the
projects, and ensures a good standard of behaviour and safety during
use.
When Larry
needs to leave the projects, for example when nature calls, he
either closes them and makes the area out-of-bounds, or he delegates
an appropriately responsible adult to take over the supervision
during his absence.
Important
Notes
The
pioneering projects constructed for this guide were done so in a
strictly controlled environment. Police, fire and first aid services were
close-by in the event of any incidents, and the local airport was
warned about the Big Lift.
The main
walking and hand-rail ropes we used for our rope bridge were each
120m long. These can't be coiled around the average person's arm, so
it's very important that when coiling this length of rope, the correct procedures
are followed to ensure a knot-free, and easily handled coiled
rope.
Here's a
text-book rope bridge.
Does it look anything like ours?
Above
all else, pioneering is meant to be fun. Larry thinks
people are laughing at the fun they're having when pioneering under
his direction - but actually, they're really laughing at
him.
Get out there.
Do it. And have a laugh. But not at Larry. Please.
Thanks.
When Larry teaches
pioneering, everyone listens. Wonder why? Click here to see a recent
picture of Larry. | 
