Whose anchor is this?

[remoteman45]

Anybody recognize this anchor in Cheesebox canyon? It is from a couple years ago tho
The initials OP were spelled with small rocks

[Erik B]

I've been looking at this picture for about 20 minutes and I STILL have no idea what we've got going on here.... Looks extra creative!

[Jolly Green]

Who has been holding back by not sharing their space age anchor building techniques with the rest of us? You sure this wasn't a slot near area 51?

[DesertDuke]

The answer is.......someone very brave. It looks more like bad art sponsored by a government grant than an anchor.

[pikan]

dead man anchor? or just a dead man?

[Bootboy]

That's a tension post anchor, and they can be remarkably effective for anchoring posts in sand when doing vehicle recoveries off-road. That's also how high tension is achieved on barb-wire fences, particularly when the fence makes a sharp corner. The idea is that the piece of wood with the webbing tied to it is held against the wall of the pothole by tension on the anchor. The wood above the webbing acts like a long lever and yields enough mechanical advantage over the tension on the anchor that only a few pounds of tension on the end of it is enough to hold the weight on the anchor. If that makes sense. If all you have are short sticks, they can be setup in sequence and you can achieve the same effect. I've never rapped off one, but it would take considerable convincing to do so.

[Slot Machine]

That's a tension post anchor, and they can be remarkably effective for anchoring posts in sand when doing vehicle recoveries off-road. That's also how high tension is achieved on barb-wire fences, particularly when the fence makes a sharp corner. The idea is that the piece of wood with the webbing tied to it is held against the wall of the pothole by tension on the anchor. The wood above the webbing acts like a long lever and yields enough mechanical advantage over the tension on the anchor that only a few pounds of tension on the end of it is enough to hold the weight on the anchor. If that makes sense. If all you have are short sticks, they can be setup in sequence and you can achieve the same effect. I've never rapped off one, but it would take considerable convincing to do so.

Holy crap. So the webbing is tied near the bottom of the small stick in the center of the rock stack...

Inherently dangerous. I'll name it... the Fiddlestack.

[Brian in SLC]

Inherently dangerous. I'll name it... the Fiddlestack.

ROTFLMAO!

[Bootboy]

Holy crap. So the webbing is tied near the bottom of the small stick in the center of the rock stack...

Inherently dangerous. I'll name it... the Fiddlestack.

No.

Here's how it works. This is illustrated with a 1:5 ratio. For simplicity.
Sorry for the crude paper-plate drawing.

[Slot Machine]

Here's how it works. This is illustrated with a 1:5 ratio. For simplicity.
Sorry for the crude paper-plate drawing.

Excellent paper-plate drawing. Makes more sense.

However, the anchoring log in the photo above does not appear to be tied down at the top. ?

[pikan]

Holy crap. So the webbing is tied near the bottom of the small stick in the center of the rock stack...

Inherently dangerous. I'll name it... the Fiddlestack.

Another Fiddlestick thread!?
*in Shaniqua voice *
ah na he dident!

Do we have to endure more half-naked pictures of Shane again?

[oldno7]

Lots not to see in the original picture.

What I do see is webbing coming from the bottom of a picket/crossing over and in constant contact with a rock surface.

The amount of webbing and angles of webbing over this surface is more key to this equation than the picket.

I've personally done testing in this regard and load weight reductions in excess of 50% are common.

I've rigged a picket to rappel off, in a canyon, by necessity, one time.

Our group's largest member was 250lb's, lightest close to 100.

We dug a hole in the sand, placed a picket on a slight angle back, away from the rap.

Filled the hole in,(maybe 18" deep)ran the webbing around 2 bends and in contact with around 30' of rock.

I backed up this large frame guy as he did a sit start.

In a 30'ish rap, I never took any of the load off the picket.

We sent everyone down, no visible strain on the anchor.

Last person was our 100ish pounder, she rapped with no problem.

After the last person was down, we backed up, releasing the bond of webbing to rock and while holding both strands of rope, easily pulled our webbing free from the picket.

Long story, long...I guess it's hard to judge an anchor's usefulness, unless you were the original one who used and needed it.


And NO, this isn't my anchor.

[Slot Machine]

Lots not to see in the original picture.

True.

I suspect this is a simple deadman anchor, with some stick mumbo-jumbo on top; a decoration to appease the canyoneering Gods.

... Then autographed by Opie Taylor from The Andy Griffith Show.

@remoteman45 , do I win the prize?

[Mojave Silence]

How is the smaller stick coming out of the rockpile, connected to the larger stick?

[Mojave Silence]

After looking at the photo again, I think I'd down-climb on canyon left

[Slot Machine]

How is the smaller stick coming out of the rockpile, connected to the larger stick?

Dat's what I'm sayin'. Them there sticks ain't doin' nuthin'.

Not tied together at all, they are just adding ambiance.

[pikan]

Seems like it would be safer to forgo all the complicated shenanigans and just do a simple deadman!
After all there is a big stick to help dig the hole!

[Deathcricket]

Holy crap. So the webbing is tied near the bottom of the small stick in the center of the rock stack...

Inherently dangerous. I'll name it... the Fiddlestack.

I keep clicking "like" on this post but it only let's me do it once. WTF! Best... Post.... Ever.....!

[deagol]

Another Fiddlestick thread!?
*in Shaniqua voice *
ah na he dident!

Do we have to endure more half-naked pictures of Shane again?

[ratagonia]

Anybody recognize this anchor in Cheesebox canyon? It is from a couple years ago tho
The initials OP were spelled with small rocks

Nice Riddle, but...

Obviously, it is remoteman45's anchor, as he is the O.P.

Tom