2009年6月18日 星期四

Nail in the Fence

Nail in the Fence

By CatherineYen, November 26, 2007

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper.  His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.  Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.

He said, 'You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say "I'm sorry" , the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us.'

It's National Friendship Week. Show your friends how much you care. Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND, even if it means sending it back to the person who sent it to you. If it comes back to you, then you'll know you have a circle of friends.

You are my friend and I am honored.

Please forgive me if I have ever left a hole in your fence!

Source: http://www.problogs.com/Post3662.htm
More...View All Blog Posts submitted by CatherineYen

2009年6月16日 星期二

Camalot 的使用指南 - Camalot Instructions for Use (Black Diamond Equipment)

Camalot 的使用指南Camalot Instructions for Use

Instructions for Use (PDF) Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd.
* Camalots - Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd.
* Camalot - Wikipedia.org
* 只有英文版,開卷有益,讓您瞭解如何安全正確的使用Camalot.

Black Diamond Camalot™

How Does A Camalot Work? Essentially, a Camalot works by the movement and shape of the cams themselves. A spring-loaded camming device cam is shaped so that a line drawn from the axle to the cam’s point of contact with a vertical rock wall will remain at the same angle to the horizontal throughout the cam’s rotation. This shape is referred to as a “constant angle cam.” Whether the unit is well retracted or wide open, the “cam angle” [Figure 1(a)] is always the same. Without a constant cam angle, a unit would have different holding properties at various expansions. To determine the precise amount of curve for the cams, engineers use a logarithmic spiral, which creates a constant angle between the horizontal and any line drawn between the spiral’s center and the point of contact.

When you fall onto a Camalot placement, the cams want to rotate [Figure 2(a)] in response to the pull. To keep the unit from being yanked downward, an opposing force [Figure 2(b)] must hold it in place. As the Camalot is loaded in a fall, the downward pull [Figure 2(c)] is countered by the expansion of the unit as the cams rotate outward, pushing in opposite directions against the sides of the crack [Figure 2(d)]. This increases the friction force, and thus the Camalot’s holding power.

Limitations: Your Camalots are strong but they do have limitations. They must be in good condition and placed correctly in order to be reliable. All spring-loaded camming devices generate a large outward force when loaded, possibly levering out flakes and blocks that may appear secure. Camalots must be placed in secure rock to be reliable. Read and understand all instructions and warnings, and seek professional instruction before using them.

Placing A Camalot
Correct choice of Camalot size, proper placement and alignment of the cams, orientation in the expected direction of pull, and good rock quality—all are critical factors in a secure Camalot placement. Ideally, each of the cams should contact the rock at lower to mid expansion range (50% to 90% retracted), and the unit’s stem should point in the direction of anticipated loading. Due to its patented twin-axle design, the Camalot can also work in the “open” position as passive protection (Figure 3).
  • Practice placing Camalots while you are still on the ground. Before slotting the unit in a crack, ask yourself some questions: Does the rock look solid? Avoid hollow, soft or loose stone. Expanding flakes are particularly unreliable. What is the texture of the rock? Because spring-loaded camming devices rely on friction between the cams and the rock surface, they could slip if the rock is polished, smooth, icy or wet. A pebble or spur inside a crack could offset the cams or break off when the unit is loaded.
  • Look at your rack and estimate the best size of Camalot for the placement. Keep in mind that, when given the choice, well-retracted cams (Figure 4) make a better, more reliable placement than cams which are almost completely extended (Figure 13).
  • Remove the unit from your rack and retract the cams by pulling back the trigger bar.
  • Insert the unit, cams-first, into the crack with the stem pointing toward the direction of loading (Figure 5).
  • Release the trigger bar and let the cams spring outward. All four cams must contact the rock to make a good placement.
  • Give the Camalot a tug in the direction of expected pull. Ideally, the unit should be immobile. It should not “walk” or rotate on its cams. If you think rope movement will cause it to walk out of position, use a long runner.
  • Clip the unit into the rope using a carabiner attached to the end of the sling or wire loop (Figures 6 and 7). Clipping directly into the wire loop with a carabiner can reduce the strength of the unit by up to 2 kN (450 lbf).
  • Never clip as shown in Figure 8 or 9
  • Train yourself to imagine the entire pitch as a system of protection. Never rely on a single piece of pro to keep you off the ground.
  • Flaring cracks, which widen toward the front, are difficult to protect with any gear. Camalots can protect flares in situations when other gear might not. However, the more a crack flares the less reliable any placement becomes.
  • Because Camalots are flexible units, their stems can be loaded over edges, although some strength will be sacrificed. Loading a unit without bending it is always preferable. If you load a Camalot with its stem placed over an edge, inspect it afterward to make sure the stem hasn’t been kinked. If for some reason the plastic stem tube on a Camalot is cut or torn, the unit is still usable. However, inspect any exposed cable for signs of fraying.
  • Your Camalot’s wire loop can be damaged or deformed in a very hard fall. Inspect the cable for fraying and retire if damaged.
  • A completely retracted Camalot can be very difficult to remove. Leave room for the cams to retract a little further so your device can be retrieved.
Please Note: A Camalot constitutes one link in an extensive system of protection. Choosing what gear you need is sometimes confusing. If you are unsure about what equipment you need, you should seek qualified instruction.

Bad Placements
  • Never position a Camalot at the edge of a crack (Figure 10), it could slip out of the crack and fail to arrest a fall.
  • Never place a Camalot so that the cams are offset, e.g. with two cams extended and two cams retracted. Figure 11 shows a Camalot with the front pair of cams well placed while the back pair are too extended. It may not hold a fall. In Figure 12 the pair of cams on the left are too extended. This placement may not hold a fall.
  • Figure 13 shows a unit with all of the cams extended. Though the unit is strong in this position the cams are not supported securely here. The unit could twist out and the placement can fail.
  • Danger: Avoid placing Camalots in vertical bottoming cracks where it is not possible to align the stem in the direction of the load. Under these circumstances the strength of the placement will be greatly compromised and can fail. See Figure 14.
Regular Inspection
Before and after each use, be sure your Camalots have smooth trigger action, easy cam retraction and expansion and independent cam motion.

Camalot Care
Camalots demand a certain amount of care. Proper storage and routine checkups will prolong the life of your Camalots.
  • Store Camalots in a clean, dry environment, out of direct sunlight.
  • Keep Camalots away from heat sources.
  • Do not allow Camalots into contact with corrosives such as battery acid, solvent, etc.
  • If your Camalot has sticky action or is clogged with dirt: wash in very warm, clean water and dry completely. Lube after washing and drying and wipe off the excess.
  • Wash and lube after contact with saltwater or salt air.
  • Keep axles lubricated to prevent rust.
Retire A Camalot If:
  • The cams have been damaged in a fall.
  • The cams are bent, chipped or deformed.
  • The cam teeth are worn away.
  • The wire loop is frayed, kinked or damaged.
  • The stem cable is frayed, kinked or damaged in any way.
  • The springs are weak or damaged.

If the webbing or stitching is fuzzy, frayed, melted, cut or torn, or has been overly exposed to ultraviolet light, the Camalot should not be used until you have the sling replaced. For recommendations on sling replacement, contact the Black Diamond Warranty Center in the United States by calling (801) 278-5552 or contact your local retailer for further information. If the trigger cable is fraying, Trigger Wire Replacement Kits are available for the Camalot.

Never Modify Your Camalots.
If you’re not sure whether a piece is reliable or not, the answer is simple: it’s not. No piece of gear lasts forever. Retire any weak, broken or dubious gear. When you retire your gear, destroy it to prevent future use.

Adopting Camalots
We strongly discourage secondhand use. Because you should always know a Camalot’s history, buying a used one is just plain risky. And if you happen to find a Camalot, be not tempted. You can’t trust a unit with an unknown past.

Strength
Climbing gear is rated for its actual failure load. This means that a unit could break at its rated strength. Black Diamond has adopted a high standard of product testing known as Three Sigma as a statistical basis for determining rated strengths. For details of Camalot strengths, weights and size ranges see chart below.


2009年5月17日 星期日

薩克亞金溪 (養老,白石吊橋,霞喀羅古道) Day02 - 2009/05/16~17

薩克亞金溪 Day 02 - 05/17/2009
(養老—白石吊橋, 霞喀羅古道)
by 四季溯溪

領隊: 正琳、小廖
隊員: 廷元、阿信、文賢、宏寬、Smile、榮璋、芳諭、煒仁、翎瑄、宗明


薩克亞金溪 (二日) - 相片及註記
Day 01約中午時分起溯,地形開闊明亮,溪水清澈豐沛,沿途戲水不亦樂乎
Day 02早上第一個關卡地型高繞約二個小時通過,不久就到達白石吊橋下,上攀接軌霞喀羅古道開始回程


宗明相簿
- 相簿流覽:: Day1, Day2




06:50 營地寬敞, 天氣暖和, 睡的舒服又飽滿



08:00 早餐後收拾營帳及裝備


08:33 準備出發


08:37 出發了, 小廖


宏寬



08:41 行進不到5分鐘, 地型
出現關卡


兩岸岩壁高陡岩面平滑, 水勢盛大傾瀉如注



08:53 阿信, 小廖前往探勘, 準備打釘架繩



左側深潭的跳水活動也熱鬧登場


08:58 想要爬上陡峭而光滑的岩壁, 似乎困難重重


09:23 阿信辛苦試了幾回, 發現除了岩面陡直光滑外, 岩隙脆弱, 岩械岩釘都無法扎實置入, 決定放棄, 全隊改由瀑布左側高繞.



09:24 左側為陡峭的碎石坡, 土質鬆動, 小心上攀步步為營


相片右上方對岸岩壁後為另一支流



10:02 這裡可以看到原住民為運送物資, 架設的簡易鋼纜, 兩端架在橫跨溪流兩邊的峭壁上


10:19 密林高繞


10:24 看到下方的溪谷了


Smile


芳諭


10:54 準備垂降



11:10 這段垂降約25米高


11:17 文賢熟練地下降



11:19 芳諭垂降



宏寬在下方做垂降確保, 並等候全員通過後收繩



往前是一段峽瀑, 右側為裸岩平台可步行通過





12:00 裸岩平台下方的斜瀑


12:02 芳諭, 通過裸岩平台後地勢平緩易行


12:02 煒仁



12:14 地圖顯示, 白石吊橋就在前方不遠處


12:14 五星級營地, 木柴上有生火的焦黑痕跡



12:16 白石吊橋就橫跨在溪床上方50米高的地方


12:26 用餐中


領隊 - 正琳, 副領隊 - 小廖


12:51 前方有座美麗的雙斜瀑



榮璋和Smile已先到這裡用午餐, 吊橋就在頭頂上


12:57 約四米高的雙斜瀑


宗明


榮璋


Smile



中央的那塊岩石有點像狒狒頭


正琳



又高又細的白石吊橋



13:09 後方隊友挑到較難走的路徑


13:12 等會兒要從前面爬上吊橋


13:15 白石吊橋下合照


13:17 動身翻越雙斜瀑


13:19 跨過這一面就通過雙斜瀑了



通過雙斜瀑


13:20 開始往上攀爬


充滿原始氣息的白石吊橋


13:43 氣喘噓噓, 橋頭柱到了



白石吊橋造於大正十年, 也就是民國十年, 初建於79年前


13:44 芳諭


白石吊橋位於霞喀羅古道13K處, 日本人當年為運補之需要, 橋面寬度設計為1.2米, 日人離台後, 在民國36年修建時, 將橋面寬度縮改為90公分, 總長為145公尺.  這類型吊橋是我走過最大的, 也是保養較好的一座.


芳諭


宗明


下方就是雙斜瀑, 全體隊員合照的地方


橋長145米, 但走起來感覺很穩


廷元


13:49 到了吊橋另一頭了


白石吊橋: (牌文)
最初建於1921年(大正十年)的白石吊橋,為運補車輛的順暢,橋寬達1.2米,日人離台後,原功能已消失,於是在民國36年二度修建時,橋寬遂縮改至90公分,總長145公尺.  曾因使用日久且遠在深山無人管理,但近年慕名而來的人漸增,因而再次整修啟用.  除卻當年的伐肅殺氣,映照著昔日風華! 橋下潺湲清澈的薩克亞金溪,年年映照著的是早春時節的櫻花紛飛與晚秋的楓紅點點! 俯仰此間壯麗山川的同時,要提醒自養老方向入山的遊客,白石吊橋是您一日遊的終點折返處.  若欲西往清泉方向續行,務請攜帶完整裝備,並沿途注意自身安全與遵守步道相關規定.


13:51 左向 - 養老登山口9KM 210分鐘, 右向 - 白石派出所 1.5KM 60分鐘.  依路標指示, 往養老登山口停車場要3小時30分, 那就是17:21, 太晚了, 還是加緊腳步走快點.



13:54 開始就是一段整修完整的木棧道



13:59 陡上通過小崩塌地



14:01 回頭一望, 沒想到離溪谷已這麼遠了.


14:06像這種鐡絲挷樹枝的木橋, 製作容易但不耐用. 而且也很危險. (榮璋)



14:08 看似危險的崩塌地, 實際上通過時小心點就好了, 不難走


崩塌地上回望上切路


14:14 小廖, 阿信, 文賢, 正琳


14:21 武神駐在所: (牌文) [面積約153坪 海拔1,430公尺] 位在布奴加里山的西北支稜與對岸的見返駐在所,隔著薩克亞金溪兩相峙望,也互通著步道監視部落的動靜. 本所原設於霞喀羅警備道路甫完工時的警力配置高峰期(西元1922年,大正十一年),但在五年之後,即裁撤湮没於林野間. 武神原址座落於步道上方,分有上下二層,除基地駁坎與坡道部份尚稱完好,已不見任何建物遺跡. 行走於此,不妨放緩腳步,略覽精緻的邊坡石砌駁坎之餘,您或已發覺,樟楠植群特有的清雅馨芬,瀰漫於林間.


14:23 古道以自然風光著稱, 沿途植披濃密茂盛


14:24 又見危橋



14:30 將墜入山谷的危橋


14:46 這裡取左側小路下切到溪床


14:46 直接跨越溪床, 走到對面樹林下方, 再開始上切爬回到古道.  部落格上常看到健行客或單車客下切到這溪床用餐休息, 然後折返回養老步道口.


14:52 抓著樹根往上爬


14:57 通過竹林就到了


14:58 霞喀羅古道


竹欄杆後是原來的古道, 山坡崩落, 路基已流失 (宏寬)



14:59 古道上密集蕭瑟的竹林, 穿梭其間彷佛闖入了另一個神祕的國度


15:07 已走了4公里, 還有5公里到養老端步道入口


15:07 馬鞍: (牌文) [基地約407.86坪 標高1,460公尺] 此處為駐在所遺址,位處養老山西稜小鞍部間,建置於1922年(大正十一年),而於1959年撤棄,以最早來此開墾立戶的泰雅族人Mawan為名. 現地仍留有大門石階,依稀可辨的夯土牆垣等遺跡,撤棄後間生著緋寒櫻,長梗紫麻等植株與蔓藤. 由於早年香菇栽培熱潮緣故,此處為一大面積的楓香造林地,但隨著時事更迭,佈滿山谷俱已成蔭的楓香成林,已不做香菇栽植用材,卻反而成為最佳的賞楓據點,不論是春初的嫩綠新芽,或是深秋寒涼的黃葉繽紛,晚冬的蕭索枯枝,都令來往路過的旅者,不由得地停下腳步,留戀沈醉在一片徐然幽遠的境地中.


15:10 晚天這個時間剛好在下方的馬鞍大崩壁下



15:22 栗園竹林, 再來就是栗園駐在所了


15:29 下方深谷的溪流將匯入薩克亞金溪, 步道距溪底有100米的落差.



15:45 古道20k處, 竹橋旁有方便取水的水源


15:54 竹橋


15:57 古道21k處有石椅及空地可供休息


16:00 眼前並列的山脊是第一天出發時所看到的地型


16:09 抵達霞喀羅國家步道的養老步道口




16:22 終於回到停車場, 時間還早 (宗明)


16:34 正琳


小廖


榮璋


穿著涼鞋的宏寬


文賢一路打赤腳走出來


芳諭也到了


Smile


廷元


17:26 煒仁、翎瑄, 全員到齊


返回 ==> 薩克亞金溪 Day 01 - 05/16/2009