Aerial Ropeways: cheap transport

This was a really good article about the low energy (sometimes produces energy) transport system.  How can we fit this into a permaculture application?

Aerial ropeways: automatic cargo transport for a bargain
http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2011/01/aerial-ropeways-automatic-cargo-transport.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fkrisdedecker%2Flowtechmagazineenglish+%28Low-tech+Magazine%29

That's a great article!

There are aerial cable car systems scattered about the mountains in CO from the old silver and gold mining days.

yeah, I've seen them around the US, usually to cross rivers or small canyons.

I also found someone who made a pedal-powered version:
http://www.plasmacam.com/projectdetail.php?pid=6

I could see how these types of systems could be very useful in steep areas, especially to move building materials and/or agriculture products.

It would be interesting to see how we could integrate a ropeway through an orchard or forest garden for picking the high canopy.

In addition, it is a very low impact infrastructure, no roads needed.

I've never seriously thought of making one, but our mountain land would be perfect. I don't have a long term need for hauling things up and down the slopes now that the debris from thinning and cleaning up is just about gone.

Cool Skybike too. Now if I owned the other side of the canyon....  (it's forest service)

I've thought about using it to get my kids down into the village for school (1.5 miles).  We are probably 500 feet above the village, and the road takes about 20 minutes.

More importantly, it could be a toy for me...

But, they are interesting, and I bet they could be very useful.

I wish I could have ziplined to school....

I built a 130' free-standing zip line in our yard for the kids to play on.  I have used it to haul chunks of trees now and then.

The "brake" is made from two wheelbarrow tires, which act as a shock absorber.

The cable itself is quite inexpensive.  The fittings add up quickly though.

I highly recommend using a two-wheel pulley (I use a Petzl "Speed" pulley).  A single pulley is much less smooth.

I wanted it to be removable, so the ends are attached to dead-man anchors (big rocks buried in the ground). 

The only maintenance required is occasional turnbuckle tightening, and lubrication of the cable.

I can post some pictures or video if you'd like to see it.

Here's another aerial bicycle:

I wish I could have ziplined to school....

Yeah, me too.  I hope I can build one for my kids so that I can zipline to their school....

I can post some pictures or video if you'd like to see it.

Yes!  I, for one, would love to see it!