Tree House Challenge Day 23 : 29-08-2017

Our second last report includes Dr Sue climbing up to the tree house, Yoav using his rope skills and me ending up in a new and taller tree for the last night out.

I'm feeling exhausted tonight, way up in a new tree and for the last sleep of the expedition. Steve arrived at base camp first and then Yoav and Dr Sue pulled up to make it a team effort. Steve went up the tree I started climbing last week, but with his handheld slingshot and some fancy moves we hoped he could get higher and find a new home for the tree house. 

Meanwhile Dr Sue used a device called a vertex to measure the height of the tree. It came in at 60.4 meters (probably +/- a few meters). To measure the circumference we ran a special tape measure around at about chest height. This tape measure has two sides. One has the normal metric scale so you can get the circumference, but the other side gives the number for diameter without having to do the maths. Our tree was 3.2 m diameter and over 10 meters circumference!

We then climbed up to de-rig the hammock and prepare for taking down the tree house and live it to the new tree. Dr Sue has done a lot of adventures and looked very comfortable on the ropes. 

The pit fall traps we set last week needed to be collected because tomorrow morning will be a big rush to pack everything up and go home. The traps are best left out for weeks at a time but even in the short few days we've had ours out we managed to trap a good variety of leaf litter critters. 

They'll go back to the university for a closer inspection under the microscope. If you're a Hobart student you might be able to come in and help. More details will be sent to teachers later in the week. 

The day was running out of light by the time we finally had time to haul the tree house into the new tree. Dan Haley (he who slept in that hammock!) joined us and helped me set it up just as the sun went down. Yoav and Sue departed the expedition for the final time but down on the ground I have company tonight with a little gang of campers. I can hear them around the campfire as the wind picks up and blasts me with freezing air. 

The final report and video will be posted tomorrow.

Today's t-shirt winner:Westerway Primary

Bonus film today is from the talented Daisy Pyefinch who edited this after our open day at the Tahune Airwalk. Daisy is from Lenah Valley Primary School in Hobart, Tasmania and came down with her school friend Evie and family.