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Thanks! I've been out working for the last couple weeks but will put out a few more videos this fall/winter.

Interesting! I never heard of that. Will do some homework. Thanks.

Thanks! I'll have more queued up once fire season ends.

Thanks. I have a pretty solid personal background in technical rope rescue but stand on the shoulders of giants. I think that all too often people just do what they were taught without thinking critically about it, or seeking research to back that up. Hence trying to cite research and/or other opinions to back up my lectures.

Offhand, I can't cite testing on sewn versus tied prusik loop strength. But practically speaking, strength is not the issue. Any properly tied friction hitch will slip far before the cord fails. Personally I think the shift towards sewn over tied prusiks is about quality control, consistency, and bulk. It takes one more potential failure point out of our systems, which improves general safety. I've performed lots of rescues using tied prusiks and haven't had any bad outcomes. But sewn loops from a reputable manufacturer eliminate the potential for a loop failure due to an incorrectly tied or loosened joining knot.

Not exactly. The US Hang-gliding and Paragliding Association recognizes five rating levels and there is no maintenance requirement once the rating is achieved. I can't speak to how other international organizations handle qualifications but I believe there are significant differences. More info: www.ushpa.org/page/ratings-and-skills-introduction

You pretty much nailed it, Chris. It is magical. Following the king vultures, howler monkeys bellowing in the jungle below. And the couple of XC flights I made were particularly special, cresting a sub-ridge and flying into a valley I've never seen before. And flying is like three-dimensional sailing, trying to see air moving in all directions. It's really special.