The Aerie or Tree House - Part 1

Articles In This Section:

· The Aerie or Tree House - Part 1

· The Aerie or Tree House - Part 2

· The Aerie or Tree House - Part 3

Originally the word "aerie" meant a nest of brushwood built by birds of prey. Today the word is also used to mean a lookout situated high in the treetops and used as an observation post. Because of its height, an aerie not only provides the observer with a fine view; it makes him hard to detect from the ground.

Building an aerie is a challenge to your pioneering ability, but it is an ideal vacation-time occupation. Your first concern is an appropriate site. You can put up your aerie in your own garden or back yard, or that of a friend. Don't erect it on anyone else's property without first obtaining permission.

The type of aerie you build depends on the group of trees that is available. The illustrations on these and the following pages show some different types.

Timber hitch—This is the proper knot to use for tying a rope ladder to a branch. The timber hitch pulls itself tight by the weight hanging on it.

This aerie is supported by only three tree trunks. It provides less space than one built around four trees, but finding three trees together is often easier than finding four. The railing is made of branches; the roof is reeds and rushes woven together closely.