Elk and Embers Tree Weave
The colorful Elk and Embers Weave is tucked away in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Waynesville, North Carolina. Being based in Asheville, North Carolina, the Tree Weaves team always loves an opportunity to showcase our work in the local community and this tree net is no exception. The Elk and Embers Tree Weave is a vibrant blend of yellow, orange, and red colors inspired by the stunning colors of leaves on display in the Blue Ridge Mountains during the Fall.
Tree Weaves built this single-level tree net for the soon-to-be-open Elk and Embers Glamping Resort. The Elk and Embers Resort will feature luxurious private yurts, miles of scenic hiking trails, picturesque mountain views, and custom tree nets made by Tree Weaves. This tree net was built to serve as a functional and unique way to cross a creek along the area of hiking trails where the net is located. The main floor of the tree weave is also quite spacious and serves as an area for guests to hang out and relax upon as they enjoy the sights and sounds of the nature that surrounds them.
Main Floor
Although the Elk and Embers Tree Weave is a single-level tree net and not as large as some of our multi-level nets, this installation was still challenging to rig and has some unique and dynamic elements to it. The main floor spans across a creek with a small waterfall feature that runs directly underneath the weave.
When standing at the center of the net, you are standing about 10 feet above the creek bed. This truly gives the feeling of floating in air. We also installed a viewing portal here so that visitors can take in the scenic views of the mountain valley while being suspended high above the ground.
The original purpose for the Elk and Embers Tree Weave was to provide a way for visitors to traverse the creek while exploring the hiking trails in this area of the retreat. However, our tree nets are always built to be used as a place to gather and enjoy time with friends and family outdoors. In pursuit of these goals, the main floor of this tree net is tightly woven with paracord using our two-strand method of weaving for a more comfortable feel. Visitors will find that the floor is easy to walk across or jump across for anyone feeling more playful.
The main floor also has two banked sides where the floor meets the wall which are perfect for anyone looking to get off their feet. We also wove in two backrests in front of two of the large trees used to form the perimeter of the net. These backrests form a perfect seat on the net allowing visitors to kick back and take in the tranquil sounds of the babbling brook running underneath.
One fun addon our clients asked us to put into the Elk and Embers Tree Weave was a cup holder for drinks on the net. We installed two foldable cup holders that are perfect for bringing your beverage of choice onto the tree net with you. The cup holders are very secure and can keep your beverage firmly in place even while you are jumping all around the net.
We always strive to include any addons or extra features our clients are looking for in a net. These features can add value to any tree net and really help make each installation unique. You can see more features that are commonly requested for our tree nets in our portfolio.
Entry Ramps
Visitors to the Elk and Embers Tree Weave have two options for entering or exiting the tree net depending on what side of the creek they are approaching from. If you are approaching the tree net from the start of the hiking trails, you can access the weave using the longer of the two ramps. This entry ramp starts below the main floor and has a steeper incline, but we included handrails on either side that help make the walk up into the net easy. One of the best features of this ramp is the view of the waterfall feature visitors get at the top of the ramp just before stepping into the main floor of the tree net.
On the other side of the creek is the smaller of the two ramps. This ramp allows for super easy access in and out of the tree weave. When exiting the tree net using this ramp, visitors will find themselves at a small landing leading right to the creek. The perfect place for dipping your toes into the refreshing mountain water on a hot Summer day.
The Tree Weaves team built this net using earth anchors to secure part of the ramp where there were no trees to anchor to. We do not often use earth anchors on our installations, but they provide a great option for customers who may not have ideal trees to anchor a ramp to.
Video Walkthrough
Take a virtual tour of the Elk and Embers Tree Weave with us!
Color Scheme
The color scheme for the Elk and Embers Tree Weave was inspired by the fiery colors that set the theme for the Elk and Embers Retreat as well as the beautiful Falls colors that light up the Blue Ridge Mountains. We really wanted this weave to stand out with a mix of warm, vibrant colors. To achieve our color scheme in this project we used four main colors of paracord:
In addition to the paracord, we also used yellow and red safeline, yellow 1” webbing, and red 2” webbing from BlueWater Ropes to rig our perimeter lines and keep the entire net within the red, yellow, and orange color scheme.
Main Floor
We divided the main floor of this tree weave into separate color blocks, using only one color of paracord in each block. Color blocking is a great technique for creating solid contrasts between colors and allows for different sections of a weave to stand out visually. All four of our paracord colors for this tree net are used in the floor, creating a beautiful quilted look to the main level.
Walls
As we began to weave the walls for this tree net installation, we wanted to use a different color technique from our decision on the floor. Using our double-strand method of weaving allows for the ability to weave a line with two different colors. This technique is a fun way to blend colors together for a mixed look. We chose to weave the walls in blends of Imperial red, Goldenrod, and Solar Orange.
Entry Ramps
Feeling playful with our color schemes for this installation, the team decided to use a different color technique for the entry ramps on the Elk and Embers Tree Weave. Rather than use color blocking, blended double strands, or a single color for the entry ramps, we decided to use just two colors woven together in individual lines of a single color at a time. This technique is a great way to create a mix of colors within a section of the net without them camouflaging as much as the blended double-strand method does.
Interested In Getting Your Own Custom Tree Net?
Got ideas for building a tree net or playscape on your property? We would love to hear what you have in mind. Contact Tree Weaves at (916) 896-8984 today to set up a design meeting with our talented team of weavers.
To explore more unique Tree Weaves creations take a look at our portfolio or visit the Tree Weaves Instagram page to see some of our latest creations