If your group approaches a crazy person while out on the trail there is a way to detain the individual without any rope and give yourselves enough time to get away.

 This is more of a humor thing but trust me when done properly it does work and its unlikely the person will be able to get away without help. It can also cause a fair amount of discomfort to the person attached to the tree and their pants may rip in the crotch area so take care with  trying this.

1. Find a tree that is such a size that when putting your hands around it only your thumbs and middle fingers touch on opposing hands. (Smooth trees like poplar work best because they provide little grip for the detainee with the smooth bark)

2. Help the person put their legs in the way explained in the diagram below.

3. Help the person move down the tree so their butt is sitting on the foot attached to Leg #2.

4. Run away? No, when done properly the person can't get away so you can just walk. Sit yourselves down, eat lunch and then decide what to do.  Tell the person if they will be civil you’ll let them up before the mosquitoes come out.

If you happen to be sitting in a chair take one foot off the ground. Then bend the knee on your other leg and point your toes to the back of your chair with the top of your foot touching the ground. Now try pushing your body up with that foot. You can't do it can you?

Now while the top of that foot is still on ground put your other leg behind your knee and hook your foot around it. That leg will give no aid to escape because as you sink down it becomes locked behind your other leg and creates friction against the tree. Even with very good upper body strength its unlikely you will get away if the tree is the proper size.

In the photo below we had to pull Elin up so she could get away.

Disclaimer: The person in the photo above is not a crazy person but rather an expert with a map and compass and a good friend who now resides in Sweden. We miss you Elin!

Don't do this to anyone!