Climbing hitch termination

[rugger01]

Hey all,
I teach Arboriculture at a high school level. At my school we have kids climbing on (once they get this far) an open system with either a schwabish or distel. My co worker and I are talking about weather to teach kids to climb using spliced eye and eyes or eye and eyes that have termination knots tied in them. Please take the poll below.
Thanks for your feedback.

 

[macswan]

I voted tied because it gives you more cordage to tie the hitch with. I can see the argument of having students use spliced eyes for uniformity reasons, but they have to be able to tie knots. That is a pre requisite for climbing to me. I do not like splice eyes on my hitch, but I use a michoacan where the splices really get in the way. It is not as much an issue with the schwabish and distel.

 

[oceans]

Is it a liability issue?

If so, knots can be taught for non-life support prusik applications.

Knots are vital to Arborists, and I feel the students should be able to demonstrate a critical thinking process for knot selection and proficiency in tying them in a variety of scenarios, especially where significant tail weight is introduced.

 

[Bucknut]

Hey all,
I teach Arboriculture at a high school level. At my school we have kids climbing on (once they get this far) an open system with either a schwabish or distel. My co worker and I are talking about weather to teach kids to climb using spliced eye and eyes or eye and eyes that have termination knots tied in them. Please take the poll below.
Thanks for your feedback.

I was thinking spliced for uniformity, predictability, and liability. Not all of these kids are gonna climb trees for a living and teaching knots just eats up more saddle time.
Also, splices are more compact and "clean" if you know what I mean, and I believe they are required by teufelberger for the HC system- for example- to function as designed. No chance of a knot interfering with the operation of the friction hitch.

 

[macswan]

He's just talking about hitch cord. I think an ey in the climb line with the hc should be the practice

 

[Bucknut]

He's just talking about hitch cord. I think an ey in the climb line with the hc should be the practice

Ahh. You're right.

 

[RajElectric]

Spliced for liability and reduced setup time/errors for those students who....need a bit more "practice".

Knots for those students who demonstrate an understanding of rope work.

 

[ctree]

I think RajEletctric is onto something.

 

[rugger01]

Thanks for all the feedback. I willl be using your thoughts to shape our future training.

 

[Waldo]

There should be a third option... stitched.

I hate having spliced hitch cord, but stitched eyes are smoooooo-o-ooooth.

 

[JakeRiggs]

Tied splices are cheaper...I never bought an eye splice hitch cord...go through them to often

 

[moss]

I favor having them learn the basic knots including the double fisherman's noose for hitch cord termination. Learning the knots gives them an important sense of accomplishment and moves them towards learning to take responsibility for their own safety.
-AJ

 

[dogwood]

You can also terminate your climbing line with a knot, such as the double fisherman's noose when using the HC, provided that you set it up as an O-rig to avoid contact with your climbing hitch.

 

[ARLO]

I vote spliced or sewn eyes because they are safer, stronger, and less bulky. However, if you really want to make your students learn something, help them splice their own hitch cords. They will never forget that experience and some kids really get into it.