Zebco Kid
Branched out member
- Location
- Ashland, Oregon
Hello All,
A couple weeks back I met up with a number of Bay Area climbers to climb about in some Eucalyptus trees. Most of the group are professional arborists...with a few of us enthusiasts sprinkled in.
I had the good fortune to come across Brian McGovern from Woodpecker Certified Arborist. He asked me about my Hitchhiker XF, which I still rave about, as it's the best of mechanical and rope. It works so darn well.
He shared a hitch he developed that works in SRT mode without any mechanical device (other than a pulley for tending rope). He named it in honor of his father...Mr. McGovern.
Today, I went out and tried it. By golly, it works! It requires a 32" prusik eye to eye, and I might be happier with a 34". I'm wrapping it around a 11.5 Tuefelberger Tachyon Ash.
I tried it as shown with 3 wraps, and the release was a bit tight. I tried it with two wraps, and the bite was too loose. I tried 3 twists, and it wasn't measurably better. I'm going to go back to two, but perhaps adjust the twist like a Valdotain XT.
I'm 156 pounds, for what it's worth. Brian moves up and down with ease but he's 190 pounds.
At any rate, the concept is cool, as the McGovern Prusik puts the bend in the rope that is created by so many mechanical devices in SRT mode. In this case, the bend is below the wraps.
A couple weeks back I met up with a number of Bay Area climbers to climb about in some Eucalyptus trees. Most of the group are professional arborists...with a few of us enthusiasts sprinkled in.
I had the good fortune to come across Brian McGovern from Woodpecker Certified Arborist. He asked me about my Hitchhiker XF, which I still rave about, as it's the best of mechanical and rope. It works so darn well.
He shared a hitch he developed that works in SRT mode without any mechanical device (other than a pulley for tending rope). He named it in honor of his father...Mr. McGovern.
Today, I went out and tried it. By golly, it works! It requires a 32" prusik eye to eye, and I might be happier with a 34". I'm wrapping it around a 11.5 Tuefelberger Tachyon Ash.
I tried it as shown with 3 wraps, and the release was a bit tight. I tried it with two wraps, and the bite was too loose. I tried 3 twists, and it wasn't measurably better. I'm going to go back to two, but perhaps adjust the twist like a Valdotain XT.
I'm 156 pounds, for what it's worth. Brian moves up and down with ease but he's 190 pounds.
At any rate, the concept is cool, as the McGovern Prusik puts the bend in the rope that is created by so many mechanical devices in SRT mode. In this case, the bend is below the wraps.
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I'm skeptical until I try it or see BinoH or someone on it. These lil Legolas-weighing fellows can just slip down the rope on a prusik sometimes, I've heard.
