SRT TIP knot of choice

[Sean]

I took a fall a little while back while rappelling SRT because the knot I had chosen to tie my climbing line to the trunk came undone (check out my post in Awakenings for the full story). I was using a clove hitch backed up with 1 half hitch (I usually back it up with 2 half hitches, but got lazy at the end of a long day). During the long weeks and months I spent recovering from a shattered ankle, I have done some research (quite a bit of it on this site) on which knots work best for what purposes. I have learned that the clove hitch works very well when pulling perpendicular to the load, but can roll out when pulling parallel to the load. What knots do you guys use for this purpose? Anybody else had any bad experiences with the clove hitch? Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[Demo]

Running Bowline with a Figure eight stopper knot. I haven't seen or even heard of the bowline failing but it doesn't hurt to put that stopper knot in just in case of the rare incident that it would fale.

 

[treewhisperer1]

You can also use a port-a-wrap in place of a knot. This seems to work good for working off an srt setup.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Ny favorite is a running bowline with one of many backups. Adding a marl for good measure once in a while.

 

[Sean]

I have used the running bowline a few times, but stopped using it the time it slipped down the trunk on me when the tension was let off for a second. It seems like this knot would require a stub or a branch or something to keep from sliding down. Or was I just doing it wrong?

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

i think a backhand based hitch like a Cow would take that direction of pull best. In any case i'd say simply precede the Clove or Bowline (or even Cow) with a Half Hitch to change the direction of pull of the final hitch, reduce the loading to the final hitch and also have a more secure/ double grab on the host anchor.

Though a well chosen mount of a friction device with these strategies muled; does give more utility and rescue choices to the scenario.

 

[Kevin]

I use a running bowline with yosemite .


Sean, what's your main climbing line?

 

[Gareth]

Are you working backwards ? To set your line in the first place you must be over a suitable branch or crotch. Your line shouldn't slip thereafter. For SRT there are two options. If your line is isolated ie parallel, and you intend to work above the branch / crotch that your line is in then you can tie your line off at the top by sending up a running bowline. I actually sometimes tie a carabiner at the end of the rope using a fishermans knot and then run the carabiner up the line. If your line is not isolated ie runs up one side then follows a different path down then you need to tie your one end of your line to the base of the tree. Running bowline is good here too. Remember the stresses on your crotch / branch is twice as much in this instance than the line in the first example. The running bowline is a synching knot and will not run up the tree once it is set and a constant pressure applied to it.

 

[Norm_Hall]

Like Treewhisperer mentioned, use a Port-a-Wrap or a Petzl Grigri. The mini Port-a-Wrap was designed for that purpose. Anchor it to the tree with a cow hitch and better half. If you become incapacitated while working off one of these, a ground worker can lower you to the ground, assuming you are not lanyarded in. If you choose to terminate with a knot, that option is not available.

 

[tod_k]

Cool picture with the sun and all.

 

[TreeCo]

I use a running bowline with a yosemite tie off and a figure 8 stopper knot.

 

[STLTreeclmbr]

running bowline is deffinatley the best, especially backed up! I've put sick loads on em and has NEVER come undone!

 

[treewhisperer1]

Just thought I would ask, but are most of you using the srt to gain access into the tree or are you working off a single line? I will sometimes ascend on a single line with a single ascender, clip a pully into it and run my climb line through it- climb off it like that, and can move my tie in. for this instance like norm said I find it safer to use a porta wrap, so groundies that are non-climbers could rescue me. Sometimes in closed canopy trees I will climb off a single line with a belay device, backup.

 

[Mark Chisholm]

[ QUOTE ]
Cool picture with the sun and all.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, nice lil family Norm. /forum/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Tom Dunlap]

TW,

It's not a good idea to work off an ascender without a backup. Tie a stopper knot below your floating tie in setup too.

 

[treewhisperer1]

Tom, forget to add that! I back up my ascender too!
I followed a previous post that you and I think Mark adams suggested.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Just checkin'

 

[frans]

[ QUOTE ]
If you choose to terminate with a knot, that option is not available.

[/ QUOTE ]

??????? What are you trying to say??????

 

[Mark Chisholm]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If you choose to terminate with a knot, that option is not available.

[/ QUOTE ]

??????? What are you trying to say??????

[/ QUOTE ]

Frans, I think that Norm is comparing climbing on a line that is anchored at the base and climbing on one anchored in the top. The first option would allow a worker to lower you.

 

[treewhisperer1]

Or I think he might be saying that lowering someone if the bottom is rigged on a port-a-wrap would be easier than trying to untie a loaded running bowline.