Yet another solo TR thread

eli poss wrote:

The change I made was finally upgrading to a micro-trax from a mini-trax. It makes a whole world of difference due to several different factors. I've only used it with a prusik so far but I want to test out using a new friction hitch inspired by the marlatt knot. I suspect that the profile of this new hitch wouldn't work well above the micro-trax but I still want to try using it both above and below.

You might want to look into the Swabisch Hitch and the Valdotain Tresse. These seem to be favored knots for arborists with a good track record of usage in the field. Both require a cord with two end eyes rather than a loop (you can tie your own rather than buying one with sewn eye ends). I'm not sure how the Marlatt performs but it seems less field tested.

In general, I think the arborist community has a lot more developed understanding of friction hitches than we rock climbers do. Most rock climbing usages of friction hitches seem to be backups or uncommonly-used self-rescue, whereas a lot of arborists seem to be using friction hitches as their primary ascenders.

David Kerkeslager wrote:

You might want to look into the Swabisch Hitch and the Valdotain Tresse. These seem to be favored knots for arborists with a good track record of usage in the field. Both require a cord with two end eyes rather than a loop (you can tie your own rather than buying one with sewn eye ends). I'm not sure how the Marlatt performs but it seems less field tested.

In general, I think the arborist community has a lot more developed understanding of friction hitches than we rock climbers do. Most rock climbing usages of friction hitches seem to be backups or uncommonly-used self-rescue, whereas a lot of arborists seem to be using friction hitches as their primary ascenders.

The closest commonly used hitch would be the valdotain tresse, which is a penberthy used with end knots instead of tied into a closed loop, essentially the single strand version of an autoblock. I doubt the swabich hitch would tend itself, although I presume it would easily be tended by the micro-trax The Marlatt knot adds an additional fig 8 on a bight to the VT with to goal of compressing the coils when the hitch is pulled upwards. This new hitch adds an additional coil at the bottom which does the same thing, although IMO more effectively.

The result is a hitch that easily slides upward when the biner is pulled upward, even immediately after being loaded. Clip some shock cord to the biner and throw the loop over your head like you would with a micro-trax and it'll tend itself, at least in theory. If this turns out to be true in reality as well, then I think it would be cheap alternative for a secondary device that ought to work well below your primary on a single line. 

Oh, okay, I was completely misunderstanding the picture I found of the Marlatt hitch. I'm still not sure I understand it, the colors are confusing... I'll have to play around with some cordage tomorrow.