Howdy,

Just looking to see what most folks are using for their termination knot when climbing SRT.

Specifically, what knot do you use to connect the screw _link_ to the rope?

I have been using the figure 8 and tying the tail in a double grapevine.

Does anybody use the triple fishermans?

Also, this seems a good place to put a thimble. When I climb up there it looks like the rope is really bending hard over the screw _link_. Anybody else regularly use a thimble on your termination knots?

Later

Bakes

For termination on the support branch I'm using a Running Bowline with a Yosemite Tie-Off. I'm not using a screw_link_, trying to keep extra components and weight down. Good question, curious to see what others prefer.

Since my trees are so short ( less than 80 feet tall) I usually tie back around the _base_ of the tree with a figure 8 and a carabineer ( in case someone needs to rescue me!)
We used a similar set up in Oregon last year using a nylon runner to go around the next tree over. The lowest branch there was about 100 feet up and we were using a 240 feet long rope for the first entry, them changing to individual ropes for the second pitch in the upper part of the tree.

Two things...

1. No hard _link_ in a Noose system is kindy of iffy in my book, though lots do it with no issue. I was always told no rope on rope connections.

2. When looping up and back and connecting to the _base_ of the tree (or even another tree) you double the load on the anchor branch. Be cautious about limb selection in that configuration...

Just my two pennies.

Climb Safe!
Icabod

I have acouple of comments.

I tie off with a bowline/yosemite tie off. I use it because it is easy to untie. Tom D says that termination knots like a half fishermans are the favorite of safety rule makers. After 35 years of technical climbing I like knots that I can untie easily.

IMO there is no need for a back up hitch with a figure eight knot unless it is to keep the tail out of your way.

Whether you use a noose to anchor a single rope or not you still need a rope that is twice the heightof your anchor. I think that having the rope anchored to allow lowering a climber stuck on the rope from the ground is a great safety feature.

This is especially good if your rope is three times the height of the anchor branch (allowing a set up of your access line through a belay device to be already in place). If all you have is a second rope available to use as an extension and the skills to rig it you can still quickly set up an emergency lower to the ground.

The load doubling effect should be kept in mind.

To conserve rope I like to use a sling or cordlet as the actual anchor around the _base_ of the climbing tree or other nearby tree.

Ichabod's comment about safety of a running bowline using only rope being iffy is nothing I've ever heard before. It should be just as safe as a hard _link_. Arborists commonly lower heavy loads using a running bowline.

Well I blabbed away instead of my usual lurking...Scott

Three cheers for doing a little blabbing Scott!