Girth hitch tree anchor “If you have a continuous loop of webbing and want to attach it to a carabiner,” says Jameson, “you can use a girth hitch. One of the first climbing knots every arborist should learn is the Blake's Hitch, which is a secure and easy-to-tie knot for tree climbing. Basket Hitch: Offers significant strength, with 8mm cord reaching up to 53 kN. Ted Pinson · May 14, 2015 · Designed for climbing and mountaineering, CONNECT ADJUST is a single positioning lanyard that allows users to tether themselves to an anchor. You should always use a figure 8 knot or a double fisherman as a safety. Aug 15, 2023 · Uses Of The Girth Hitch Knot. The problem with the girth hitch for the OPs situation is that he's only weighting one side. Strop hitch instead of girth hitch to get the length you need. Edit: I'd avoid Girth Hitching Dyneema slings together. I know I could do this fairly easy when there is a crotch is the Aug 6, 2021 · Since you are girth hitching the lower limb, you don’t have to worry about the possibility of your anchor walking up the tree if you didn’t do enough wraps using a traditional base anchor. Mar 14, 2023 · Hi all, yes like Mitch said check out the youtube girth hitch tests its good info. The Blake's Hitch or a tautline hitch both require a knot to attach to the tree-climbing harness as well. Use good judgment when girth-hitching slings to trees, and consider leverage. As with basket hitch anchors, girth hitch anchors can be pre-tied using standard materials and assembled quickly. See 400+ more tips like this at alpinesavvy. Prusik Loop: Another reliable option with 8mm cord, reaching similar strength as the basket hitch. They are designed as an idiot-proof anchor attachment. See the discussion in the girth hitch example anchor for a reminder to not have the girth hitch "pull back" on itself. I’ve been reading about how girth hitches weaken slings, and the documentation that comes with my slings specifically says that 2 girth hitches will reduce strength to Note the girth hitch at the master point in the thumbnail image below (and yes Eagle-Eye, this is for a four piece anchor. One tree, one sling, one carabiner. These include (1) make sure the tree is alive, (2) keep the anchor as low as possible, (3) be sure it's at least as large as your thigh, and (4) be sure it's firmly rooted in dirt (not 4" of dirt on top of solid rock!). Unless the tree is half hanging off a cliff, there's no reason why a single tree wouldn't be extremely solid for an anchor. This will prevent the line from turning sideways. The Girth Hitch is a common way of attaching a natural anchor, because it is quick, easy to tie, and doesn't cause excess stress on the webbing or rope. The girth hitch is a standard way to attach a rated loop (a sling or a PAS) to your harness hard points. Jul 27, 2023 · How to tie a girth hitch by ISA Certified Arborist Jacob Nau, our training and development manager! - -more. Does not require long sling/cord material. I have a 45’ rope and a 70’. The 11/16 nylon slings girth hitched broke at 14kN - more than adequate for top roping. The girth hitch can be useful in various application, like tying a throw line to a rope, but it is a really important knot if using a prusik loop when connecting the loop into the carabiner. If two nuts are placed closely in a solid crack, equalize them with a single 24-inch sewn runner. Aug 20, 2023 · A basket Hitch offers an easy way to create a reliable anchor point around a horizontal object (for example, a tree branch). Girth Hitch. If you do this, be extra sure it cannot slip off the rock. If you reach a belay ledge on a multi-pitch climb and find only a single strong tree available for anchoring, use your Nov 12, 2013 · Never girth hitch dyneema. In construction and logistics, the term “basket hitch” refers to something similar, but different. Sep 4, 2023 · Thanks! You mean just put the middle of the open cord behind the tree, and then clip the two ears together and that's the master point? Seems reasonable enough. I've had some questions about how to tie this around a tree. Oct 27, 2021 · Tree Protectors: are usually strips of some robust textile, which are placed between the tree and the slackine element that serves as an anchor, be it a sling or the slackline itself, as in girth hitch sets. , Lark’s Head (and Lark’s Foot), and Lanyard Hitch. yes. If the tree is big, feel free to girth-hitch it at whatever height off the ground will make the anchor most effective. g. Mar 28, 2025 · 7. May 24, 2021 · Climbers may use the Ring Hitch in a variety of situations, including attaching runners, daisy chains, or Personal Anchor Systems to harness tie-in points or a runner to a natural anchor such as a tree trunk, or when tying off pitons. Static rope is climbing rope, but with minimal stretch. But, I like the Strop Hitch over the Girth Hitch and carabiner connections are even better. Sep 15, 2022 · When pulling the assembly up the tree, step away from the tree and let the strand u are pulling act as a "facilitator" in getting the back side of the girth hitch up. Page Contents: Tying the JRB Hitch Saddle Hunter's Hitch (SHH) The Saddle Hunter's Hitch is the best option when setting the anchor manually and wanting it to be as high up on the trunk as possible. Girth hitches are commonly used to connect a runner of webbing to a pole or tree. The Girth Hitch is a knot commonly tied with a sling of webbing, although rope can also be used. Here we show the hitch around a carabiner, but the process is the same on any object. It consists of one closed loop that’s placed on top of the support. Such use is most common in a top-rope set-up. It is used to attach a sling or a loop made of webbing to a harness, or rope or to create an anchor point. OP, I'd stack the slings if I had nothing else. A girth hitch is a fast way to connect a loop of rope (or webbing) to another object. also, after much use, the line will begin to show wear, more on the knot part than the pass-through part. They are often used to connect anchor points to a rope in a static position. Apr 23, 2019 · John Clark wrote: I use a 120cm dyneema sling to extend my rap. ” Girth Hitch: typically used to connect a loop of webbing of cord to a fixed point like your harness's tie-in points. The girth hitch, also known as the strap hitch and bale sling hitch, is an easy and quick way to connect a cord or loop of webbing to a fixed point like your harness’s tie-in point, a carabiner or a tree. In this case the knot isn't even called a girth hitch, it's a cow hitch (and is totally unsafe). Jan 13, 2022 · Master the girth-hitch masterpoint for quick, efficient anchor construction on the wall. And lastly, this one is a little harder to explain but you can girth hitch the tree and then grab the 2 strands of rope right before they go through the "hitch" and pull those out toward you. It | tree, YouTube, FAQ To anchor off a tree, there are a few rules of thumb you might want to keep in mind. Never is a bit too strong. Stow the non-rappelling strand in a rope bag to ensure that people don't unintentionally rappel on the wrong strand. Designed to tighten under load, it provides a firm and slip-resistant hold, making it particularly useful in marine settings. With an ergonomic shape, the ADJUST rope adjuster allows simple and quick one-handed length selection of the adjustable arm. We can get over small nubs (easier in daylight), but not past a branch. One thing I have done is use a tether with the same figure 8 loop on the end as I would with a girth hitch, a blakes hitch with a carabiner, wrap the rope around the tree, slide the blakes where you need it, clip the carabiner to the figure 8 loop and tighten it up. 2) The girth hitch is cinched snugly by hand and body weight prior to use. A dedicated Masterclass on the Clove Hitch: Longhorn Hitch The Longhorn Hitch is actually a hitch, a bend and a double sliding loop knot The Girth Hitch knot can be used to quickly secure something to a tree, carabiner, or your pack. The girth hitch has innumerable applications, including cinching a runner on a knob or around a tree, attaching a sling to your harness belay loop, and hitching several runners together into a chain to make a longer sling. The Girth Hitch is also known as a Cow Hitch or a Lark’s Head knot. It has some great advantages to other methods like; Advantages. ” It’s a simple knot where one take Sep 16, 2021 · “The girth hitch is a viable solution for the master point for anchor rigging, provided that; 1) Approximately 5cm of slip is within the climbing party’s risk tolerance. Most of us are aware of the problem inherent with girth hitching dyneema, but when setting up an emergency rap anchor, it is an extremely thin possibility that it will fail because of cutting itself. May 11, 2013 · Girth Hitch (aka Lark's Foot) The most common way to attach a safety tether (aka personal tether, personal anchor) to your harness. Girth Hitch: Effective but slightly weaker, with 20 kN to 21 kN using 8mm cord. Be mindful that this knot can migrate, so remember to not use it in life threatening situations. Adjust the clove hitch as necessary to keep your masterpoint hanging slightly below the edge of the cliff. May 15, 2024 · Keep in mind that a via ferrata fall can can generate tremendous force on your anchor system, harness and your body, greater than a factor 2. Then, pass that end through the ring and you pull it up to close the girth hitch. Here's a diagram from Edelrid. If not, you can simply throw the runner all the way around the rock. the extent to which these two problems are a factor also depends on the type of Personal Anchor Systems A Personal Anchor System (PAS) is a series of very short sewn slings connected in a chain-link-style. See "Doubled Sling with Master Point" on page 8 here (pdf warning): Purpose: The Girth Hitch (Strap Hitch, Bale Sling Hitch, Ring Hitch) (ABOK # 1694, p 294) attaches a sling to a bar, ring, or another sling. LAMAR removes the munter-mule contingency anchor, and rigs a different . Every part of this anchor is non-redundant. How is the best way to tie into a anchor for setting up a rap or TR i have a bunch of slings and stuff but i didn't know what was the strongest method of going around an anchor point such as a tree A girth hitch or just going around and then attaching both sides of the sling to the biner any help would be awesome thanks Nov 4, 2013 · Fortunately, there’s a faster, simpler, and more secure option that exists: the alpine girth-hitch. Then feed the other end of the loop through the first loop, and pull it snug. It's a perfectly fine, strong knot. Here’s a guide to some of the most fundamental knots every arborist should know Nov 19, 2024 · I have a climbing ring tied to one end of my SRT rope and pull the opposite end up into the tree with the preset. Unusual Girth hitch technique -ok? Follow topic: Email Notify on site Post Reply. Girth hitch only allows you to use a closed loop (e. Oct 15, 2021 · A girth hitch, also called the strap hitch, ring hitch, lanyard hitch, and bale sling knot, is a type of hitch knot used to attach a rope or webbing to a stationary bar or to another sling. Apr 22, 2021 · EASILY GIRTH HITCH A PORT-A-WRAP: Ideal for use with a Portawrap or tree rigging anchor- Choke that tree, create strong bites, Girth effortlessly FORGET ABOUT THE CARABINERS: The Whoopie Sling allows you to Girth Hitch without the use of carabiners or other connecting loops Oct 16, 2012 · Redundant Depending on the distance between gear placements, a 48-inch sewn sling or a longer cordelette (a 6-meter by 7mm cord) can be used to equalize a solid anchor. girth hitch through master points, tie a bight about halfway to clip your ATC to, then use a locker on the free end and clip that back to your belay loop, use locker to anchor at rap stations, and always thread your ATC and weight before taking the locker off the anchor. Once girth hitched to your harness, any part of the PAS can be clipped to an anchor to provide a full strength attachment. Why would we use a canopy anchor? When is it better than using a basal anchor? Option 2 would be to girth hitch the tree but I know that will reduce strength much more than the 1st option. When making a girth hitch around an anchor, align the hitch in the center of the anchor point, so that it does not want to rotate around and damage either the anchor (such as a tree) or the rope (by rubbing against the anchor point). JRB uses it when a pole is not available, or for temporary applications where the hitch is manually removed. This type of hitch has the following advantages: • Excellent lateral movement • Cinches tight on the anchor and doesn’t move • Easy and fast to construct • Roughly 4,000-pound breaking strength – more than enough for this application A major disadvantage of the girth If this is the case, double one sling and extend it with a quickdraw or connect another second sling to the first with a girth hitch There is a typical anchor setup used by lead climbers on sports routes, and you can use it for toprope too: Clip a single quickdraw to each bolt and clip the rope through the lower carabiners. the extra friction is a problem for the tree and the line. A girth hitch anchor is created by wrapping a pre-tied (or sewn) loop around an object and then passing one end of the loop through the other end—creating a girth hitch around the object. This overhand knot is easy to tie and can be fashioned very quickly, making it ideal for climbers who may need to attach a personal anchor directly to a Attach the carabiner to the anchor point. You simply girth-hitch yourself into the rope. It requires a loop, so it is most often tied using a runner or cordelette. Sep 11, 2023 · I’m looking for something that I can climb a tree one time and add a piece of paracord or even a cable for return trips. 3) Place an anchor on each tree Girth hitch each tree with an anchor. I’d like to be able to attach my rappel rope to and be able to to girth hitch it to the tree from the ground. Jun 5, 2019 · Webbing attached to a tree via girth hitch (above) and static line tied via a bowline knot (below). Page Contents: Scaffold Knot Clove, Girth, Bull hitches In this introductory video, JRB outlines several basic hitches. Step 1 Girth Hitch The Girth Hitch is a good choice for preset safety. (Side note: could be a great place for a girth hitch at the master Dec 17, 2024 · We Arborists rely heavily on a variety of knots in order to safely, and efficiently, climb and rig tree sections down. 1 of 3 Original Post. A well-tied knot can mean the difference between safety, danger, and frustration. I have a bunch of slings and lockers to set up a rap station at a tree, no loose webbing or cord though. To help keep the line flat, pinch the webbing (folding it in half) at the point where it passes through the loop. Everybody should know how to tie a Clove Hitch, Girth Hitch and Bull Hitch. Unlike the butterfly, this method doesn’t require using an extra locking carabiner, and it relies on a basic technique that most climbers employ regularly. Tie a safety knot below the mule hitch. Prusik Oct 11, 2014 · 2 prusiks of different lengths, MUST maintain a minimum spacing of a hands width Rope bag 1" webbing Basket Hitch Binier Belay line Tree / Anchor Load Rescuer Main line Tree / Anchor Figure 8 – friction device Slope / Hill Rope bag Rescuer Twin Prusik Belay on a Lowering System Mar 16, 2025 · The Anchor Hitch is a highly secure knot for attaching a rope to an anchor, ring, or fixed object. In terms of rope efficiency, it can be done with fairly short slings. Other names for this knot are the Strap Knot and Bale Sling Hitch. Names: Because it resembles the Cow Hitch it is, regrettably, sometimes known by names that more properly belong to the Cow Hitch, e. Nov 22, 2019 · Rappel anchor. Rock climbers and canyoners often use the girth hitch as an anchor. And absolutely never Girth Hitch Dyneema slings to Nylon slings. Mar 1, 2022 · A canopy anchor is a climbing system that anchors the rope in the canopy of a tree. A girth hitch provides a decent amount of friction to resist upward pull, but a loose sling will fall right off a horn. sling or closed cordlette). ) Dale Remsberg is an internationally licensed mountain guide (IFMGA) and technical director of the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA). The Girth hitch prevents the loop moving around within the carabiner to take away the risk of the cord rubbing open the safety gate. The Girth Hitch is an easy way to connect a loop of webbing or cord to a fixed point like a tree, or your harness's tie-in points. This image comes from a nice PDF file showing some European style anchor techniques, made by the German Mountain and Ski Guides Association (“Verband Deutscher Berg und Skiführer” or “VDBS”). at least two that i can think of. The girth hitch also works well to cinch a short sling around the shaft of a fixed pin or bolt that sticks Blake's Hitch. Nov 3, 2017 · Girth Hitch A girth hitch is used for many purposes (fig 3-07), and is easily done using cord or webbing. Sep 27, 2019 · This crafty anchor has a girth hitch on the top piton and at the master point. a girth hitch causes more friction around the anchor, which is mainly problematic if you are not using tree pro. For trees close to the edge, you can use a couple of slings. Jul 11, 2020 · If I am climbing in a more common party of two though, I’m going to be using the Girth Hitch Carabiner Master Point a lot more frequently. It has the same kernmantle (core + sheath) construction your dynamic climbing rope has, which means that the strength of the rope – the core – is protected with an abrasion-resistant The specific method taught was to girth hitch one end of the sling into my tie-in loops and then to girth hitch the other end to a biner which is then clipped into the anchor. Circle one end of the loop around the object. If you’ve been paying attention at the crag or to social media, you might have seen a girth hitch used as the masterpoint of a belay anchor—like, tied in the cordelette or sling the masterpoint locker is clipped to. Rock Climbing, Mountaineering, and Canyoneering. Trick: Girth-hitch sewn slings to eliminate carabiners or weaker knots. com . The Connecticut Tree Hitch. Is the best way to girth hitch the tree or to wrap the sling around the tree and clip both ends of the sling with a biner. 5) Attach the slackline webbing to one Affix the static line to the tree with a clove hitch to form the second leg of your anchor. The resultant anchor point is non-redundant. Anchor selection requires judgment, experience, and situational awareness. People rappel single strand. A safety tether is a great piece of gear to install whilst top-rope cragging, as it makes clipping into safety lines easy when setting anchors or doing other edge work. Girth hitch knots can attach a harness to another sling, rope, or strap. The adjustable arm allows the length to be adapted for easier handling. Most people use a 6" rule for tree thickness, but you'll see people use trees much smaller. Some tree protectors include loops which ensure that slings stay in the correct position on the tree protection. I am weary of the girth hitch, as it can generate crazy torque forces at the hitch. For a typical two point anchor (bolts) a single shoulder length (60 cm) sling is sufficient. When relying on a single anchor, it is always a good idea to double up all the slings to build redundancy into the system. To tie an Anchor Hitch knot, start by wrapping the working end of a rope around the shackle or swivel two times. Bowline can be done with either an open loop (bowline on a bight) or a standing end. 4) Attach carabiners Attach a carabiner to the loop end of each anchor. Basket hitch the combined slings around the tree, bring the ends together and tie an overhand loop. When I do multi-pitch climbing and going to swing leads I just use the rope to build the anchor using the double figure eight on a bit with the bunny ears so can equal the load if you need longer or shorten the legs. Final Thoughts. Mastering said knots is a foundational skill that ensures safety and enhances productivity on the jobsite. To anchor off a rock, use a girth hitch if your runner is long enough. Jul 3, 2014 · A single cord around a tree is an extremely common anchor. Make a girth hitch anchor on a tree . Lock off the munter hitch with a mule hitch. To your point about single-stranding a tree, I'm wondering how common it is for people to simply girth or basket hitch a sling around a tree and use it as a trad anchor. 2. The text accompanying this diagram reads: “Via Ferrata sets or systems with tie-in loops are fastened to the tie-in ring (belay loop) with a choke hitch (girth hitch). Just make sure you tie the preset to the ring to use it as your pulldown rope. Oct 2, 2019 · I usually double girth hitch mine but if there are a few limbs that sucks. While a moving rope system (MRS) typically uses a canopy anchor (or tie-in point), a stationary rope system (SRS) creates the option of a canopy or basal anchor. The possibilities are endless with this simple knot. nfasdsh kxurd mvkftq kii tsivf jpujau qcgh xwlupu kvyn tlh ipf vtquze tzws blahkm vtvoraaq