Tether option?

[mtsrunner]

Looks like it’s this site here:
https://www.animatedknots.com/poachers-knot

Like you said I’d also a bit hesitant as I’ve seen Amsteel wiggle out and almost no load

To the OP, the only issue I see is rope on rope friction especially attaching the rope to itself, and not using a friction hitch it will move almost constantly as the rope settles. It may be safe the first dozen times but you will get premature wear on you line (your lifeline nonetheless!)
Also you mentioned that you know the knot may come undone but you always check your setup, great but Murphy’s law states the if it can come loose the ONE time you your life you don’t, that’s when it will happen.

My conclusion? Why not buy a lighter ‘biner?


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Figure 8 on a bight girth hitched is still rope on rope. Don’t see a difference with OP’s setup.

A ‘biner’ of any weight is not appropriate in this application because of cross loading. That is why he used the triangle.

 

[mtsrunner]

A 6” Nite Ize gear tie will keep any tether from slipping down.

 

[ericabbott]

I really like girth hitching the rope to itself. Someone posted a video that I can't seem to find, but @heretic shows a picture in this thread.

How to rotate both directions and not slack tether?

DaveT has a recent YouTube vid where he discusses not rotating the wrong way as it will slack the girth hitch around tree. I’m planning to get a saddle this spring. Is there a workaround for this issue? I thought moving both directions was important.

saddlehunter.com

 

[ffastfzr]

I looked up how to tie a a scaffold knot, and I should have done that sooner. In seeing how it's tied, I'd be even more concerned about it working loose when rubbing against the tree. if the outside coils loosen up, the tag would slip pretty easily. considering how cylindrical the knot is makes me think it would roll around pretty well, all that time working itself loose. Also the movement of the tether line up and down and side to side running through the loop would be working at loosening up the coils. The way a figure eight is tied is much more secure in these circumstances. Particularly the way the rope crosses over and comes back over on itself several times. you could try using a bowline and cinching the loop tight, or using a running bowline maybe? I know a bunch of people that prefer the bowline over the figure eight for tying into their rock harnesses. The running bowline is definitely a different knot than the bowline, and I wouldn't think the two are interchangeable, but maybe. I just know they exist, I've never used one for anything,

 

[Bwhana]

Just playing with a shorter piece of Oplux. It cinches down and the tether will not come down the tree when you stand up on a platform. It is snug once you use it, but comes loose quickly once you get it moving back through to take it off. Going to test a simple solution to that next. It does not move around on the tree as some said, it locks in place and does not roll as much as it does when using the triangle. As to any feiction wear on the rope, there is less friction here than the prusik causes, so that is also a mute point.

Again, not advocating anyone else do this, just theorizing and experimenting for something that may work for me.

 

[weekender21]

Not inexpensive but I’m really liking the sewn eye for my OpLux tether and LB. Extremely easy to girth hitch the loop to itself.

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[ffastfzr]

Just playing with a shorter piece of Oplux. It cinches down and the tether will not come down the tree when you stand up on a platform. It is snug once you use it, but comes loose quickly once you get it moving back through to take it off. Going to test a simple solution to that next. It does not move around on the tree as some said, it locks in place and does not roll as much as it does when using the triangle. As to any feiction wear on the rope, there is less friction here than the prusik causes, so that is also a mute point.

Again, not advocating anyone else do this, just theorizing and experimenting for something that may work for me.

I tried out the running bowline on my tether this weekend. Used it all weekend, and I think I found the knot I'm going to stick with on my tether. The bowline cinches down really well when you thread your tether through it. Give it a whirl and let me know what you think.

 

[robstewart]

I rappel down and pull my line out. I feel this setup wouldn’t work for me.


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[Kurt]

I've used the double fisherman's knot for years as the end line knot on my split-tail system DRT. Never had a problem with it working loose from my biner. In fact it bites too good, which is why you see it's advantage to holding your tether in place. The unknown for me is the Oplux. Never used it, so I don't know what it feels like, or how well it holds a knot. I know it's strong for it's diameter, and heard tell it lays fairly limp. It's those stiff ropes that tend to shake a knot more easily. Your not out there swinging around the tree like your on an amusement ride(I assume). I never left mine tied for a long period of time(more than a couple of days worth of trees). Like most knots we have to keep an eye on them, we have to make sure we untie once in a while so we can check out the piece of rope that makes the knot. Every knot reduces the ropes strength to some degree. It's a fine knot, I've never had it work loose, and I personally don't see any glaring short comings with using it in this fashion. No one on here is going to stick their neck out and just say, " yea, go for it man, it's all good",,,,,, including me. I been on the working end of rope for years, from tree work to eagle banding. I don't know it all and I don't consider myself an expert. If that Oplux looks and feels like it holds the knot well, and your mindful of it and your slack(as we all should be), I don't see the problem. Folks are using the double fishermans to tie their biners with all the fancy friction hitches, why should it be less solid when tied to it's own line?

 

[pesqimon]

If I used this knot for my tether I would put a stopper knot on the tail. Might be nothing, but in my imagination, with all the manipulation of putting the tether on the tree and taking it off, the scaffold knot could get loose.

 

[Bwhana]

If I used this knot for my tether I would put a stopper knot on the tail. Might be nothing, but in my imagination, with all the manipulation of putting the tether on the tree and taking it off, the scaffold knot could get loose.

I used it in the tree 1x now after lots of ground testing. It works ok, but found I had to put a loop of paracord on the noose to help pull it loose (thanks to @mtsrunner for that idea) after the hunt. It stays tight on the tree and the knot showed no sign of moving or working loose in all the testing and use.

With that said, I took my custom sewn tubular webbing tether with the Austrialpin buckle with me last evening. I keep coming back to it as my go to tether, despite trying everything else I can think of. It stays on place on the tree better than rope, period, and the buckle is easy to use. Just my preference, but I waived the white flag for the rest of this season and will keep using it from this point forward when using presets or Heliums.

 

[bj139]

I was looking at my rappel rope (pic1) where I am using a PROPER scaffold knot to connect to a Petzl triangle for the girth hitch and had an idea. I have not seen anyone mention this before, or at least could not find it in a search, but why could you not use this knot on the tether instead of a figure 8 (not using the triangle, just rope). To use, just make the noose bigger and pass your tag end and attachment through as you would with the figure 8, then, when you sinch it down, the girth hitch will stay tight and in place better on the tree (pic2). It can still be loosened fairly easily to remove it when done hunting. I have only tested this on ground level for the first time today, but I see no issues so far. The knot is much cleaner and smaller than a figure 8. Anyone with better rope/climbing knowledge see any risks with this option? I only know what I know and looking for more experienced climbers to chime in and shut it down if it is not safe.

Wow. Another elegant solution from @Bwhana. I don't see how that knot will come untied accidentally on a tether as long as there is enough tail. It solves the problem of tether sliding down the tree and a smaller knot all in one. For a rappel rope, it would not be easy to pull down so it wouldn't work there but for a tether it is perfect. Great idea.

 

[Bwhana]

Wow. Another elegant solution from @Bwhana. I don't see how that knot will come untied accidentally on a tether as long as there is enough tail. It solves the problem of tether sliding down the tree and a smaller knot all in one. For a rappel rope, it would not be easy to pull down so it wouldn't work there but for a tether it is perfect. Great idea.

100% correct on both keeping a long enough tail on the knot and this will not work for rappelling, unless you are coming back to it the next evening or morning, but I still would not use it for that purpose. It's just another option to consider.

 

[bj139]

100% correct on both keeping a long enough tail on the knot and this will not work for rappelling, unless you are coming back to it the next evening or morning, but I still would not use it for that purpose. It's just another option to consider.

You were the only one who saw this and reported it as an innovation. Impressive. I will switch.

 

[Bwhana]

Please check out this video if you choose to try the scaffold knot for this or any other purpose. Tying this knot wrong can kill you!

 

[ffastfzr]

Please check out this video if you choose to try the scaffold knot for this or any other purpose. Tying this knot wrong can kill you!

Try the running bowline. It's bulkier, but it's obvious if you tie it wrong. It's also easier to open after being loaded. Just cinch it more than they do in the diagram.

 

[bj139]

I was hunting yesterday and just kept my figure eights on my climbing line and tether since both were over a crotch. Not many straight trees where I was hanging so I used my throw bag to get the line over a crotch.

 

[bow shot]

If I used this knot for my tether I would put a stopper knot on the tail. Might be nothing, but in my imagination, with all the manipulation of putting the tether on the tree and taking it off, the scaffold knot could get loose.

yup on that.. but i do like Bwhana's idea!

 

[Cyder]

Try the running bowline. It's bulkier, but it's obvious if you tie it wrong. It's also easier to open after being loaded. Just cinch it more than they do in the diagram.


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I highly recommend using a double bowline or using a bowline with a Yosemite finish, ver simple as adds way more safety to the knot!


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[Bwhana]

I highly recommend using a double bowline or using a bowline with a Yosemite finish, ver simple as adds way more safety to the knot!


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I am very familiar with the bowline variations, they just not to my liking, but also excellent options. I've gone back to my custom tubular webbing tether and running it the rest of the season. I am sticking with the scaffold knot on a connector for my rappel rope, if and when I use it again.