{"id":9913,"date":"2023-09-14T17:13:41","date_gmt":"2023-09-14T22:13:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/richard.rathe.org\/?p=9913"},"modified":"2023-09-14T17:15:19","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T22:15:19","slug":"treehugger-hitch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/2023\/treehugger-hitch","title":{"rendered":"Treehugger Hitch"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

This is an idea I\u2019ve been incubating for some time as a non-destructive \u201cplace anywhere\u201d alternative to nails in trees<\/em> or breaking branches to hang things on. Shown here is my first successful field test! It is tied using a short stick<\/em> or similar object found locally. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Treehugger
Treehugger Hitch v1<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nThe main flaws with this implementation are the stretch in the second reef knot<\/em> and the tendency for the loops to converge<\/em> allowing the hook to turn sideways.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After some experimentation I think I’ve improved on the initial design in Version 2<\/em>. The main difference is making the loops around the stick more constrictive<\/em> so they slip less. I also eliminated the need for the first reef knot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\nFind the middle of the rope and loop it loosely around the tree at least two times (three is best<\/em>). Then tie it temporarily<\/em> with a half surgeon’s knot. Note that the middle of the rope hangs down<\/em> to attach to the bottom of the stick!\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Treehugger
Treehugger Hitch Step 1<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Step 2<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\nWrap the lower loop<\/em> around the base of the stick at least twice<\/em>. Adjust its position by sliding more or less rope through the surgeon’s knot.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Treehugger
Treehugger Hitch Step 2<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Step 3<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\nUntie the surgeon’s knot<\/em> without disturbing what you’ve done so far. Wrap the stick about a quarter of the way from the top as follows: a) Take the first rope and wrap it twice below<\/em> itself as shown here.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Treehugger
Treehugger Hitch Step 3<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Step 4<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\nb) Now wrap the second rope twice above<\/em> itself. This will leave you with loose ends on opposite sides<\/em> of the wraps. Tie these two ends together with a reef knot<\/em> or your equivalent of choice.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Treehugger
Treehugger Hitch Step 4<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Step 5<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\nAt this point you may adjust the “lay” of the hook<\/em> buy twisting the stick and working the rope. This will be easier of you put a light load<\/em> on it. Any excess rope will hang down out of the way.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Treehugger
Treehugger Hitch Step 5<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Step 6<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\nOnce the hook is stable, you can load it up with gear and even packs!\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Treehugger
Treehugger Hitch Step 6<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Step 7<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\nAnd you can hang your hat on it!\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Treehugger
Treehugger Hitch Step 7<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Summary of Steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\nWrap the tree from the front<\/em> with the first loop (middle of the rope) slightly longer. Tie loosely with a half surgeon’s knot<\/em>.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Treehugger
Treehugger Knot Schematic 1<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nWrap the longer (middle) loop<\/em> around the bottom of the stick.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Treehugger
Treehugger Knot Schematic 2<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nUntie<\/em> the surgeon’s knot and wrap one rope below<\/em> and the other above<\/em>.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Treehugger
Treehugger Knot Schematic 3<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nTie the two ropes with a reef knot<\/em>.\n<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Treehugger
Treehugger Knot Schematic 4<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\nNote the minimal number of wraps are show above for visual simplicity. In practice I recommend wrapping the tree three times, and the upper stick twice with each rope (four turns total).<\/em>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is an idea I\u2019ve been incubating for some time as a non-destructive \u201cplace anywhere\u201d alternative to nails in trees or breaking branches to hang things on. Shown here is my first successful field test! It is tied using a short stick or similar object found locally. The main flaws with this implementation are the … Continue reading “Treehugger Hitch”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[268,409],"tags":[532],"class_list":["post-9913","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-camping","category-how-to","tag-knots"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9913","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9913"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9913\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9920,"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9913\/revisions\/9920"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9913"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9913"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9913"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}