Timber hitch at basal anchor

[Carteeni]

Is there anything wrong with using the tail of the rope in a timber hitch around the base of the tree for SRT. I have climbed on it and it works obviously. But is there some safety reason or anything why company’s such as ART make base anchors? If there some sort of reason such as the timber hitch would work itself free over tue course of the climb?

[Ledburyjosh]

A timber hitch is not suitable. It has the potential to work its self loose.

 

A running bowline with a good back up knot is probably the best to use.

 

The base anchors you can buy seem pretty pointless to me. A running bowline is ample.

Edited February 23, 2023 by Ledburyjosh

[Carteeni]

Thank you, Il use that from now on, I have been climbing with a timber hitch as a base anchor (I’m new to SRT) could have ended badly 

[Mick Dempsey]

Even I can see that’s a bad idea

[Ledburyjosh]

45 minutes ago, Carteeni said:

Thank you, Il use that from now on, I have been climbing with a timber hitch as a base anchor (I’m new to SRT) could have ended badly 

No harm came of it so your all good.

 

Ask away with anything your unsure on, there is no stupid question when your learning.

 

That video shows the bowline and back up knot but it is not in the running bowline configuration.

 

Do you know what is meant by a running bowline?

Edited February 23, 2023 by Ledburyjosh

[Stephen Blair]

Always thought it best to have separate sling, rope attachment to the tree with a friction hitch to the climbing line with enough rope on the ground for a groundie to lower the climber down in emergencies.  

[Ledburyjosh]

6 minutes ago, Stephen Blair said:

Always thought it best to have separate sling, rope attachment to the tree with a friction hitch to the climbing line with enough rope on the ground for a groundie to lower the climber down in emergencies.  

That would only work in such a small very precise set of scenarios that it seems not worth the faff and extra rope on the ground.

 

For example, an injury to a climber is most likely to occur when cutting or just after. So they should have a 2nd point of attachment. If they are injured to a point where they can't get themselves down. There are unlikely to be able to remove the 2nd point of attachment. And therefor cannot be lowered by the ground staff. 

Even if they could be lowered it would require a pretty straigh descent and clean rope line to so there is no friction to prevent them coming down through rope drag.

 

Add in 2 ropes to that and it's a fairly futile setup.

 

A good concept but flawed in reality.

[Ledburyjosh]

Cutting the base tie would probably get them down quickly. No extra kit required

[Joe Newton]

19 minutes ago, Ledburyjosh said:

Cutting the base tie would probably get them down quickly. No extra kit required

A good compromise is to tie an alpine butterfly above the base anchor, that way if the situation called for it you could clip another line into the butterfly and cut the line beneath it

[daltontrees]

A timber hitch cinches better around a stem (when pulled form above) than a running bowline does. Add a stopper knot to it and there's no way it will work loose.