I see in the comments below that some people have suggested alternative ways to achieve the same goal. I think your method is superior to teach to new students because it is quick and easily learned and something they can do on the fly in a tight situation. I know from years of sharing the things I've learned in life with my kids and friends that you start simply and then build on that. So to sum it up. Your method is the best because it achieves the goal of introducing the newbie to how to tie a ridge line and they can walk away with that skill in minutes.
Thank you for your kind words. As you know, there are many ways to teach the same concept. My goal is to provide students with effective, easy-to-learn methods that they can master. I then encourage them to adapt these skills to fit their personal learning styles and natural tendencies. Under stress, people tend to revert to what they can do automatically. If a student hasn't truly internalized a skill, they may struggle to apply it effectively in challenging situations. Many people make it about themselves and not the student. Nice to see that there are others out there that understand. Thank you again. Chris
Thanks for your video Just saw on the Dave Canterbury the BEST ridge line vid, shows how you can save a lot of time and energy on the truckers hitch Saving you having to feed the line through.
Good morning, and thank you for your comment. I do appreciate many of the principles Dave teaches on ridgeline construction, particularly his work with toggles-they're great timesavers. When working with new students, however, especially those who may deploy into the field, I focus on methods that work consistently in any weather conditions and require minimal skill. For more advanced students, I introduce more nuanced techniques, as they have the experience to recognize problems and can adapt quickly, even under stress.
@@SurvivalU Thank you That make sense The last part of that specific video he does, makes it really really simple. Simpler than current truckers hitch. Especially if there is a long line.
@@poerava Would you mind sharing the link to the video you're referencing? I'd like to see what you're seeing. I know his technique has evolved a bit over the years. Thank you!
@@SurvivalU No probs. Yeah it was a surprise to see his use of the last part of the truckers hitch. Super helpful with long rope and the locking hitch ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AwvefCletaY.htmlsi=PAKmJ2z43qo1kgji
Hi Bill. Are you thinking of the slip loop being used in a different application then shelter ridgeline? In this video, the context of the slip loop is for a shelter ridgeline. I've tied hundreds and hundreds of these, and not once, has the knot failed to come undone.
In the old days, here in the U.K., truckers tying down a load did not tie a loop in the standing part, they simply twisted it 2 or three times and used the resulting loop. Under tension this held perfectly but simply fell apart when the tension was released. I have used the same system to lash a canoe to the roof of my car on many occasions. I have also seen but not tried a self-locking trick where the trailing line is passed through the loop, twice, this locks as it comes under tension but, again, falls apart as tension is released.
Hi and thank you for the question. We've found that this method is easy for students to remember under stress, easy to untie once loaded, and strong - especially when a shelter is exposed to inclement weather conditions.
Personally, I would use a Bowline knot on the tag end and use a bite and a toggle to secure it. I would use bank line to make Prussics for attaching the tarp with toggles. And the line would be hanked, pulling from it as needed. That way, when you make your Truckers hitch at the other end, you can just pass the hank through the loop. And, you can insert that hank in the last loop and cinch it down as a lock. With a little practice, you can create the slip loop for the Truckers hitch with one hand and one motion. Credit goes to Sean Kelly of Corporal's Corner. He didn't create the ridgeline line but this is how he uses it and where I learned it.
Hi Tony, Thank you for sharing your thoughts. When teaching students, I prioritize simplicity, especially in high-pressure situations where recall can be challenging. That's why I focus on a minimal set of knots. Among them, the Figure-8-on-a-Bight stands out for its ease of tying under stress, its robustness compared to other loops, and its simplicity in untying even when under load. (My ridgeline hank is pre-tied with a Figure 8-on-a-Bight and three bank line prusiks.) While I use the toggle and bight method to connect to the first attachment point, I've reconsidered its suitability for beginner students. The potential risk, where the entire structure could fail if the toggle fails, is a concern. To ensure safety for both the responder and the patient, I've shifted away from teaching it to beginners. I go for a strong toggle and bight setup, sometimes using a big glow stick as the toggle for better visibility and durability. Also, I have bank line prusiks already set up on my ridgeline, but I save that trick for the more advanced students, so I don't overwhelm the beginners. I've spent quite a bit of time watching Sean Kelly's and Dave Canterbury's videos, trying out different approaches, and eventually landed on what really clicks for me and my students. Thank you again and best regards.
First. Your first anchor point. A timber hitch easier, does not leave tight knot….don’t know why you tied eye then pulled rope through????…there is any number of better ways to secure first anchor point…..second. For light tension/ small rope the truckers hitch will suffice. But. Heavy tension/small rope the friction of tightening especially para cord or common store cheap rope will cut rope. A grapevine hitch is better for your application … truckers hitch used by truckers to secure loads is larger more durable rope. 1/2,5/8,3/4 powerbraid or even polypropylene or sisal. What y’all need remember. When looping rope or cable in a bite you are cutting its breaking strength by 1/2. That is why when rope and cable are braided with eyes, Clevis support for the bite. A bowline is the most versatile ,most usable knot.
Thank you for your feedback. Ensuring the safety of students and first responders is our priority. While we acknowledge that there may be better methods for specific purposes, our experience shows that the ridgeline system for emergency shelters we teach strikes an optimal balance, ensuring quick and secure application even under stress and adverse weather conditions.
