Passing knots on rope 

Perry, great job! Your video makes me stop and think, "What could go wrong with my climbing rope?" I'll have to add two additional items to my work plan check list: bring an additional prusik & fall arrest device as a self rescue kit in case my climbing rope gets damaged or abraded badly. Arborists are taught to inspect the tree and surrounding area for signs of root damage/rot, hazards such as wasp nests, poison ivy, or electrical conductors, etc. We don't think about passing knots, but you raise an important safety question. I will climb safer because of this video. Much appreciated.

Perry, wonderfully clear video! I do, however, have one suggestion. When you have your weight on the prussik(s)/ascender above the knot you are passing, and you take off the assisted breaking device, you are relying on just the ascender and prussik(s) to hold you. Friction hitches and mechanical devices like ascenders are not to be used alone to support your life without some type of fall arrestor device or system to back them up. The ascender could flip open, the prussik/friction hitch could come loose if pushed from the top or bottom, and then you could fall to your death. A simple solution in both of these circumstances is to tie a catastrophe knot a few inches below the knot you are passing (and below your bottom prussik when passing on an ascent), and clip this into your harness belay loop or hard points. An example would be a figure 8 on a bight or overhand on a bight or clove hitch. Then, if the ascendors or friction hitches fail when your ABD is out of the system and being moved over the knot you are passing, the furthest you can fall is to that catastrophe knot, and you will hang off it, saving your life. Overall, great video, but adding this addition would make it safer. Keep up the great videos, I think they are helping a lot of people!