Author Topic: Pocono Hitch, Texas Twist  (Read 1821 times)

JRB

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Pocono Hitch, Texas Twist
« on: November 04, 2022, 01:44:26 AM »
Team,
See attached images displaying a toggled hitch and a variant.  My team of tree climbers is already using these in canopy anchor applications and simply looking to know if there is a name for it. 

I will attempt to provide both and attached image plus a URL to each:
Pocono: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2v9qhlzcqu057dd/pocono.png?dl=0
with Texas Twist: https://www.dropbox.com/s/fcpcxafsoy4ov7b/texas.png?dl=0

Referring to ABOK, I could not locate a match.  ABOK #1867, #1919 and 1920 displays the Toggled Bight, which are similar but different.  #1494 is the Sling or Strap Toggle.  I could find nothing under the sections for hitches.  In our discussions a year ago on the (similar) 'Saddle Hunter's Hitch', I came to the conclusion that ABOK was written before the proliferation of the modern carabiner, and therefore is missing much of this type of work.

It is constructed with:
 1. a secure end loop (a figure 8 end loop is used in the photo, but could be any secure end loop), passed around the host tree trunk
 2. the strands of the end loop are separated, and the load strand passed between them
 3. A carabiner is inserted as a toggle, capturing the two sides of the loop, locking it in place. Optionally, the carabiner could be a part of the system itself.

Note that in the 2nd photo, before insertion of the toggle, the load line and one side of the loop are twisted 180 degrees and the toggle captures the load strand and one side of the loop.  This variant has a bit more friction and stability and is preferred by some.  Additional twists could be added, in one or both sides of the loop, in the same way that Ashley describes 1920 as more secure than 1919.

In terms of features, it is easy to attach, is easy to cinch into place, adequately secure and stable to climb on, and relatively easy to move its position up or down on the trunk without disengaging.  It also places no inappropriate load on the carabiner, which is acting only as a secure toggle. It is manually set and retrieved and useful for climbers who set a 'tether' connection to the tree, as either a primary or backup lifeline, used in conjunction with a wide array of climbing methods.

Given the similarity to the Toggled Bight, if I found it in ABOK, I would have expected this to be called the "Toggled Loop" or something similar.  If it has a name, please let me know.  If it needs a name... well ... given the origin of the creator, he suggested: the "Pocono Hitch". The variant ... well, that came out of the creativity of a (famous and private) gentleman in the state of Texas, and so I suppose it might be the "Texas Twist" variant of the Pocono Hitch.  I am happy to get your opinions.

This video was uploaded just today:

thanks as always,
jrb

 

anything