Page 82 - Nate Fitch, Ron Funderburke "Climbing Knots"
P. 82
Extensions and Tethers:
The Girth Hitch
When the extended belay loop configuration is not
an option, climbers may need to use any number of
other materials to create an extension or a tether.
A shoulder-length sling, for example, is too short to
basket through the harness and then tie an overhand
knot. Similarly, the extended belay loop may still be
too short to allow the climber to stand up straight at
a cliff’s edge. In these contexts a climber may elect to
use a girth hitch. However, the girth hitch should be
used with great caution. In failure tests it can behave
erratically. Sometimes slight twists or rotations of the
hitch can drastically reduce the material strength of
the tether, up to 75 percent in some cases. Usually
these applications are not a concern because climb-
ers are applying only low loads to the hitch (body
weight), or they are using the hitch simply to back
The girth hitch can be used to attach a personal
tether, but the tether will not have the same essential
properties as a belay loop. It is weaker and not
redundant.
Using the Rope to Manage Risk 69
