(This post is about hanging a large tarp)
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The key to this comprises three main factors:
(1) a taut ridge line
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(2) two corners on opposite sides being lower than the other corner on that side
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(3) the 'long' side being taut
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(1)TAUT RIDGELINE
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The first end uses a loggers (doo-dah - can't remember correct name). This is the first time I have seen this very easy way to secure the 'first' end of a ridgeline, without fear of it being difficult to undo. The knot of choice for this - for me - has previously been the evenk thingy - but I will be using this in future until I get a good reason to change my mind:
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Doing the other side is a bit more complicated but the big advantage is that the knot frees up easily when you are taking down. As Steve said above it is - in summary - a half sheepshank and a carabiner, and is a variation of the trucker's hitch.
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The final knot looks like this (a bit unfortunate that I cut off Paul's head but - "You know it makes sense":
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You get there by:
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Starting as if you were going to make a sheepshank (I knew about a sheepshank but didn't know how to make one and this is something I need to practise)
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Then you put a stick through the 'half-sheepshank' that you have created (to stop it coming undone):
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After that you put a carabiner through the un-sheep-shanked end. The following is an action picture so the carabiner is a bit blurred:
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Next you put the end of the rope that is round the tree (being the end without the logger's thingy knot) through the carabiner. A big advantage over the trucker's hitch is that you don't have to thread a load of rope through
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And so when you pull the vertical rope to the left (in this example), and tie it off, you get:
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The technical bit is (I think - but stand to be corrected) is that you have created a pulley (as with trucker's hitch) but the existence of the carabiner means that there is less friction and so the mechanical advantage (still with me? - I'm not - or should that be 'knot'?) of 3:1 is more easily achieved.
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A big plus point over the normal trucker's hitch is that the knot is very easy to undo with no jamming. I use a DD tarp tape for my ridgeline and I generally find it easy to undo but even that can be a bit awkward when the knot is tight and wet (ooh -err) but this method removes that problem.
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I think that the rope Paul used was 11mm static (ie does not stretch) kernmantle rope. I am advised that 9mm would be ok.
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So that approach gives you a taut ridgeline.
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Next is .......
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(2) THE TWO CORNERS ON OPPOSITE SIDES BEING LOWER THAN THE OTHER CORNER ON THAT SIDE
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This is very simple to do - you just have to remember to do it
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In this picture you can only see three corners but it should be enough for you to get the idea.
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The final bit is ....
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(3) THE LONG SIDE BEING TAUT
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This is achieved simply by making sure that the four corner posts are angled outwards when you tighten the guy ropes:
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Paul showed us this special technique for when the posts aren't angled outwards enough - you just stare at them in a weird way.
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To help adjust the position of the post you use this simple 'knot':
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(Apologies for it being a bit blurred - but that's how it looked to me after the previous night's 'refreshments'.)