User:Fireclaims/Load releasing hitch

Load Releasing Hitch

A load releasing hitch, or LRH, is a mechanical device used to belay a rope system, particularly when raising or lowering a loaded rope. The hitch transfers the load to a secondary anchor point to allow for correcting problems with the primary rope, particularly passing knots around the primary rope's braking system. After correcting the problem, the load releasing hitch allows the load to be transferred back to the primary rope system.

The load releasing hitch consists of an anchor, two locking carabiners, a length of rope equivalent to the main line, and a smaller diameter rope forming a Prusik loop.

The larger diameter length of rope is centered on the first locking carabiner, and the two tails are passed through the second locking carabiner to form a Munter hitch. The tails are then wrapped several times around the rope between the two carabiners, passing a bight of rope through the opening at the original carabiner. An overhand knot is tied with the bight and the tails, then finished with a double figure eight knot on the tails. The Prusik loop is clipped to the original carabiner until the load releasing hitch is needed.

John (talk) 05:10, 11 December 2009 (UTC)