I came across a similar knot to this one, but it was implemented as a girth hitch; I simply extended it to a prusik hitch and then started thinking about how it might be useful - the ol' solution looking for a problem.

IT IS OF COURSE FOR NON-LIFE SUPPORT APPLICATIONS.

This is it adjusted to near full length:


And of course the 'heart' of the foot loop or sling as shown here (although difficult to see in the pic) is the 2 wrap prusik:



Here's a shot with it in minimal length:



I'm sure there are several ways to tie it but the way I did was to form a 2 wrap prusik and feed the main loop through the prusik. I haven't tried it out yet so if you get a chance to let us know how it works.

I think one use for it is as a long foot loop for a Yo-yo and then if you switch to a DRT setting you can adjust it for a shorter foot loop. Kinda takes a lot of prusik cord, but that's cheap and requires no hardware for a widely adjustable foot loop.

Wow, thats pretty cool Ron. I see how the whole thing could be Prusik'd onto the climbing line. It would be like an adjustable Triple Crown. I see that as a great option for facilitators.

Hmmm, I hadn't thought about that, but that might prove to be a great application - good thinking.

I like how that works and if you combine it with these modifications we will have a winner.

1. attach the loop to the down rope with a non-locking biner bent on with a Bachman bend (like a klemhiest but around a biner) it never gets stuck no matter how hard it is used; it just slides up when you push it.

2. substitute the double fisherman knot to bend the two ends together with a Blake's Hitch near the two-wrap prussic so you can shorten the length like magic.

3. slip on a 6" long length of old hose or tubing where the foot loops go around your shoe. semi rigid makes easy on and off and cleaner cord.

See you at the top,
Dan

Any knot~knerd worth his continuous filament can see that's an alpine butterfly bend.

Great additions Dan.

It's funny, I was just showing Ron the Backman about a week ago. It's what I used to first ascend a rope. Great knot! Under utilized I think.

Good thoughts!

Regarding #2, I'm not a fan of the fisherman's bend. No doubt it's a very secure, strong knot, but it jams with loading and continued use. I have yet to see one that I couldn't untie, but I have seen some that took quite an effort. Plus they are difficult to adjust if you needed to adjust the size of the loop a bit. To me they're more trouble than they are worth.

I've been using butterfly and Zeppelin bends in prusik cord for quite a while and once they are loaded, they become secure, although admittedly not as secure as the fisherman's, but since I tend to make loops and adjust them for different needs, I prefer a bend that's easier to untie. Right now, I'm leaning toward the Hunter bend in pursik cord. It seems pretty secure once 'hardened' and is still easy to adjust and untie.

Also, Hunabku's thought of an 'adjustable triple crown knot' is clever. As shown in the pics this configuration could be used as a single or double foot loop, similiar to the triple crown, except of course, this is adjustable.

Is that the handled Bachmann you mean? That is a great one, I was taught it for self rescue, got to be careful not to grab the handle while ascending on it though.

That's the way I was taught it by Bruce Smith (On Rope 1).

How do you mean Ron? Did I contradict Smith? Or did you mean that you learned the same knot that I knew with the caribiner handle?

No, you didn't contradict Smith; I was agreeing that you shouldn't grad the handle while ascending, and seems like Smith emphasized not to use the biner as a handle to advance the hitch.

I never much liked the Bachman because it required a biner and like the Klemheist (sp ?) it puts twist in the rope strands. But maybe the Bachman needs to be "revisited'.

Great post Ron,

I've used something similar to this in life support applications for many years. These are often known as Purcell prusiks and are used as adjustable cowstails/daisy chains in rock climbing and rope access.

I used a double fisherman's bend in place of the alpine butterfly bend.

For tree climbing, it is often part of my loaner SRT rig. I either use it at an adjustable foot loop or an adjustable tether/cowtail for an ascender. The adjustment is nice when loaning equipment to others as the climber can alter the length mid-climb.

The funny part is that when I learned it, I wasn't aware of the don't grab the biner prohibition. I couldn't figgure it out, i was thinking that it simply didn't work. Once I figgured that out I loved it, when prussicing it's quite fast, as it tends to not lock up. I'd certainly revisit it if I weren't so set in my ways!

Thanks for the update Ron, you had me worried for a sec!