Garda Hitch on HH with no modifications

[Just Jeff]

So I wanted to use the Garda Hitch on my HH, and I wanted the rings to be underneath the tarp, and I didn't want to make any permanent mods to the hammock, and I wanted everything to be in one piece so I wouldn't leave anything at the campsite...and I figured out one way to do it.

http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeGearHHGarda.html

Might have to test this one out in the field!

Comments? Improvements?

[steene]

There were no pics at all. Just thought I'd let you know.

[Just Jeff]

Hrm...the website seems to be running slow, but they both showed up for me. Try refreshing, or right-click and "show picture" and see if that helps.

[hangnout]

That is a great way of keeping the rings under the tarp and not cutting the stock line. It would be easy to transfer the rings to the biner if the distance between trees was too long to double the line up.

[rasputen]

Looks good. I've had my eye on that Garda Hitch every since it was first posted. I like it! Think I will use it on my sons hammock...

[slowhike]

i'll have to come back to this (interesting). i can't get jeff's site at all right now.

[bredler]

THAT'S EXACTLY THE KIND OF SYSTEM I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR!!!!!

I wanted to set my hammock up knot free, but was skeptical about hitchcraft and didn't want to have to make the jump to strapping. I'll give this a try for sure.

[affreeman]

Originally Posted by Just Jeff

So I wanted to use the Garda Hitch on my HH, and I wanted the rings to be underneath the tarp, and I didn't want to make any permanent mods to the hammock, and I wanted everything to be in one piece so I wouldn't leave anything at the campsite...and I figured out one way to do it.

http://www.tothewoods.net/HomemadeGearHHGarda.html

Might have to test this one out in the field!

Comments? Improvements?

Could you simply clip the rings into the carabiner -- or connect them to the biner with a short length of cord -- and then use the hammock suspension cord to tie the garda hitch into the rings? Or am I missing something fundamental?

Also, what do you do in the case where the tree hugger straps are not long enough to circle the tree? With the standard Hennessy lashing I can simply span the gap with the suspension line.

Finally, how do you release the Garda hitch? Do you leave the line through the loops and simply loosen it or do you unthread it entirely.

[Mrprez]

No, the rings have to be held tightly together on the opposite side of the Garda hitch. Using the short cord would work though.

You don't even need the carabiner, you could leave that off if the straps don't reach all the way around. Then loop the suspension rope through both ends and back down to the rings.

With the carabiner you don't have to undo the garda hitch, just release the carabiner and remove the straps from the tree.

[affreeman]

Originally Posted by Mrprez

You don't even need the carabiner, you could leave that off if the straps don't reach all the way around. Then loop the suspension rope through both ends and back down to the rings.

That would be true with Just Jeff's method where the rings are tied to the end of the hammock line. The possible issue I see with this is that doubling the hammock line back on itself means you reduce by approximately half the amount you can shorten the line, giving less flexibility in the spacing between trees when hanging the hammock.

The modification I was thinking about, connecting the rings to the biner with a short line and using the hammock line to tie the garda hitch, would eliminate that issue, but removes the flexibility of being able to run the cord through the tree huggers in the case where the tree hugger doesn't circle the entire tree.

Maybe this is all obvious but I am trying to work this all out in my head.

Also, I know nothing about climbing gear. What would I need to buy for the rings and the carabiners?