Tarp Pole Question

>Any tricks for resisting slippage of the hitches?

Instead of a clove hitch, try a Prusik knot. This is a very grippy knot; I use it with my too-long trekking poles to hold up my cape and tarptent. You might want to put a single wrap of duct tape or climbing tape (or wrap a bunch for emergency use) around the pole in the general area of the knot to help it grip, but the cord with a Prusik knot should be sufficient.

i made my own poles using parts from questoutfitters.com. i made two poles that are 54 inches each out of three 18" .433" dia easton aluminum poles for about $20 total. you can cut the individual sections to make the exact length you want. i used the larger dia poles because they flex very little even under a lot of weight. i was able to pitch a kelty 12×12 cat tarp pretty tightly with just these two poles and some guyline. not sure of the actual weight, but they are very light, far lighter than trekking poles and cheaper that the gg poles. check it out!

I've always found clove hitches to grip well enough on their own.

That is using carbon fiber poles though, which have "ribs". Aluminum might be a different story, but give clove hitches a try before adding duct tape.

I went ahead and purchased the Gossamer Gear pole set after some testing of my own. I was able to find some tent poles of the same diameter…clove hitches do slip under minimal weight. Some tape easily stops this, even while REALLY pulling down. I'm now just concerned how the tape will last over the long run with moisture, etc.
I'm thinking a more permanent solution to tape would be wrapping some rubber bands (the small ones for braces) every three inches or so on the upper pole, then coating them with resin/epoxy.
Thanks for the responses everyone, I think I've got it figured out now.
~Craig

>I'm thinking a more permanent solution to tape would be….

Probably unnecessary. I polished up the shaft on an aluminum trekking pole so it would be nice and slippery, and tied a Prusik knot in Kelty Triptease Lightline. The Prusik was modified to be three wraps instead of two (a common modification). The knot did not slip with all of my weight on it (actually, the pole began collapsing).

I then tied the same knot on a 3/8" Easton 7075 aluminum tent pole (Tarptent), and it took all the weight I dared to put on it without slipping (didn't want to break the pole).

It appears that nothing other than a (three wrap) Prusik knot is necessary. Of course, a bit of candle wax or something on the cord (done once) would be even more grippy. I polished the shafts and used fresh cord to make a worst-case test.

As a rock climber I'm very familiar with the Prusik, I'm just not sure how I'd use it in this application.
1. It requires doubling the guyline into a large loop, effectively halving the length. I don't personally know of a Prusik that can be tied without first making a large loop/doubling your line.
As far as what you're describing, I can see how this would work with a pole inserted into a grommet (although I suppose it still halves the length of your guyline).
2. As my tarp has no grommet on the guyout, I have to tie the line to the tarp, run it a few inches to the pole (in a slightly upward direction), and then down to the stake. I'm not seeing how a Prusik would work here.
I appreciate your input- not trying to be overly critical of your advice Douglas, I'm just wondering if I'm we're understanding each other (I know much is lost in translation and description when writing on the web).
Thanks,
Craig

>’m just wondering if I’m we’re understanding each other

Oops, we weren’t. I use my trekking pole like a tent pole: I use a mitten hook Prusiked (short loop) to the pole to clip the grommet or a short loop of cord tied into the guypoint, and the guyline runs straight to the ground as usual. You’re using your pole in typical tarp mode, which also explains why you chose the clove hitch. You’re right: a big Prusik loop wouldn’t make much sense. I suppose you could make a short-loop Prusik and run the guyline through it, taking a turn or two to keep the pole from slipping along the guyline. But that would allow the guyline to shake a bit more than desired.

The Prusik will still work, though. I did the same tests again with the two ends coming out of the Prusik going in opposite directions. It held just as well. So you could simply replace the clove hitch with the Prusik; no need to form a loop with the two ends. (Note: this technique not approved by The Mountaineers for use with climbing rope ;)

However, I’m sure you chose the clove hitch because you can just drop it over the pole in approximately the right location. The Prusik doesn’t lend itself to that approach. However, I’m sure you’re also familiar with the Klemheist. This held as well in these tests as the Prusik (again, one more turn than normal), and it can be easily made in a ‘drop-over’ version. (Make a simple drop-over girth hitch, then take a few turns of the inside cords around a finger; drop over the pole and dress.) The Klemheist also works fine with the two ends leaving in opposite directions. I recommend having the top part tension the loop; it seems to also lock the lower part somewhat.

YMMV, but my aluminum poles bowed without any knot slippage, at least with the cords I tested.