knots for pulling up saplings

One of the problems with pulling up saplings with a lever or pulley system is getting the rope attached to the base of the trunk.  there is a tendency for the rope to strip the bark.  Once it has started there is almost nothing that one can do.

I have a solution to this now, and interestingly it involves knitting rather than knots.

the first thing is the tie a knot at the bottom.  Normally one is using a long loop of rope, since you need to hook it onto the pulley or lever.  so the first knot is the simple loop through the loop knot.  Pull it tight.



from here it is knitting up the stem.  No idea the knitting term, but it is basically working up, round and under.  this can be continued up the stem. Pulling tight as you do it. 

the theory is that the rope grips at multiple points up the stem so that the total force can be a multiple of the force just less than the stripping force. 

You need a surprising length of rope to do this. 

If it starts to strip at one point it will soon stop as the other points take up the strain.

The advantage of knitting is that the rope does not lock, and is very easy to undo at the end of the operation.

Martin