One can even suspend from a tapered post (such as a marlinspike) with this knot (hence the name "icicle hitch").

[2] [3] To tie an icicle hitch, bring the working end over the post, front to back, four or five times, working away from the end of the post (and the direction of expected pull).

The Prusik knot can withstand load in both directions, making it ideal for climbing situations.

The icicle, like the klemheist, attaches to the hitched object and coils away from its pulling end, and relies on a constriction like the Chinese finger trap --under pull, the coil is drawn longer and thus tighter; whereas in the Hedden (& rolling hitch) the loading tightens the coil at its far end.

It was published in the IGKT's quarterly newsletter, Knotting Matters, in issue #32 (Summer 1990), pp.6,7.