HH2 Hitch Length

Scratch said:
I also use the standard HH hitch, and bend the line over to get the 2" spacing when weighted. I'm using 9mm RIT as well and have no problems.
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Thanks.

I'm using exactly that cord with Vortex, and am learning what I can about SRT ascent methods, and trying to decide on a system to try. I've done footlocking for a few weeks off and on (with an HH2, which I'm satisfied enough with to not feel a desire to try a rope wrench), and would like to try other methods...rope walking in particular.
 
ugh... I tried footlocking once... can't get the hang of it. I have the SAKA mini and CT quickstep now. World of difference!
 
Scratch said:
ugh... I tried footlocking once... can't get the hang of it. I have the SAKA mini and CT quickstep now. World of difference!
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Oh I'm sure you are better than me. There is no way I qualify as having the 'hang' of it. I just mean I understand the mechanics of it, more or less.

Rope walking looks super slick/easy, and I'd love to be able to climb trees in the yard without spikes (recreational, and to get to limbs eventually) and without needing to install a friction saver, so that's the reason for going down this path. I'm trying to figure out what the minimal amount of equipment one can get by with, as well as the most versatile equipment (which type of ascenders, for instance).
 
@LordFarkwad
I used this combo all last season, Vortex but with 9mm Rit.
Worked best for me after trying other hitch cords.
Trick with getting you hitch dialed in is to tie it as tight as you can and then while you're still on the ground bounce on it using your weight.
This will work the stretch out of your hitch cord and then you can re-tie your knot further up.
 
dsptech said:
@LordFarkwad
I used this combo all last season, Vortex but with 9mm Rit.
Worked best for me after trying other hitch cords.
Trick with getting you hitch dialed in is to tie it as tight as you can and then while you're still on the ground bounce on it using your weight.
This will work the stretch out of your hitch cord and then you can re-tie your knot further up.
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What method of ascent were you using, dsp?
 
@LordFarkwad
SRT with a home made holster for my HH2 to tend with.
I've tried Armorprus 9mm, and Epicord 9.3mm before going with the 9mm Rit.
The Rit runs smooth on Vortex and doesn't glaze as bad when bombing down.
The 9mm hitch cords run better on 1/2 rope as thick as Vortex is.
The 8mm cords tend to bind up more as the day goes on and especially when dirty.

You'll get better with practice with tying the hitch using your weight on it.
After a while I found I would get the hitch too tight where it becomes a chore to tend.
Would have to stop and loosen it up a bit.
 
LordFarkwad said:
Side question: besides tying stopper knots in climbing rope on the way up, is the only other way to really have a backup to use a mechanical ascender? In other words, does anyone actually use a friction hitch as a backup somehow?
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It dawned on me that I use a hitch as backup while ascending. A chest ascender pushes up a SRT Hitch. The ascender gets taken off the rope when at the top, and then just use the hitch.
 
Brocky said:
It dawned on me that I use a hitch as backup while ascending. A chest ascender pushes up a SRT Hitch. The ascender gets taken off the rope when at the top, and then just use the hitch.
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Cool. So the hitch is tied with a longer strap to your harness than your main anchor, so that your weight is never on the backup hitch? Do you use an HH2 as well?

I'm actually going back through several old threads where you are detailing a rope walker setup you were using - double bungee, or something like it. That seems like something I'd like to try out, but without a chest harness, and with a long and short foot loop (using two mechanicals), instead of a foot ascender.

Has anyone made a rope walker setup double bungee style, using only Gibbs ascenders, or something like that? I'm looking and trying to consider all the devices that'd work with my rope (vortex). HH2, a backup of some kind - mechanical or otherwise, as Chisholm demoed in the Stihl pro tip video - and two mechanical ascenders for the foot loops, advanced by bungees, interconnected or whatever other options. I'm assuming the HH2 would be lanyard tended, but maybe that could be hand tended, I don't know.

Obviously, my thoughts on this are muddled, so I'd welcome any input, no matter what the timbre/spirit of it.
 
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A foot ascender is a fairly essential piece of kit when it comes to SRT climbing. You can wear it the duration of your climb and it is very easy to engage and disengage. Short ascents can be accomplished very efficiently with just a foot ascender. Very very simple and clean.

An ascender with a foot loop and lanyard to your main connection point compliment a foot ascender very well and will act as a backup. A hand ascender is ideal but you can also set up a loop of cordage at the top of your ascender (somewhere other than the main cam) and advance it with your hand. Does this make sense?
 
You’re right how it’s set up, but I don’t use the HH2 with them. I use that separately, by itself.

The original Double Bungee Ropewalker system used two Gibbs, one attached with footloop and the other used a longer loop to float it near the knee. I used two of Petzl’s hand ascenders for my first ropewalking system.
On Rope is an excellent book about the history of SRT systems. Your local library might have it, or they might be able to get it from another.
 
therianclimber said:
A foot ascender is a fairly essential piece of kit when it comes to SRT climbing. You can wear it the duration of your climb and it is very easy to engage and disengage. Short ascents can be accomplished very efficiently with just a foot ascender. Very very simple and clean.

An ascender with a foot loop and lanyard to your main connection point compliment a foot ascender very well and will act as a backup. A hand ascender is ideal but you can also set up a loop of cordage at the top of your ascender (somewhere other than the main cam) and advance it with your hand. Does this make sense?
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Yessir, I'm tracking, I think. The only things with a foot ascender that seem like negatives are that the loading is on the side of the foot rather than straight under it (seems like it's hot very ergonomic), and it can't be used for anything else, the ones I've seen at least; they are just foot loops, and that's all, forever. Not huge show stoppers, for sure.

Brocky said:
You’re right how it’s set up, but I don’t use the HH2 with them. I use that separately, by itself.

The original Double Bungee Ropewalker system used two Gibbs, one attached with footloop and the other used a longer loop to float it near the knee. I used two of Petzl’s hand ascenders for my first ropewalking system.
On Rope is an excellent book about the history of SRT systems. Your local library might have it, or they might be able to get it from another.
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Got a copy of that in my Amazon cart. Keeps coming up as a source. Will check it out.

So you just use the HH2 for descent and work positioning?
 
If I’m using the chest ascender and hitch, the HH2 isn’t used. Likewise, if using the HH2, the hitch and chest ascender aren’t used. The Oval VT hitch I use can be used to descend, unlike most other hitches.
The chest ascender pushes up the hitch when ascending, so another type of tender isn’t needed. There’s no sit back with it, and when not in use it is still a part of the suspenders to hold up the harness, don’t have to take off and store on harness if not in use.
 
LordFarkwad said:
Yessir, I'm tracking, I think. The only things with a foot ascender that seem like negatives are that the loading is on the side of the foot rather than straight under it (seems like it's hot very ergonomic), ?
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The side loading is not an issue in my opinion. I don't think I've ever noticed it at all. One thing I'd suggest is to wear boots with it though. The day I got mine I tried it out with tennis shoes and ended up with a big bruise on my ankle for a few days.
 
LordFarkwad said:
Yessir, I'm tracking, I think. The only things with a foot ascender that seem like negatives are that the loading is on the side of the foot rather than straight under it (seems like it's hot very ergonomic), and it can't be used for anything else, the ones I've seen at least; they are just foot loops, and that's all, forever. Not huge show stoppers, for sure.
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A properly installed foot ascender does not side load the foot. If it's nice and snug it loads the inseam of you leg, much like a spur does. Rope walking technique requires all components to be in-line to function well. This is why an upright body position drastically improves efficiency. While they aren't inherently a versatile piece of gear, the webbing on most models may be removed to allow the use of a compact ascender (Kevin Bingham built a sweet knee ascender out of an old Pantin). I understand your hesitation with a sole purpose device, but I wouldn't dismiss the foot ascender as an excessive piece of gear. Just my two cents :).
 
Scratch said:
The side loading is not an issue in my opinion. I don't think I've ever noticed it at all. One thing I'd suggest is to wear boots with it though. The day I got mine I tried it out with tennis shoes and ended up with a big bruise on my ankle for a few days.
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Yes! Absolutely wear boots!
 
LordFarkwad said:
... Rope walking looks super slick/easy, ... I'm trying to figure out what the minimal amount of equipment one can get by with, as well as the most versatile equipment (which type of ascenders, for instance).
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The current day rope walking setups are truly amazing, simple and super efficient. There are literally hundreds of combinations of various ascenders, hitchs and bungee configurations that can be assembled and made to work, many work very well. But there is a reason that most climbers that do this for a living have gravitated to the foot, knee, multisender, combination.

I have no doubt that you can piece a rope walking setup that will get the job done for you but by doing so, you will be facing the obstacles that go with trial and error. You already have the HH2, getting a foot and knee ascender that has been proven to work, could save you some headaches and frustration.
 
DSMc said:
The current day rope walking setups are truly amazing, simple and super efficient. There are literally hundreds of combinations of various ascenders, hitchs and bungee configurations that can be assembled and made to work, many work very well. But there is a reason that most climbers that do this for a living have gravitated to the foot, knee, multisender, combination.

I have no doubt that you can piece a rope walking setup that will get the job done for you but by doing so, you will be facing the obstacles that go with trial and error. You already have the HH2, getting a foot and knee ascender that has been proven to work, could save you some headaches and frustration.
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Ok, thanks allot, man. Is the saka mini pretty much THE way to go on knee ascenders? Do you use a backup like that CAMP Lift ascender from the protip vid? It was being advanced by the chest rig, which I'd like to forego, unless it's an essential piece of the system (it doesn't seem like it tho). I'd like to have a second life support connection to the climbing line that's being kept a few inches, more or less, from it's loaded position tho, so I'm not falling feet before I'm caught. I guess a hand ascender could serve this purpose?

Do most people just leave the foot on and store the knee while at working/rec'ing height?

There have been some really great setups I've seen on here where the foot and knee are connected with cord (bungee or static) and the whole thing can be balled up into the size of a softball. Slick!

I can definitely see where the foot ascender would make the rope less crowded, enabling larger strides that can be taken.
 
Brocky said:
If I’m using the chest ascender and hitch, the HH2 isn’t used. Likewise, if using the HH2, the hitch and chest ascender aren’t used. The Oval VT hitch I use can be used to descend, unlike most other hitches.
The chest ascender pushes up the hitch when ascending, so another type of tender isn’t needed. There’s no sit back with it, and when not in use it is still a part of the suspenders to hold up the harness, don’t have to take off and store on harness if not in use.
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Gotta look that hitch up!!
 
There seems to be two, most referenced, knee ascenders, the SAKA mini and the HAAS. I use the HAAS Velox and it just stays on for the entire climb, clipped in when needed, out of the way but ready when not.

The HH2 on Vortex is bomber, a great setup that needs no backup. If how you are using it does not give you that feeling it most likely not set up properly. Spend a little more time working with it and see what you can do. You do not want to use a backup in compensation for a primary life support tool that is not working as it should.
 
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