Hitch Hiker

[DSMc]

[ QUOTE ]
I will ask again,Just curious how easily is SLACK TENDED compared to a rope wrench set up or uni?

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry, Jimmy, I meant to reply earlier but got side- tracked.
I have used all three, and they do have similarities but there is also enough differences that I would not be too quick to lump them together.
To me, the Hitch Hiker is more like the Uni in that if kept in line with the rope with a top attachment or when used as a top ascender there is almost zero friction. They both tail smoothly when pulling up to tend slack as you would with the RW/Hitch-climber but really not as well. So if this tailing motion is ingrained in your climbing style, you will probably feel most comfortable with the RW.
When held upright by the top hole nothing will self-tail better than the Uni.( Well, the Jacks will but I don't use them for SRT.) Self-tailing can become a pain sometimes and the Uni has no way to control this.
I am not a fan of the pull down then lift up tailing style of the Hitch Climber. It is using energy in the wrong direction. So for me, both the Uni and HH fit my climbing style better.
Of those two I think the Hitch Hiker is a better overall tree working tool because there is more to do than just going up and down the rope. It does it all.

David

 

[Crazy_Jimmy]

Thats funny Adam because I have a really full toolbox,full of stuff I dont use.I purchase the uni in 2010 and its needed to be re built since 2010.Just a ton of stuff I dont use maybe I should sale some of it.Thanks for everyones reolis regarding my question.

 

[OldMillTreeCare1]

Hi guys. I've been using a ZK1 since February and got a HH two weeks ago. I'm loving it and I'm sure it suits my style best but I'm still struggling slightly in two areas advancing the HH up the rope.

1: While I'm on the Pantin using the sit/stand for short ascents.
Do you grab the Oxan under the HH to push the HH up or do you grab the bottom of the HH and top of Oxan together?
I found the latter doesn't always release the Oxan from the rope.
I did find that clipping the chest strap on to the harness ring advanced the HH instantly and the rope self tailed. Brilliant. I'll try the new Cobra loop tomorrow.

2: Coming in from branch walks.
A RW/HC requires rope tending by pulling up on the tail which I always thought to be ergonomically inefficient. The HH doesn't have a roller which means pulling the tail up doesn't always work as the Oxan sometimes stays locked on.
Grabbing the Oxan to push the HH up works perfectly but is often awkward to get my hand in place.

Has anyone figured out a slick technique yet?

 

[TonyK]

Here's a couple of pics of my ascending setup. I took the rope walker from my RW setup and grafted it over. The shorter tending loop works well.
A helmet cam would be a good thing...

 

[bonner1040]

So the Futura is attached to your harness and a footloop? And then you use a Pantin as well?

 

[DSMc]

Nice, clean set up, Tony. I use something very similar but with a few changes. I really prefer to not have the cammed ascender tethered to my harness due to its capability of damaging the rope from even a small fall. That and I use a shoulder strap for advancing the HH.

Light weight, simple, safe and efficient...thank you Hitch Hiker.

Dave

 

[pctree]

Tony, I like your whipping to indicate how to tie your hitch length.

I am a little surprised that you guys still buy Kong products......

Supposed to be raining tomorrow so hopefully I will have some time to work on making an advancing tether to go along with the unit.

 

[bonner1040]

I only use the Futura as a rope grip. I wouldnt put my life on it regardless of the manufacturer, due to the way it works and the lack of a cam lock.

I dont agree with the way Kong handled themselves, but it is the best ascender available for the purpose in my climbing system.

 

[TonyK]

Hey fella's


Hi Nick, yes, the Kong ascender has a B/U tether to my bridge, this was so for the RW in the case of sitting back or worse fell back and the hitch wasn't set properly. Not really required with the HH due to the way the hitch is tendered in a set position by the HH. And correct Pantin right foot.

I am a newby to climbing Dave and when I first started was self taught so it was all about B/U. I have read a fair bit on ascenders and rope damage, shearing force and cover damage etc and now understand that a cam ascender is not the ideal thing to use as a back up in a system. As for mentioned, I don't need the back up as such now as I am confident in my tech and the HH. At some stage I'll splice up another foot loop out of Tenix without the B/U.
The neck or shoulder lanyard IMO would be the better choice as it tends the HH square to the body. I've used my CE lanyard over the shoulder in this fashion. I found the tether from the Kong on a long ascent slowly works the HH and hitch around 30 odd degrees, no biggy just requires a little resetting.

Hey Paul, the whipping just lets me know what the min tie is to be with in the 2" max. Last week I ordered a Petzl hand ascender to replace the Kong but It didn't arrive before the weekend. I have a SRT ascender that works well but its a bit clunky and industrial.

Thanks for the feed back fella's all noted.
No acsender B/U
Neck lanyard to advance.

PS. Has anyone else noticed their ropes taking on an oval shape that can be felt even when running the rope through your hands? This is a reasonably new length of Tachyon and seems to be developing a memory to remain oval? I don't see it being a problem just wonder what the thoughts are?

 

[moss]

[ QUOTE ]
...I used the Maxim 5mm cord as well. I love that stuff, its strong, stiff, durable, and really thin. I used black electrical tape to make mine and as such was able to make the eyes very tight. As a result of the tapes inherent flexibility when you squeeze the biner through the eyes they grab it nice and tight and it never rotates or slips.

[/ QUOTE ]

Excellent, I'll figure out a way to tighten the eyes up.
-AJ

 

[pctree]

One thing that I should probably include in the instructions is when you first start using the HH you should go ahead and order some 10mm Beeline . I am getting about 2 months out of my hitch cord but I tell ya what when it starts loosing its grip it does so fast. I dont think this is a hazard as it happens over a few days but as soon as you notice that hitch creeping when you bounce on it you only have 2 more days to replace cordage..... This came to mind last Tues as we had a big poplar removal and I had forgotten again to replace the cord. Kinda spooky at 90' dangling on a rope and creeping downward.......

 

[LandMime]

Single Jack you said:

"The foot loop is a simple BlueWater 3ft loop sling binered to the saddle ring (not the HH). The hand loop is a BlueWater 2ft loop sling girthed to the advancing wire loop on HH."

I'm not sure I understand.

If the left foot loop is attached to your saddle how does it boost you up when stepping? There has to be a connection from above the saddle to the HH, right?

Sorry, I can be a bit thick.

 

[scrat]

has anyone tried 8mm beeline or any other hitch cord with the HH yet????

 

[Erlend]

Using ocean polyester 10 mm

 

[pctree]

I have tried pretty much every hitch cord out there when doing the R&D on the HH. 8MM Beeline works OK but is too grabby IMO so doesnt release as well when you ascend.
I didnt like OP 10mm, found it didnt grab as consistantly as the Beeline.

Hands down the best cordage I found was 5/16 TVP by AllGear with a 1/4 filler. It had a very reliable grab and because of the 1/4 filler releases great, it was almost like a mechanical device. Big problem was it only lasted 2 weeks and when it lost its grip it lost it fast.....

 

[atlantaclimber]

this thing looks awesome. where can i order it from pctree?

 

[Adam_P]

Todd, I'm using 8mm armor prus on imori with mine. 5/0 vt. I'm 6' 215.

 

[oceans]

Adam, you forgot to list the measurement of you PYTHONS!!!

I'm 6'4", 200 lbs., 14" pythons, without gear, and have had nice results with 8mm OP on Tachyon. That supple hitch cord sets every time. 7 wraps...

 

[Colin]

OK folks,
I simplified things a bit. Check this out. I use a Metolius Monster daisy chain (rated) or Sterling's Chain Reactor (14kn) for both my tether and footloop. This allows the HH to act as a handled ascender without the toothed cams. I advance with a Pantin and footloop. Great for extended limbwalks and if I want the HH closer to my bridge, then I just lanyard in and clip the HH back to my bridge.

Here is a link to a utube video that I made.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhjrvBKo5Z8

 

[Adam_P]

LOL Eric

Donny, do you unclip the whole daisy chain when you bring the HH back in? Or do you leave it on and just stow the footloop part out of the way somehow?