what is wrong with climbing old school?

mattbc

mattbc

Location
NH
I have been climbing for some time and have tried new stuff but I always go back to the basics,bowline for my biner with a long tail for my blakes. I like it 'cause it keeps it simple. Some guys don't like trying new stuff . That is their right but at a comp this year I realized something. If any tree climber was called in to help another climber out of a tree we need to at least understand how there system works. Climb on what you like, I do. But at least learn how the other guys set up works.....not meant to be preachy, just something I was thinking.
 
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whats wrong with flushing a stump with an axe?

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I guess it is all about what you can do with that ax.
 
It doesn't seem like a right or wrong debate to me.

As for me any friction hitch that allows for faster rope management, easier slack tending (if any at all), faster decents, smooth swings/jumps to one work station to another, etc... is worth learning and applicating into a work solution.

A blakes hitch doesn't allow for all of those points.
 
Matt,

Knowing when to use a basic or advanced technique is a good skill.

Rather than using a bowline to tie your biner the current Z133 requires a cinch-type knot. Bowlines are fine for captured eye snaps or biners. If you use a bowline there is a chance that the biner will rotate, catch on something and result in a cross-loading of the gate. Even a short fall could cause the gate to break out.

My preference for a traditional [I don't use old-school] tie in is to use an anchor bend. The tail of the rope exits perpendicular so that the AB isn't twisted open. It's really easy to tie and you can slip the biner out to get a bit of slack when it comes time to switch rope ends.
 
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...but at a comp this year I realized something. If any tree climber was called in to help another climber out of a tree we need to at least understand how there system works.

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Good point, if you're doing an in-tree rescue you need to quickly figure out the victim's system, which may be every different from what you climb on. Especially with many climbers integrating SRT into their work systems, the way to bring them down may not be obvious.

I'm interested in seeing more discussion about SRT rescue beyond lowering the climber from the ground. What if the climber is unconscious on a cinched running bowline SRT system? If they're on a RADS you're good to go, their descender is already inline. Pretty challenging though to climb up and look at some weird SRT configuration you've never seen before and make the right move.
-moss
 
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i'm a big fan of the split tail system, un clip re crotch re clip, seems easy to me...

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yea its the same thing with my hitchclimber set up or any other eye and eye setup...thats not exclusive to just the split tail system
 
I agree, know systems that other people use, it mite save lives in speed of recovery of someone. I know alot of 'old school'! climbers & feel most @ ease if they on the ground lookin up @ me climbing because they have the raw climbing talant that with a little know how of newer systems are willing to use all know how to aid the speedy recovery of somone in need of it..
 
how many climbers are really climbing like George Jetson? I borrowed this climbers saddle ( A ameri mexican ) brand new , he had all the bells and whistles ,he didn't know what his 300 dollar saddle had with it . Owner bought it for him . I just needed a lift to crane tie a sling , he couldn't ring a bell or blow a whistle or climb stairs . Border line crime whats going on , I'm glad I'm old school and know all about the new school . Split tail is an advanced climbing method , shame on you new schoolers. Sell that gear baby thats what it is all about . Sell and buy , if you die someone will cry . next...
 
to each his own when it comes to climbing styles and what gear is or isnt used. theres pros and cons to every system. It depends on what pros you as the climber like, and what cons you are willing to deal with.
 
I think the only way to be classified as old school is to be climding on a 3 strand rope with a rope saddle using a tught line. If you can smoothly and effiecently use this system my hat is off to you but you are old school.

Kevin
 
I use a split tail with a Blakes hitch and I tie a prusik up high on the standing part of the working end with a pulley bridged over below the Blakes to advance the knot, then I footlock the tail and when I get to the top I am ready to work without switching systems.The pulley really helps with limb walking returns.
My choice termination is a double fisherman loop on both carabiners.
When I decend I go slow and enjoy the ride and control the friction

I don't know if that's old school or knot, but it works.


pray for a good crop but keep hoeing
 
I learned to climb on the old school system. Just a bowline for attachment then a version of a tautline hitch that is a little different. That system worked really well for me for about 1 and a half years, then got introduced to the split tail system. I was using that for a little while but still had faith in my original system. But I did hate advancing the knot without a slack-tending pulley, so i eventually incorporated that in my system and improved my limb walking greatly.
These days its been all about the split tail system. I recently bought the hitchclimber pulley and have had great results with that system. It is way easier to recrotch using the split tail system and find it the same with the hitchclimber . But was never very easy to recrotch with the traditional system.
Change is good, but I will always go back and forth, kepping old school methods fresh.
 
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