What % of Climbers do you think...

[samsquatch]

I started climbing in 2014 ( age 26 ) and was trained using a Blake’s hitch on a closed system. I climbed like that for 2 years and then progressed to a hitch climber system. After another 2 years I bought a wrench and started to learn SRS. Now (6 years later) I’m using mechanicals. It was a long hard journey that’s for sure.

If you can climb a 160’ tall Douglas fir spurless with just a flip line and a closed Blake’s system to prune and deadwood to the top, no ascenders, then my hats off to you because that’s how I learned and there’s absolutely no way I’d go back to that crap. It is nice to know I can get out of a sticky situation with just a rope though.

I know some great climbers who are very skilled with a split tail system and hitch climbers. They are just too old school to progress and don’t want to spend the money on new age gear because they believe so much in how they were taught and won’t change. These guys are also pretty beat up with joint and back pain it makes me sad.

That said, I think everyone should learn the old ways from the ground up to be knowledgeable in rope access.

Sums up my sentiments, too. I never learned a blakes, I started right away with the Unicender. In fact, if you asked me to pretend my mechanical broke and to descend a crotch with just a rope, I would be reaching for my e2e or runner to tie a klemheist.. did I just realize that I don't know how to descend a rope with just the rope?
knowing me, I'd be googling how to tie a blake's hitch while bleeding out up there...

Working from a base tie was a big deal for me.

+1 on the basal tie also. Isolating crotches was such a PITA waste of time.

 

[samsquatch]

Which brings up a similar question that has come up to me from time to time: Which hitches are reliable enough to descend on an SRT rope in an emergency, and can any of them be tied with the tail of the line?
Most of them will lock up, so I'm curious to see what you folks can come up with.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

In the early part of my SRT discovery I spent months trying to find that Holy Grail hitch/rope combination. At the time, mid-80s, there weren’t as many cord/ropes available. None would work reliably for ascent and descent without something else to give friction.

If someone finds that combo it would likely take the market from the Rope Wrench. I don’t see this as a likely event.

 

[DSMc]

You can down-climb almost any hitch that will hold your weight on a single stationery line. This would not be a good plan for getting down in an emergency.

 

[Extreme tree man]

The only way to Climb is with an ART with a swivel anything less is caveman climbing

 

[SomethingWitty]

In the early part of my SRT discovery I spent months trying to find that Holy Grail hitch/rope combination. At the time, mid-80s, there weren’t as many cord/ropes available. None would work reliably for ascent and descent without something else to give friction.

If someone finds that combo it would likely take the market from the Rope Wrench. I don’t see this as a likely event.

You haven't seen the pushback that hitch-only srt systems get from most climbers.
There are a couple that are pretty decent performers.

 

[StaySafePNW]

Which brings up a similar question that has come up to me from time to time: Which hitches are reliable enough to descend on an SRT rope in an emergency, and can any of them be tied with the tail of the line?
Most of them will lock up, so I'm curious to see what you folks can come up with.

A munters hitch around a caribiner on your bridge would be a good emergency belay technique to practice.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

You haven't seen the pushback that hitch-only srt systems get from most climbers.
There are a couple that are pretty decent performers.

Oh, I’ve heard plenty of pushback. LOL

At one time SRT tree climbers were considered heretics and loonies. That attitude has toned down over the years

What hitches work? Take some time to share details

 

[SomethingWitty]

Oh, I’ve heard plenty of pushback. LOL

At one time SRT tree climbers were considered heretics and loonies. That attitude has toned down over the years

What hitches work? Take some time to share details

I'm surprised at you. Let me go find the thread where @Brocky listed them.

 

[Brocky]

The Synergy X, Oval VT, Sticht, and the Matt Cornell, if a stiff hitch cord and very short legs are used, are the ones I know.

 

[Mowerr]

Ya I always like that Cornell hitch for both drt and srt.

 

[SomethingWitty]

The Synergy X, Oval VT, Sticht, and the Matt Cornell, if a stiff hitch cord and very short legs are used, are the ones I know.

Thank you.
I got lost in the forums while I was searching for the list.

 

[samsquatch]

@Brocky @SomethingWitty But don't those require a hitch cord? My main objective is to see if we can find a reliable hitch to descend an SRT line in an emergency with just the tail of the line.
Sorry to the OP for the threadjack.

 

[SomethingWitty]

@Brocky @SomethingWitty But don't those require a hitch cord? My main objective is to see if we can find a reliable hitch to descend an SRT line in an emergency with just the tail of the line.
Sorry to the OP for the threadjack.

The munter is already the king of that realm. It's quick, well tested, requires only a carabinier, and can be applied one handed (with practice).

 

[Brocky]

Munter is good as long as you can keep a hand on the rope. For an end of the rope friction hitch you have to make sure your rope will cooperate. Most static ropes might be too stiff for the hitch to grab. The two hitches below can be used to descend on a stationary line. 16 strands and Marlow’s Aeris were the only ropes of the few types I have that were flexible enough to hold. The Knut H seemed to be the better of the two.

 

[Basswood]

I climbed on a closed system for the first time a week ago. I actually liked it; mainly the simplicity and I like a larger, bulkier friction knot.

 

[Tony]

Some of you all are throwing around terms like closed system and open system... What do you mean?

Tony

 

[samsquatch]

Some of you all are throwing around terms like closed system and open system... What do you mean?

Tony

I am not positive on the terminology either, but I believe closed system to be MRS where you tie the Blake’s with the tail of the rope. And clip harness in to the loop. Slight variations to this being split tail, or a mechanical hitch.

 

[RyTheTreeGuy]

My understanding is that a closed system is as mentioned...a single piece of rope that is hitched to the climber and then the tail is hitched to the rope in a MRS with a blakes, tautline, etc. A open system is when you add in a split tail, hitch cord or other device....at least that is my understanding??

 

[StaySafePNW]

My understanding is that a closed system is as mentioned...a single piece of rope that is hitched to the climber and then the tail is hitched to the rope in a MRS with a blakes, tautline, etc. A open system is when you add in a split tail, hitch cord or other device....at least that is my understanding??

Correct, with a closed system you would need to lanyard in, then un-tie your friction knot to progress your system higher, and re-tie the knot. Makes you get really fast at tying a Blake’s or tautline, but extremely slow when progressing an ascent to your final TIP.