Methods of climbing

[Rentachimp]

I climb with a blake's hitch or Vt on my main rope, main anchor on a cambium saver, and have a short strop with Vt.

 

I also use a second rope in large trees and, when chunking down, I clip the main rope to my side d's and the strop to my leg loop d's (see TreeFlex), so I have 2 anchor points and a long line for descent.

 

I also keep a petzl pirana in case i need to rappel!

[Log-ologist]

I had a new student start today. The college he attends no longer teaches double ending the rope. As they did with a previous student 4 years ago . They now teach the use of a prussic loop rather than the 3 knot system as the basic method. The college frown upon the use of spliced ends rather they ask the students to tie a bowline and stopper each time. ( they forgot to say it needs to be untied before you pull the rope out the tree, with usual hilarious results) I did not mention the blakes hitch to him as I have no idea how to make one, nor do i want to know. It will be interesting to see what they show him in the future as I will get him to ask lots of questions.

[Lancstree]

Try the knut ( no misspelling). It takes a little practice to tye but usually moves effortlessly up the rope and grips a treat. As with any knot you can add wraps to make it bite more. I reckon the knut is as good as or better than the icicle, martin and distel as a simple climbing hitch

[bill]

i use a blakes and sometimes a vt with hitchclimber. i always use my wirecore flipline as i find it doesnt wrap around branches as easy as a rope lanyard.

[Marc]

Try the knut ( no misspelling). It takes a little practice to tye but usually moves effortlessly up the rope and grips a treat. As with any knot you can add wraps to make it bite more. I reckon the knut is as good as or better than the icicle, martin and distel as a simple climbing hitch

 

I've gone back to the knute, as my new rope is hockling bad with a VT, got a lot of love for a well tied knute the fact it isn't finished with braids means it does'nt hockle/twist my rope so bad.

[vduben]

i use a blakes and sometimes a vt with hitchclimber. i always use my wirecore flipline as i find it doesnt wrap around branches as easy as a rope lanyard.

im the same but sometimes use my wire strop off my center d's when needed as a short secondary anchor

[gezz]

keeping it simple is the best way to be.i use both ends,one prusik and one blakes hitch.forever watch other climbers with too much shiney gear weighing them down.the advantage of the blakes is it can be adjusted accordingly if you need to be closer in or longer for thrusting.i used to carry aditional lines and pulley system.no need.old school rules!

[MattyF]

Vt for me and lanyard somtimes a longer lanyard set up as a sorta separate climbing line...im finding the vt irittating at the moment as it keeps self tending any slack at height wich can be a pain in the arse on tip work its good points are more than the only bad i can think of...but i would love to try a spider jack didnt think the lock jack was to perfect!

[Log-ologist]

keeping it simple is the best way to be.i use both ends,one prusik and one blakes hitch.forever watch other climbers with too much shiney gear weighing them down.the advantage of the blakes is it can be adjusted accordingly if you need to be closer in or longer for thrusting.i used to carry aditional lines and pulley system.no need.old school rules!

 

Everything has its place. Its good to know many methods even if you only use one. Somedays its nice to "pull one out the hat" when everyone on the ground says thats impossible.

[Deb]

They taught us to use both ends of the rope with prusiks, and have a lanyard for when needed. It works fine for me, but then I don't do as much climbing as you guys (yet!)