Beginners climbing guide, hints, tips and general climbing techniques

[Steve Bullman]

10 minutes ago, J7G7 said:

Just an update on the hitch climber, had another few goes with it and finally got it to start gripping with a distal hitch. Well, thats what i liked best. My cord is 90cm is does seem too long imo. So can I just buy a few different 8mm cord cut and just tie double fishermans in the ends or is this not recommended? Thanks. 

Yep, cut and tie away

[AHPP]

Try an English prusik. It's not cool but it'll probably grip.

[AHPP]

Or yeah, cut and tie until a better hitch works.

 

[Dbikeguy]

i found new rope, new hitch cord didn’t grip till i had done a few descents on it to ‘take the shine off’
using a VT it only gripped when i really pushed it up to set it. couple of climbs and descents and it grabs nice now

[MattyF]

Is that rope xtc ?? Try 8mm liros or if you can find any 8 mm armour prus

[MattyF]

Another thing to remember is with a vt you will get a bit of sit back if tied long ... it looks like the hitch is not gripping but it’s just the knot stretching to stop.
As rich said though once you have the habit of dressing the hitch (pushing up) sorted it becomes second nature and you don’t even notice doing it.

[J7G7]

21 hours ago, MattyF said:

Is that rope xtc ?? Try 8mm liros or if you can find any 8 mm armour prus

Thanks, yeah I believe it is Yale XTC. Hopefully get some armour prus to try!

[MattyF]

Armour prus is good and worth the money , liros is cheap and works well with XTC but but you can burn it out on one climb...

[stihlmadasever]

I ll 2nd what matty said about liros.

Its very grippy but very easily glazed,so if you like fast decents its best avoided

[J7G7]

Thanks for replies guys, I appreciate it and will try a few different cords out. 

 

On another note but I'm sure and often asked question, how can I feel more comfortable in the tree? I've only been properly climbing a few months and working with guys who have 10+ years experience (and they have been brilliant, helpful and reassuring) just sometimes I feel like a bloody idiot! It really is all just in my head I'm just hoping after a year or 2 i'll be flying around the tree. Did anyone else experience this starting out?