Always Looking for a Better Dual Bridge Design. Been binging the JRB Channel.

[Whiteoaks]

I one stick and SRT so a second bridge always comes in handy. This year I’ve been using two fixed length bridges but I wanted a little adjustability sometimes. After watching a lot of videos and learning some of JRBs unique knots I came up with a modified version of his double bridge. I took a 12 foot piece of Samson Predator passed it thru one loop and tied the loose ends on the other loop with a JRB cinch not . I then tied 2 swabisch hitches on each bridge rope and tied them to the second loop with the JRB cinch knot. So far so good. If both swabisch hitches fail my bridge stays in tact and I don’t fall. I’ll keep them both long to throw over my neck walking in to hold my saddle up. Use the short bridge to climb. Once at height I’ll use the longer bridge and connect my tether to my second bridge for redundancy. Seems like a very safe bridge design with built in fail safes.

 

[Iron_llama]

I watched that video a while ago. I'll probably do something similar on my Transformer. I put his LHA bridge on my Mondo this year but the performance degraded after a few hunts - that's likely because I used the stock 10mm XOP ropes and TRC; between the diameters and the super loose jackets it was not a good combination. @Brocky posted a picture of a Knut bridge hitch, which would use about 1/3 the hitch cord of an LHA design.

While the 1-piece design is safer, I really like having each bridge adjust on a different hip - as in, climbing short bridge adjusts on my left, hunting long bridge adjusts on my right, so I can't confuse them. I need to order my ropes, but my current plan is an HTP bridge with 7mm Sterling hitch cord. 1 end of the bridge attached via scaffold knot, and the other end attached with a second Knut hitch. So I'd be able to adjust that bridge from either side.

 

[Whiteoaks]

I watched that video a while ago. I'll probably do something similar on my Transformer. I put his LHA bridge on my Mondo this year but the performance degraded after a few hunts - that's likely because I used the stock 10mm XOP ropes and TRC; between the diameters and the super loose jackets it was not a good combination. @Brocky posted a picture of a Knut bridge hitch, which would use about 1/3 the hitch cord of an LHA design.

While the 1-piece design is safer, I really like having each bridge adjust on a different hip - as in, climbing short bridge adjusts on my left, hunting long bridge adjusts on my right, so I can't confuse them. I need to order my ropes, but my current plan is an HTP bridge with 7mm Sterling hitch cord. 1 end of the bridge attached via scaffold knot, and the other end attached with a second Knut hitch. So I'd be able to adjust that bridge from either side.

After talking to John he’s said he’s thinking about going back to his ascender hitch since it’s smaller. I ordered some chord and replace the swabisch hitches with the JRB Ascender. I like having this setup since it holds even if the friction hitches fail. I order some of the 9.5 ghillie I’ll replace the 11mm predator with. Since I shoot a longbow I do not like hanging at height off the rappel rope and prefer transferring to a tether once at height. Would really like to find a way to make the rappel rope work but for now it’s the tether.

 

[Iron_llama]

Since I shoot a longbow I do not like hanging at height off the rappel rope and prefer transferring to a tether once at height. Would really like to find a way to make the rappel rope work but for now it’s the tether.

I hang from my tether, but leave my rappel rope attached at height, with a foot or so of slack tended in. I've had to bail out in a sudden windstorm before, and I'll always have a ready escape at height. Currently climbing primarily via 1-stick, but adding SRT and 2TC to the mix. Still (slowly) working out the kinks. So I'll probably always run dual bridges.

 

[Whiteoaks]

I hang from my tether, but leave my rappel rope attached at height, with a foot or so of slack tended in. I've had to bail out in a sudden windstorm before, and I'll always have a ready escape at height. Currently climbing primarily via 1-stick, but adding SRT and 2TC to the mix. Still (slowly) working out the kinks. So I'll probably always run dual bridges.

Makes sense. I may try that. I had difficulty on SRT until I shortened my bridge and then it just clicked and became my preferred method. 2TC is beyond my skill level at this point. Haven’t figured that one out yet. I still use rope man and mad rock as well. I’m trying to learn to climb on friction hitches but I find it to be a whole lot more difficult. Best of luck

 

[MattMan81]

What is the dual bridge gaining you around the same side loops? Just curious? I have a second I can deploy on the lower half of my cobra which is more for comfort if needed. Or more weight dispersement if rope climbing. Is it safety or comfort? Does it really help?

 

[MattS304]

What is the dual bridge gaining you around the same side loops? Just curious? I have a second I can deploy on the lower half of my cobra which is more for comfort if needed. Or more weight dispersement if rope climbing. Is it safety or comfort? Does it really help?

I run two fixed length bridges, the long one for sitting on at height and the short one for repelling out of the tree on a Munter hitch which uses a separate carabiner. I might be able to use a single bridge but it’d be awkward.

@Whiteoaks I liked the look of that design better than his current route which uses a Blake’s hitch based secondary bridge. I’m going to do this at some point as well but with 8mm cord and TRC. From what I’ve read TRC has significantly less stretch than “regular” sterling accessory cord which would help keep the hitch compact.

 

[Whiteoaks]

What is the dual bridge gaining you around the same side loops? Just curious? I have a second I can deploy on the lower half of my cobra which is more for comfort if needed. Or more weight dispersement if rope climbing. Is it safety or comfort? Does it really help?

Same as matts304 . Short bridge to ascend and descend. Longer bridge at height plus the second bridge can be attached for redundancy at height.

 

[Whiteoaks]

I run two fixed length bridges, the long one for sitting on at height and the short one for repelling out of the tree on a Munter hitch which uses a separate carabiner. I might be able to use a single bridge but it’d be awkward.

@Whiteoaks I liked the look of that design better than his current route which uses a Blake’s hitch based secondary bridge. I’m going to do this at some point as well but with 8mm cord and TRC. From what I’ve read TRC has significantly less stretch than “regular” sterling accessory cord which would help keep the hitch compact.

I agree. I think the trc will give you a more compact hitch. I had some short pieces of trc I used on my first attempt with a swabisch and tied on the loop with the JRB hitch. This configuration gave me the most compact cinch up to this point. I may change back until I get some longer pieces of trc.

 

[Iron_llama]

What is the dual bridge gaining you around the same side loops? Just curious? I have a second I can deploy on the lower half of my cobra which is more for comfort if needed. Or more weight dispersement if rope climbing. Is it safety or comfort? Does it really help?

Climb on short bridge, hunt from long bridge. If I'm passing branches, each tether is on its own bridge; this way the carabiners are less likely to clank against each other, and I'm less likely to induce a "carabiner confusion" malfunction.

 

[Jokerswild]

Ive been binging JRB during this nasty weather as well. Im leaning however to a simpler design.
I like the way he ties the first end into the bridge with a friction hitch/poachers . I'm keeping that. Finishing the other side with a poachers is smart, or just a stopper knot. .

The longhorn agile is a bit much for the other end. Im thinking of a simple prussic on the other side. BUT- the prussic is a double. one end cinches the rope, the other cinches the bridge loop. See the bridge video on Ape Canyons website. Add a prussic tender and call it a day.

 

[Whiteoaks]

Ive been binging JRB during this nasty weather as well. Im leaning however to a simpler design.
I like the way he ties the first end into the bridge with a friction hitch/poachers . I'm keeping that. Finishing the other side with a poachers is smart, or just a stopper knot. .

The longhorn agile is a bit much for the other end. Im thinking of a simple prussic on the other side. BUT- the prussic is a double. one end cinches the rope, the other cinches the bridge loop. See the bridge video on Ape Canyons website. Add a prussic tender and call it a day.

I’m still fiddling with mine. I went with swabisch hitches for adjusters and may change the other end as well.

 

[Knotorious]

I’m still fiddling with mine. I went with swabisch hitches for adjusters and may change the other end as well.

The Schwabisch (I know, the spelling is crazy, but this is the correct spelling) friction hitch doesn't get a lot of exposure in the tree climbing world (although, it used to) because it's more of an alpine and canyoning hitch.

It is effectly a prusik that has been redesigned by way of an eye to eye hitch cord (versus a sewn or tied loop) to be unidirectional versus omnidirectional like the prusik.

It was first documented in April 1998 in a publication known as Arborist News. Bernd Strasser, an 8 time International Tree Climbing Champion (ITCC), is credited with devising the knot.

The name for the hitch comes from an area in Germany near where Bernd lives. It's a great choice. A reliable choice.

Yes, there are for sure better tending hitches than the Schwabisch, but it grabs reliably every single time.

 

[Jokerswild]

The Schwabisch (I know, the spelling is crazy, but this is the correct spelling) friction hitch doesn't get a lot of exposure in the tree climbing world (although, it used to) because it's more of an alpine and canyoning hitch.

It is effectly a prusik that has been redesigned by way of an eye to eye hitch cord (versus a sewn or tied loop) to be unidirectional versus omnidirectional like the prusik.

It was first documented in April 1998 in a publication known as Arborist News. Bernd Strasser, an 8 time International Tree Climbing Champion (ITCC), is credited with devising the knot.

The name for the hitch comes from an area in Germany near where Bernd lives. It's a great choice. A reliable choice.

Yes, there are for sure better tending hitches than the Schwabisch, but it grabs reliably every single time.

I have the H2 triad. Basically Swaby hitches on amsteel. Im losing my love for amsteel. So im looking around at options.

 

[Whiteoaks]

I like Big Ropes and I cannot Lie. Just like something a little beefier to grab on to.

 

[Knotorious]

I have the H2 triad. Basically Swaby hitches on amsteel. Im losing my love for amsteel. So im looking around at options.

Amsteel is a bit excessive and hitches aren't going to work on it as well as kernmantle ropes of a smaller or similar diameter. Kernmantle ropes maintain their roundness better.

 

[bowhunthard88]

I'm curious as to preferences for legit double bridge setups here? This is not an attack lol, just a question... Are they for climbing efficiencies vs. sitting, or redundancies? I get the concept in rec/work climbs from a positioning standpoint, but what's the preferred advantage (if not redundancy) over an easily adjusted single-bridge setup? I'm in the single bridge camp for hunting purposes, which is why I ask.

 

[Whiteoaks]

I'm curious as to preferences for legit double bridge setups here? This is not an attack lol, just a question... Are they for climbing efficiencies vs. sitting, or redundancies? I get the concept in rec/work climbs from a positioning standpoint, but what's the preferred advantage (if not redundancy) over an easily adjusted single-bridge setup? I'm in the single bridge camp for hunting purposes, which is why I ask.

I like a double bridge for 2 reasons. First I have a short bridge for climbing and a longer bridge at height. 2 bridges makes transition from rappel rope to tether easier. Second is when I feel like having a backup tie in point it’s already there.

 

[bowhunthard88]

I like a double bridge for 2 reasons. First I have a short bridge for climbing and a longer bridge at height. 2 bridges makes transition from rappel rope to tether easier. Second is when I feel like having a backup tie in point it’s already there.

Makes sense! I do hunt off my rappel line, so there's no swapping life-support at height for me to worry about. I climb with mine short, lengthen for hunting, and shorten for rappelling.

 

[MattS304]

Makes sense! I do hunt off my rappel line, so there's no swapping life-support at height for me to worry about. I climb with mine short, lengthen for hunting, and shorten for rappelling.

Do you use the same device for sitting at height as you do for rappel? I rappel off a munter and while I think I could probably do it off the same bridge utilizing a second carabiner albeit with some metal clinking together it’d be harder to attach and tend.

I will say that I haven’t found a need to have my second bridge adjustable yet. It’s just a closed loop of 7mm cord.