Platform climbing - hitch vs mechanical

[JMMack]

For those using a climbing platform, are you using a tied hitch or mechanical device?

Seems a bit more challenging to use a hitch.

Maybe I’m doing something wrong.

Thanks

Jason

 

[Islandshooter]

For those using a climbing platform, are you using a tied hitch or mechanical device?

Seems a bit more challenging to use a hitch.

Maybe I’m doing something wrong.

Thanks

Jason

I use a mechanical when climbing, but my short tether and my linesman belts both have self tending (tiny) figure 8’s that make it just as easy as the mad rock. Just pull the tail as you ascend. I’m sure the guys on here can explain it better, im just a little rusty on the nomenclature. Good luck and be safe.

 

[JMMack]

I use a mechanical when climbing, but my short tether and my linesman belts both have self tending (tiny) figure 8’s that make it just as easy as the mad rock. Just pull the tail as you ascend. I’m sure the guys on here can explain it better, im just a little rusty on the nomenclature. Good luck and be safe.

So you use a tether and lineman’s when platform climbing?

 

[Islandshooter]

So you use a tether and lineman’s when platform climbing?

No, sorry if that was misleading. I use my rappel rope when climbing, either with a One-stick or with multiple sticks. Using a trekking pole, i push the rope up the tree as far as i can, so when climbing i take out all the slack (with the mechanical). But, using a self tending hitch (distal or swabisch) allows for one-handed manipulation as you climb. You just need to push the tether up high enough to maintain as little slack as possible.

 

[BowhunterXC]

I used to use my Summit Viper platform with a 9mm rappel rope and a Madrock Safeguard, until the Madrock started slipping. Then I switched to a Longhorn Agile Hitch for a while, but that hitch, as good as it is, eats up a lot of space. So, I switched to a Distal Hitch and still use it for ascending.

I use a Black Diamond Rocklock carabiner and a Munter Hitch for rappelling. This has been a great transition, as it has no mechanical device to fail.

Madrock:

Longhorn Agile Hitch:

Distal Hitch:

 

[JBDCPA]

Here's my long drawn out diatribe - I have an Osprey Lean Ascent climbing platform.

If I use a regular 8' tether with a Ropeman ascender, I can scurry up a tree like I have monkey paws. The downside is when it's time to come down I have to get my 40' of rope out and transfer to it with my Grigri+. Two things here 1) if something bad happened while on a regular 8' tether, you'd have to have a plan to transfer over to a rappel rope with nothing to stand on. 2) one more rope to fool with just trying to hunt.

I tried to use a long pole to get my rappel rope really high and then just climb while taking up slack with my Grigri+ with each move. In theory it sounded great. I didn't like hauling a pole out into the woods but most importantly I found it hard to climb with a climber platform that way. With an 8' tether your girth hitch around the tree is never higher than arms reach. I can make two moves taking up slack and move the tether up after two moves.

Think of it this way - with an 8' tether at arm's height (we'll say 2 1/2' above your head) think of the angle created at the point of the tree and tether. Probably at least 30* maybe even closer to 40-45*. Now imagine using a pole to advance that rappel rope say 20' up and how much more acute that angle is at the point of the tree and rope.

However your pole got your girth hitch situated 20' up is what your stuck with. That small of an angle makes it hard to stay off the tree and advance, plus if the hitch isn't oriented the way you want you're kinda at the mercy of which way it wants to take you when you put all of your weight into the saddle. It's doable but I found it more trouble than it was worth.

The lesser of all the evils is to use your rappel rope like a tether all the way up and down, safer to boot. The draw backs to this for me are it's harder for me to advance a rope up the tree with a quick link than without and a quick link will sag a bit more before it really catches and holds the tree, then you take out slack one more little time. As hard as it is to advance a rope with a quick link UP a tree, it will fall if you breathe on it so I use a tether locker. A tether locker is one more step advancing up a tree and one more step to remember to unhook it before coming down. Makes it very hard to retrieve your rope. Ask me how I know .

 

[JMMack]

I used to use my Summit Viper platform with a 9mm rappel rope and a Madrock Safeguard, until the Madrock started slipping. Then I switched to a Longhorn Agile Hitch for a while, but that hitch, as good as it is, eats up a lot of space. So, I switched to a Distal Hitch and still use it for ascending.

I use a Black Diamond Rocklock carabiner and a Munter Hitch for rappelling. This has been a great transition, as it has no mechanical device to fail.

Madrock:
View attachment 122731
Longhorn Agile Hitch:
View attachment 122732
Distal Hitch:
View attachment 122733

Ya the LA hitch definitely takes up room. I like the distel I’ll have to try that. When I do use my Madrock on occasion I tie knut hitch above it. Makes repelling difficult because you gotta tend the Knut but it’s good to know you have backup.

What are you using for girth hitch around tree?

 

[JMMack]

Here's my long drawn out diatribe - I have an Osprey Lean Ascent climbing platform.

If I use a regular 8' tether with a Ropeman ascender, I can scurry up a tree like I have monkey paws. The downside is when it's time to come down I have to get my 40' of rope out and transfer to it with my Grigri+. Two things here 1) if something bad happened while on a regular 8' tether, you'd have to have a plan to transfer over to a rappel rope with nothing to stand on. 2) one more rope to fool with just trying to hunt.

I tried to use a long pole to get my rappel rope really high and then just climb while taking up slack with my Grigri+ with each move. In theory it sounded great. I didn't like hauling a pole out into the woods but most importantly I found it hard to climb with a climber platform that way. With an 8' tether your girth hitch around the tree is never higher than arms reach. I can make two moves taking up slack and move the tether up after two moves.

Think of it this way - with an 8' tether at arm's height (we'll say 2 1/2' above your head) think of the angle created at the point of the tree and tether. Probably at least 30* maybe even closer to 40-45*. Now imagine using a pole to advance that rappel rope say 20' up and how much more acute that angle is at the point of the tree and rope.

However your pole got your girth hitch situated 20' up is what your stuck with. That small of an angle makes it hard to stay off the tree and advance, plus if the hitch isn't oriented the way you want you're kinda at the mercy of which way it wants to take you when you put all of your weight into the saddle. It's doable but I found it more trouble than it was worth.

The lesser of all the evils is to use your rappel rope like a tether all the way up and down, safer to boot. The draw backs to this for me are it's harder for me to advance a rope up the tree with a quick link than without and a quick link will sag a bit more before it really catches and holds the tree, then you take out slack one more little time. As hard as it is to advance a rope with a quick link UP a tree, it will fall if you breathe on it so I use a tether locker. A tether locker is one more step advancing up a tree and one more step to remember to unhook it before coming down. Makes it very hard to retrieve your rope. Ask me how I know .

Good assessment, I agree.

The quick link is a pain in the butt. Lots of fooling around I guess no matter what you do.

Just want to eliminate as much slack as possible is the goal right?

I do like seeing the girth hitch in front of me where I can see that it’s cinched tight - peace at mind guess

 

[BowhunterXC]

Ya the LA hitch definitely takes up room. I like the distel I’ll have to try that. When I do use my Madrock on occasion I tie knut hitch above it. Makes repelling difficult because you gotta tend the Knut but it’s good to know you have backup.

What are you using for girth hitch around tree?

It's called a Maverick Hitch and you'll find it's one of the hitches that is on the JRB Tree Climbing channel on YouTube, along with the Maverick Pole. It is a simple extendable pole, one of which I purchased off of Amazon that reaches 18.5' and collapses down to 4.5'. It has a paint roller that has the roller rod bent into a "C" shaped hook to apply the Maverick Hitch. You can watch all of it on YouTube.

The Maverick Hitch is an "exploding" hitch that can be retrieved from the ground. It starts at the 4 minute mark.

 

[Black Titan]

Here's my long drawn out diatribe - I have an Osprey Lean Ascent climbing platform.

If I use a regular 8' tether with a Ropeman ascender, I can scurry up a tree like I have monkey paws. The downside is when it's time to come down I have to get my 40' of rope out and transfer to it with my Grigri+. Two things here 1) if something bad happened while on a regular 8' tether, you'd have to have a plan to transfer over to a rappel rope with nothing to stand on. 2) one more rope to fool with just trying to hunt.

I tried to use a long pole to get my rappel rope really high and then just climb while taking up slack with my Grigri+ with each move. In theory it sounded great. I didn't like hauling a pole out into the woods but most importantly I found it hard to climb with a climber platform that way. With an 8' tether your girth hitch around the tree is never higher than arms reach. I can make two moves taking up slack and move the tether up after two moves.

Think of it this way - with an 8' tether at arm's height (we'll say 2 1/2' above your head) think of the angle created at the point of the tree and tether. Probably at least 30* maybe even closer to 40-45*. Now imagine using a pole to advance that rappel rope say 20' up and how much more acute that angle is at the point of the tree and rope.

However your pole got your girth hitch situated 20' up is what your stuck with. That small of an angle makes it hard to stay off the tree and advance, plus if the hitch isn't oriented the way you want you're kinda at the mercy of which way it wants to take you when you put all of your weight into the saddle. It's doable but I found it more trouble than it was worth.

The lesser of all the evils is to use your rappel rope like a tether all the way up and down, safer to boot. The draw backs to this for me are it's harder for me to advance a rope up the tree with a quick link than without and a quick link will sag a bit more before it really catches and holds the tree, then you take out slack one more little time. As hard as it is to advance a rope with a quick link UP a tree, it will fall if you breathe on it so I use a tether locker. A tether locker is one more step advancing up a tree and one more step to remember to unhook it before coming down. Makes it very hard to retrieve your rope. Ask me how I know .

Regarding the part about carrying the pole, have you considered setting paracord presets? I do this for SRT and when i get to the tree, I hook my paracord to the end of my rappel rope and pull it up and over/around the trunk, and back down. You can then disconnect the paracord and put it through your quick link, notch, or sewn eye and pull it all the way up the tree. Major downside to this is that you need to have prior access to the property to set the preset.

On pulling the tether locker, you can do this from the ground if your tether locker is installed correctly on your rope, and the whole thing will come right down.



I put mine on the quick link itself, but you can also girth hitch the tether locker to the rope behind the knot.

BT

 

[JBDCPA]

Regarding the part about carrying the pole, have you considered setting paracord presets? I do this for SRT and when i get to the tree, I hook my paracord to the end of my rappel rope and pull it up and over/around the trunk, and back down. You can then disconnect the paracord and put it through your quick link, notch, or sewn eye and pull it all the way up the tree. Major downside to this is that you need to have prior access to the property to set the preset.

On pulling the tether locker, you can do this from the ground if your tether locker is installed correctly on your rope, and the whole thing will come right down.

View attachment 122783

I put mine on the quick link itself, but you can also girth hitch the tether locker to the rope behind the knot.

BT

Technically we're not allowed to leave anything overnight.

 

[Black Titan]

Technically we're not allowed to leave anything overnight.

Ahhh that makes a difference then. That stinks.

BT

 

[JMMack]

It's called a Maverick Hitch and you'll find it's one of the hitches that is on the JRB Tree Climbing channel on YouTube, along with the Maverick Pole. It is a simple extendable pole, one of which I purchased off of Amazon that reaches 18.5' and collapses down to 4.5'. It has a paint roller that has the roller rod bent into a "C" shaped hook to apply the Maverick Hitch. You can watch all of it on YouTube.

The Maverick Hitch is an "exploding" hitch that can be retrieved from the ground. It starts at the 4 minute mark.

I’ve been messing with the blood good hitch and I seem to like it. I don’t know i personally want to be tying a hitch from scratch in the dark

 

[JMMack]

Regarding the part about carrying the pole, have you considered setting paracord presets? I do this for SRT and when i get to the tree, I hook my paracord to the end of my rappel rope and pull it up and over/around the trunk, and back down. You can then disconnect the paracord and put it through your quick link, notch, or sewn eye and pull it all the way up the tree. Major downside to this is that you need to have prior access to the property to set the preset.

On pulling the tether locker, you can do this from the ground if your tether locker is installed correctly on your rope, and the whole thing will come right down.

View attachment 122783

I put mine on the quick link itself, but you can also girth hitch the tether locker to the rope behind the knot.

BT

What’s that little keeper/locker gadget ?

 

[Black Titan]

What’s that little keeper/locker gadget ?

Its a tether locker/keeper. That one i think is an ohm. Here is a good one that works on multiple diameters of rope.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/4399338840/the-clutch-tether-locker-for-saddle?sh_rv=1&ref=shop_home_active_1&cns=1&logging_key=2acb069d56c4e8af563e918c6015d318dcd2b41a%3A4399338840

BT

 

[Samcirrus]

I’ve been messing with the blood good hitch and I seem to like it. I don’t know i personally want to be tying a hitch from scratch in the dark

Tie it 100 or 200 times at home....its really easy to remember and it takes 10 seconds to tie....if you're slow.
It's such a valuable knot that pays for itself in time spent learning. When it becomes like tying your shoes you'll wonder why you haven't used it all along.

 

[duffhead]

Here's my long drawn out diatribe - I have an Osprey Lean Ascent climbing platform.

If I use a regular 8' tether with a Ropeman ascender, I can scurry up a tree like I have monkey paws. The downside is when it's time to come down I have to get my 40' of rope out and transfer to it with my Grigri+. Two things here 1) if something bad happened while on a regular 8' tether, you'd have to have a plan to transfer over to a rappel rope with nothing to stand on. 2) one more rope to fool with just trying to hunt.

I tried to use a long pole to get my rappel rope really high and then just climb while taking up slack with my Grigri+ with each move. In theory it sounded great. I didn't like hauling a pole out into the woods but most importantly I found it hard to climb with a climber platform that way. With an 8' tether your girth hitch around the tree is never higher than arms reach. I can make two moves taking up slack and move the tether up after two moves.

Think of it this way - with an 8' tether at arm's height (we'll say 2 1/2' above your head) think of the angle created at the point of the tree and tether. Probably at least 30* maybe even closer to 40-45*. Now imagine using a pole to advance that rappel rope say 20' up and how much more acute that angle is at the point of the tree and rope.

However your pole got your girth hitch situated 20' up is what your stuck with. That small of an angle makes it hard to stay off the tree and advance, plus if the hitch isn't oriented the way you want you're kinda at the mercy of which way it wants to take you when you put all of your weight into the saddle. It's doable but I found it more trouble than it was worth.

The lesser of all the evils is to use your rappel rope like a tether all the way up and down, safer to boot. The draw backs to this for me are it's harder for me to advance a rope up the tree with a quick link than without and a quick link will sag a bit more before it really catches and holds the tree, then you take out slack one more little time. As hard as it is to advance a rope with a quick link UP a tree, it will fall if you breathe on it so I use a tether locker. A tether locker is one more step advancing up a tree and one more step to remember to unhook it before coming down. Makes it very hard to retrieve your rope. Ask me how I know .

You should think about a better tether hitch, don't know why I don't hear of more using this

 

[JMMack]

Tie it 100 or 200 times at home....its really easy to remember and it takes 10 seconds to tie....if you're slow.
It's such a valuable knot that pays for itself in time spent learning. When it becomes like tying your shoes you'll wonder why you haven't used it all along.

Is there anything wrong with simply running the end of your line through a sewn loop for a girth hitch other then the hassle of pulling 40’ of rope through?

 

[Samcirrus]

Is there anything wrong with simply running the end of your line through a sewn loop for a girth hitch other then the hassle of pulling 40’ of rope through?

Nothing wrong at all! If you'll never pass a limb then you're all good!
Also, how much stuff will you keep on a tether/rappel rope? If you keep 2 hitches and a dedicated footloop, it can get tricky to stuff it all through the loop, because the alternative is taking everything off your tether etc. If not, then passing a rope through an eye can be just as fast as tying a knot! For me, I keep my hitches and footloops on my tether and in specific length locations and pass alot of limbs regularly so I want a fast way to open and tie the girth hitch.

 

[A.Princey]

I really like the telescoping pole method, even though it requires carrying in another item at roughly 3-4lbs.