Rope Twist during DRT Climbing

[INbowHunter]

Hey all, I'm new here so if this doesn't belong in this forum then let me know and I can move it. I just recently started practicing DRT climbing in preparation for this fall, and I really enjoy this method. However, I've noticed that my rope seems to twist up on itself almost the same way that it would if I were to use a single munter hitch to rappel. Is this normal for this method, or has anyone else seen this issue before? The rope I'm currently using is Sterling Oplux 8mm. I use a self tending blake's hitch and I know I'm tying it correctly. I wonder if it is the type of rope I am using? I am also curious as to what types of rope everyone is using for this method, and if they could provide their opinion on its performance. TIA for any input.
-Zach

 

[Treehopper2]

I have had my rope twist up after a lot of practice climbs and I normally just tie off one end to my truck hitch and stretch it out working the twist back out until I reach the other end of the rope.
It’s really no big deal for me only when I’m practicing a lot but for hunting I only do it a few times a year.
As for rope I tried Oplux and it did hold the knot well I just didn’t care for climbing on it.
I have went to canyon elite and prefer this rope over Oplux for DRT climbing but most people will recommend 10mm rope or bigger in this application I think I started on predator 11.4mm rope.


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[INbowHunter]

I have had my rope twist up after a lot of practice climbs and I normally just tie off one end to my truck hitch and stretch it out working the twist back out until I reach the other end of the rope.
It’s really no big deal for me only when I’m practicing a lot but for hunting I only do it a few times a year.
As for rope I tried Oplux and it did hold the knot well I just didn’t care for climbing on it.
I have went to canyon elite and prefer this rope over Oplux for DRT climbing but most people will recommend 10mm rope or bigger in this application I think I started on predator 11.4mm rope.


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Thanks for all the info, that's definitely helpful. I have been looking at going to a larger diameter rope, but went with the Oplux because I got it for free. The most common rope I seem to hear about is the predator rope. I'll take a look at the canyon elite, thanks again!

 

[NMSbowhunter]

I've had predator twist up a little before on a few climbs. It was nothing too serious. I haven't tried DRT with smaller ropes that 11.4 mm but I have a practice rope I got from Wesspur in their clearance section, a 56 foot piece of Samson Arbormaster, a 16 strand 12mm that works really well also. If in doubt about a rope, call the company you are looking to buy it from and ask them if it is well suited to DRT. The main thing is the rope's knot tying characteristics.

 

[Jtaylor]

I've experienced this with the munter but it doesn't really seem to be an issue, more of an annoyance. If there's a problem coiling the rope for packing I use this method: https://www.vdiffclimbing.com/coil-rope/
and it seems to take all the twists out when packing.

 

[BTaylor]

Welcome to the forum. Cant help with DRT, dont climb that way. But a good place to check out commonly used ropes for saddle hunting is on Eastern Woods Outddors website. I am using the canyon elite and it is a little stiffer than the oplux and a little gripier feel. Doesnt pack down as small but still handles well imo. 6mm sterling trc works well on it for friction hitches.

 

[INbowHunter]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. Lots of great information here, I appreciate it.

 

[Fl Canopy Stalker]

Hey all, I'm new here so if this doesn't belong in this forum then let me know and I can move it. I just recently started practicing DRT climbing in preparation for this fall, and I really enjoy this method. However, I've noticed that my rope seems to twist up on itself almost the same way that it would if I were to use a single munter hitch to rappel. Is this normal for this method, or has anyone else seen this issue before? The rope I'm currently using is Sterling Oplux 8mm. I use a self tending blake's hitch and I know I'm tying it correctly. I wonder if it is the type of rope I am using? I am also curious as to what types of rope everyone is using for this method, and if they could provide their opinion on its performance. TIA for any input.
-Zach

In my opinion It’s the rope you are using. Oplux is a true kermantle rope where most Ddrt climbing ropes are double braided with the cover being a 16 or 24 strand cover. Order you some Deep woods from knots and rope, milk the rope really well and try it. It’s heavier and won’t pack down as small but it handles really well for Ddrt climbs…. Or you could try JRB’s climbing method. It’s like a Ddrt, SRT hybrid

 

[John RB]

Hey all, I'm new here so if this doesn't belong in this forum then let me know and I can move it. I just recently started practicing DRT climbing in preparation for this fall, and I really enjoy this method. However, I've noticed that my rope seems to twist up on itself almost the same way that it would if I were to use a single munter hitch to rappel. Is this normal for this method, or has anyone else seen this issue before? The rope I'm currently using is Sterling Oplux 8mm. I use a self tending blake's hitch and I know I'm tying it correctly. I wonder if it is the type of rope I am using? I am also curious as to what types of rope everyone is using for this method, and if they could provide their opinion on its performance. TIA for any input.
-Zach

Hey brother. It sounds like you're saying the rope is twisting on your way up in ascent... is that right?

If so, one possibility is that you're coiling your rope incorrectly and the spin is already in the rope and as you climb, it gets bunched up near your Tie in point. One of my first videos was on the butterfly coil. Ya don't want to coil it around your elbow or in a simple loop coil. That imparts spin. Let me know if this helps ya.

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[bfriendly]

Hey brother. It sounds like you're saying the rope is twisting on your way up in ascent... is that right?

If so, one possibility is that you're coiling your rope incorrectly and the spin is already in the rope and as you climb, it gets bunched up near your Tie in point. One of my first videos was on the butterfly coil. Ya don't want to coil it around your elbow or in a simple loop coil. That imparts spin. Let me know if this helps ya.

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Well dang! First time seeing this. I’ve recently learned how to wind up my rope using my elbow and the figure 8, as well as the paracord figure 8 using thumb and pinky. Love the figure 8 method, but using my arm as the length factor is the one downfall. I can clearly see the advantages of this method for my ropes and my electric extension cords…….I was daisy chaining my extension cords. Thanks again JRB! The seemingly small, but meaningful lessons I’ve learned here are invaluable!

 

[John RB]

Well dang! First time seeing this. I’ve recently learned how to wind up my rope using my elbow and the figure 8, as well as the paracord figure 8 using thumb and pinky. Love the figure 8 method, but using my arm as the length factor is the one downfall. I can clearly see the advantages of this method for my ropes and my electric extension cords…….I was daisy chaining my extension cords. Thanks again JRB! The seemingly small, but meaningful lessons I’ve learned here are invaluable!

Regarding the rest of your setup, if you have a self tending blakes hitch system... how many knots are you tying in the woods? Are u trying two blakes hitches plus your anchor? And are you tying your paracord onto your climbing rope? I used to do all of that too, but one by one, I eliminated ALL knot tying from my DRT/MRS systems... none of it's necessary. I was pretty happy with it that way for 8+ years and then i tackled a much bigger challenge: how to get rid of the friction... meaning that the rope doesn't need to move in the tree. It can just lie there while we climb both strands simultaneously, twice as fast and with significantly less effort. I did a video recently where i carried 95 pounds of cast iron weight with me. I couldn't do that with MRS. All i am saying is that there's some great things u can do to improve dependent on where you wanna go. In general though, I no longer recommend MRS. But if u wanna know more about how to eliminate the knots, let me know

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[Fl Canopy Stalker]

Regarding the rest of your setup, if you have a self tending blakes hitch system... how many knots are you tying in the woods? Are u trying two blakes hitches plus your anchor? And are you tying your paracord onto your climbing rope? I used to do all of that too, but one by one, I eliminated ALL knot tying from my DRT/MRS systems... none of it's necessary. I was pretty happy with it that way for 8+ years and then i tackled a much bigger challenge: how to get rid of the friction... meaning that the rope doesn't need to move in the tree. It can just lie there while we climb both strands simultaneously, twice as fast and with significantly less effort. I did a video recently where i carried 95 pounds of cast iron weight with me. I couldn't do that with MRS. All i am saying is that there's some great things u can do to improve dependent on where you wanna go. In general though, I no longer recommend MRS. But if u wanna know more about how to eliminate the knots, let me know

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You can eliminate all knot tying in the woods if you use a split tail system for MRS as well.

 

[John RB]

You can eliminate all knot tying in the woods if you use a split tail system for MRS as well.

Hey brother, Yes exactly, I agree. This climber said he is using an auto tendng system. Before I did it, i had never seen an MRS system where they eliminated needing to tie the auto tending knot on the static side, and ensuring it won't get stuck in the crotch. Did you solve that too?

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[INbowHunter]

Regarding the rest of your setup, if you have a self tending blakes hitch system... how many knots are you tying in the woods? Are u trying two blakes hitches plus your anchor? And are you tying your paracord onto your climbing rope? I used to do all of that too, but one by one, I eliminated ALL knot tying from my DRT/MRS systems... none of it's necessary. I was pretty happy with it that way for 8+ years and then i tackled a much bigger challenge: how to get rid of the friction... meaning that the rope doesn't need to move in the tree. It can just lie there while we climb both strands simultaneously, twice as fast and with significantly less effort. I did a video recently where i carried 95 pounds of cast iron weight with me. I couldn't do that with MRS. All i am saying is that there's some great things u can do to improve dependent on where you wanna go. In general though, I no longer recommend MRS. But if u wanna know more about how to eliminate the knots, let me know

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Do you have a link to that video? Right now I am tying all my knots at the base of the tree. I’d be interested in anything that makes the process quicker and more efficient. Thanks for the feedback

 

[INbowHunter]

You can eliminate all knot tying in the woods if you use a split tail system for MRS as well.

What’s a split tail system?

 

[MNFarmHunter]

Alot of people coil ropes in various fashions but I find a stuff sack the easiest method. With a stuff sack, you simply stick one end of the rope in the bag then you grab a length and stuff it in. When done, it looks like a god-awful birds nest but as long as you take the rope out opposite of how you stuffed it in, it'll never tangle.

As a bonus, your rope will rarely touch the ground since it feeds out of the bag as you hoist it and gets stuffed back into the bag as you retrieve it.

 

[Fl Canopy Stalker]

What’s a split tail system?

When climbing on a MRS (Ddrt) most people just tie in with a 5 to 6’ tail and then use that tail to tie in the Blake’s hitch. With a split tail system, you take a separate piece of rope tie in a termination knot and your Blake’s or which ever friction hitch/cord you want. This allows you to tie your knots at the house and leave it on one side of the rope, then pull the opposing rope leg over the branch by the other terminal loop. If the crotch is a super tight crotch then the at worst all you’re doing is a terminal knot which can be an over hand on a bite, a figure 8 or any other very simple knot. Most crotches I’ve encountered, I can pull my termination end through the crotch.

 

[Fl Canopy Stalker]

Hey brother, Yes exactly, I agree. This climber said he is using an auto tendng system. Before I did it, i had never seen an MRS system where they eliminated needing to tie the auto tending knot on the static side, and ensuring it won't get stuck in the crotch. Did you solve that too?

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No sir, I’ve yet to be able to make the small termination knot go through all crotches although, if you have a rope with a sewn or spliced eye, it goes through pretty much all of them. With a termination knot (such as a figure 8 on a bite, I do occasionally have to untie and return them.

 

[John RB]

No sir, I’ve yet to be able to make the small termination knot go through all crotches although, if you have a rope with a sewn or spliced eye, it goes through pretty much all of them. With a termination knot (such as a figure 8 on a bite, I do occasionally have to untie and return them.

Hmm, well i actually never had a problem but you might not have the boat clip. I will message you a private video.

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[John RB]

I will just put the private video link here... this is 8 years of fiddling to make the best MRS system i could. Now, i don't ever use it simply because my new JRB method is so much easier and faster, less wear on the rope, more versatile, etc. But i have no secrets... u are all welcome to the knowledge.

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