Despite the advantages of SRT over DRT this is an area where we have to admit it's the other way around : the DRT climbers really have it easy in that they do not need to set a basal anchor or a canopy anchor, nor retrieve a canopy anchor, and they can simply pull up and pull down their rope. But DRT has the incredible disadvantage of all of that friction. And a DRT climber can climb on a thinner rope, rated as a half rope, because there's always two strands evenly supporting the full body weight. And no devices required. But who wants to tie knots in the dark?
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I feel like I have provided us with the best of both worlds in the JRB Climbing Method. Below I will paste a list of advantages over SRT that I composed for somebody while ago.
I carry 3lbs of rope, no devices and if i need to I can rig to two different anchor points as high as 50 ft in the canopy and get myself midway between them and only climb as high as I want to.
I'm not selling this even though I could. I'm giving it away. Climbers take responsibility for building their own systems.
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Advantages of JRB Climbing Method over SRT:
Background: When comparing the JRB Climbing Method (an anchorless, doubled, stationary rope system) to SRT, it's recognized that there are different styles of SRT and options for a basal anchor or canopy anchor. The most popular SRT method for saddle hunters is RADS SRT (which uses a mechanical friction device in a 3:1 mechanical advantage system), with a canopy anchor. (Basal anchor systems require more than double the length of rope and put double the load on the tree crotch, and so this comparison will focus primarily on canopy anchor systems.) It is also recognized that not all SRT methods use a device, and so some points are not relevant to methods like 'Texas Style' SRT, a 1:1 sit/stand method, which does not require mechanical devices. In fact, Texas SRT is very similar to the JRB Climbing Method, with the primary difference being that in JRB, we climb on both sides of a doubled rope instead of a single rope and so no anchor required. JRB has the following advantages over SRT:
1. Cost. JRB requires no mechanical device which can be expensive. For a new climber, investing in a rope is a tangible expense. But choosing a device before we have mastered the basics of climbing and before we know what to expect is a daunting exercise. With JRB, we build our systems using webbing, carabiners and hitch cord. Every rope is a system so its easy to create multiple climbing systems. Because we don't need a device, building additional climbing systems with potentially different ropes, is simple, requiring only the rope and hitch cord. For example, a hunter might choose to leave a climbing rope in a tree overnight so as to minimize the entrance and exit profile at one spot while also mixing in hunts at other locations. Also, we may have different system lengths for different tree heights and applications.
2. JRB allows us to climb inbetween 2 crotches or tie in points (TIP's) in the canopy rather than just one. This allows us to get in the middle of a multi trunk tree, and better able to hide ourselves in a hunting situation. (Note that there is a video dedicated to this feature.) I look for the biggest, ugliest trees where I can hide the best. In SRT, you would need more extra rope to attempt this and you won't get as high/close to your TIPs.
3. Smaller, thinner ropes. Because our body weight is loading 2 strands, the system can be built from lighter, thinner ropes (rated as half ropes), where SRT must be executed on (bigger, heavier) ropes rated as single or lead ropes. JRB uses 8mm and sub 8mm ropes which are criminally thin and lightweight, less than 3lbs for 100ft, allowing climbs as high as 45 ft, or a lower height between 2 crotches which could be a great distance apart. JRB climbs on static or dynamic ropes, which are typically used by rock climbers. There is no concern about rope wear because the rope doesn't grind in a crotch (like MRS) and because the friction hitches are on a large surface area of the rope, and do not chew up the rope.
4. No anchor. In JRB, we don't need to set a canopy nor a basal anchor. And so from the moment the rope comes down, we clip in and start climbing where a SRT climber needs to set an anchor, and then get a device out and attach it. That's a savings in time and complexity on both ends of the climb, and so JRB has a slightly quicker setup and takedown.
5. JRB is easy to rig onto with the tree with a more efficient use of rope, and that gets us in more trees and higher anchor points. Using the example of a 50 foot high crotch in a 100ft system, all of the rope goes to use, holding the climber. To set a canopy anchor at 50 ft with SRT, although there are different ways to do it, ya will have a lot of rope or line which is used for nothing but setting and retrieval. Ya could do it with only 50+ feet of rope, but need to attach extension and retrieval lines on both ends of the rope. Its messy, bulky and a lot to clean up. In JRB, we just coil the rope and go. No retrieval line to wind up for example. Climbing to 45ft is never necessary, but in a mature forest with nothing low, an anchor at 50ft allows us to stop at the preferred height, which opens up a lot more trees.
6. JRB is FAST. See the one take video showing JRB getting 25 feet off the ground in 2.5 minutes from the time arriving at the tree, including unraveling the rope. (I can't match that time with SRT, nor MRS). Not that an extra minute is a big deal, but I am yet to see that matched. And I have since done it in only 2 min.
7. No retrieval line that can get in your way, forgotten or lost. Did ya ever get to the ground after an SRT rappel and realize your retrieval line somehow got hung up on a branch or was never set to begin with? In JRB, there's nothing on the tree but two strands of rope.
8. Safety, Redundancy. JRB has redundant bridges with redundant connections to the climbing rope. Your safety is never dependent on any knot or friction device or Carabiner. If you have never climbed over 50 feet, you might not understand that at those heights, it tests if we REALLY trust our system. If a friction hitch(s) fails or slips, we do not fall; we are safely on the Garda hitch. Or if we used the option with the redundant pair of friction hitches on the redundant bridge, we are on them. In either case, not only are we safe, but we can recover and can self rescue. If your friction device fails in SRT, what happens? It's easy to say redundancy is unnecessary when our boots are on the ground, but when we are REALLY high in a tree, redundancy gives us confidence, because we only need to trust the rope and the tree. And once you have experienced the confidence from the redundancy, we feel invincible at any height.
9. QUIET. No metal on metal and associated noise. This makes for a quiet climb. Some SRT systems have a metal carabiner rattling inside the friction device. No tape or ties to quiet the metal.
10. NOTHING to FORGET, DROP or LOSE. Aside from the rope and my saddle, I can't forget, drop or lose anything that's crucial cuz its all attached. If a RADS SRT climber lost a footloop, or forgot their device, they will most likely be grounded. If your climbing in deep snow or a swamp, it would not be good to drop your device when attaching it. The JRB footloop can be clipped to the redundant bridge at all times. The rappel device is just a Carabiner which is locked on the redundant bridge and can't be dropped.
11. SELF RESCUE. In JRB, if any knot or hitch or cord failed, we can recover, repair AND self rescue. If a mechanical device froze, it's best to phone for help. For an apples to apples comparison of JRB to SRT, the SRT method will need a backup for the device at all times.
12. INTEGRATED DOUBLE GEAR HOISTS. Two hoist lines are built into the system. Most hunters will climb and then bring up 2 items: their weapon and their pack. The JRB climbing system has two different lines that are on the ground and ready to function as two independent hoist lines.
13. JRB Hitch Climbing: It is a different technique, but the same system can be used for the JRB hitch climbing method, for trees with no crotches and no throwball.
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To be fair, the primary disadvantage of JRB compared to RADS SRT is that it requires a higher level of technique to master the ascent. RADS is so simple. It's kind of like learning how to hip thrust in MRS... it can be awkward until ya get the hang of it, and trust the system.
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