• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

The JRB Climbing Method

Biggest issue I think you’ll find with the predator is that you’ll need to use large carabiners for the Garda hitch. Other obvious problems are bulk and weight.

I used about 80ft of rope last year and was able to get in every tree I wanted. Sure there are cases where you could run out of rope but remember that’s going to be at crotches around 38’ foot or so.

One concern with smaller ropes outside of strength would be smaller diameter means less hitch touching the climbing rope, when you get down to 8mm main and 6mm cord that can make a significant difference in how many wraps you may need for a given hitch to properly hold the additional weight. I think you will find JRBs new hitch variation a good fit if you do decide to go to 8mm for several reasons. The doubled over rope is one of the reasons you can use such small diameter rope so well.
A couple of points with JRB and JRB hitch from my perspective.

1. remember since you’re climbing two ropes, each hitch is only holding half your weight. So imagine a 135 lb person climbing each side, that’s not much at all!

2. you can add or remove wraps on the JRB hitch as needed to get your optimal friction. John shows how to tie these variations in his videos.

3. The way the non-binding hitch variation is routed you have two ends both in basket per side. So whatever your 6mm line is rated to is times 4 since there are four lines.

4. The non-binding variation should not bind on you regardless of your weight. This can be a problem for basic hitches since more weight means the harder the hitch grabs. I think this concern is significantly mitigated because of the non binding variation hitch and because your weight is shared by the two ends of the doubles over rope.

I have been doing SRT and DRT for a couple years off 75’ and on occasion wished I had more rope. I was thinking with RescTech I would go 100’ with that still being sub 3#.

I would also just start out with the JRB ascender hitch. May as well start with the latest and greatest. I assume the non-binding one you refer to is the video titled non-jamming JRB ascender?

John, curious what your thoughts are on a “big ole boy” swinging from 8mm RescTech?
 
I have been doing SRT and DRT for a couple years off 75’ and on occasion wished I had more rope. I was thinking with RescTech I would go 100’ with that still being sub 3#.

I would also just start out with the JRB ascender hitch. May as well start with the latest and greatest. I assume the non-binding one you refer to is the video titled non-jamming JRB ascender?

John, curious what your thoughts are on a “big ole boy” swinging from 8mm RescTech?
Yea by all means, if you go with rescue tech go ahead and get 100’, I was only referring to the predator you already have.

Yea I was referring to the non-jamming variant. You can try the first variation of the JRB AH: however, it jamming is the main reason I didn’t care for it. I think if you’re going to use it you should try the latest non-jamming version. If that doesn’t work for you I would also consider the double mich. Both the non-jamming version as well as the double mich are going to give you four strands (2 loops) to hang on per side. That means you're climbing on 8 pieces of cord. That won’t be a perfect 8x your MBS before @flcanopy comes in to get on to me, but nevertheless that’s more than double what the minimum you need.

I know you’re asking John, but I think you’ll be good to go climbing rescue tech or Oplux, and I think you’ll be safe and find it a joy to climb. Especially coming from a DRT or SRT background, you’ll be ahead of the game.

Good luck!
 
Yea by all means, if you go with rescue tech go ahead and get 100’, I was only referring to the predator you already have.

Yea I was referring to the non-jamming variant. You can try the first variation of the JRB AH: however, it jamming is the main reason I didn’t care for it. I think if you’re going to use it you should try the latest non-jamming version. If that doesn’t work for you I would also consider the double mich. Both the non-jamming version as well as the double mich are going to give you four strands (2 loops) to hang on per side. That means you're climbing on 8 pieces of cord. That won’t be a perfect 8x your MBS before @flcanopy comes in to get on to me, but nevertheless that’s more than double what the minimum you need.

I know you’re asking John, but I think you’ll be good to go climbing rescue tech or Oplux, and I think you’ll be safe and find it a joy to climb. Especially coming from a DRT or SRT background, you’ll be ahead of the game.

Good luck!

Thanks! And when you are referring to 4 loops, you are referring to what John calls bridge mode?
 
The thought has crossed my mind to get a larger diameter rope, but looking at specs Predator is rated at 6000MBS and RescTech is rated at 6525MBS. The difference in weight per 100’ is double. I know there is a perception of more strength on the thicker rope but if MBS numbers are to be believed apparently that’s not the case.

This is the kind of info I’m looking for, so thanks for the response. I do have a 75’ Predator rope, maybe I’ll just get some Bee-line and give it a try. I don’t currently own any RescTech.
The RescTech is made from stronger materials than than the Predator.
 
Friends, i am climbing every day on my hitches and here is what i am finding... in the last video on the non jamming variation, there were 2 changes:
1. The bend was moved inside the hitch, acting as a stopper knot in both directions.
2. Prerigging it to run in soft brige mode with 2 short loops OR one long loop. This change also reduces jamming.

Those are independent changes. We can do one or both independently.

When i make ONLY change 2, i never get any jamming. I basically don't need #1. The only time I would use it is if i wanted it ultra compact.

Hopefully that makes sense.

As for the bigger guys, i believe you're fine on 8mm... but only you can test your rope and cord? Can u reliably break it under load? Does it hold when wet?

Lastly, ya gotta consider if you are planning on doing any Hitch climbing or SRT with the system in the future... if you do, then ya gotta be able to move and break a single friction hitch with your entire body weight. Consider doing the test on your own system. If it holds and breaks under your entire weight, it will give you confidence that you should have no problems when running it as a doubled rope system.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
 
I had a hard time with the footloop. I tried it a few times and had a hard time not spinning around. Then trying to run my knots up. Monkey football. Maybe it takes some practice. But I haven't been itching to try it again. MRS is a little more work. But a lot easier motion to me. I gave my self a rope burn on my index finger. So waiting for that to heal up some more.
This is where a lineman’s belt is useful. By having that additional point of contact you can hold yourself firmly in place.
 
This is where a lineman’s belt is useful. By having that additional point of contact you can hold yourself firmly in place.
So, although i respect any opinions, a Lineman's Belt is not a solution here, in fact, it would make climbing on a JRB system difficult. I don't even carry one. The poster said he was spinning around. That implies that he didn't have his one foot on the tree for positioning and hadn't adequately rehearsed the rising move. It's not possible to spin around if ya have a foot on the tree. As for advancing the hitches, we don't know what hitches are being used and if they have handles. We also have to assume he may not have seen this video and the tips in it. When we shove those hitches up, we do them both at the same time and we make sure we're not pulling the hitches towards us, we're just shooting them straight up the line as we fall backwards onto them in their new position. No pause. It's best as one fluent motion.
 
So, although i respect any opinions, a Lineman's Belt is not a solution here, in fact, it would make climbing on a JRB system difficult. I don't even carry one. The poster said he was spinning around. That implies that he didn't have his one foot on the tree for positioning and hadn't adequately rehearsed the rising move. It's not possible to spin around if ya have a foot on the tree. As for advancing the hitches, we don't know what hitches are being used and if they have handles. We also have to assume he may not have seen this video and the tips in it. When we shove those hitches up, we do them both at the same time and we make sure we're not pulling the hitches towards us, we're just shooting them straight up the line as we fall backwards onto them in their new position. No pause. It's best as one fluent motion.

You’re absolutely right and I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have weighed in. I don’t specifically practice JRB. I use simple old school arborist techniques on a DDRT line.
 
You’re absolutely right and I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have weighed in. I don’t specifically practice JRB. I use simple old school arborist techniques on a DDRT line.
Absolutely no problem... we're all just a bunch of buddies here sharing our ideas and helping each other. It's the best place on the internet!
 
So, although i respect any opinions, a Lineman's Belt is not a solution here, in fact, it would make climbing on a JRB system difficult. I don't even carry one. The poster said he was spinning around. That implies that he didn't have his one foot on the tree for positioning and hadn't adequately rehearsed the rising move. It's not possible to spin around if ya have a foot on the tree. As for advancing the hitches, we don't know what hitches are being used and if they have handles. We also have to assume he may not have seen this video and the tips in it. When we shove those hitches up, we do them both at the same time and we make sure we're not pulling the hitches towards us, we're just shooting them straight up the line as we fall backwards onto them in their new position. No pause. It's best as one fluent motion.
I was in a situation last year with a tree JRB climbing a crotch on a hill that made it where I wasn’t touching the tree for most of the climb. I would just spin until I used a lineman’s belt to hold me close to the tree as I ascended. It wasn’t the fastest or the most comfortable but it did keep me from spinning which is necessary for double rope climbing methods because if you spin too much you can’t ascend. To say a lineman’s belt can’t or shouldn’t be used whatsoever is just silly, especially for a new climber.
 
Hi John. I've been playing with the method at home and the last few times into the woods. I find it difficult to get the knots over the limb / crotch in most of my paracord presets. I have the two clips installed and have a double meech setup. Any tricks to getting the knots over tight / sticky limbs?

Sean
 
Currently climbing on 8mm resc tech using the saddle hunters hitch. I am struggling to get it to release after rappelling… is this an issue with how I am dressing the knot? Due to size of rope? Due to weight of climber? Any tips and tricks? Help… lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Currently climbing on 8mm resc tech using the saddle hunters hitch. I am struggling to get it to release after rappelling… is this an issue with how I am dressing the knot? Due to size of rope? Due to weight of climber? Any tips and tricks? Help… lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That question probably belongs on a different thread because we don't use the saddle Hunters hitch in jrb climbing but all i can say is that if you alternate tugging on each of the two lines, it always has popped out for me. Did you test it out at a height where you could see what's going on?

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
 
I was in a situation last year with a tree JRB climbing a crotch on a hill that made it where I wasn’t touching the tree for most of the climb. I would just spin until I used a lineman’s belt to hold me close to the tree as I ascended. It wasn’t the fastest or the most comfortable but it did keep me from spinning which is necessary for double rope climbing methods because if you spin too much you can’t ascend. To say a lineman’s belt can’t or shouldn’t be used whatsoever is just silly, especially for a new climber.
If you spin a little one way, gravity will cause you to spin back the other way, and as you approach the crotch, you will be facing the tree. Just don't fight the spin. I wouldn't know how to use a lineman's belt while rope climbing and have never seen an arborist do so while in ascent.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
 
Hi John. I've been playing with the method at home and the last few times into the woods. I find it difficult to get the knots over the limb / crotch in most of my paracord presets. I have the two clips installed and have a double meech setup. Any tricks to getting the knots over tight / sticky limbs?

Sean
I think you are saying that the hitches are just too bulky to pass through the crotch. Is that correct? All i can say is that with my 6mm cords on 8mm rope, this has never been a problem for me. But I always make sure I throw over a tree crotch which has adequate geometry. It can't be a really tight shaped V. And sometimes there's a little junk in the crotch which will cause it to be difficult and so I just pull on one side then pull on the other and an alternating fashion... and I can always flip it through. I apologize but it's really difficult to explain and of course it's difficult for me to visualize what you are experiencing without seeing it.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
 
That question probably belongs on a different thread because we don't use the saddle Hunters hitch in jrb climbing but all i can say is that if you alternate tugging on each of the two lines, it always has popped out for me. Did you test it out at a height where you could see what's going on?

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
He must be talking about the jrb hitch if he rappels from it,right?
 
Back
Top