Why don't yall 2TC?

[NMSbowhunter]

This is about the biggest. Really wasn't a problem to climb. Went up to about 30 feet.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Now this little thing the other night was a pain. I only went up about 15 feet. I was in thick pines along a lane and had plenty of cover.

 

[Samcirrus]

A Blakes hitch is unidirectional. It only tightens in one direction. A Prussik is bidirectional. It will tighten in both directions. You put weight down into it and it locks solid. You pull up on it and it loosens nicely.

The only downside I see is on really small diameter trees with the foot tether I have as I have it sized. On basketball diameter trees up to maybe 30 inch diameter the adjustment range is fine. On small diameter trees, which I hardly ever climb, the length of the foot tether can make it a little more prone to trying to swing out. Add to that a small diameter tree and you just have to be more careful.

The difference in Tree diameter not only between trees but between the base and the top of the tree where you'll end up is why I simply use a sewn footloop on a friction hitch like the longhorn agile. Easy to slide up as the diameter of the tree gets smaller and the amount of rope in the girth hitch gets less.
When you do the blakes hitch vers>on you just have to calculate what the largest tree diameter(base of tree) you're willing to climb and then the smallest trunk or branch you're willing to hand from(top)
Then do a circumference measurement for both, then add double the length from the highest point of your foot in a stepping up position to about forehead height.

 

[Samcirrus]

For me with my short legs, this variable is too large for the trees I want to be able to climb. As well as my desire for no discomfort on the bottom of my feet while I climb, and is why I use a 4" wide cgm footloop that stay on my boots the whole climb.

 

[Samcirrus]

Hahahaha

Don't let the second bridge scare you.

I think everyone doing 2TC should use 2 bridges. It makes branch passing a breeze by not needing a 3rd tether or LB. Also its just a great redundancy should anything unexpected happen to either of your tethers, you'll be clipped into both.

 

[Marmuzz]

I think everyone doing 2TC should use 2 bridges. It makes branch passing a breeze by not needing a 3rd tether or LB. Also its just a great redundancy should anything unexpected happen to either of your tethers, you'll be clipped into both.

Redundancy notwithstanding, if you have an adjustable bridge, why can't you accomplish the same function by shortening the bridge and then adjusting the hitch position on the lower tether before undoing the upper tether?

 

[Samcirrus]

Redundancy notwithstanding, if you have an adjustable bridge, why can't you accomplish the same function by shortening the bridge and then adjusting the hitch position on the lower tether before undoing the upper tether?

Oh, I guess besides the redundant safety of 2 bridges I don't want any chance of the 2 carabiners clanking together if they are on the same bridge.

 

[gcr0003]

I think everyone doing 2TC should use 2 bridges. It makes branch passing a breeze by not needing a 3rd tether or LB. Also its just a great redundancy should anything unexpected happen to either of your tethers, you'll be clipped into both.

TEAM 2 bridges checking innnnn

It also makes hooking up your to rappel system and/or transitioning from your rope climbing method to your tether for your hunt extremely easy.

 

[Samcirrus]

I also keep both bridges super short and rope belt tight, then climb more standing up-ish rather that sit stand. Ill sit when I need to take a breather. Or cool down or if I hear something coming.

 

[gcr0003]

Oh, I guess besides the redundant safety of 2 bridges I don't want any chance of the 2 carabiners clanking together if they are on the same bridge.

On this vain I have transitioned to limiting the carabiners I use and where I use them. For instance, I no longer leave my carabiner on my hitch/tether. My main carabiner lives on my main bridge and is typically the only one I need. If I need to go around limbs I will utilize a carabiner hanging from my saddle, and it will go back there immediately after. I use to leave it on my hitch and it would inevitably clank around.

 

[Samcirrus]

On this vain I have transitioned to limiting the carabiners I use and where I use them. For instance, I no longer leave my carabiner on my hitch/tether. My main carabiner lives on my main bridge and is typically the only one I need. If I need to go around limbs I will utilize a carabiner hanging from my saddle, and it will go back there immediately after. I use to leave it on my hitch and it would inevitably clank around.

Ah I see. Yep I've dialed down my carabiner use to just 2! Both bridge connections. I carry a 3rd in a pouch in case I drop one of my main 2 because I need 2 to rappel and stay on my backup main hitch.

 

[gcr0003]

Ah I see. Yep I've dialed down my carabiner use to just 2! Both bridge connections. I carry a 3rd in a pouch in case I drop one of my main 2 because I need 2 to rappel and stay on my backup main hitch.

1 is all I usually need if only 2TC and no limbs but I carry an extra on my saddle and that covers limbs and rappelling. So I’m down to 2 as well. It doesn’t sound like a big deal but with rope climbing, rappelling, attaching footloop, tether, lineman’s belt, etc you can really get up there with carabiners lol. I also carry 2-3 more in my pack but that’s back up.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

I've been getting by with one bridge and one carabiner.

 

[Samcirrus]

1 is all I usually need if only 2TC and no limbs but I carry an extra on my saddle and that covers limbs and rappelling. So I’m down to 2 as well. It doesn’t sound like a big deal but with rope climbing, rappelling, attaching footloop, tether, lineman’s belt, etc you can really get up there with carabiners lol. I also carry 2-3 more in my pack but that’s back up.

Yep, but I feel my universal system for either 2TC SRT or JRB also uses just the 2 carabiners as I have and love my modified notch jet step foot ascender I use now in place of the Guarda hitch( when I srt or jrb a preset.
True, It's hard to admit but the amount of trees with more than 2 limbs I've had to pass in a hunting situation i can count on one hand, up here our aspen, popple and birch trees are mostly limb free for 20+ feet. I want to explore more white pine climbing this coming year.

 

[Samcirrus]

For me it serves two purposes. The main purpose is as a connection to hang the backpack while setting my ring of steps on the way up the tree and as the backpack's home once I am up at hunting height. I push the Distel hitch all the way up to capture the main loop of the foot tether and clip the backpack in once I am at hunting height.

The other lesser purpose it serves is as a means to cross limbs while climbing. I have used this once this season and zero times last season. In this scenario I move up the tree until I encounter a limb. I then clip my saddle's bridge into the Distel hitch on the foot tether, and then weight it, I then remove tension on the top tether until all my weight is on the foot tether. I then unclip the main tether and remove it from the tree, move it above the limb and reattach it to the tree. I then clip into the main tether while still connected to the foot tether. I then reweight the top tether and unweight and detach the foot tether.

Wow, so you use 1 carabiner for your tether switch?!

 

[TDubbs12]

Yep, but I feel my universal system for either 2TC SRT or JRB also uses just the 2 carabiners as I have and love my modified notch jet step foot ascender I use now in place of the Guarda hitch( when I srt or jrb a preset.
True, It's hard to admit but the amount of trees with more than 2 limbs I've had to pass in a hunting situation i can count on one hand, up here our aspen, popple and birch trees are mostly limb free for 20+ feet. I want to explore more white pine climbing this coming year.

"modified notch jet step..." ?????

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Wow, so you use 1 carabiner for your tether switch?!

Yes. Well, one extra carabiner. I am always connected to at least one carabiner during the switch. The foot tether carabiner goes on while the main tether is still hooked up. Then the main tether comes off and moves up over the limb and reconnects, then clips back in. Then the foot tether carabiner come off again.

 

[BuckTown]

Thanks for the Blake’s hitch info all. Wasn’t planning to use it, likely going the CGM foot loop route. But just couldn’t see the purpose mentally even with all pictures here and it was bugging me.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

What I was saying was I don't see any need personally to have 2 bridges on my saddle each with its own carabiner.

 

[krub6b]

I run a single bridge and two friction hitches with a dedicated carabiner on each of them. There is a third carabiner on the carry handle of my pack if I need it for some reason