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Hithc Tending System, as shown in the Sherrill's 2008 Arborists Supply Catalog.
Well, it happened again. Sherrill's latest catalog introduced me to a climbing trick that blew me away, and I'm almost pissed I didn't think of it myself. Just as their 2007 Master catalog taught me quite a few valuable lessons and techniques (flipline with hip prusik-HUGE) the 2008 cat illustrates a technique that I experimented with yesterday, and it's awesome. Here's the idea: You use a piece of utility cord tied in and endless loop, tie it with a prusik to your working end, and then clip it into your carabiner of your advanced friction hitch, or using a little leash snap you can attach it to a pulley under your Blake's hitch. The end result is, this will auto-advance your friction hitch every time you make progress upward. This is illustrated on page 33, in the "Split Tail Action" section. Variations are also on pp. 44 and 49, showing use with an advanced friction hitches and a hitch climber pulley. These latter two actually were in the 2007 catalog, but at the time I didn't realize the significance of what I was looking at. My bad!
I mean, c'mon! I'm predominantly a rec climber, with cutting and pruning making up only about 40% of my arboreal activity. When I'm recreational climbing, which is mostly about the peace and the exercise/cardio of the climb, I just want a smooth and cool experience. Or a tough challenge ... whatever. But, THIS IMPROVES CLIMBING EFFICIENCY BY ALMOST 50%!!!! Do you understand the significance of what this little rig does? You NO LONGER HAVE TO ADVANCE YOUR FRICTION HITCH EVERY TIME YOU "HUMP THE AIR" as one of our contributors so eloquently describes the climbing cycle. You just PULL on the running end, and the whole damn thing (including you) goes up like an elevator. How cool is that!! From a standpoint of cardiovascular exercise, this makes for a more uninterrupted cycle of physical activity. From a standpoint of working and efficiency, WOW!
Let's face it - as climbers, we love testing gear, new ideas, new trees, new knots. It's all part of the fun. If my blathering on and on introduces even one novice to this idea, it will have been worth it. Just remember to work it in "low and slow". Because you never want to take any brand new idea past 6 or 7ft. until you've rigged and un-rigged yourself 5-10 times and come to know all the "hassles" you didn't see coming.
IF you are ascending on a DdRT climbing system, there are only a few disadvantages to rigging your system this way. I ran into a few negatives, such as, the hitch advance cord prevents your running and working ends from spreading very far. So if you have a lot of obstacles (read: branches) in your way after installing your line, it takes getting used to. Also, you may need to slack your lines to unhook the utility cord, because it can be quite a ways over your head. So make sure you have a flipline or some alternate means of support that allows you to release tension on your lifeline, and reach up and grab the utility cord. I disconnect the hitch tending system once I am in position, if I've work to do. But it makes getting there way, way faster.
There are some rather difficult climbs I have set up, like where there is a natural redirect over a large branch or thru a tight crotch. Previously the only way I was able to make it up was to time myself as I swing away from the branch I'm sandwiched against, quickly advance a little bit, and then try to capture a pitiful little bit of progress before I swing back into a tight situation. Even advanced friction hitches do not always "set" in these really weird instances where you are pushing from the pulley, and your hands cannot reach the knot or the braid, and you are only progressing a few inches at a time. This system makes difficult climbs like this much easier, because if I can pull, I'm moving up, baby!
Certainly no one uses a DdRT climbing system to enter a tree if you've a long way to go and are in a hurry. Speed climbing with or without gaffs (if the tree and/or job permits), secured footlock, mech ascenders... lots of better ways when time is money.
BTW, I entered my first ISA competition this year, and after watching professionals ascend using secured footlock, I am psyched about practicing this technique until I am smooth and fast. I learned so much from entering and observing, it was certainly a valuable part of my tree lessons. Let me take a second to thank both the judges and the fellow climbers I met there. Everyone was very encouraging to me, the only walk-in, apprectice-level participant, with nothing but good cheer and valuable advice the whole time.
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