For DRT climbers, I'm curious: how many descend solely with a descender (fig 8 or mini-rack or other), and how many use the descender in conjunction with a Blake's hitch or similar???

Me, it's just the mini-rack.

Mutt,

Until recently I have just used the Blakes Hitch alone to descend. I have just started using a Mini-Rack with Hyper Bar and only have about ten descents with it. Descending with the mini-rack I still keep my Blakes Hitch intact although I do loosen it a bit so I can come down rather quickly without much heat buildup at the BH. I know of two other climbers that use the Mini-Rack in conjunction with the BH (I don't want to speak for them though) and do not foresee my ever removing the BH completely to come down solely on the Mini Rack. With the BH loosened as I said I can descend at a quick pace and not get finger (or rope) burning temperatures but when I let go of the BH it does it's thing and puts a stop to my descent. I can only see positive reasons for keeping the BH intact while descending. Although maybe the choice of words (I use descending and you use rappelling) could be a difference. I always have been conservative when it comes to my descent and you may be more adventurous.

You have a great day!

Another potential reason not to untie the Blake's is that if you wanted (or needed) to ascend again, you'd have to retie the Blake's before you could ascend. In midair on a hard lock off with the rack, figure 8 or other descender, that may be a touch difficult to do - but obviously not impossible.

With a rope going through a rack or fig.8, I can freehandedly stop the descent by wrapping the tail end of the rope around my thigh a couple times. This can be uncomfortable for extended periods, but easy if I just wanted the chance to retie my blakes hitch!

There are other better/preferred ways to lock off a rappell.

love
nick

Hmm...I don't understand the advantage of using a descender along with the blake's hitch. I've never had a problem creating a slow, controlled descent by pulling down on the hitch.

I've developed recently a problem with my grip. I cant, it seems, provide enough friction in my grasp to provide what feels like a controled descent. So I've started using my 8 on descents. The benefit is that I'm not tempted to just take the fast drop and burn the poop out of my line, or damage the tree.

Icabod