Overheard some young climbers at a shop in Columbus talking about rope techniques

I was picking up a new chainsaw chain yesterday and heard these two guys maybe in their mid 20s talking about how they never use a blakes hitch anymore. They were all about mechanical prusiks and how it's faster. I stood there for a minute listening and it got me thinking. I've been using a blakes hitch for almost 15 years now. Learned it from an old timer back in 2008 and never really questioned it. But these guys had a point about speed and ease of adjustment. I'll admit I tried one of those rope wrench setups a few years back but it felt too complicated. Now I'm wondering if I'm just being stubborn. Has anyone else switched over after using a traditional hitch for a long time? Was it worth the learning curve?

2 comments

2 Comments

max3888d ago

Whoa wait, twenty years on a blakes hitch? Dude you're a legend for sticking with it that long lol

zarak188d ago

I switched to a mechanical device about four years ago after using a blakes hitch for almost twenty years. The main thing that convinced me was doing limb walks more often. With the blakes hitch I had to stop and adjust constantly, but with the wrench setup I can just slide it up and keep moving. It felt strange at first, like learning to tie my shoes all over again. After a week or two of using it on every climb it became second nature and I have not looked back.