Appreciation post: Tried a new climbing hitch setup after a buddy in Portland swore by it

I've been a Blake's hitch guy for a decade, but my climbing partner showed me a VT with a pulley last fall. The difference in how it grabs and releases on a descent is night and day. With the VT, I get a much smoother, more controlled let-down, especially on those long, straight drops from a big pine. I was skeptical about the extra gear, but after using it for three big removals, my hands and arms are way less tired at the end of the day. It just feels more forgiving on the rope. I'm still getting used to the tail length, but the control is worth the learning curve. Anyone else made a switch like this and have tips for dialing it in?

3 comments

3 Comments

black.beth3mo ago

But what about the extra gear getting snagged on branches?

leo_kelly3mo ago

Oh man, my pack straps get caught ALL the time.

aaron6771mo ago

Oh come on. People act like a little snag is the end of the world. I've been hiking for years with extra stuff dangling off my pack and it's never been a real problem. You just get used to it. Turn around, unhook it, move on. Takes two seconds. Not like a bear is gonna get you while you fix it. Feels like folks are looking for stuff to complain about sometimes.