Convert a Rappel Rope into a Climbing System, Tree Climbing Demonstration, JRB Hitch Climbing Method

[@eddieheath7054]

I've recently discovered your system and have completely changed the way i climb. No more one sticking . Thanks for the info. This way works great!

[@jrbtc]

@eddieheath7054 The most important thing is your safety. I climb using several different methods but only need one system. Whatever is appropriate for the situation and tree. Cheers and thanks

[@HA-bh1wh]

Wish I had this system years ago. Started with ropes and 2TC and found it awkward and difficult. Hunted with the JRB Maverick system last year and I’m not looking back , I found the JRB system easier and safer . John your innovations have inspired me and climbing has become enjoyable and fun. Thanks and keep up the good work !

[@jrbtc]

Appreciate your comment immensely.

[@SteveMcQueen-bx4hu]

Yeah, been waiting for this for 40 years! Just went out and climbed with one end on a JRB Cinch, and the other, Maverick. Standing parallel of the trunk, is one of the cool things of this system!

[@jrbtc]

I have done the same test. Which do you prefer?

[@SteveMcQueen-bx4hu]

​@jrbtc John, not sure yet, the extra weight of the Cinch is only downside of that set up. I love the Maverick! As you have shown and said, you can set up on any side of the tree at any position! Unlimited options! Only issue I have had, sometimes when rappeling on Munter, my carabiner get locked up, and I have to reattach guarda and lift up. What am I missing? Something simple, I'm sure. Thank you, have a great day!

[@jrbtc]

@@SteveMcQueen-bx4hu Pls post about THAT in the Facebook Group, but I will need a photo to understand. A Munter doesn't lock as far as I know...

[@SteveMcQueen-bx4hu]

​@@jrbtc will do!

[@kennethrogers1129]

Really like hitch climbing with the JRB MAVERICK HITCH. Never worry with a throw ball anymore, but love carrying a 20ft hitch pole, which comes in very handy as a walking stick at 5 ft , yet extendable out to 20ft and can accept a pruning saw blade or the rope hook for climbing and hunting purposes. I use a dedicated 50 ft HITCH ROPE with 4 pre-tied JRB 5-2-3 hitches, 2 on each end of 11mm Sampson Predator rope tied with 9mm Sampson hitch cord. Of those 2, one is a JRB COMPACT 5-2-3 with a rappel ring ; below that, a JRB 5-2-3 soft bridge for a web foot loop , no ring , with the 1in tubular web looped through the hitch loops. If I like a tree after hitch climbing , I will leave a preset paracord and come back to climb with JRB DSRT using a dedicated 75 ft 8mm Teufelberger Resc Tech rope with 3 JRB 5-2-3 hitches pre- tied with 6 mm Sterling hitch cord , 2 of which are in bridge mode with 1 on one end of the rope (in case i need to hitch over a limb ) and the Garda footloop. Of course with either rope I rappel using a Super Munter. So I scout and climb new trees with the HITCH ROPE, but use my DSRT ROPE on favored trees where I have usually done some work such as pruning limbs and leaving a preset paracord. DSRT IS VERY STEALTHY. If i don’t particularly like a tree , then i just abandon it and keep exploring until I hit a hot spot. Thank you John, my hunting success, and climbing fun has greatly improved with the JRB TOOLBOX. OH, and my climbing is solid SAFE. Having followed JRB tutorials closely my climbing skills and knowledge is so much better, and quite enjoyable, can’t wait to get back on rope SOON. John , I look forward to future tweeks as your ongoing advancements of climbing technique and technology are fascinating, practical, and useful. I will mention that often , when entering new areas on a Hitch Scout, I’ll see deer . With practice, installing rope with a pole is very efficient and quiet.

[@mattvogel5712]

This is awesome. I wasn’t expecting to add friction hitch tying and rope climbing to my retirement list of activities but thats exactly what happened. Lots of practice leading up to this year’s archery season. This method will definitely be in my toolbox for the applicable tree. FYI doe tags went on sale in Pa. June 27th! Thanks for your expertise John, your efforts are really appreciated.

[@jrbtc]

Excellent... and greet that you recognize that we only need this on specific trees.... most of my trees are preselected and have a paracord preset... but when necessary, we can climb a pole tree!

[@Mr333panda]

I have learned a lot from your video's. That is just how I have my repel rope. I find it better for me at 68 with old knees to use the garda long. Thank You for all you do

[@jrbtc]

Appreciate that my friend. I am sincerely doing my best.

[@enjoytheoutdoors101]

Great informative video, John. I believe a lot of us are practicing this method now. Two ways to get up a tree. Also, Thank you for the safety aspect of your information. Too many of us hunters climb with NO back up plan.

[@jrbtc]

Appreciate that. I have a detailed follow up planned... on a Universal system.

[@Bigdancustomknives]

I started saddle hunting last year using the one stick method. I also used the jrb cinch with a trekking pole to advance my anchor. After seeing this video i believe I’m going to start practicing this method. It looks much safer and easier than my current method. Thank you John for all the videos and information that you release. You’ve helped me tremendously since i discovered your channel to be more safe and more efficient.

[@jrbtc]

I appreciate that brother. My only request is that when you get yourself safe, you show your friends how to do the same. We pass it along. The only thing worse than getting hurt on a climb would be knowing a friend did so and we could have prevented it.

[@Bigdancustomknives]

@@jrbtcyes sir absolutely

[@SteveMcQueen-bx4hu]

Been waiting for this, and practicing this, too! Thank you John!

[@ThePhack3]

I’d love a kit put together. This is how I’m going to climb going forward.

[@jrbtc]

@ThePhack3 ApeCanyon is putting a couple of kits together. But all the components are described on the website. JRBTREECLIMBING.COM

[@Knot-orious]

What's the difference between the telescoping rod and a "climbing stick?" Great demo. So ya'll will stand on that tiny platform with a hunting weapon, harnessed in, for hours like that? Sheesh. Looks like that would get uncomfortable pretty quickly. When I do bird photography near water features, I'll setup sort of a V-Rig between two trees and just hang in the middle so the foliage won't block my shots, but I have a system so that I can lay back and relax in my chest harness. So I'm no stranger to sitting in my harness in one place for long amounts of time. I'll often use a foot loop as well to take my weight off the harness for a bit, so I can see how the stand would be really nice. Just like hunting, wildlife photography takes patience, quiet, and dedication. Anyways, I'm rambling. Thanks for the video!

[@jrbtc]

You can do a Google search on Climbing Stick and see what they are. As for endurance, I have done 13+ hours in a tree on a Saturday without coming down... and I did it with NO platform, just a branch under my feet. And then I did it again 2 days later on Monday. Maintaining comfort while limiting movement is a topic I haven't addressed yet. Safety first.

[@gosnelljames]

Thank you John! God bless you.

[@jrbtc]

I'm glad to be helping my brothers, sisters and friends. Cheers.

[@jayorsilentbob8334]

I would love to see a kit for this system. I would buy it today!!!!

[@jrbtc]

@@jayorsilentbob8334 the ApeCanyon team is going to put one together.

[@neanderthalnonsense]

Great video. I've been wanting to integrate using the traditional way of climbing palm trees with a foot loop and tether. I haven't experimented with it yet, but it may be doable. My goal is to get in the tree without getting sweaty.

[@jrbtc]

And I have always wanted to use THIS method on a palm tree but unfortunately, I would need to get on a plane to get to one!

[@neanderthalnonsense]

@@jrbtc truth

[@craigparker5959]

Would love a kit.

[@jrbtc]

@@craigparker5959 it's in the works!

[@craigparker5959]

@@jrbtc Awesome! Do y’all have an eta so we can be looking for it?

[@ccrre]

Hey John - really like the idea of this system. I was planning on using 9mm Canyon Elite (which your website says is probably closer to 9.5mm). Regarding the longhorn agile hitch, would you recommend 7mm Sterling accessory cord over Sterling 6mm TRC for that rope? Any pros or cons I should consider for each?

[@jrbtc]

Both cords work on that rope. Personally, I prefer 6mm TRC. It seems to stand up to time with less wear. And with 6ft of cord, we will get a nice, compact Longhorn Agile Hitch. jrbtreeclimbing.com/content/length-specs/

[@ccrre]

@@jrbtc Thank you and thank you for all that you do! So many hunters are quick to take risks while climbing, it is refreshing to finally find someone putting out content where safety is the top priority.

[@jrbtc]

@@ccrre I appreciate that. This is exactly what I'm trying to do. And I never claimed that I didn't take any chances when I was younger. It's simply that I didn't know how big of a chance I was taking at the time.

[@Partytanker]

Ok but what about trees with limbs?

[@jrbtc]

@Partytanker the best choice for climbing is to use a throwball. 95% of my climbs for hunting are in a tree where a throwball was put over a branch, either just before the climb or potentially years ago, leaving a paracord loop. When a a throwball isn't feasible, we use this method. We can navigate around branches with our pole. A few branches won't really slow us down much. A lot of branches would. I will demonstrated it soon for ya

[@jakemeyers558]

100% sold on ditching climbing sticks.

[@jrbtc]

@jakemeyers558 i used them for years... I just didn't realize they weren't necessary and make my safety more difficult.

[@Partytanker]

Bro if I brought this in to work I would get laughed at to death😂

[@jrbtc]

@@Partytanker what do you do for a living?

[@kevinanderson4610]

Man, I’m probably in the minority, but this all seems so complicated. I’m a saddle hunter. I just wanna be safe, but this adds so many elements to the climb that it’s confusing for a guy like me. If you could climb with a linesman and your tether or your rappel rope and keep slack out of the line that seems to be simpler. What do I know though? You are the professional and it seems like a lot of people that follow you are also veteran climbers that understand your method. I’m so confused.

[@jrbtc]

@kevinanderson4610 Your question is a good one. Here's the problem with trying to advance a tether up a tree: even if we move it up with every step, we wind up with an unacceptable amount of slack in it. For example, why can't we find any videos of people demonstrating how safe it is to step off their sticks at the worst possible time? When they have the most slack in their system... or while they are in the middle of advancing their tether? I believe the answer is because it's unsafe.

[@kevinanderson4610]

@@jrbtc Thank you! Your videos are great. You’re so thorough.I’m understanding the system a little better now as I’ve been watching videos trying to simplify my understanding of things. There are so many different variations that I just have to dumb it down. I think the only thing I need to do is incorporate the JRB cinch into my climbing system to be as safe as possible on my climb and then I can still use my madrock with my autoblock to rappel down or eliminate the madrock all together.I was hoping to incorporate the madrock with my climb, but that may not be possible to do safely. Which video would be the most help for ascending with the jrb cinch on a 40’ canyon elite rappel rope?

[@jrbtc]

@@kevinanderson4610 I will be adding some content very soon to discuss your question. There are some retrieval scenarios which are more complex with a jrb cinch as opposed to a Maverick hitch. But the bottom line is that in order to always ensure the minimum retrieval complexity, I like a system with a minimum of 50 ft of rope

[@Knot-orious]

Oh, also...wear your helmet! =-P

[@jrbtc]

I understand and value the importance of PPE. But I am also aware of no hunters who wear a helmet. Therefore, our system has to be as safe as it can be.

[@Knot-orious]

@@jrbtc Fair enough.

[@jrbtc]

Because you're an educated brother in climbing, you might appreciate that I made this video. I have taken quite a lot of jabs for wearing a helmet in it. But I stand by what I said. Cheers kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKabk6Fqd95knc0si=WGgocPshI5rFEWnP

[@Knot-orious]

@@jrbtc Thanks for the great video suggestion! I just wrote a supportive, thoughtful comment in that video's comments section! =-D