I was playing around with different systems in my front yard today, when this little twist hit me. It climbs like an e2e and is just a "twist" to tie up.

I tried this with a larger CMI micro pulley, and did not get quite the same results. The flat "ears" on this particular pulley do not interfere with the girth hitch.

Tell me what you think.

Sorry posted twice.

Very interesting concept! Does the rope migrate through the girth hitch at all or is it really solid? I only ask because the hitch is so close that if the girth hitch gave at all it looks like it would jam the Blake's tight and since the girth is not a life support knot it would not be wise to untie the Blake's to unjam it.

Dan

Hey, I have been climbing on a girth or a clove in a traditional set-up for a while now, and have not experienced any lengthening or shortening of the bridge, aside from the the typical lengthening during loading.
I climbed around on this setup quite a bit today without any issues. Once the girth is set, it bites hard.

Looks good to me. I'll try it Sat.

Curious how your post overlaps some older ones. Nic reported the girth hitch attachment as a favorable (fare) position. There had been some discussion of the bridge-less Blakes promoting self advancement.

Your combination seems to optimize various aspects. On first inspection, this could be the system that I was in search of.

Very interesting.

Jim, I considered searching the board to see if anyone had already posted this configuration before. It felt like a moment of discovery to me, so I am rolling with it.

It is so simple. I am going to keep climbing on it, to try and find something wrong with it. Any of you out there with a pulley of the same design, give it a shot, and let's hear how it goes.

Hmmm... That looks interesting, DH. It just so happens I have a CMI micro-pulley. I'll give it a try & let you know how it works for me when next I climb.

Jim

EJ- that is a fine config you tied and I can report it works well for our students.

Everybody loves the self-advancing aspect.

Now one thing you might add is to use a loop of tubular webbing girth hitched to your saddles delta.

Make it a length so the BH is at about eye level and just in reach when you sit down.

By extending thus each pull can be with both hands below the pulley and is in what I call your maximum power stroke.

I added an easy to slide foot loop and you got four wheel drive.

Dan

OH I forgot to say you can rig it with tech cord instead of a BH and with a loop on the up rope it can be split apart to advance to the next pitch.

Here are some older versions at my flicker site:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/treetrampd ... 860575845/

Treetramp, that page is coming up: "This page is private."

EDIT: Your other pix come up fine ... there just seems to be a problem with that link

Nicely done Duane. As mentioned Nick suggested a girth attachment in the past, what's different here is the "no bridge" approach, totally cool, I'll try it out.

As Dan mentioned it's easy enough to ad a sling/tether to the bottom of the carabiner if you want to move the hitch up high at any point during the climb. However I'm happy to climb with the hitch in the "no bridge" position, you can climb continuously with leg and arm power, no footloops needed (footlock or Pantin) arms are free to pull rope high above the hitch. Blake's needs to be tuned to optimize riding on the rope and grabbing when you sit back to rest, overtightened Blake's won't ride freely enough. Blake's is so resilient should be easy to tweak into best performance for the system.

Disclaimer: Not a beginner configuration, good to thoroughly learn, experience and understand how to climb Blake's by pulling below the hitch with a normal bridge length

If you've never climbed on a very short or no bridge configuration you'll be surprised how awkward it is to get off the ground, have fun! It's very doable but requires practice and refinement to achieve liftoff
-Andrew

Shoot, now I'll have to buy that pulley, all I have are Micropulleys. Good news is that it's not very expensive.
-Andrew

Tramp, I am aware of options available to make the Blake's self tending. My goal here was to use minimal gear, and "mimic" the e2e experience with the Blake's in a somewhat traditional set-up.

Let me know how it goes once you get that pulley moss.

EDIT: Ahhh, Dan,(after looking at your photos) I see what you are saying now. I had not imagined that sort of tendage before. I will give it a whirl. You are such an innovator.

I just tried it ... worked Great. I've used a short bridge before but not combined with the girth - Nice tip, Drainhook. And, Treetramp's 'extendable' tether is a nice modification. Two great tips in one thread - good work guys!

All I had was a small CMI but I used an HMS biner. The combination "seemed" fine. HOWEVER ...

Yeah, Moss, "now I'll have to buy that pulley", too!
Gear lust is such a terrible burden

That makes sense, I'll try it with micropulley and HMS carabiner. I like how cleanly the one Drainhook uses fits inside the girth hitch.
-Andrew