Moving on Up! A Guide to the Hitch Climber System

For decades, the Taut Line or Blake’s hitch stood as a symbol of dependable simplicity, allowing the climbing arborist to ascend and work with minimal equipment. But as arboriculture has grown more dynamic, with greater emphasis on efficiency, ergonomics, and versatility, climbers have steadily migrated toward modern hitch climber systems. This evolution represents not just a change in gear but a shift in mindset, a pursuit of smoother movement, better rope management, and a more adaptable system that complements the arborists' acrobatic skills. 

The Blake’s Hitch: A Legacy of Simplicity

I’ve blabbed about the Blake’s hitch numerous times, and for good reason; it launched many of our careers into the canopy! Tied directly onto the climbing line, it helped us understand rope friction and hitch behavior. It required no pulley, no carabiner, just rope and know-how. Yet, this simplicity has limits. 

• Slack tending often calls for increased effort. 

• Ascending by hip thrusting demands extreme physical exertion.

• Friction at the hitch can increase wear on the rope and would eventually call for shortening the rope.

The Hitch Climber Revolution

Enter the modern open climbing system, the hitch climber pulley system, a clever integration of a micro-pulley and hitch cord that redefines the mechanics of moving rope system and has become the gateway for stationary rope climbing systems. 

Initially, switching from a traditional climbing system to this one may seem daunting. Many people often remark, "Is that small piece of rope really going to support me? No way!" However, I can confidently say that this system excels in both performance and ergonomic design.

Here’s a breakdown of the key components:

• Rated hitch cord can be tied in different ways, such as Distel, Michoacan, or Catalone; the chosen hitch depends on rope type, prussic length, and configuration.
  

  

• Two climbing-rated carabiners for tree care must withstand 5,000 lbs. (22.24 kN), be self-closing, self-double-locking, and need at least two actions to open as per ANSI Z133 – 2017; most are “triple” action, lift, twist, open.
  

  

  
  

• DMM Hitch Climber Pulley V2 is a popular pulley for this technique, enabling smooth O-Rig and V-Rig setups.
  

  

Why Hitch Climber Systems Offer an Advantage Over the Blake’s Hitch

1. Longevity and Inspection

Well, for starters, the climbing rope will last longer (in a perfect world)! The section where the Blake’s is tied wears out quicker and would need to be removed frequently, whereas with the open system, the prussic is the main item being replaced. 

2. Smooth Flow 

When passing through redirects, the pulley fairleads the rope out smoothly and the need to manually pull rope through the branch union is greatly reduced. The climber descending, in most cases, is enough weight to drag the rope out of the redirect.

Tending the system, or advancing the hitch, can be done with one hand. This is made possible because of the pulley that is located directly underneath the friction hitch. 

3. Modularity and Compatibility

Works for Stationary Rope Systems, but will require a Rope Wrench to complete the system.

4. Enhanced Mobility and Positioning

Because it is an open climbing system, when advancing, the climbing arborist can quickly advance their system higher into the crown of the tree without the need to untie a Blake’s or Taut Line hitch. 

One of the beautiful things an open system offers is route planning with Ponytail redirects. The climber aloft would drape the excess rope through where they intend to climb next, and rather than ascending to clean their climbing rope, the arborist aloft would secure themselves and Ponytail their system over the obstacle. This makes the climb efficient and energy-saving. 

If gaffing up those monster tree trunks is your thing and your actual work positioning lanyard is long enough, your hitch climber open system can double as a 120’,150’,200’ (whatever length climbing rope you may have) lanyard until you get to a point where you can establish a tie-in point.

My favorite feature is the spar cinching tie-off, especially when performing negative rigging. Many still opt to adapt a friction saver to choke the spar, and there is nothing wrong with it. I’ve always preferred a tie-in method that won’t slip when fully unweighted and standing in the gaffs. Yes, it does change your climbing system from MRS to SRS, so there will be a need to add friction into the system when rappelling down. This can be done easily, even if you don’t own a Rope Wrench. You just need a spare carabiner with a Münter configured under the climbing system, a Figure-8 descender, or an Anchor Ring with a carabiner to create a stitch plate, also placed under the climbing system.

From what I can see, the hitch climber open system, or other variants utilizing different pulleys, seems to be replacing the Blake’s as the overall introductory climbing system to use. However, switching from a Blake’s hitch to an open system doesn’t mean discarding tradition; it’s more akin to evolving. Where the Blake’s hitch teaches the fundamentals, the hitch climber system transforms those fundamentals into an art of precision. It’s a transition that mirrors the arborist’s own growth, from relying on basic mechanics to embracing refined, fluid motion throughout the tree. 

Where time, efficiency, and synergy matter more than ever, the hitch climber stands as the new standard. It represents the arborist’s drive to climb smarter, not harder, and to turn each movement into a controlled, efficient flow.  

The Blake’s hitch will always have its place as a training tool and a sentinel of arboricultural heritage, but for the professional arborist seeking the perfect balance of performance and innovation, the hitch climber system is not just an upgrade; it is the natural evolution of rope and friction in harmony.