fe to sit in your Blake's hitch a new hitch emerges. The hitch I would like to introduce in Climbers; Corner debut is the very same hitch 1997 World Tree Climbing Champion, Mark Chrisholm used in Salt Lake City, Utah this past summer. Second place Kay-Olaf Busemann and I were the only other two who used this new hitch in competition.This hitch has been used by mountaineers and rescue teams in France and Europe for many years. In fact Machard is the name of a French rock climber. I first saw Francois Dussenne of Belgium demonstrate this hitch to North American tree climbers in Halifax in 1994. Since then it has developed a small cult following. The hitch is radically different looking than anything we are used to and so at a glance you tend to want to shrug it off. Then why does the current world champion prefer this hitch? This hitch outperforms any other hitch I have used in all the right ways. That is not to say that it is perfect - it has its limitations as any other hitch does.Advantagesnever binds or remains stuck when load relieved minimal slippage and creep easy to tie facilitates rapid and easy descents very nicely accommodates the fair lead system, even fair lead itself very economical in that cost per split tail is about $30.00 no splicing required extremely strong due to the fact it is a closed knot system Disadvantagesreduce to no grab when tied with same diameter line or hard lay line must be comprised of proper material and proper length very rapid descents initiated with very little effort cannot be tied easily using a locking snap, best using a carabiner These are all things I have experienced and verified with others who have been using this hitch for the past several years. Most people once they try it, feel the advantages far out weigh the disadvantages.Some Important Points to RememberPractice and test this hitch at a low height to be sure you are completely familiar with it prior to moving higher in the canopy. Neve...
