RRC Archives

I can see Paul trying this on someone during a climb and saying....

"Now WHAT did powen01 and dhoyne say to do?"

as the person is hanging in midair poor poor VA

Well, like dhoyne said, once that rope breaks free, you have to make sure you are braking the line... With the italian/munter hitch in the system, the load goes onto that instead of straight on your hand. Makes it easier to brake initially (negligible difference to some but can help if it's wet, icey or you are wearing gloves), and makes the lower smoother as well. Try both on the ground and see which works best for you...

Mind you, the italian/munter is not a backup and does not lock. I'm not sure what you meant by "backup" so I just wanted to be clear on that point.

Longlegsrule, are you volunteering to stand in VA's place while Paul3eb practices? I mean, if you help, you're sparing your friend some angst in the long run... right?

Paul3eb wrote:ok.. thanks powen01, that's pretty much what i was thinking had to happen.. except for the italian hitch..!? i'm assuming that's just a backup for the brake hand..? and dhoyne, that sling still has to be threaded through the anchor to pull up on the biner.. right?

I think they mean Muenter hitch by Italian hitch.

You can put the sling thru the anchor for some help -- it acts like a pulley.

I'm 210lbs, so I just step into the sling and it unlocks real quick.

a Muenter and an Italian hitch are the same thing.

Paul it sounds like everyone answered your question. I could give you more info, but it would be more of the same without pictures

yeah.. question answered. thanks everyone. it's really appreciated

Can 6 people answer any more of your questions at the same time?

I was belaying a second, my wife, using this thing for the first time a year or so ago, and when she fell, she couldn't get back on because of the overhang. Fortunatly, she was close enough that I could downclimb a bit and pull her up myself. I emailed Petzl about it, and got no response, so it has sat in the bottom of my bag since. It's good to know that there is a way to unlock that thing.

Not to be a smartass, but didn't you guys read the instructional manual that came with it? I practiced in my basement until I could unlock it without much effort.

are you sure it was in there? read earlier posts in this thread between me and meetva..

Yep. I still have my little manual and that's the way I learned how to unlock it. The instructions may not have been in earlier versions.