Climbing Tools: The Monster Munter

The Monster Munter is a hitch that I learnt around 1990. It took awhile to get used to but in the end I used it quite a bit. It has the advantages of adding friction to a lower and most important does NOT TWIST THE ROPE! I yelled that out for the world to hear. It really is not that hard to learn and with a little practice you'll be whipping it up like a pro. It is also the hitch that the "know it all" at the crag has never heard or seen. Useful with heavy loads.

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Education

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• munter
• hitch
• climbing
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• joe
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[ivanovivan11]

does it matter which side of the munter hitch (or monster munter) is facing you while you are lovering someone or belaying?

[mikebarter387]

@ivanovivan11 I don't believe so. As long as the munter is constructed correctly it will behave it's self.

[pasto76]

isnt that too much nylon on nylon violence?

[mikebarter387]

@pasto76 You'd think so , but the short answer is no.

[usulmauddib]

Mike, would you use this as a preferred method for lowering someone or only when you don't have a belay device?

Btw, I enjoy all of you videos, thanks so much for sharing.

[mikebarter387]

@usulmauddib I would use this with heavy loads like two people at once or a 800 pound gorilla, it works better then a standard belay device in most cases.

[Bungaroo100]

And my life is better than your holiday!

[doublebitaxe]

I found this knot in the Ashley Book of Knots (ABoK #1195). He calls it the "Zigzag Knot." Perhaps "Monster Munter" is a better name, especially for climbers who are already familiar with the Munter hitch (which is also in ABoK, #1818, under the name "Crossing Hitch").

I really enjoyed your video. I'm not a mountain climber (yet) but I am a knot enthusiast. There are many videos showing how to tie knots, but too few have commentary on when and how to use them. Keep up the good work.

[flynandi]

Your videos are super good...very educative.I simply love watching them. Thanks for sharing your immense knowledge & skill with the world.

"My life is better than your vacation"... Awesome bottom line...wanna print it on my Tee Shirt !

[punker334]

how much does this hitch impact the WLL of the rope? Ideally there wouldn't be a shock load situation, but just in case, will it significantly impact the strength of the rope used?

[MatthewHammer]

@MsBigcanoe u r a wonabe speeler.

[MsBigcanoe]

u r a wonabe climber

[tubalooney]

@mikebarter387 Thanks Joe!

Three of us did a glacier trek from Aosta to Zermatt zig zagging our way between Switzerland and Italy for eleven days. A really great trip. I took my prussiks and my tibloks! Thankfully we didn't have to try out our crevasse rescue techniques but we were really glad that we had done all our training days in Chamonix with our guide up near the Aguille de Midi.

Out snowshoeing these days!

Thanks for all your great videos and wisdom.

All the best