Knots or lots! The Basics for Outdoor Education

The rationale Aside from serving as a line to dry your bathing suit after a dip in the lake or airing out that soggy sleeping bag, rope is essential to any backpacking or hiking adventure. Sure one or two simple knots are all you need to get by, but using the right knot in the right circumstance can mean the difference between you or your pesky forest neighbors downing your food supply. Actually it is wise to keep all smelly items tied in bags... you never know the exotics your smellables may attract.

Bowline The Bowline makes a reasonably secure loop in the end of a piece of rope. It has many uses, e.g., to fasten a mooring line to a ring or a post. Under load, it does not slip or bind. With no load it can be untied easily. It's principle shortcoming is that it cannot be tied, or untied, when there is a load on the standing end. It should therefore be avoided when, for example, a mooring line may have to be released under load. Two bowlines can be linked together to join two ropes.

The Sheet Bend The Sheet Bend is recommended for joining two ropes of unequal size. It works equally well if the ropes are of the same size. It would replace the Reef (Square) knot except for the awkward fact that it has to be tied with both ends loose in your hands with no load on the ropes (The reef - with all its faults - can be tied tight against a sail, or parcel, and usually stays tight while the second half hitch is tied).

The Reef (Square) Knot The Reef (Square) Knot is usually learned when we tie the laces on our first pair of shoes. Admittedly it is usually a bow that we tie - but the underlying knot is a Square (Reef) Knot. We also learn just how unsatisfactory the knot is. It slips, it comes undone, it jams, and it is all too easy to tie a granny instead which behaves even less well.

The Figure of Eight The Figure of Eight provides a quick and convenient stopper knot to prevent a line sliding out of site, e.g., up inside the mast. Its virtue is that, even after it has been jammed tightly against a block, it doesn't bind; it can be undone easily. This virtue is also, occasionally, a vice. The figure of eight can fall undone and then has to be retied.

The Trucker's Hitch The Trucker's Hitch (Lorry Hitch, Haymaker's Hitch, Harvester's Hitch) is used to secure a load or a tarpaulin. It's distinctive feature is that it provides a three to one purchase when being tightened. The variety of names for this hitch is a tribute to its widespread use. It is a valuable knot - particularly for securing loads or tarpaulins.

The Clove Hitch The Clove Hitch is included here primarily to condemn it. Its only advantage is being pleasingly easy to tie. However, it has two major failings: it slips and, paradoxically, can also bind.

The Rolling Hitch The Rolling Hitch attaches a rope (usually smaller) to another (usually larger) when the line of pull is almost parallel. It can also be used to attach a rope to a pole (see below).

A Round Turn and Two Half Hitches A Round Turn and Two Half Hitches is ideal for attaching a mooring line to a dock post or ring. As the name suggests, it is composed of two important parts:

The Alpine Butterfly The Alpine Butterfly (a.k.a., Lineman's Loop - Ashley # 1053, page 191) provides a secure loop in the middle of a piece of rope. Load can be safely applied: from the loop to either end of the rope; between the two ends with the loop hanging free; or, to the loop with the load spread between the two ends.