2017 Homework Two: Basic Climbing Knots

Purpose 

• Learn how to tie basic climbing knots
• Learn how to pull people up using a rope
• Learn how to tie to a rope so that you could be pulled up by your teammate
• Prepare for rope team

What do you need?

You can start to practice knots with any rope. However, the following items are recommended. You could carry them with you whenever we hike or climb.

• 5mm-7mm Rope Cordelette from Amazon or REI.
• One or Two Locking Carabiners from REI. 
• Buy a Prusik Cord Set from REI or cut a piece of rope from the cordelette and use double fisherman's knot to create a Prusik loop.

Knots 

• Overhand and Bowline
• Figure-8 Knot
• Square Knot
• Butterfly Knot 
• Double Fisherman's Knot
• Prusik Knot
• One Handed Bowline
• Swiss Seat (replacement for harness in emergency)

If you are interested in more basic climbing knots, please watch the SMC seminar: fundamental knots.

 Use cases

• Use bowline to tie your body to a rope so that you could be pulled up by your teammate
• Use one handed bowline to tie your body to a rope when you only have one hand free in some scenarios.
• Use Swiss Seat (square knot will be used) as a harness and use a locking carabiner to tie in a rope
• Use figure-8 (on the end of a rope) or butterfly (in the middle of a rope) to tie in a rope
• Use double fisherman's knot to tie two ropes/cordelettes together
• Use double fisherman's knot to build a Prusik loop.
• Use prusik knot to prevent you from slipping out a rope with overhand knots on the end of the rope
• Use prusik knot (two are preferred) to climb up a rope if the ground is too difficult to climb, for example, very soft snow.