ALPINE COILTHE ALPINE COIL IS A METHOD USED BY CLIMBERS FOR

CARRYING A ROPE, SUCH THAT THE ROPE REMAINS ATTACHED TO

HARNESSES AND READY FOR USE. IT IS ALSO KNOWN AS A
MOUNTAINEER'S COIL. OTHER GOOD COIL KNOTS INCLUDE:
THE FIREMAN'S COILANDTHE SAILOR'S COIL
1. Bring both ends to the top of
the newly made coil and form a
bight in one of the ends.
2. Wrap the working end of the
other rope around the strands
of the coil and the bight,
working forward as shown.
4. Tuck the working end of the
rope being wrapped around
through the bight first formed.
5. Pull the standing end of the
bight to capture the working
end tight

Bachmann KnotThe Bachmann Knot is a popular friction hitch with climbers and arborists. It can be tied with
either a factory made or temporary strop (no more than half the diameter of the vertical rope).
The Bachmann knot requires the use of a round cross section carabiner for friction. Grabbing hold of the carabiner
while unweighting the load on the hitch will release the friction and allow the hitch to slide freely and thus be
moved up or down appropriately. To remove the Bachmann hitch, just un-clip the top loop, hold onto the carabiner
and pull the cord free. It is advisable to use a locking carabiner for the Bachmann, considering youll be grabbing it
to move the hitch. And when using a self-constructed strop or loop, make sure to not wrap the Double Fishermans
Knot section of your loop in the wrapping, which can decrease the knots effectiveness.

1. Construct a strop of rope (not more

than 1/2 the diameter of the vertical rope)
or use a pre-made strop. Clip the strop
into the carabiner.
2. Hold the carabiner against the vertical
rope and wrap the strop around the rope
and pass through the carabiner.
3. Repeat, wrapping around the vertical
rope and through the carabiner again (an
additional wrap can be made if there is
room in the carabiner).
4. Apply load to the end of the strop to
bind the knot in place with friction.

Barrel HitchThis method of slinging a

barrel or a drum that has sealed ends
uses a strop (rope or webbing made
into a large loop). Make sure the strop
is splayed out toward the ends of the
barrel before hoisting.

1. Take a pre-made rope or webbing strop and pass it around the barrel.
Run the end of the strop back up and through the opening formed at the
top of the barrel.
2. Before hoisting, splay the strop out toward the ends of the barrel and
then take up the slack and hold tension while attaching to a hook for
hoisting.
Note that a strop can be made with a length of rope or webbing by tying
the ends together with a Double Fisherman's Knot.

Blakes HitchThe Blakes Hitch is a friction knot popular with

arborists for ascending and descending on ropes. The name
derives from Jason Blake who is credited with describing the
knot to other arborists in 1994. This hitch has the advantage
that it can be tied with the end of a rope instead of requiring a
Prusik Loop. A stopper knot such as the Figure Eight is
recommended to be tied with tag end after the knot is drawn
up.

1. Wrap line four times around other rope, working

from bottom to top.
2. Leave room in 2nd wrap to accommodate tag end
of rope.
3. Run tag end down to and over standing line,
behind static rope and out through 2nd wrap.
4. Tighten knot and finish with a stopper knot (Figure
Eight) at the end of the line.

Bowline On A BightThis knot forms a

bowline (secure loop) in the middle of a line.
Useful when you want a non-slip loop but a
free end is not handy or to provide two loops
in the end of a line. This knot can be used as
a sling or as a seat or bosums chair in an
emergency rescue situation. The two loops
can be worked to different sizes if needed.

1. Double a section of line and form a loop or "eye" in the line.

2. Pass the free end up through the eye forming a double loop
below the eye.
3. Spread open the free end and bring it down to the bottom of the
double loop.
4. Pass over double loop and continue up to top of eye.
5. Seat the knot by pulling on the double loop while holding the
standing line.

Butterfly KnotForms secure loop(s) in the middle of a rope. It will accommodate a

load in any direction. Mountain climbers use the Butterfly Knot for tying-in the
middle climber when traveling three to a rope. Also useful for making non-slip loops
in the middle of a rope to attach carabiners to provide purchase points for a winch
line essential in canoe rescue work. It can take a load in any of the three directions,
independently or together. The knot can also be used to isolate a damaged section
of a rope.
1. Make a loop in the rope and twist it one full rotation into an eight

shape.
2. Fold the top of the eight down around the bottom of the eight.
3. Now up and out through the lower opening of the eight and pull tight.

Cleat HitchThe Cleat Hitch is the best way to tie a boat to a dock. It is a quick and easy method of tying a rope to a
cleat on a dock or boat that is also easy to untie. Learn the Cleat Hitch if you own a boat or even if you dont. It is
amazing how many boat owners do not know this easy and essential boating knot. This knot ties and unties quickly
and neatly. You will impress everyone if you tie this knot when handed a rope at the dock!
1. Take a turn around the base of the cleat, and then bring the line over the top of the cleat.
2. Wrap the line back under the arm of the cleat opposite the first turn, then back over the top of the cleat.
3. Wrap under the first arm a 2nd time and then back over the top of the cleat. You have now made a figure eight pattern over and around the cleat.
Now form an under hand loop and slip that loop over the arm of the cleat, which pins the free end under the last wrap.
4. Pull the free end tight and you have the neat, tidy and secure Cleat Hitch.

Clove HitchA simple all-purpose hitch. Easy to tie and untie. A useful and easy to tie
knot, the Clove Hitch is a good binding knot. However, as a hitch it should be used with
caution because it can slip or come undone if the object it is tied to rotates or if constant
pressure is not maintained on the line.

1. Wrap the free end of a rope around a post.

2. Crossover itself and around the post again.
3. Slip working end under last wrap.
4. Pull tight.

Constrictor KnotA useful knot to tie up loose materials or the ends of bags. Simple to
tie, it grips itself and will not work loose. Also known as the Millers Knot this knot is useful
for securing the end of a sack or bundles of items. The knot stays tied and grips itself so
well that it is often impossible to untie.
1. Starting in front of the objects, make one wrap from right to left

around the object(s) to be bound and cross over in the front.

2. Wrap around the object again.
3. Feed the working end back under the two wraps making sure you
first cross over the standing line.
4. Pull both ends to tighten up the knot.

Double FishermansThis knot securely ties two ropes together or can be used to fasten the ends of a rope or
cord to make a loop. Rarely used in fishing, the Double Fishermans is a good knot for tying two ropes together.
It is essentially two knots that slide together when tightened to form the finished knot. Tying just one side of the
knot is also used by mountain climbers to tie a backup knot with the tag (free) end of the primary knot. When
tied in short lengths of rope, kayakers and canoeists use the knot to secure rope grab handles to their boats.

1. Lay the ends of two lines parallel to each other.

2. Coil the free end of one rope twice around the second rope and
pass it back through the inside of the coils.
3. Repeat with second rope in opposite direction . Pull free ends to
tighten knots, then standing lines to slide knots together.

Figure EightThe figure eight follow through is one of the strongest knots. It forms a secure,
non-slip loop at the end of a rope. Also known as the Flemish Bend, this is the most widely
used tie-in knot by mountain climbers. The reason is that it is strong, secure and easy to
visually inspect. Climbers often further secure it by tying a back up knot with the tag end.
The knot can also be tied by tying a Figure Eight Knot with doubled line at the end of a rope
(Step 1, but dont come back through the bottom loop). It is faster but cannot be used if
tying into a fixed object, so it is good to learn to tie this knot as the Figure Eight Follow
Through. A single Figure Eight also makes a good Stopper Knot at the end of a rope (Step
1 with the single line but dont come back up through the bottom loop).

1. Tie a single eight in the rope two feet from its end. Pass the free end
through any tie-in point if desired.
2. Retrace the original eight with the free end leaving a loop at the bottom
of the desired size.
3. Pull all four strands of rope to cinch down the knot.

FRENCH WHIPPINGFrench Whipping

is very similar to Common Whipping
but it differs in that each wrap around
the rope is done with a half hitch
instead of simply wrapping around the
rope. This results in both a more secure
whipping and an attractive spiral
design of the half hitch knots within the
whipping

1. Near the end of the rope, tie a simple overhand knot leaving a short tag end
and a long working end. Lay the tag end on top of the rope and begin making
half hitches over the tag end and around the rope end being whipped.
2. Continue this same process of tying half hitches around the rope and burying
the tag end in the new wraps.
3. Once you have wrapped past the tag and and approximately one to one and
a half times the diameter of the rope being whipped, you will now secure the
knot by leaving two half hitches open and inserting the working end through
both loops of the half hitches. You can repeat this a second time if desired.
4. Pull the working end very tight and trim close to the wraps.

Heaving Line KnotThis knot adds bulk and weight to the end of a rope making it easier to
throw the line.
1. Double end of line.
2. Make 2 - 5 wraps around outside of both parts of doubled line.
3. Tuck tag end through loop.
4. Pull tight.

Honda KnotThis is the knot all cowboys use to form their lasso or lariat. The Honda Knot
creates the most nearly-perfect circle of any knot. Its round shape, especially when tied in
stiff rope, helps it slide freely along the rope it is tied around which is what makes it good
for a lariat.
1. Tie a loose overhand knot at the end of a rope.

2. Now tie a tight overhand knot at the very end of the rope for a stopper
and bring the end back through one side of the overhand knot.
3. Tighten down the loose overhand knot and pull the stopper knot up tight.
That is the circular Honda Knot.
4. Now feed the main line through the Honda to form a lasso of any size.

Klemheist KnotThe Klemheist Knot is tied by making a Prusik Loop with line or rope that
is no more than 1/2 the diameter of the main, static rope. The resulting friction knot loop
can then slide up the rope but grips when subjected to load. It can also slide down a line
by gripping the knot itself with no load applied.
1. Place a loop consisting of cordage no more than 1/2 the diameter of the main line behind the static line.
2. Make a wrap around the static line with the loop on the right.
3. Repeat two more times working from bottom to top.
4. Feed left hand loop through loop on right.
5. Pull left hand loop back over to left side of static line and pull down hard to set the knot.
6. Grasp entire knot and slide up the static line. Load and grip the knot to the static line with weight to the loop.

MarlThe Marl is used with a running bowline to secure a log or branch close to its end.
The running bowline is simply a bowline tied around the standing part of the line, while
the marl is formed beneath it on the piece. A marl is formed by crossing the working end
over the top of the standing part of the line, then up beneath it.

1. Tie a Running Bowline around the end of the log or branch. When pulled
tight, it will cinch down to secure the log.
2. Run the rope a short way down the below the Running Bowline and wrap
around the log. Feed end of rope under the wrap just made, effectively tying
an overhand knot.
3. Repeat once or twice more.

Monkey's FistThe origin of the Monkey's Fist knot is as a heaving line knot used on ships of sail of
yesteryear. However, the knot is now more popular as a decorative knot and can be found in sizes small
to large: from key chains to door stopper weights. The size of the knot is dependent on the thickness of
the rope in which it is tied and the number of turns made.
Often a spherical object such as a golf ball, marble, or tennis ball is used in the center of the knot to
help attain a more perfect round shape and give the knot weight when used for decoration (not for
throwing - it is already more than heavy enough with the coiled rope for throwing purposes). Alternately,
a stopper knot tie at the end of the working end and tucked inside the knot prior to tightening works
well. Both ends of the rope can be tucked inside the knot upon completion or they can both be left long
and tied together. This knot may take several attempts through trial and error to get a nice perfectly
round and tight fitting knot!

1. Take your rope and with the long working end make three wraps around the fingers of your hand.
2. While holding the first set of turns in place, make three more turns passing outside the middle of the first three
turns. Finish this step by passing the working end around one side of the first set of turns. This sets up the working
end for the next step which passes the end through the inside of the previous wraps.
3. Now make three turns around the set of wraps made in the previous step, passing through the inside of the knot.
Double check that you have made the same number of turns for each step.
4. Finishing the knot: At this point a round object can be inserted in the center of the wraps or the standing end of the
rope can be tucked inside either with or without a stopper knot at the end as well. Working slowly (and patiently)
begin tightening by working on each wrap, starting near the buried stopper knot and finishing with the other end of
the rope. Do not pull too hard on the first few wraps. You will need to work your way through the knot more than
once. The use of a small screwdriver or awl can help on the last tightening session through the knot.

Mooring HitchA good temporary knot. Can be released quickly with a tug on the free
end. The Mooring Hitch holds fast under load yet comes apart instantly with a pull of the
tag end. It can be tied up tight to an object or anywhere along the length of the rope so
you can reach and release it without getting off your horse or out of your boat.
1. Make a turn around a post and then form a loop with the free end exiting the loop
on the inside (leave longer free end than illustrated).
2. Grasp the standing line and pull a section through your loop.
3. Grasp a section of the free end (but not the very end) and pull part way through the
new loop.
4. Tighten the knot by pulling down on the standing line. Release the knot by pulling
the free end.

Rolling BendThe Rolling Bend is similar to

the Timber Hitch. It is useful in moving logs,
posts or other cylindrical objects.

1. Wrap working end around object three to four times and

then back around standing part.
2. Wrap working end around object again.
3. Finish knot with two half hitches with working end. Pull
tight and maintain tension with standing line.