Page 35 - Peter Randall - The Craft of the Knot

Ashley’s Bend is very strong and secure when used to join similar ropes. It does not

slip even when brought under severe shock loads, but can be untied easily when desired.

BACKING UP BEND

You can make a bend more secure by tying down the running ends. Backing Up is a
good method for bends like the Surgeon’s Bend, where running ends exit parallel to the
standing parts.

Tie down the running ends of a Surgeon’s Bend (see further) with a Half Hitch (see
Chapter 4) on each side.

This extra tie-off can also be an Overhand Knot. When you make bends with climbing
rope, you may also consider using Triple Overhand Knots (see Chapter 1) as a backup—
the extra tie-off will make the knot safer and will keep the running ends of the knot

from waving around.

BOWLINE BEND

If it happens that two ropes that need to be joined are greatly dissimilar in size or
material—or both—a bend may not be a safe and secure solution. Instead, what you can
do is join the two ropes by forming two loops. If a loop is tied in one end, and a loop is
tied in the other end so that it passes through the first one, then together they make a

bend. If both loops are Bowlines, then the result is called a Bowline Bend.