Page 35 - Peter Owen - Knots

Ij PRUSIK KNOT

This knot is named after Dr Carl J'rusik, who
devised it in ]931. It is a comparatively simple
knot to tie, which is used by climbers to attach
slings to a rope so that they slide smoothly
when the knot is loose but hold firm when a
sideways load is imposed. Although the knot
does not always slide easily, once the load is in
place it can be released only by removing the
weight and freeing the turns of the rope. The
Prusik knot is useful for anyone who has to
I scale awkward heights- tree surgeons and
(avers, for example - as well as for climbers,
who use it as a safety mechanism when
abseiling or rappelling (that is, descending a
steep rock face by using doubled rope fixed ilt a
higher point).
The knot must be tied with rope thai is
considerably thinner than the line around
which it is tied, and it is important to note that it
may slip if the rope is wet or icy.

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