Page 36 - Nate Fitch, Ron Funderburke "Climbing Knots"

CHAPTER 3

Tying the Rope to
a Climber

ne of the most common contexts for ropework
O in climbing, in many cases the very first task a
climber learns, is attaching the rope to a harness. There
are many options even for that discrete task, but three
knots consistently survive climbers’ collective scrutiny
and experimentation. As a result, they can be mastered
without any need for variation, adjustment, or distortion.

The Figure 8 Follow Through

The figure 8 follow
through is one of the
most common knots
used to attach the
rope to a climber’s
harness. It is the
ubiquitous climbing
knot because is it
strong, easy to recog-
nize from a distance,
and easy to teach,
and at this point
it has permeated
climbing culture.
The figure 8 follow through:
well dressed, a 6-inch tail,
and a small gap between the
knot and the harness.

23