Page 76 - Rappelling

chapter three

Knots

Loop Knots

Loop knots are tied by taking two strands of rope
(called a bight) and wrapping them back over
themselves so that the knot does not slide, or by
taking the end of the rope and tying it back over
the standing part so the knot does not slide. Loop
knots are used to clip the rope into a carabiner, or
to tie around an object.

Overhand Loop
This is the simplest knot you can tie to form a loop.
It requires less rope to tie than the figure eight. For
most applications, however, the figure eight loop is
superior because it tests about 10 percent stronger
than the overhand loop and is easier to untie in
small-diameter cord. Overhand loop.

Knot Terminology

Bend: Two ropes tied together by their ends.
Bight: Two strands of rope where the rope is doubled back on itself.
Load strand: The strand of the rope that bears all the weight.
Hitch: A knot that is tied around another object (such as a carabiner or rope).
Standing end: The part of the rope that the end of the rope crosses to form a knot.
Tag end: The very end of a rope, or the tail end that protrudes from a knot.

George Armstrong rappels from the summit of
the Lightbulb, Arches National Park, Utah.
Pho to by Gre G ePPerson

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