Page 95 - Outward Bound Ropes, Knots, and Hitches

Ropes, Knots, and Hitches

Munter (Italian) Hitch

uSed fOR IMpROvISIng A BeLAy OR
A RAppeL devICe wItH tHe uSe Of
One OR twO CARABIneRS
The Munter hitch works as a climbing device for belaying
and rappelling and should be learned by all climbers. The
knot grips a carabiner when a load is applied, but the
rope runs through the carabiner when the load is off. It
should be used with one locking carabiner or two non-
locking carabiners with the gates reversed. Test the knot
on safe ground by pulling aggressively on the standing
part before trusting it to save a life! Werner Munter, a
Swiss guide, popularized this knot, leaving his name in
the annals of climbing.

Munter Hitch: Step 1 Munter Hitch: Step 2

Twist a coil into the rope with Clip the carabiner into both
the upper and lower strands sides of the folded strands
of the coil folded together, as with the spine of the carabiner
shown in the photograph. next to the strand that will
bear the load.

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