This is the forty-seventh of a weekly blog series that will focus on leadership in the outdoors and how to get the most from the least. Even though the title is called, “Thoughts of a Modern-Day Mountain Man”, it will hopefully cover topics that are useful to everyone.
Chapter 47: Fit to be Tied.
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe."
-John Muir
I have always been fascinated by knots and hitches. With the appropriately utilized knot or hitch, the Modern-Day Mountain Man can fix just about any problem that arises when in the field. Duct tape is, of course, an indispensable tool with which I have fixed many different problems. I have often referred to duct tape as the 11th essential, and I am rarely found in the field without it. The advantage of using properly applied knots and hitches over duct tape is that when used correctly a knot of hitch is much stronger and can be utilized in any temperature or condition. I have experienced temperatures that are too cold for duct tape to properly adhere, or I have had gear that is too wet for the gray miracle to stick to. There is also great confidence with the knowledge of how to tie and utilize knots and hitches. With the proper knowledge and skills the Modern-Day Mountain Man can make rope and cordage out of many natural materials found throughout the natural world.
I believe learning four basic knots and four basic hitches will enable any outdoor leader or professional to start on the correct path for a life-long fascination with ropework. The four basic knots I teach most groups I lead are the overhand (which would be an essential portion of the fisherman’s knot), the figure-eight (and all of the variants), the bowline, and the square knot. The four hitches are the trucker’s, taut line, Munter, and the clove hitch. There are certainly many more knots and hitches to learn, but almost all build upon the basic principles of the aforementioned knots and hitches.
It is not simply a matter of success and failure or life-and-death learning how to properly use knots and hitches, it is also a great deal of fun. I have had many groups throughout the years sit around a campfire for hours on end perfecting their craft and ropework after the formal instruction has ended. Having the knowledge of how to properly utilize cordage and ropes also gives participants the opportunity to practice their leadership skills while sharing the knowledge they learn with someone who may be struggling to figure out the steps to end with a properly finished knot or hitch.
In this chapter I am going to include illustrations on how to tie several very useful knots and hitches, including the ones mentioned above. These illustrations were put together by two of the finest field staff I ever had the honor of working with during my time as an outdoor professional or guide. Andy and Adam were two of the most professional and knowledgeable staff that I ever had the pleasure of working with and leading. They compiled these very detailed illustrations while designing a program for men and women in a recovery program that would be spending time traveling through the rugged Rocky Mountains as part of their recovery process. These two Modern-Day Mountain Men lead many groups that needed their expertise in learning all they could about God’s wondrous creation. Well done Adam and Andy.
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