Knots

Interesting work!

 

Yes, I wanted to know why a larger rope of one type was faster on rappel than a much smaller rope of another type, so I worked out the coefficient chart then started testing various cordages on different materials and logging them into a spreadsheet....and found my answer

 

Not really. When you rig a 9mm rope through a device and rappel on it, then rig a 5.9mm rope through the same device and rappel on it, then realize the 5.9mm is a much slower rate of decent than the 5.9mm on the exact same device, it makes you find out why.

 

So, here's the break down for anyone interested:

 

And this is testing on sandstone.

 

All skills are the same, whether they are rope skills, survival skills, navigation skills, driving a car, baling hay, etc. Simply being able to reproduce a skill is worthless in the real world since all skills have variables. Understanding why something works allows you greater ability to reproduce that skill under a range of variables. That's why Patrick constantly increases the difficulty of a survival skill in his own practice. Once he can build a fire with friction, then he will work to build a fire with friction in a wet environment, different materials, etc. Many times it doesn't work but the not working is more valuable knowledge than the successes.

 

THIS.

 

My world opened up when i learned the truckers hitch. Made putting up my tarp so much easier. Knots are awesome.

 

One thing is for sure and that is that knot-tying is as perishable a skill as shooting or anything else...I've been brushing up on several of these in anticipation of our SRT Class next week.

I've tied kayaks on vehicles for 20+ years using a truckers hitch...an extremely useful, easy to tie, and easy to break knot. Of course it is finished with a few hitches as well but it's never let me down.