Originally Posted By Jimshaw
fme

I think you don't want to know how many Americans cannot even tie their shoelace and get a square knot right. My European climbing friends always laughed that Americans need all of the pieces of aluminum climbing gear cause we can't tie knots. I learned to tie a onehanded bowline around myself while hanging onto a rope with my teeth. Its a good trick to know, sometimes...
Oh yes - teach em a figure 8, it can be used as a hitch, knot, bend etc.
Jim crazy



Funny you mention that. One of the boys tried to tie a square knot and tied a granny knot. So, I showed him again. He tied the granny again. Then I said "let me see your shoelaces". Sure enough, granny knot. I asked him if his shoelaces come undone a lot..."Sure do". I will quiz him again later and see if he remembers. grin

I am surprised that BSA doesn't make the figure eight a requirement. I think it is more important than any other knot. If you want to put your body weight on the rope and dangle over a cliff, you better use only figure eights.
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