Rope Climbing Ascending Techniques

People climb ropes for many reasons. For example, artificial aid climbers, who use equipment rather than their bare hands to ascend rock faces, often climb ropes. Typically, the first person leading up the face will use equipment. He will fix a rope once he reaches the anchor. The second climber then ascends that rope. You can climb ropes using friction knots or mechanical ascenders. This article highlights prusik knots, which are friction knots.

  1. Creating a prusik knot out of a loop of rope

    • Prusik knots are not necessarily the best way to ascend a rope. Mechanical devices are easier and simpler. However, it is often inconvenient to carry around mechanical ascending devices. They are typically heavy and clunky. It is much easier to carry a tied loop of 6 to 7mm cord on your harness. Make sure to tie the ends of the cord together with climbing knots. You will need 20 to 50 inches of cord to make a long enough loop for a prusik knot. Make sure there is a bit of a tail left over so you can tie one of many safety knots.

    Tying the prusik knot onto the rope

    • There is an art to tying prusik knots. Seek expert instruction before trying to ascend a rope on your own. This guide is meant as an introduction.

      Start by placing a loop of cord behind a rope that is anchored above you. Hold the knot in one hand and the other end of the cord in your other hand. Wrap the knotted end of the loop around the rope three or four times, so it stays inside the entire loop of cord. Then pull the knot through the other end of the loop of cord and cinch it down. Repeat the process, putting the second knot under the first.

    Ascending the rope using the prusik and etriers

    • When you are ready to ascend the rope, you also will need two locking carabiners and a set of etriers. For more information on locking carabiners and etriers, see References below. Basically, a locking carabiner is one that can be secured (locked) so it doesn't inadvertently open if the gate is bumped. Etriers are ladder-like contraptions that climbers use as a way of "stepping up" a rope.

      To ascend the rope using the prusik knots you have tied, clip a locking carabiner to each of the knots, and then clip the etriers to each of the locking carabiners. Then stand in the lower etrier and push the upper prusik and etrier up the rope. Shift your weight to the upper prusik and etrier and push the lower knot and etrier up the rope. Repeat this process until you have reached the desired height up the rope.

      Keep in mind you can also use climbing webbing to make a prusik knot, but be careful because the webbing tends to burn when it rubs against the rope too much or too fast.

      A person who ascends a rope must have a proper and safe climbing harness, and that harness must be connected the etriers with a piece of sewn or tied webbing. The sewn webbing should be girth hitched to the harness and then attached to the locking carabiners on the etriers.