How to Tie a Prussic Knot

A Prussic knot, sometimes spelled Prussik, is an essential knot for climbers. It's quick to tie and saves lives when an emergency arises high on a mountain cliff. The strength of the Prussic knot lies in the design. With equal amounts of pressure coming from the top and bottom of the knot, the rope stays in place, no matter how much weight is applied.

Instructions

    • 1

      Secure your first rope, the rope you are attaching your knot to, in a location where it can hang vertically. Fold your second rope, the knot rope, in half and wrap the looped end horizontally around the rope you are attaching the knot to.

    • 2

      Feed the loose ends of the knot rope through the loop to make a girth hitch, with two strands of rope wrapped vertically along the rope you are attaching the knot to.

    • 3

      Wrap the loose ends around the rope you are attaching the knot to in the same direction as the last wrap, feeding the loose ends through the loop in the same manner.

    • 4

      Wrap the loose ends around the rope you are attaching the knot to again, in the same direction, and feed the loose ends through in the same manner as before.

    • 5

      Tighten the Prussic knot, making sure that the strands of rope are tightly wrapped and touching, but not crossed over each other. Pull down on the Prussic knot to see that it stays put on the rope. Push up from the bottom or down from the top to move the knot along the rope.