The munter hitch is the one knot every alpine climber should be able to tie in gloves, in the dark, in a snowstorm. Here's why it saves lives.

It works both ways

The munter is a friction hitch that belays and rappels — flip it one way and it feeds, flip it the other and it locks. One knot, two jobs, no extra gear.

It can't be dropped

You drop a belay device and you're in trouble. You drop a munter and you just tie another — the knot is the gear. That's why guides teach it first.