Rope work
Knots, belays, and the systems that save your life.
Why it matters
Rope work is the unglamorous half of alpine climbing — knots, belays, and crevasse rescue. It's also the half that keeps you alive when the glamour goes wrong.
What to know
knots figure-8, prusik, munter, clove belays anchored, direct, and equalised rescue a Z-pulley, from memory systems 3:1 and 5:1 haul
The test
Tie your knots in gloves, in the dark, with cold fingers. If you can't, you don't know them yet.