Rope Courses

Objectives of Rope Course

1. demonstrate the different techniques of knot
tying
2. discuss different kinds of rappel
3. differentiate the different parts of a knot
4. state the importance of knot in
mountaineering operation
5. perform the different kind of rappels, rope
counsel and obstacle course.

KNOT TYING

Three (3) Classifications of Knots

A. Knots at the end of the Rope

1. Over Hand Knot - commonly used and is one of the
simplest of all knots. Used to prevent the end of the rope
from untwisting to form a knot at the end of the rope and
serve as a part another knot. Reduces the strength of the
straight rope by 55 percent
2. Figure of Eight Knot- form a larger knot by overhand knot.
Prevent the end of the rope to slipping to fastening or loop in
another rope
3. Wall Knot - will prevent the rope from twisting but to make a
neat round knot crown it.

B. Knots for Joining Two (2) Ropes

1. Square Knots - to tie two ropes of equal sizes
together so they will not slip
2. Single Sheet Bend - tying a rope to an eye,
tying together two ropes of unequal sizes.
3. Double Sheet Bend - has greater holding
power than the single shift bend for joining ropes
of equal or unequal diameter and joining a wet
ropes.

C. Knots for Making Ropes

1. Bowline - one of the common knots and has a
variety of uses, one of which is the lowering of
men and materials.
2. Double Bowline -forms three non slipping
loop, used to sling a man
3. Running Bowline - form a strong running loop.
4. Bowline on Bight - use for the same purpose
as boniswains chair
5. French Bowline - used as sling to lift injured
man

D. Knot Tying Techniques

1. Knots for Tightening a Rope
a. Butterfly Knot - Tying into the middle of the rope where
the strain will come from both sides of the knot.
b. Wiremans Knot - Forms a directional single fixed loop
in the middle of the rope and is used in a transporttightening system.
c. Prusik - Used to put a movable knot on a fixed rope so
the knot will lock down or secure itself to the rope passing
through the knot.

Middle of the rope Prusik knot.

Finger Prusik Knot
End of the Rope Prusik Knot

2. Hitches - Used to form temporary rose in a rope or to

secure a rope around a timber, pipe or post so that it will
hold temporarily and can be readily undone.
a. Half-Hitch - Used to tie a rope to a timber or to a large rope
b. Two-Half-Hitch - especially useful for securing the running
end of a rope to the standing part.
c. Sheep Shank - Method of shortening a roper but you can
use it to take the load of a weak spot in the rope.
d. Clove Hitch - Used to fasten a rope to a piece of timber,
pipe or post
e. Round turn and Two Half-hitches - can be tied under load
f. Timber Hitch - To move heavy timber or poles
g. Timber Hitch and Half-Hitch - one combined to hold
heavy timber or poles when they are being lifted or dragged

Rappelling
To select the proper rappel point, observe the
following:
1. Select proper rappel point, close to edges if
possible.
2. Test anchor for safety and retrievability of the
rope.
3. Remove loose rock.
4. Avoid running the rope over the sharp edges.
5. Ensure that the rope reaches the end the
bottom of good unloading platform.

Types of Rappel
A. Body Rappel - to perform below the ff steps:
1. Face anchor; straddle rope. Bring rope from behind, around
one hip diagonally across the chest opposite shoulder across
the back to the brake hand.
2. Part legs apart, full sole, back straight. Lean well out an
angle to the rock.
3. The performer leads with the break hand pointed downhill
and face slightly sideways.
4. Lead with downhill foot.
5. To brake, bring the break hand across the chest and lean
back to face the cliff, so the feet are horizontal to the ground.
6. Keep the guide hand on the rope above the rappeller for
balance.

B. Hasty Rappel - Used for carrying a light load

and the slope is not asstep.
How to do it:
1. Face sideways to anchor.
2. Place rappel rope across the back.
3. The hand nearest the anchor is the guide
hand. The downhill hand is the brake hand.
4. Descend sideways, full soles the body is
almost perpendicular to the rock.
5. To stop bring the brake hand in front of the
body and turned facing the anchor point.

C. Piggy Back Rappel - Used if you have to

carry along a casualty
Done like the sit hip rappel.
D. Rundown Rappel - Used this when you are
going down a gradual inclined and you expect
the enemy down below. You need only one hand
to run through this type. This allow you to hold
on your rifle and keep it pointed towards the
suspected enemy position.

E. Sit Hip Rappel

1. Stand on one side of the rope so that the square knot faces the anchor
point.
2. Place the double rope on to snap link. Full an arms length of this slack
between the snap link and the anchor point.
3. Make a round turn around the solid shaft of the snap link. Full an arm
length of slack between the snap link and the anchor point.
4. With the rappel rope held with the break hand to the rear in the small of
the back, guide hand on the rope with arm extended in front of the snap
link.
5. With legs straight and feet shoulder width apart, maintain good L- shape
body position with the legs parallel to the ground and back straight.
6. In a walk-down rappel, the break hand is kept in a small of the back.
Regulate descent by opening and closing your hand.
7. In a bounding rappel the break hand is moved out to the rear of the
body during descent.
8. Lower over brake shoulder to observe the route of descent.

Rope Courses
A. Commando Crawl
B. Water-Level Crossing
C. Monkey Crawl
D. Two-Rope Bridge Crossing
E. Slide for Life
F. Jump and Punch
G. Three Rope Bridge
H. Tarzan Swing
I. Fly Vi
J. Fast Rope
K. Baby Crawl


Practical Graded Exercises/Summary
A. Evaluation Preparation

PRACTICAL EXERCISE GUIDE

(Instructor)
Provide utility rope needed for the knot tying activity
Clear and prepare the immediate vicinity of the
Obstacle Course and assign assistant instructors in
every obstacle.
Clear and prepare the immediate vicinity of the Rope
Course and assign
assistant instructors in every stage.

PRACTICAL EXERCISE GUIDE (Trainee)

1. Tell the trainee to perform ten types of knot to
be dictated by the instructor within the
prescribed time.
2. Tell the trainee to pass through the obstacle
course within a prescribed time and observe
safety.
3. Tell the trainee to pass through the rope course
within a prescribed time and observe safety.

PERFORMANCE MEASURE NO

NO GO

1. Ability to identify all forms of knot ______ ______

2. Ability to make a knot within the prescribe time.
______ ______
3. Ability to pass the obstacle courses within the Prescribe
time.
______ ______
4.Ability to pass the rope courses within the prescribe time
______ ______
5.Ability to perform rappelling in the correct manner as
prescribe.
______ ______

EVALUATION GUIDELINES
Score the trooper go if all performances
measures are passed. Score the students
trainee no go if any performance measure is
failed. If the students trainee fail any
performance measure, show him what was
come wrong and how to do it correctly.