How to Tie-In to a Climbing Harness

Safety is the first priority when rock climbing. The gear can protect you only if used correctly. Although there are other options, it is a standard in the climbing community to use a figure eight retrace knot to tie-in to the climbing harness. Tying in to your harness correctly is one of the most important of all safety precautions.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Climbing Harness
• Dynamic climbing rope (eHow recommends 10mm diameter and 60m length)

1. Put on your harness. Remember to double back your buckles.

2. 

   Grab the climbing end of the rope with both hands side by side.

3. 

   Extend your arms outward, letting the rope slide through your left hand and holding tight with your right. This will measure an arm's length of rope.

4. 

   Pinch the rope with your left hand, bending it over on itself to make a loop.

5. 

   Twist the loop twice for a 360 degree revolution.

6. 

   With your right hand stick the end of the rope through the loop and pull it all the way through. The knot should now look like an eight.

7. 

   Stick the end of the rope up and under the two tie-in points of your harness. Every harness has a slightly different design, so be sure you have read the manual and know where to tie-in. Pull the rope through until the figure eight knot is about a fist's distance away from the harness.

8. 

   Retrace the figure eight with the end of the rope, following along the outside of the knot all the way through the eight shape.

9. 

   Pull the end of the rope through to tighten the knot.

10. 

    Line up the tail so that it runs parallel to the rest of the rope. Tie a fisherman's knot with the tail around the length of the rope. Simply wrap the tail around the rope creating a loop. Then pull the end through the loop. Some climbers prefer a double fisherman's which involves wrapping the rope around twice.

11. The final step is to always double check yourself before climbing.
    There are 5 checks:
    1.Double-backed buckles on harness (there should be three)
    2.Up and under two points of contact
    3.Fist distance away from harness
    4.The figure eight retrace knot should have double rope in every section: coming from the harness, in each part of the eight, and going up to the safety knot.
    5.Safety knot

Tips & Warnings

• Always double check yourself and your belayer. The belayer should do the same. Make this a habit.
• Climbing is an inherently dangerous sport. Seek expert instruction before participating in this sport. Most climbing gyms offer a wide range of classes taught by certified instructors.

[dcblack]

on 3/24/2008 What is the safety knot? I have seen the term "safety knot" used repeatedly all over the web as in "then add the safety knot"; however, nowhere seems to define or explain what the "safety knot" is. The Boy Scouts of America even require that the safety knot be learned for their climbing merit badge. But what is the safety knot?