An outdoor rope is an essential piece of gear, and before considering performance, we prioritize its lightweight nature. We can’t expect everyone to carry a standard 50-meter main rope everywhere. Therefore, the rescue rope we need should weigh around 500 grams. Based on usage environments and needs, the rescue rope defined here does not serve climbing purposes, so it typically should have the following characteristics:
1) Length between 15 and 20 meters.
2) Rope diameter between 7mm and 8mm.
3) Less than 3% elongation (static rope).
4) Static tensile strength above 500kN (approximately 500 kilograms), a professional climbing auxiliary rope.
5) Relatively low cost (since it's not used for climbing or rappelling, domestic ropes can be considered).
Practical uses of outdoor rescue ropes
All experienced team leaders or outdoor experts understand one principle: the simplest method is often the best, and the best approach is using the simplest tools to accomplish the most complex tasks. Guided by this philosophy, over years of exploration and testing, many simple yet effective outdoor techniques have been developed. So far, almost no standard gear cannot be replaced by a simple method. For example, a prusik knot can replace an ascender in special situations, and an Italian hitch can substitute a descender. The usage of rescue ropes and other auxiliary equipment discussed here also follows this principle.
Trick 1: Making a safety harness with a single knot
In the past, a common method was to create a makeshift harness using two flat webbing straps. This approach had a major drawback: once completed, it was almost useless without being attached to a main rope and carabiner. Thus, its practicality and popularity were quite limited. The method of crafting a simple safety harness using a single knot introduced here, however, has high practical value.
The specific method is as follows: take one end of a 15-meter rescue rope, fold it in half after measuring 90% of your fully extended arm span to create five strands, then tie a single knot at the midpoint. Once completed, unfold the rope to form four loops. Insert both legs and arms through these loops to create a full-body harness. If the rope isn’t long enough, you can fold it into four strands to make three loops, using just one loop for the upper body to form a functional full-body harness.
Typical case operations:
a) During creek crossing activities, when the water flow is strong, the first scout must cross under protection. In such cases, a rescue rope can be used to fashion a safety harness, while the primary protector holds the long end of the rope upstream to provide protection. A secondary protector, working on the same plane as the scout, can use another rope to assist.
b) On extremely steep terrain, some less capable members may be unable to climb or descend on their own. Using this method along with an Italian hitch (which can use a tree or other vertical object as a carabiner) allows safe completion.
c) Assisting in casualty transport: on certain steep slopes, using a stretcher may not be feasible, and carrying the injured person becomes necessary. Whether ascending or descending, the carrier may struggle to navigate obstacles alone. Providing the carrier with a simple safety harness that offers control and assistance solves the problem.
Trick 2: Making a stretcher with a double figure-eight knot and backpacks
a) Double figure-eight knot + trekking poles (or wooden sticks) to make a stretcher
Collapse four trekking poles (or use two wooden sticks) to their shortest length, arrange them in two parallel columns to form the main frame of the stretcher, with the width roughly between 0.7 and 1 meter depending on the casualty’s body width. Use a rescue rope to weave back and forth between the columns in a wave pattern, then secure the rope to the poles with multiple double figure-eight knots. The basic structure of the makeshift stretcher is complete. Add a sleeping pad, backpack, or sleeping bag to create a practical rescue stretcher.
b) Using backpacks to make a stretcher
Connect two backpacks end to end, untie all the shoulder strap webbing from their buckles, then interconnect the shoulder straps of the two backpacks to each other’s buckles so that they form a single unit. In this setup, the two waist belts and two chest straps of the backpacks can secure the casualty, while the shoulder straps serve as convenient handles for the carriers.
If conditions allow, combining the stretchers made from both methods yields the best results. For long-distance or prolonged transport, to reduce strain on the rescuers’ hands, other rescue ropes can be used to connect the stretcher to the carriers’ shoulders, transferring the weight to their shoulders. This approach saves energy and increases stability and safety.
Trick 3: Carrying a person using a rope loop
Not all casualty transports can use a stretcher. In certain special situations, the most primitive method—carrying by human strength—is still necessary, such as when rescue personnel are limited or on particularly steep terrain.
Rope loop making method:
Coil the rescue rope into a neat half-body-length loop, securing it tightly with a gathering knot. Divide the loop evenly into two strands to form a figure-eight shape, creating the makeshift sling. Place the sling over your shoulders, insert the casualty’s legs into the two rope loops, and then use another rope (or the tail end of the same rope) to securely cross-connect the casualty and the carrier. This enables safe and relatively easy transport.
Trick 4: Using a simple chest harness with a fixed rope
During most routine outdoor activities, we encounter hazardous terrain, which we usually handle by using a fixed rope to pass through in relay. While this method mitigates safety risks to some extent and provides a way across obstacles, it can be unsafe under more extreme terrain conditions because hand-relayed passage doesn’t guarantee that the person is always under effective protection. For instance, on wet and slippery slopes with gradients exceeding 60 degrees—whether ascending, descending, or traversing—it is essential to connect a simple safety harness to the fixed rope to pass safely. Assuming only a rescue rope is available without standard harnesses or connectors, crafting a simple chest harness is an efficient and safe solution.
a) Navigating Uphill or Downhill Terrain
After securing the rope (rescue rope), each person forms their own rescue rope into a bundled loop, leaving an appropriate length of tail. The loop is then worn diagonally across the body over one shoulder, passing over the head and neck. The remaining rope tail is connected to the main rope using a single-rope prusik knot, creating a bidirectional, self-locking attachment between the person and the rope. This setup can be used for both climbing up and descending steep terrain, ensuring the individual remains securely protected at all times during the traverse. Two key points in making a prusik knot: first, when using ropes of the same diameter, more turns are typically required and the effectiveness must always be tested; second, the overhand bend (or "blake’s hitch" equivalent) used to finish the prusik must be secure.
b) Navigating Traverse Terrain
Using the same method as above, form the rescue rope into loops. Before securing the main rope, thread all the loops onto it. During the traverse, each person simply puts on a loop and begins moving across. Alternatively, the prusik knot method described earlier can also be used to handle traverse terrain.
Fifth Tip: Other Common Uses of Rescue Rope
The uses of rescue rope mentioned above are just a few of the less familiar methods. In reality, a single rope can serve far more purposes during outdoor travel. A wide range of outdoor activities—such as canyon sports, caving, canoeing, bicycling, and self-driving—can all make use of the multiple functions of rescue rope. Important applications include towing, pulling, hoisting at height, and bundling, as well as non-safety-related uses such as guylines for tents, clotheslines, knot practice, measuring water depth, and more.
Every method is invented and refined through continual practice—just like how the original Prusik knot was created by its inventor, who used shoelaces to free himself from an ice crevasse. Over the years, we’ve been learning techniques and methods from abroad, and I believe that if our vast community of outdoor enthusiasts pays more attention to safety and technical skills, more new technologies and methods will emerge from China in the near future. Of course, even more importantly, we need more people to treat basic safety knowledge and equipment as essential prerequisites for participating in outdoor activities—only then can our outdoor experiences be filled with more joy and fewer tragedies.