Use agreement: Permission to reprint the following copyrighted material is granted when accompanied by the attribution copy included at the end of each story.

Rope 101 for Campers, Climbers, & Sailors: Care and Maintenance

Whether you camp, climb, sail, or paddle, ropes and knots figure into the equation. Follow these tips for proper rope care and maintenance.

· Don’t just take the rope out of the bag and go! Unroll the rope from its coil first, and stop kinks before they happen.

· Ropes can, and do, shrink. Measure yours at least once a year to make sure it doesn’t come up short.

· Protect your ropes from sharp edges and abrasion. Avoid them if you can, and use a rope guard if an edge just can’t be gotten around.

· Dry your ropes before storing them, and keep them in a cool, protected place. Shelter them from sunlight, moisture, and chemical exposure of any kind.

· Check your ropes for damage by applying tension and feeling the length for any weird lumps, bumps, depressions, or stiff sections.

Adapted from The Outdoor Knots Book by Clyde Soles (The Mountaineers Books, $12.95
paperback).

Return to STORY ARCHIVES