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www.arborage.com Arbor Age / June 2014 23 loving tree folk. This knot, which, as the heading suggests, came from the world of mountaineering, creates some strength loss through its sharp bends. But head-to-head testing done with the same type ropes has shown that it creates less strength loss than the traditional Bowline variations. There are a number of meth- ods to tie it, but perhaps the simplest involves making three turns around the palm of the hand, starting from thumb to fi ngertips. The turn closest to the thumb is passed over the other two turns to the fi ngertip end, followed by the next turn, adjacent to the thumb, in the same manner. The turn now closest to the fi nger- tips is then brought back through the other two, forming the loop for attachment. Both ends of the standing part of the line are then pulled in opposite directions to dress and set the knot. The Alpine Butterfl y may be loaded from both ends of the line and in the midline attachment loop created, all simultaneously if required by the situation. Extreme loads may lead to some diffi culty in untying the knot, but the presence of symmetrical "rolled" turns allows the user to "push" the knot apart. Dark water, utilities, and three traditionals The Blackwater/Lineman's Loop/Triple Bowline is a knot that has various titles depending on where one is geo- graphically located, but is tied and used the same regardless of name and location. The Blackwater, like the Alpine But- terfly, does create some strength loss through its bends, but, once again, in head-to-head testing with the traditional Bowline variations, this knot was "stronger." The Lineman's Loop also, at least from personal experience and conversa- tions with other users, seems to be much easier to untie after extreme loading than some of the other options. It also has several methods in which it can be tied; but one of the simpler methods involves three turns around the palm of the hand from thumb to fingertips, but then digresses to create the Triple Bowline. The turn closest to the thumb is then passed over to the middle, between the other two turns. The turn closest to the fingertips is now taken to the "new" middle, between the other two turns. In the final step, the turn now closest to the thumb is also taken to the "new" middle, and pulled through, forming the loop for attachment. Both ends of the standing part of the line are then pulled in opposite directions to dress and set the knot. As with the Alpine Butterfly, both ends of the line and the midline attachment loop may be loaded if required by the situation. All photos by Michael "House" Tain (Clockwise from top left) The steps in tying an Alpine Butterfl y. Three turns around the palm, turn closest to thumb over to the fi nger- tips, next turn over to the fi ngertips, through the middle, and tied, dressed and set.