Knots that do everything

The four

• Two half hitches, for tying off to anything round
• Taut line hitch, the adjustable one for guy lines
• Trucker's hitch, for a ridge line or a load you need really tight
• Prusik, a loop that grips the rope under load and slides when it is not

How

1. Two half hitches: around the post, then two identical hitches around the standing part, both turned the same way.
2. Taut line: two turns inside the loop and one outside it, then slide the knot to set the tension.
3. Trucker's hitch: put a loop in the standing part, take the tail around the anchor and back up through the loop, haul it down tight, lock it with two half hitches.
4. Prusik: a thinner cord loop wrapped three times around the main rope and passed back through itself, dressed flat with no crossed turns.
5. Learn all four on a rope you can see, then learn them again in the dark with cold hands.

Watch for

Notes

With the bowline and these four you can pitch a tarp, tension a ridge line, tie down a load and haul a boat up a bank.