By AlexandrePaisDaSilva@gmail.com
“Better to know a knot and not need it, than need a knot and not know it.”
As our May expedition approaches and as an aspiring Lion, unfamiliar with the Pyrenees and, unfortunately, not very knowledgeable about the region’s historical legacy, I propose you a more practical and hopefully not so useful contribution focused on the use of rope (paracord) in emergency or unexpected situations.
Drawing from my sailing experience, rope (in Portugal “rope” has a different meaning at sea and only means actual rope in land) is an overused resource to cater for many needs aboard including rigging, lashing, hoisting, anchoring, stowing items, trailering, sewing sails, performing immediate repairs and controlling several mechanical systems (in the old days, it even enabled a non-electronic auto-pilot!)
I will not bother to mention the plentiful uses of rope to meet hunting, basic weaponry or fishing needs, widely explored by so-called “prepper” and “survival” groups, which are second nature skills to Lions anyway. Instead, I will try to highlight some practical applications that may come handy considering the challenges ahead.
Health & Safety Always Come First
As we do not expect emergency doors and lighting to lead us to the gentle arms of resourceful firemen following the tripping of any alarm, it is worth remembering what any of us can accomplish with a bit of paracord.
Paracord is strong enough to lash together an emergency stretcher or to tie splints in place on a broken limb. A quick and effective tourniquet can also make a huge difference where aid is hours away.
It is also worth noting that the inner strands can be used as emergency suture (God forbid), as well as to floss one’s teeth (Lions do keep their teeth sharp and shinny!)
A “Fireman’s” knot is also a handy knot to know, if a Lion has to be moved safely between different height levels or across large obstacles.
Lions away from the prairies: climbing and abseiling
When it comes to enjoy the views, tree steps can be improvised from lumber or split wood with two holes drilled and then lashed to the tree trunk with paracord, wrapped around the trunk twice, so it will self-tighten when weight is applied.
A simpler tree-climbing tool, as used in the tropics, is a figure-eight shaped loop used to help the feet grip the tree trunk.
Dealing with heavy loads
No matter how fit, a Lion’s strength lies mostly between his hair and his chest. Should there be a need to displace a heavy load (a rock, big logs or other nearly unsurmountable obstacles in a Lion’s way), a couple of solutions may prove helpful. Paracord can be looped through two chain repair links, or two (or more) carabiners, to make an improvised hoist. The Spanish windlass system may also be helpful to move heavy or stuck objects for small distances. Since Lions will have to rely on bicycles at some point, some argue this system can be used as a wrench on a bicycle, for instance. I never actually tried this particular use, so here’s a picture:
White savanna hardships
As an aspiring Lion, I struggle with the idea of having to dwell in the snow: the LoP must be a very special breed after all. That is nowhere near as venturing out in fine gold sandy beaches which is my natural habitat in the southwestern tip of Europe. However, it is worth knowing how to come to grips with the harshness of the territory, if May prolongs the skiing season.
Emergency tire chains can be made from single or braided paracord, by lashing around tires, like this:
Should a Lion find himself (safely) on foot and unable to progress at a sufficiently majestic pace through the snow, again, clove hitches and a few branches may keep the Lions on the move with some improvised snow shoes:
By the way, paracord is always useful as a guideline/lifeline when walking in blizzard conditions, especially when touring along some of the impressive scenarios depicted in photographs from previous years.
As for other interesting applications of paracord, there are plenty of articles and books to read through. I also recall the recently published article “Surviving a night in the mountains…without internet connection of phone signal”, and so I will not elaborate further on the paracord uses to secure shelter, fire or water. They are many and Patrick as surely covered enough.
I shall not dare to propose updating the compulsory equipment list repeatedly sent to us all by Sir Antonio Irastorza. I would however suggest that a 20 feet paracord individual contribution would do no harm and may always end up recycled on the way back home as a lovely decoration or strand gift to the wife and kids with a very special and hard won significance.
“Better to know a knot and not need it, than need a knot and not know it.”
As our May expedition approaches and as an aspiring Lion, unfamiliar with the Pyrenees and, unfortunately, not very knowledgeable about the region’s historical legacy, I propose you a more practical and hopefully not so useful contribution focused on the use of rope (paracord) in emergency or unexpected situations.
Drawing from my sailing experience, rope (in Portugal “rope” has a different meaning at sea and only means actual rope in land) is an overused resource to cater for many needs aboard including rigging, lashing, hoisting, anchoring, stowing items, trailering, sewing sails, performing immediate repairs and controlling several mechanical systems (in the old days, it even enabled a non-electronic auto-pilot!)
I will not bother to mention the plentiful uses of rope to meet hunting, basic weaponry or fishing needs, widely explored by so-called “prepper” and “survival” groups, which are second nature skills to Lions anyway. Instead, I will try to highlight some practical applications that may come handy considering the challenges ahead.
Health & Safety Always Come First
As we do not expect emergency doors and lighting to lead us to the gentle arms of resourceful firemen following the tripping of any alarm, it is worth remembering what any of us can accomplish with a bit of paracord.
Paracord is strong enough to lash together an emergency stretcher or to tie splints in place on a broken limb. A quick and effective tourniquet can also make a huge difference where aid is hours away.
It is also worth noting that the inner strands can be used as emergency suture (God forbid), as well as to floss one’s teeth (Lions do keep their teeth sharp and shinny!)
A “Fireman’s” knot is also a handy knot to know, if a Lion has to be moved safely between different height levels or across large obstacles.
Lions away from the prairies: climbing and abseiling
When it comes to enjoy the views, tree steps can be improvised from lumber or split wood with two holes drilled and then lashed to the tree trunk with paracord, wrapped around the trunk twice, so it will self-tighten when weight is applied.
A simpler tree-climbing tool, as used in the tropics, is a figure-eight shaped loop used to help the feet grip the tree trunk.
Dealing with heavy loads
No matter how fit, a Lion’s strength lies mostly between his hair and his chest. Should there be a need to displace a heavy load (a rock, big logs or other nearly unsurmountable obstacles in a Lion’s way), a couple of solutions may prove helpful. Paracord can be looped through two chain repair links, or two (or more) carabiners, to make an improvised hoist. The Spanish windlass system may also be helpful to move heavy or stuck objects for small distances. Since Lions will have to rely on bicycles at some point, some argue this system can be used as a wrench on a bicycle, for instance. I never actually tried this particular use, so here’s a picture:
White savanna hardships
As an aspiring Lion, I struggle with the idea of having to dwell in the snow: the LoP must be a very special breed after all. That is nowhere near as venturing out in fine gold sandy beaches which is my natural habitat in the southwestern tip of Europe. However, it is worth knowing how to come to grips with the harshness of the territory, if May prolongs the skiing season.
Emergency tire chains can be made from single or braided paracord, by lashing around tires, like this:
Should a Lion find himself (safely) on foot and unable to progress at a sufficiently majestic pace through the snow, again, clove hitches and a few branches may keep the Lions on the move with some improvised snow shoes:
By the way, paracord is always useful as a guideline/lifeline when walking in blizzard conditions, especially when touring along some of the impressive scenarios depicted in photographs from previous years.
As for other interesting applications of paracord, there are plenty of articles and books to read through. I also recall the recently published article “Surviving a night in the mountains…without internet connection of phone signal”, and so I will not elaborate further on the paracord uses to secure shelter, fire or water. They are many and Patrick as surely covered enough.
I shall not dare to propose updating the compulsory equipment list repeatedly sent to us all by Sir Antonio Irastorza. I would however suggest that a 20 feet paracord individual contribution would do no harm and may always end up recycled on the way back home as a lovely decoration or strand gift to the wife and kids with a very special and hard won significance.
