The Grief Knot

I know now that boasting that I was a seasoned mountain climber was not the best thing to say to another climber. You assumed that I would know what to do in a pinch. I am so very sorry for lying.

Now, when you asked me to tie a knot for when we were stuck half-way up the mountain...I was too ashamed to say that I had no idea which knot to tie. I though that if I tied a decent enough knot, it would be all right.

Do you have any idea how many different types of knots there are. I am so sorry that I had to learn them after the fact.

There are----

Butterfly loop knots. Taut-line hitch. Bowline on a bight. Two half-hitches. Round turn and two half-hitches. Cow hitch. Buntline hitch. Zeppelin bend. Rolling hitch knot...Geez, I could go on and on.

Well, I am extremely sorry for what happened...but in my defence, no one did properly explain to me that:

There are so many and varied types of knots, each serving specific purposes in activities like sailing, climbing, camping, and general use.

For Example - there is the -

1....Bowline Knot: Often referred to as the "king of knots," the Bowline creates a fixed loop at the end of a rope. It is easy to tie and untie, making it ideal for securing a line to a post or creating a loop for rescue operations.

2...Square Knot: This knot is used to join two ropes together. It is commonly used in first aid to tie bandages or in camping to secure items. It is more secure than a granny knot.

3...Clove Hitch: This knot is useful for securing a rope to a post or a tree. It is often used in sailing and camping to tie down tarps or tents.

4...Figure-Eight Knot: This knot is used to create a secure loop at the end of a rope, commonly used in climbing to attach a rope to a harness.

5...Sheet Bend: This knot is used to join two ropes of different diameters. It is particularly useful in sailing for tying a sail to a sheet.

6...Tensionless Hitch: This knot is used for rappelling and rope rescue. It allows for a secure anchor point without damaging the rope.

7...Alpine Butterfly Knot: This knot creates a fixed loop in the middle of a rope and is useful for climbing and rescue situations where multiple lines are needed.

8...Double Fisherman’s Knot: This knot is used to join two ropes together, especially in climbing and fishing. It is very secure and is often used for making climbing slings.

I am so sorry that I didn't know that understanding the different types of knots and their specific purposes is essential for various outdoor activities and safety. Whether you are sailing, climbing, or camping, knowing how to tie the right knot can make a significant difference in your experience and safety.

Oh my God. I killed you with the wrong knot. I am so sorry, everyone now blames me.

And why didn't anyone tell me that what I was actually tying was the...

Grief Knot...

I'm sorry, but did anyone see a grief knot mentioned in the above list. Or a granny knot...or a thief knot.

The grief knot is a knot that combines the features of a granny knot and a thief knot...what the hell. Again. No one mentioned a thief knot.

Pffft! How was I to know that the granny and thief knots produce a result that is not generally useful for working purposes. The word "grief" is a portmanteau of granny and thief. The grief knot resembles the granny knot but is tied so that the working ends come out diagonally from each other, unlike a granny knot where the ends both come out on the same side. It unravels elegantly under tension, with the ropes rotating like little cogs, each twisting to feed the rope through the knot. To tie the grief knot, one creates a bight in the end of a rope, passes the other end up through the bight, over the top of the bight, down and up through the bight again to go over the bottom of the bight, and finally up through the bight to come out where the end first went in. The second end takes an anticlockwise tour of the bight, alternating under and over every line it encounters.

Shit! What the hell.

Now, if I had somehow deciphered all of that instruction about the very complicated sounding bight - the parts of going over the top, down and up, through the bight again to go over the bottom...etcetera and thenceforth, maybe I could have saved your life.

How the hell can they now say, after the fact... that...

The grief knot is known for its ease of slipping apart, making it one of the most insecure knots, but it has been used as a practical bend for tying together flat materials, such as straps and belts, preventing accidental "unlocking" when used in this manner.

No one said to not use it for mountain climbing.

And let me again apologize most profusely to your dead body and your relatives who now hate me so much...they threatened to kill me too.

They said not to come to the funeral...I don't want to die.

Oh why didn't I tie the...Figure-Eight Knot: This knot is used to create a secure loop at the end of a rope, commonly used in climbing to attach a rope to a harness.

I will never tie another knot again, in your honor.

Oh yes...I do have to wear shoes...and pyjamas, hoodies, sweatpants and some other stuff.

Sorry. I will miss you.

I sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, hope they use the right knots to lower your body (what's left of it) into the ground. Father, son and Holy ghost. Amen

R.I.P. My friend.