I packed up a bottle bag kit and headed off into the woods to show how to make an easy, no fuss or frills ridgeline. Three simple knots and when you're done a quick pull and the knots are all gone so packing back up your cordage is easy as well.
Step One:
Get out the cordage of your choice. I'm using basic 550 cord, but any cordage will work. I'd shy away from bankline though.
Step Two:
Loop the cordage around the tree, and with the working end, create a loop being sure that the working end loops over itself as in the 2nd picture.
Step Three:
Take your loop and press it over the non-working end. Make sure it's on top, as in the picture below, not under.
Step Four:
Take the working end and make a loop, then slide the loop under and through the first loop you make. See picture below.
Cinch it down like in the picture below.
Step Five:
Pull the knot tight around the tree.
The Other Tree.
Step Six:
Loop the cordage around the tree like in the picture below.
Step Seven:
With the non-working end (the end from the first tree) go back about 2 feet and make a loop.
Step Eight:
With two fingers reach through the loop you just made and pull the cord through making a slipknot loop.
Step Nine:
Now loop the working end through this loop and pull it tight. Using two fingers to hold it in place.
Step Ten:
Make a loop as pictured here. The snug it tight up against your fingers.
It should look like this now.
That's' it. You made a super easy but very tight ridgeline.
You can make another loop like the last as addition to further secure things.
I know it seems like a lot of steps, but once you have practiced this takes less then three minutes to complete, as you can see from the video below.
