Sure, you can secure a load with ratchet straps or bungee cords. But what if all you have is a length of rope? Or what if you need to build a shelter to sleep in, a tripod to hang a cooking pot, a bridge to cross a creek, a ladder to cache your food away from animals, or a litter to evacuate a casualty? Then you’d better know some lashings. Knots and lashings solve problems. Knowing how to make rope do your bidding is a cornerstone of bushcraft, survival skills, and just plain old competency in the woods.
