Usage
A Yosemite Bowline is loop knot with better security than the common Bowline. It is a Bowline with the free end wrapped around one leg of the loop and tucked back through the knot — commonly known as a "Yosemite finish." The Yosemite finish can be applied to other bowline variants, such as the Double Bowline. While the knot's versatility suggests it as a convenient tie-in for attaching a climbing rope to a climber's harness, the Figure Eight Follow Thru is the most common choice because it is more widely known. The Mountaineering Handbook is one of the few texts that suggest that the Yosemite Bowline is better for this purpose. Suggested benefits include being easier to untie when wet and frozen, being possible to tie-in with only one hand, and the knot is simpler, allegedly making it easier to inspect.
Warning
Verify tying technique with a skilled instructor where knot failure could cause property damage, injury, or death.
Also known as
- Bowline with Yosemite Finish
- Retraced Bowline
- Tucked Bowline
Structure
The Yosemite Bowline is comprised of structures seen in the
common Bowline and
Figure Eight Knot. The Yosemite finish can be applied to other bowline variants, such as the
Double Bowline.
Strength/Reliability
Due to the extra wrap and tuck, the Yosemite Bowline's security is enhanced and prevents the Bowline 'capsizing' to form a highly dangerous slipknot. For additional safety, it is recommended that the Yosemite Bowline have a stopper knot such as a Double Overhand Knot (not shown in the animation). A stopper knot, while serving to keep the loose end tidy, will not only help to prevent failure of the primary knot, but also act as a secondary safety knot itself. It is sometimes said that if enough of a tail is left to tie a stopper knot, the stopper becomes unnecessary. The tail should be a minimum of 40 - 60 cm depending on the thickness of the rope.
