Survive Outside: The bowline

Life leads us in many different directions, and we often end up doing things that we would never expect. With this in mind, I feel that it's my duty as an accident prone outdoors man to help train as many of you as I can, in the event I end up stranded and need you to rescue me. Fair enough?

One of the most important things for you to know when peering down the frozen crevasse at me is how to tie a bowline. I would do it myself when you lower your "Mark rescue rope" down to me, but both of my arms are broken from my 25' belly flop.

A bowline is arguably the most important knot in rescue. It allows you to make a loop in a rope that can be slipped over my torso that will not tighten and squeeze my delicate body. All you would have to do then pull me up to safety. Just think, you can then tell everyone you saved arguably the most influential man to ever live.

Rather than demonstrate how bad I am at giving directions, I will let you look at a two second animation here. See, it is that simple. Call your boss, tell them you can't come in tomorrow, and practice until you know it cold. My life might depend on it.