The Clove Hitch with Canoe Trails Rope and Knot Skills

It is considered to be one of the most important knots alongside the sheet bend and bowline. Also known as a double hitch, it is simply 2 back to back half hitches around a cylindrical object such as a tree, ax or a post. It causes an efficiency loss of approximately 40%.
It can be used as a temporary fixing for a craft to a pole or cleat. It is also really useful for lashings such as the square lashing, diagonal lashing or sheer lashing as the fixing knot to start the lashing.
Canoe Trail use and teach knots as part of their outdoor activities programmes. We use knots, lashings as part of pioneering and team challenges in our woodland programmes. Knots are also used in our low ropes courses along with pulleys and mechanical systems. Canoe Trail's Rich first learnt knots in Scouts as a youngster before taking up mountaineering and qualifying as a commercial diver which required knots in zero visibility at 30 metres in a strong current. Our water safety qualifications also use knots as a core rescue skill.
We love rope trickery and teaching others to use knots, lashings and learn new skills. Our adventure school youth programme teaches a blend of hard skills and life skills for young people alongside our sister company Inspired Life CIC which was a London 2012 Project.