“Wrap 3, Pull 2” - about the strongest anchor possible

 

The "wrap 3, pull 2" has long a preferred anchor method with rescue teams for rigging on trees or similar round objects. What are some benefits to this anchor?

  • Super strong, because the load is distributed among many strands of webbing instead of one or two. (This anchor tests around 35-40 kN.)

  • Load distributing, to a certain extent

  • Pretty much zero force is applied to the knot, which otherwise would be the weak point of the system

But, it has a few downsides:

  • Require a LOT of 1 inch webbing

  • Can take a while to tie, if you don't practice it much

  • Is not redundant (when tied in the typical way)

  • Strengthwise, it’s overkill for most recreational climbing situations. (If your carabiner is rated around 20 kN, you shouldn't need an anchor that can hold 40.)

But, if you are a rescue person, or want to use it in a high load situation like river rescue or maybe pulling your car out of the ditch, it can be handy to learn.

You need is a long (10+ feet) length of 1 inch webbing.

Note that you can’t make this anchor with a sling that's sewn into a loop. You have to have a single long piece of webbing.

To make the “wrap 3 pull 2” anchor:

  • Make three wraps with the webbing around a large solid object. This is probably a tree.

  • Tie the free ends in an overhand knot (or water knot) with at least 3 inches of tail.

  • Now, pull / wiggle the two strands of the webbing that don’t have the knot in them, leaving the actual knot against the tree.

  • Clip your master point carabiner to these two strands extending away from the tree.

Diagram: Freedom of the Hills, 7th edition, The Mountaineers Press

Diagram: Freedom of the Hills, 7th edition, The Mountaineers Press

 
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