Add a carabiner to the master point knot
This little trick has been around for a while. But I was with some newer climbers recently, they had never heard of it, so I thought I'd mention it.
Maybe under the category of “teaching the new dogs an old trick?”
When tying a statically equalized anchor from a sling, and using either an overhand or a figure 8 as the masterpoint, that loaded sling can be very difficult to untie.
Make your life easier: clip a carabiner into the knot before it gets loaded. This gives you a little “handle” to start pulling on the knot to untie it, and makes your tired fingers happier at the end of the day.
Note:
This is absolutely not meant for any kind of load, including your shoes or a backpack. The only purpose is to make untying the knot easier. If you loaded this carabiner, it could compromise the security of the knot, so don't do it! If you're climbing with beginners it's especially important to point this out, ask me how I know about this.
A figure 8 is usually easier to untie then an overhand.
This does not have to be a locking carabiner.
If you have one, use a “keylock”, or notchless, carabiner. It’s a bit easier to remove from the tightened knot.