Blog Posts – Pete Knight's Blog

Footloops for SRT

Posted on 3rd August 2025Updated on 3rd August 2025by PeteCategories:Caving, Equipment, How To, Knots, Single Rope Technique, Vertical Leader

This article is an in-depth look at caving footloops used as part of an SRT kit for progression up a rope. There are variations in how these are constructed and the materials used, ranging from professionally manufactured dedicated footloops to self-tied rope assemblies. This page will cover the main variations in footloops commonly seen in …
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LCMLA Vertical Cave & Mine Leader Ropework

Posted on 13th October 2024Updated on 13th October 2024by PeteCategories:Cave and Mine Leader, Ropework, Vertical Leader

Cavers and Mine Explorers who aspire to lead novices underground in the UK will usually need to complete one of the British Caving Association LCMLA qualifications. The first tier is the Cave and Mine Leader Award, allowing you to lead in predominantly horizontal cave or mine systems. To extend the remit of the award to …
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LCMLA Cave & Mine Leader Ropework

Posted on 5th September 2024Updated on 5th September 2024by PeteCategories:Cave and Mine Leader, Ropework

Cavers and Mine Explorers who aspire to lead novices underground in the UK will usually need to complete one of the British Caving Association LCMLA qualifications. The first tier is the Cave and Mine Leader Award, allowing you to lead in predominantly horizontal cave or mine systems. This award covers many aspects of underground safety …
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Cowstails for SRT

Posted on 29th January 2024Updated on 4th August 2025by PeteCategories:Caving, Equipment, How To, Single Rope Technique

This page covers everything that you need to know about caving cowstails for SRT, and is accompanied by a how to tie video.

Alpine Butterfly

Posted on 26th January 2024Updated on 6th May 2025by PeteCategories:How To, Knots

The Alpine Butterfly Knot is a commonly knot in vertical caving. Tied on the bight it can be used as a mid-rope loop knot for SRT rigging.

Figure of Eight Knot

Posted on 23rd January 2024Updated on 23rd January 2024by PeteCategories:How To, Knots

The Figure of Eight Knot is one of the mostly widely used knots in caving and climbing.

Mini Traxion v2

Posted on 8th January 2024Updated on 9th January 2024by PeteCategories:Cave and Mine Leader, Equipment, Review, Ropework, Vertical Leader

During 2023 Petzl released an updated version to the long-discontinued Mini Traxion. What makes the new Mini Traxion stand out from the others then?

Aberllyn Rigging Guide

Posted on 26th November 2022Updated on 9th January 2024by PeteCategories:Mine Exploration, Single Rope Technique, Surveys and Rigging Guides

Aberllyn Lead/Zinc mine is an excellent, all be it crumbly, trip near to Betws y Coed. There is a good SRT route down through the mine that gives the explorer a good workout whist also offering some opportunity to practice the proper vertical stuff that many of the angled slabby slate mine routes lack. Below …
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