Taut-line Hitch

This is not the Taut-line Hitch of my Boy Scout manual, but it has some resemblance. Arborists occassionally use the knot shown here and refer to it by that name, but I understand that it is not the most popular knot in their field. I find that it does not serve well as an ascender knot, tending to slip on the ropes that cavers and climbers use. Be sure to tie a stopper knot in the free end, since the end tends to pull through.