Caving the cave itself from contaminants. Ropes are used for descending or ascending pitches (single rope technique or SRT) or for protection. Knots commonly used in caving are the figure-of-eight- (or figure-of-nine-) loop, bowline, alpine butterfly, and Italian hitch. Ropes are usually rigged using bolts, slings, and carabiners. In some cases cavers may choose to bring and use a flexible metal ladder. In addition to the equipment already described, cavers frequently carry packs containing first-aid kits, emergency equipment, and food. Containers for securely transporting urine are also commonly carried. On longer trips, containers for securely transporting feces out of the cave
Lashing (ropework) clove hitch is tied around one leg only and frapping turns are taken between the poles. The round lashing is most frequently used to join two poles together to extend their length. In the simple version, a clove hitch is tied around both poles and there are no frapping turns. The tripod lashing (also known as gyn lashing, of eight lashing, and three-spar shear lashing) is used to join three spars together to form a tripod. Lashing (ropework) A lashing is an arrangement of rope wire or webbing with linking device used to secure and fasten two or more items