How to tie it
- 1Pass the running end around the log, spar, or pole.
- 2Loop the end around the standing part of the rope.
- 3Twist the end back around itself three or more times, tucking the twists against the wrap on the log.
- 4Pull the slack out so the hitch beds tight against the log.
The load must pull so the twists are drawn against the standing part — that's what makes it grip. Three tucks are enough for a secure hitch.
When to use it
- Dragging a felled log or heavy spar across the ground.
- Starting a diagonal lashing. The timber hitch is step one.
- Hauling or hoisting a pole, or setting a taut ridgeline between two trees.
- Any "get a grip on a round thing and pull" job where you want it to release easily afterward.
Common mistakes & safety
- It holds only while under tension. The moment the pull stops it loosens and can fall off. Don't trust it for a load that will go slack then re-load, or where a sudden release is dangerous.
- Steering a long log? Add a half hitch near the leading end. A timber hitch plus a half hitch is the killick hitch, which keeps the log tracking straight as you haul.
- Use enough tucks — three or more. Too few and the hitch can roll out under load.
- It's a hauling hitch, not a lifting-safety knot. For overhead lifting where a drop would be dangerous, use rigging rated for the job, not a bare timber hitch.
Going deeper
- Why it releases so cleanly. There's no locking tuck once the load is gone — the friction that made it grip simply disappears, which is exactly why it's loved for temporary hauling.
- Killick hitch. Timber hitch plus a half hitch farther along the log; the half hitch steers the front so it doesn't swing sideways while you drag it.
- Bowyer's knot. The same knot attaches the lower end of a bowstring to a longbow — different world, same structure.
- Vs. the clove hitch on a pole. The timber hitch is a pulling grip that tightens under load and drops off when slack (ideal for dragging); the clove hitch is a fastening that holds both directions but can slip under uneven load.
Official source
How to tie the 7 basic Scout knots — Scout Life →Rank requirements and official wording live with Scouting America. Confirm the current requirement text at scouting.org before signing anything off.