Innovations in forest harvesting methods have allowed ground-based harvesting machines and extraction machines to operate safely on steep terrain that was previously inaccessible. This has been accomplished by connecting the machine to an anchor using wire rope, referred to as winch-assist. The practice, while relatively new to North America, is gaining acceptance in British Columbia. There is a desire for information on all aspects of this new application of harvesting systems to ensure safe operation. This report focuses on the wire rope component of winch-assist systems. The first sections of the report cover wire rope basics that are common to all applications while the later sections provide some winch-assist specific information where it is available.