100 MANUAL OF PACK TEANSPOETATION. 



for time. It is also used to secure travois to aparejo and improvised 

 "litters." (See figs. 71 and 74.) 



HOW TO FORM THE OREGON DIAMOND HITCH. 



Sec. 38. This form of hitch is performed by one packer, and is 

 closely related to the crosstree or sawbuck hitch. 



Standing on the near side of the animal, take a coiled lash rope and 

 free the coils, hold the cincha and allow the coils to drop to ground; 

 now take sufficient slack on rope and pass the cincha over the load in 

 such manner that the cincha will come under the animal's belly within 

 easy reaclx; pick up cincha and engage the standing portion on hook 

 from in out, bringing a portion of the running rope upward, and 

 engage it under the standing rope from right to left, to hold it there; 

 now take the free or running portion of rope and form a haK hitch, 

 or single loop, keeping the free end under, and draw sufficient slack 

 to engage over the off pack and boot of aparejo. 



Pass to the "off" side and pass the running rope from right to 

 left, between the pack and standing rope, and press to place under 

 boot of aparejo, as performed on the near side in the regular "dia- 

 mond." 



Now pass to the "near" side and take the end of the rope and 

 pass it over and under the standing rope at front, draw sufficient slack 

 and drop the end of rope over the animal's haunch to ground, and 

 the hitch is formed, ready to tighten the load." (Figs. 50-51.) 



To tighten the load, pull on the running rope close to cinch hook 

 in the usual manner, but be careful that the rope is not drawn from 

 under the bight of standing rope, as its purpose is to retain the slack 

 as given. 



In giving slack, bring the hands quickly to standing rope and grip 

 both ropes with the left hand, so as to hold the slack, then receive 

 this slack above the bight on standing rope, and repeat the operation 

 until all slack has been taken; pass to the "off" side and receive this 

 slack in the usual manner. Now pass from the "off" to the "near" 

 side until hitch is tightened, finishmg the hitch in the usual manner, 

 or as conditions may indicate. (Figs. 52-53.) 



HOW TO SLING THE LOAD AND FORM THE CROSSTREE HITCH ON CROSS- 

 TREE OR SAWBUCK HOW TO SLING THE LOAD ON CROSSTREE. 



Sec. 39. It is assumed that the aninial is equipped with crosstree 

 and ready to receive load. 



The near packer takes the sling rope and forms two half hitches 

 on the "forks" at the front of saddle, and allows each half to drop to 

 ground, on each side of the animal. See Figs. 71, 72, 73, and 74. 



Each packer will then form a half hitch on the free end over the 

 forks at rear, allowing sufficient loop on rope to receive side packs. 

 The "off" side is entirely similar; in this operation the free end of 

 rope should come under the loop thus formed. (Fig. 54.) 



The q^ packer places the side pack well up toward forks and, hold- 

 ing it there with the right hand, palm down, against center of pack, 

 proceeds to pass the rope along the lower side of pack, taking slack 



''The running rope maybe kept to front of the standing rope in the formation; the 

 end of the rope ■will then be over the animal's neck on the off side instead of over the 

 haunch. 



