138 MANUAL OF PACK TRANSPORTATION. 



Sec. 65. Up and down a mountain. — In traveling up or down a 

 ■ mountain a pack master should have one or two packers with him at 

 the head of train. He will ride far enough in advance, when nature of 

 country indicates danger, to enable him to station either one or both 

 packers, as emergency requires, to keep animals in trail and guard 

 against accidents. 



The same rules apply as in the case of bad or narrow trails, though 

 when possible packers will work on side of train. 



Be especially vigilant in watching the condition of packs, giving 

 prompt attention thereto when needed. 



Sec. 66. In crossing streams, either fording or swimming. — Packers 

 must always be stationed on the downstream side and at the most 

 dangerous points of crossing, keeping the animals well up and clear 

 of ODstacles that may endanger their footing. 



If ford is such that animals have to swim, packers should remain 

 on lower side, likewise keeping animals well up and riding close up 

 to the weakest swimmers. 



HOW TO catch a pack ANIMAL WHEN HIS LOAD NEEDS ATTENTION. 



Sec. 67. A packer, noticing a pack that needs attention, will call 

 out to his mate the name of the animal. Both packers will then ride 

 far enough in advance of the pack animal to gain time to tie their 

 riding animals before the pack animal comes up. 



Let one packer cross the trail and the other remain on the near side. 

 They should keep far enough away from trail to keep therein any 

 that show a disposition to break out. When the pack animal 

 approaches they will close in; one will stand squarely in front of the 

 animal — ^never on the side — reach out and take him by the halter, and 

 lead him out on near side of train. 



Blind the animal, loosen the lash rope, and straighten the load as 

 quickly as possible. Do not detain him a moment longer than is 

 necessary. The animal knows how far he has to travel to catch up 

 and work back to place in the train. Packers should bear this in 

 mind. 



Eager to get back into place in the train, the animal will become 

 unmanageable and be apt to throw his load. Should the animal break 

 away before his load is straightened he is certain to throw it, and 

 then, running through the train, dragging the lash rope after him, he 

 will scare others in the train and perhaps cause other packs to fall off. 



The animal will stand a reasonable length of time, but no longer. 

 The animal having once broken away, the "bell" animal has to be 

 stopped, the animal caught, led back, and its load put on ; three pack- 

 ers are needed, one to hold him, while the others put on the load. 



Certainly no good packer will cause such trouble and delay. 



Packers can not be termed first class if loads fall off while traveling; 

 attention must constantly be given to animals and their packs. 



HOW TO TIGHTEN A LOAD AND INDICATE IT HAS BEEN TIGHTENED. 



Sec. 68. The "off" packer releases the "top" rope (fig. 40) and 

 passes it over the animal's neck to near side; loosens the "front" 

 rope, drawing the slack toward him, and steps to center of aparejo. 



The "near" packer steps to rear and pulls on "rear" rope so as 

 to loosen it, then steps to center of aparejo and loosens the "marking" 



