HANDBOOK FOR CAMPERS. 33 



not be evenly divided the heavier side must be slung higher. 

 The balance may be tested by bearing down on one of the packs : 

 if the load comes to rest immediately, the pack should be 

 altered ; but if it oscillates a time or two, it will do. 



THE HITCH. 



The load is made fast by means of the cinch rope or lash 

 rope. The principle of practically all hitches is that any slack 

 that may be left in the rope is at all times equally distributed. 



For commercial or army pack trains the Government diamond 

 hitch probably has no equal. But it is difficult to explain, hard 

 to remember, and awkward to throw without a helper. There 

 are various one-man, squaw, or Basco hitches, which for ordi- 

 nary purposes are preferable. One of the simplest, which is in 

 common use by the rangers, is illustrated on page 84. It may be 

 thrown single handed. 



Until some practive is obtained the packer should first set 

 the hitch and tighten it afterwards, always pulling toward head 

 or tail on a line parallel with the animal's backbone. 



At the end of the first mile or so the pack should be examined, 

 and, if necessary, the hitch should be tightened. This is par- 

 ticularly necessary if the lash rope is damp when the hitch is 

 thrown, since the rope stretches on drying. 



When stops are made for lunch or other purposes, the pack 

 horses should be unloaded. 



BANGER HITCH. 



The cinch is thrown over the center of the pack from the 

 near side. The packer reaches under the animal with his left 

 hand, seizes the hook, pulls the cinch into position, and catches 

 the rope in the hook. The loop A is then tucked under, and 

 another loop is made by pulling out the portion of the rope at 

 (\ The cinch is now tightened In' puU'ng up on the rope at D. 

 The packer then goes to the off side, leads the rope B to the 



