In addition to the pack ties described, there is another hitch that should be learned, as it is useful for securing packages to the pack saddle when alforjas are not used (also for holding packs to the sides of the saddle while tying the diamond hitch). There are several methods of fixing a sling rope and the mode I am going to describe is illustrated in Fig. 7.

For this purpose the shorter length of rope is used. It is doubled in the middle and looped around the front forks of the pack saddle, then one-half of the rope is taken to the near side and the other is dropped on the off side. Taking either half of the rope, you allow sufficient slack to hold the pack at the proper height then bring the rope around the rear forks, then down to the center of the slack portion, where it is tied. The pack is then fixed in this loop and the other side is arranged the same way. After both packs are properly slung, the ends of the rope are brought up on top and tied together.

There are many forms of pack hitches other than those described, although the diamond hitch is most used and more popular than any of the others.

A pack-horse should never be overloaded, and the animal cannot carry as great a load as many people expect. Two hundred pounds is the limit for any pack, and one hundred and fifty pounds is a more reasonable load. For long journeys the pack, per horse or mule, should not weigh this much. A hundred or one hundred and twenty-five pounds is all that should be allotted to any animal.

A pack train may consist of any number of pack animals, and if there are enough riders in the party, one man rides between each two pack-horses. By that I mean one rider goes ahead, leading a horse behind him. That horse is followed by another rider, then another pack-horse, etc. If there are not enough men in the party for this, two pack animals are placed between two riders. The men may lead the horses if they are inclined to wander from the route, but ordinarily this is not necessary, as the animals will keep in line. But if you lead a pack-horse, do not grow tired of holding the rope and tie it to the horn of the saddle. This is a dangerous practice and may result in serious injury to the one who is so thoughtless, for the pack horse may become frightened and bolt or may swing around, wrapping the rope around the rider.

Pack animals are always more or less troublesome, and the man who uses them should have a bountiful supply of patience. At night the animals are hobbled, which means that their front feet are fastened together with hobbles, so that they cannot travel fast or far. Too much dependence should not be placed on these retarders, for Western horses soon learn to travel quite rapidly when thus impeded, and will sometimes set out for home while the master sleeps. A good practice is to picket one or two horses in the best spots of pasture to be found, and hobble the remaining animals. They are not so likely to leave if this is done, and if they do, the picketed horses must remain behind, which insures at least a mount with which to follow the runaways. Also put a bell on each horse, as this will aid in locating the animals in the morning.

On the trail, western mules and horses rarely get any food except what they can find at night or while they are not in use, and on the plains or in the mountains where vegetation is scanty they sometimes do not get as much as they require. Under such circumstances they should not be loaded too heavily or traveled too far in a day, and it may even be necessary, on a long journey to take an occasional day of rest to allow them to recuperate.

CROSSING A RIVER OR STREAM

It’s an old and well-established custom among mountain men to always cross the stream where they intend to encamp for the night, This rule should never be broken if the stream or river is to be forded, as a rise during the night might well detain the party for several days in awaiting the fall of the waters.

A party traveling with a pack train and arriving on the banks of a deep stream will not always have the time to stop or the means to construct a boat. Should their luggage be such as to become damaged by wetting, the best plan is to untie and remove the pack from the animal and wrap it securely in heavy canvas or a green beef or buffalo hide. Spread the wrapping on the ground and place the articles in the center. Then bring the sides up so as to completely envelope the package, securing the whole with rope or rawhide. Place it in the water with a rope attached to one end and tow it across. The mountain man was always careful to keep the materials used for this kind of wrapping dry and well greased.

If a mounted party with pack animals arrive on the borders of a rapid stream too deep to ford and where the banks are high and abrupt with perhaps only one place where the animals can get out on the opposite shore, it would not be safe to drive or ride them in. Some of them may be carried by the swift current too far downstream, and thereby endanger not only their own lives, but the lives of their riders as well. A simple and safe method for getting your pack-train across such a river or stream is have two or three of the best swimmers in your party make their way across carrying one end of a sturdy rope, while the rest of the party who have remained on the bank make their end of the line fast around the neck of the best-swimming horse or mule. Next all the other animals are secured in this fashion, one to another with better swimmers foremost. After the whole pack train has been strung out in this single line, the first horse or mule is led carefully into the water, while the men on the opposite bank, pulling on the rope, and direct him across, aiding him in stemming the current. As soon as this first animal strikes bottom, he pulls on those behind him, thereby assisting them in making their landings as well. Where rivers are wide and the current swift, they should always, if possible, be forded obliquely downstream, as the action of the water against the string of animals is a great help in carrying them across.

During seasons of high water, mountain men often encountered rivers that rose well above a fording stage, and remained in that condition for many days. If the hunter or trapper was alone, his only choice was to swim his horse; but if he retained the seat on his saddle, his weight pressed the animal down into the water, and cramped its movements considerably. The better plan was to tie a line to the bridlebit, then drive the horse or mule into the stream and holding the animal by the tail, allow it to tow him across. Should the animal turn from its course or attempt to turn back, he could be checked with the line. If the rider chose to remain in the saddle he was careful to allow his mount a loose rein, never pulling on it except to guide. If he needed to steady himself, he could always grab the mane.

TRAVOIS

The basic travois is of Native American origin. It is essentially an A-frame construction and consists of two long wooden staffs (often tepee poles) lashed together at the narrower ends, and braced by lashing one or two cross-pieces mid-way to the open end.

The width of the travois was determined by the length and placement of these bracing cross-pieces. This bracing also served as a rudimentary platform upon which the load could be tied.

A travois might be pulled (depending on its size) either by dog or horse—or even by a man or woman—and was particularly useful in getting loads across broken ground.

SNOWSHOES

The first thing is to plan the size, shape and general character of the shoes. Making the frames, or bows, are the first steps.