The Diamond Hitch
The present age of high speed transportation both on land and water, and in the air as well, has served to crowd pack animal transportation back into the hills and into those few regions where rail and sail have not yet penetrated. As a consequence, pack trains are fast becoming unknown, and the skill of the packer is fast being forgotten. The skill of the experienced packer is little short of marvelous, where he can catch a more or less wild pack animal and attach from 100 to 400 or 500 pounds of stuff to his back so securely that it will ride all day without coming off. Different types of freighting, of course, gave rise to different methods of binding on the load, but the more widely used was, no doubt, some form of the famous Diamond Hitch. The early trappers of the Hudson’s Bay Company are credited with introducing the Diamond Hitch among the North-West Indians, and old trappers of the period of 1849, engaged in freighting to California, claim that the Mexicans used it at that time.
Different packers have modified and used the Diamond Hitch to suit their needs. As an example, in rough country where there is frequent trouble with pack animals falling with their load, some packers tie the Diamond Hitch so that the final knot is on top of the animal’s back where it can be easily reached and loosened with the animal down. Under more favorable conditions, other packers use a Diamond Hitch in which the final tie is made on the side of the animal near the cinch hook. In fact, out of a group of old packers from different localities, the probability is that no two would tie the Diamond Hitch alike in every particular.
The following illustrations of the Diamond Hitch are shown only as types actually in use by different men in the packing business. Other packers may have different methods of tying it more suited to the type of load they are handling. The cuts shown represent the appearance of the Diamond Hitch if the cinch were cut under the animal’s belly and the pack were flattened out and laid on the floor with the ropes undisturbed. This method clearly shows in one picture all the different parts of the hitch, so that those interested may follow it in making the hitch for themselves. The Government uses a Spanish packsaddle, or what is known as an aparejo—pronounced, ap-pa-ray-ho, but civilian packers often use the cross tree saddle. It consists of a padded board resting on each side of the animal’s backbone. These two padded boards are usually fastened together with two cross trees resembling a saw buck. There are different methods of placing the load on the saddle preparatory to lashing it fast with the Diamond Hitch. No attempt will be made to give complete instructions in packing. The hitches shown are given with the hope they will serve the prospective camper on his vacation to a retreat in the hills, or perhaps satisfy the interest of those who have heard of the Diamond Hitch but have never seen it tied.
