The various pack carriers are so arranged that the weight is suspended either from the head of the woodsman, from his shoulder or by a combination of the two methods. It is to many a surprising statement that a much heavier load can be carried suspended by straps over the head than from the shoulders. This is due to the fact that one is thus enabled to utilize the powerful muscles of the neck. These muscles are generally poorly developed in the novice and this, together with the much better known method of shoulder suspension packing, is doubtless the excuse for the latter’s popularity among other than experienced woods travelers.
The Indian-tump line or head strap is the pack carrier par excellence for the transportation of heavy loads. Such a load hangs entirely from the head of the carrier and not from the shoulders. It consists of a head band of rather stiff leather about two and a half inches in width by two feet in length. To each end of this is attached a strap or thong of similar kind of leather eight to ten feet long but only an inch in width tapering to a still lesser width at the ends and fixed to the head band by buckles.
To make up the tump line pack proceed as follows:—the blanket or shelter cloth is spread out and the thongs laid lengthwise about a foot from either edge—the blanket is then folded inward and across the thongs. The items to be carried are then laid on the end of the blanket well up toward the head piece. The other end of the blanket, from the folds of which the thong ends are protruding, is pulled taut, tied together and passed around the middle of the pack. The knack of comfortable tump line carrying, once the neck muscles are developed and hardened, is in properly balancing the pack.
The load is lifted to the back, the strap passing across the head high up on the forehead and not on top of the head as might be supposed. The load must properly fall in position on the back or discomfort will certainly result with a corresponding decrease of carrying ability. It should fit well in the small of the back, just above the hips. The method is very tiresome to the uninitiated because of the strain on the neck and head but one soon becomes accustomed to it.
The tump line or head strap is the one to use if the pack amounts to much above thirty pounds. Indians are thus able to carry loads of several hundred pounds on short portages but when the outfit can be arranged into several seventy pound packs the woodsman prefers to thus break it up and make several trips. With the tump line one can carry goods of most any bulk and shape. The strap has many other uses about camp.
The pack carriers which are suspended from the shoulders are fitted with loops through which the arms are thrust and which are connected behind to the load with either a set of harness intended to be buckled around any sort of camp duffle or riveted and sewn to a sack or basket. Fifty pounds is about the limit of the pack which one with experience can comfortably carry suspended from the shoulders. Breast straps are required for use with all types of shoulder harness to fasten the arm loops together in front or they promptly slip off. In case of accident in the water they are disengaged with difficulty.
