Order a pack string with the most reliable animal first, green or nervous animals in the middle and the strongest animal last, tie each animal’s lead rope to the pack saddle of the animal ahead, never to its tail, which injures it, and leave 2-3 m of lead rope between animals. Limit a string to 5-8 animals for one handler, because problems at the back are invisible to the front.
Part of Pack Animal Management
The arrangement of a pack string: who goes where, how each animal is tied, the spacing, the limit on length and a break-away link.
Order, Spacing And Tie Decide How A String Behaves
The string is a chain. Each animal affects the one behind it, and the way it is tied decides whether a problem stays local or spreads. Three decisions matter: the order, the tie, and the length.
| Position | Animal | Reason (source) |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | Led by a human or a ridden pack horse | Sets direction |
| Directly behind the lead | The most reliable animal | Steadies the rest |
| Middle | Green or nervous animals | Calmed by animals ahead and behind |
| Last | The strongest animal | Sets the pace for climbs and catches delays |
What You Need
- Lead ropes — one per animal, each long enough for 2-3 m between animals.
- A tie point on each pack saddle — not the animal’s tail.
- A break-away link — a loop of weaker cord, see below.
- A handler — one per 5-8 animals.
Method: Form The String
Step 1: Choose the order. Reliable animal behind the lead; green or nervous in the middle; strongest last.
Step 2: Tie each lead rope to the pack saddle ahead. Not to the tail of the animal ahead, which injures the animal.
Step 3: Leave 2-3 m of lead rope between animals.
Step 4: Limit the count. 5-8 animals for one handler.
Step 5: Add a break-away link. The source article does not describe one; this is general practice added here. Make the connection between each lead rope and the saddle ahead through a short loop of weaker cord or twine that will part under a hard, sudden pull, so that a fallen or panicking animal breaks free instead of dragging the whole string and the animal ahead. Test the loop with a hard pull before the trip; it must hold the animal’s walking pull and part under a fall. Without such a link, a stumble at the rear on a narrow path can pull the entire string.
Worked Example
Rope and handlers for a string.
- 5 animals: 4 gaps x 2-3 m = 8 to 12 m of lead rope between animals.
- 8 animals: 7 gaps x 2-3 m = 14 to 21 m.
- 16 animals, with a maximum of 8 per handler: 16 / 8 = 2 handlers, and 2 strings. A string of 16 would exceed the source’s limit.
Rope is only the spacing; each lead rope also reaches the tie point, so cut each rope longer than the gap.
Common Mistakes
- Tying to the tail — it injures the animal.
- Leader decides the climbing pace — the strongest animal, placed last, sets it.
- Strings too long — problems at the rear are not seen.
- Fixed ties — nothing parts when an animal falls.
- Nervous animal at the end — it has no animal behind to steady it.
Safety
A tied string drags every animal into one fall
A fall at the edge of a trail can pull the animals behind and ahead with it. Use a break-away link, keep the handler out of the line of the lead ropes, and never wrap a lead rope around a hand, wrist or body. Do not tie the string across a stream; unstring for crossings.
What’s Next
- Learn next: Trail Hazards — water, narrow paths and grades
- Combine with: Trail Management — the whole day on the trail