AdvenChair Field Guide
Page 25
Hiking Techniques
When encountering new or difficult situations, stop and discuss exactly what everyone will be
doing. When the team has learned these techniques, they can often be performed without
stopping the chair although discussion is always needed to adjust for conditions. Different
teams prefer different techniques and develop new techniques. Keep improvising!
1.
Strap handling:
Use of the straps is pretty simple, but requires some planning and thought.
a.
Make sure the straps are attached securely to one of the AdvenChair mounting points
with a carabiner (Figure 13).
b.
Holding the straps: The straps must be held securely so that they aren’t dropped and
the loose end doesn’t trip someone.
i.
Hold in hands:
If the force on the straps is not going to be extreme, the straps can
be held directly in the hands. To get better purchase on the strap, the strap can be
wrapped around the mule’s hand. The strap handler should be able to drop the
strap to prevent the strap from sliding through the hand causing a rope burn.
ii.
Wrap around body:
Another way to hold the strap is to pass the strap around the
strap handler’s waist or hips, and then hold the end of the strap in the hand. The
extra friction of the strap around the body makes it much easier to apply force to the
strap. The strap is held much like a rock climb belayer holds a rope.
Straps can be used in many configurations and as the team gains experience, they will
figure out their preferred techniques and develop the ability to improvise. A few
considerations:
Make sure the mule’s footing is stable and secure to minimize slips, trips, and falls.
Make sure that if unexpected force is put on the strap that the mule has the ability to
handle that force.
Make sure that if the mule falls or loses grip on the strap, the chair is not at risk of
tipping and other members of the team are not at risk of falling.
Many mules appreciate work gloves to protect their hands.
2.
Stopping and slowing:
a.
Brakes:
The most effective stopping or slowing technique is for the driver to squeeze
the brake levers as needed. Lock the brakes with the buttons on the brake lever during
any stops.
b.
Poles:
If using towing poles, the lead mule can slow the chair by pushing back against
the poles. Use care with this technique—if the chair is going too fast or not directly
behind the mule, the chair could continue past the mule, pulling the mule around with
the poles as the chair passes. Avoid the jackknife! The driver and the lead mule need to
be coordinated so the lead mule doesn’t get pushed out of the way.