THE BASKET HITCH - SIMPLE, VERSATILE, EFFECTIVE

 

                                                                                                         THE BASKET HITCH                                  SIMPLE, VERSATILE, EFFECTIVE

 

 

    We are born to live, to move forward, to search. We are always searching for something; money, happiness, adventure, who knows what, attempting to fulfill our needs, wants and desires. Recent studies have shown that as a generation we are less happy than those that came before us, even though we have more money and more amenities. Studies have also shown that although having money may appear to make us happier it is the success of what we do and what we have accomplished that has made us happier, not the money itself. Perhaps it is related to the act of self-worth and belonging.
    Think back to the memories that give you a warm feeling, a smile, or even a chuckle. It's rarely to do with money, more often to do with a situation, a place, or people we know or love. Trail riding and wilderness travel have certainly provided me, and I hope, you, with many precious memories. And I can tell you none of them have much to do with money. Are our trips more fun, more adventurous, more fulfilling now than thirty years ago because our pack boxes, our saddles, our footwear and our clothing is of better quality? Not a chance. Some of my best memories are of places, people, and country enjoyed and explored in years gone by when sleeping bags were rickety, saddles old and plain, gear without a stitch of Gortex and a canvas top tarp for a lean-to tent.
    You do not need the latest camping gear or packing equipment to enjoy packing your horse, and I have the hitch to prove it. The simple Basket Hitch will tie a couple of sleeping bags, a couple of hockey bags or duffel bags, or a couple of just about anything on to a packsaddle or a riding saddle. All you need to go on your overnight trip or extended picnic is a couple of items- rectangle or barrel shaped and matched in weight, a properly rigged saddle, and a forty-to-fifty-foot lash rope around 3/8” to ½” in diameter. A rope with some ‘bite’ is better than a slippery rope.
    As explained in previous articles there are two categories of hitches; those that hang the side loads on the horse and those that wrap the side load, the top, and the horse together in a secure package. The latter group include the various diamond hitches, square hitch, box hitch and others. The barrel hitch and the basket hitch are the two most common of the hanging type of hitches, and of the two the basket hitch is likely the most used and most versatile. The barrel hitch may be the best for securing long lateral loads on each side of the saddle, like lumber, firewood, or gear bags. The basket hitch secures long lateral loads, vertical loads, rectangle loads like pack boxes, manties, bales of hay, and even full-size backpacks equally well.
    Typically, a basket hitch is used to hang the gear and then the whole deal is wrapped with a diamond hitch. However, the basket hitch can be created secure enough on its own so that you can head out without throwing a diamond. If we had to learn just two hitches, it would be a basket and a diamond. Using a basket hitch on a riding saddle allows the rider to pack their saddle horse, walk, rather than ride, into a remote campsite, set up camp, and head out on day rides, without needing two horses. If you use a riding saddle rather than a pack saddle then a roping type saddle with some weight, a snug back cinch, and a chest collar, is needed.
    When practicing your basket hitch just remember to keep the ropes tight as you snug up the load tight to the forks. Do not let the load hang low and loose. Be sure that one side is as high on the horses’ side as the other. Keep the weights on the light side, forty pounds on each side is plenty. If you place a top pack on the top of your basket hitched load it will be more secure with a diamond or a similar hitch to secure the entire load. Whether or not we throw a diamond to secure the entire load, we prefer to bring the tail of the rope through the front cinch ring, as shown below, to help secure the load.
    For extended journeys and rugged country most riders use tough pack boxes and top tarps to protect loads to see them through. But for now, I hope you have fun trying the basket hitch. Just remember to use a calm horse that is completely desensitized, a well-fitting saddle, and keep your weight down until you gain confidence. And the best of all, you don’t have to be loaded with dough or good looking to pull it off!

The basket hitch attaches side loads to the packsaddle. Both vertical and horizontal loads, from manties to pack boxes to firewood to lumber soft bags to quarters of game – it does it all!

The hitch can be used with riding saddles as well as packsaddles. You have but one horse? Try packing your saddle horse, hiking into a remote area, setting up camp, and now you have your horse to ride around.

Shy on gear? A couple of hockey bags or gear bags will do. Lay a hockey bag on top and secure with a diamond hitch and good to go.

It’s called the basket hitch as it traditionally was used to lash on baskets. Now used by many to lash pack boxes to the packsaddle. Although you really do not need a shed full of gear to take your first pack trip, you do need to know how to tie the hitches secure, and how to use properly rigged saddles and pads. The basket hitch is also used as the base for the crow’s foot hitch, a great addition to secure the load. For details on all this information, as well as the steps involved, see Blue Creeks book or video.