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msar-riders - Re: [MSAR] Night lights - Part 1

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  • From: "philip easley" <easleyranch@foothill.net>
  • To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [MSAR] Night lights - Part 1
  • Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2004 19:18:35 -0800

I use 120 LB test clips with 250 LB. test utility rope. Normally, it is
just enough to pull a balking mule across a stream, but not enough to hang
one. Unfortunately, that frightful night, we were on a trail on the
shoulder of an old canal. There was one spot where the shoulder was a 1 1/2
foot wide rock wall we had to walk on. We had a bypass around it, but the
Mountain bicycle people threw large rocks and logs in our bypass trail so we
would not be able to use it (They do not like equestrians in the back
country for some odd reason), We went in during the daylight and were
delayed until after dark coming out. With the glowstick on the breast
collar of my horse, I could make out where the trail was without using the
bright flashlight. Even so, the horse nearly stepped off. When we regained
balance, I was already committed so I pushed on hoping the mules would see
the wall and do like they normally do and tip toe across. The third one
must not have seen it and stepped off. It was a real mess. The whole
string fell off. They were hanging around trees and limbs still connected
with side lines and were choking. I held the light while my outrider bailed
off his horse and cut them all loose. They tumbled down the canyon a short
distance and got on their feet and climbed back up onto the trail. For
someone who loves his animals like I do, it was a horrible experience to go
through. I still have nightmares about the mules choking. We reopened our
bypass trail since then, but it still gives me the jitters when approaching
it.
Philip Easley
Nevada County Sheriff's Department
SAR Coordinator
Nevada City, Ca.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Una Smith" <una@lanl.gov>
To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 7:31 AM
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Night lights - Part 1


> philip easley wrote:
> >Even though they have excellent night vision, my mules that did
> >not have the glow sticks on the pack string stepped off that wall
> >and nearly killed them all.
>
> Although equines normally have excellent night vision, there are
> exceptions. Philip, are you sure that the mule in question has
> normal night vision? Also, mis-steps and falls can happen, even
> under ideal conditions.
>
> (My SAR mare fell with me once during a grid search...in a field
> of cut alfalfa. She was bored silly by the slow grid searching
> and distracted by the highly desirable food item all around her.
> She tried her best to recover but got tripped up in the alfalfa.
> When her neck hit the ground I bailed, executing a tuck and roll
> (wearing winter parka, long slicker, hat, and backpack). Both of
> us rolled onto our feet and stood up, with no harm done, before
> the other 8 riders in our group noticed anything was happening.
> I swear she was mortified.)
>
> Anyway, one benefit of glow sticks is that if one of your animals
> strays in the dark of night, you can more easily find it again.
>
> Philip, do you use a breakaway loop of string when you tie your
> pack animals together? I have often wondered about the pros
> and cons of this, given the pros and cons of breakaway ties in
> general.
>
> Una Smith
> Santa Fe County Sheriff's Posse, in New Mexico
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>






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