Setting a Line in the Wilderness

There are a multitude of reasons for needing to set a line in the wilderness.  A common one is to hoist food away from animals.  Climbers may need to set a line for the purpose of advancing a rope up a tree. A standard approach would be to carry multiple throw weights and lines - should one throw system get stuck.  This is a minimalist scenario where it's not practical to carry weights or the last weight is stuck out of reach.  The solution is to pack a weight and a line inside a sock in manner that minimizes the risk of becoming stuck.  With this system a long range hiker only carries thin throwing line as the "extra" item to stow.  The remote climber now has a back-up.

When setting a line, the target is to position a line high over a sturdy limb and to have that line return to the ground.  The high targets and dense undergrowth make the task more challenging. A high target may be reached, but there may be a challenge on returning it to the ground.  Bushes and branches will snag your line along the way.

The key is to create an apparatus that dispenses line, the line is detachable and contains a weight found in nature.  The answer is the ubiquitous sock.  Load a weight from your surroundings into the toe (sand, dirt, gravel, rock or wood).  The weight needs to be comfortable for throwing.  Tie off the sock with an overhand knot and turn it inside out.  Your weight is contained in this miniature sack.  The end of a line is inserted through the overhand knot.  The line is loaded inside the sock or newly formed miniature sack.  The best method is to use a fig-8 stack on the hand then place that inside the sock.  Only a few feet of line are packed.  The  rest of the line remains on the ground.

Here are the benefits.  Packed line dispenses out, which returns your line to the ground.  A dispensing line doesn't have a pendulum swing.  Swinging is one cause of stuck lines.  Note that the line is inserted, not tied to the sock.  If the line falls into a tight wedge, then the sock and line can be separated.

1. Sock

2. Weight placed in tow

3. Overhand knot

4. Bight of throw line inserted

5. Sock inverted to make small sack

6. New location of weight inside sock/sack

7. Area filled with packed throw line

8. Illustration of Fig-8 stacked line