Which practice helps ensure direction control when traversing uneven terrain with a haul line?

• A. Let the line travel freely without guiding.
• B. Rely on natural topography.
• C. Disregard load paths.
• D. Use a properly rigged anchor with redundancy and a guided path to maintain load direction.

Answer: (D)

Direction control in uneven terrain comes from how you anchor and route the haul line. Using a properly rigged anchor with redundancy provides multiple independent points to secure the line, so if one leg shifts or fails, the others keep the system from collapsing and keep the load from veering off course. A guided path means routing the line through planned, controlled hardware (like directed pulleys, carabiners, and anchor transitions) so the pull stays along the intended direction rather than wandering with terrain features or unintended friction changes. This combination maintains predictable load direction, reduces the risk of side pulls, line snagging, or unexpected load movement, and improves overall safety. In contrast, letting the line travel freely, relying on natural topography, or ignoring load paths allows the line to shift unpredictably, increasing danger to both the rope system and the rescuers.