Haven't got me book of winching calculations in front of me (yeah there really is one). They work fine --- IF ---- you have enough of them. I think it's something like 5 are needed in a line, or you can stagger in a triangle with a bridle, but the plough is a better option, or if your up shitcreak then dig a 'T' shaped trench and drop a spare tyre in the - with the winch line in the | with a tyre lever across the back of the line.
The tyre method is about the only one which will work in sand.
With the poles your supposed to run the rope from bottom to top from one to the next -----|/|/|/ style. But I can't see the lower point on those for attaching??
