PACKSTRING GOIN' UP CROOKED CREEK

Lynn and Mike decide to take a camping trip four miles up Crooked Creek for two days and take a packstring with all of their gear.  This will also be a packstring training trip for Nathaniel who is learning to be a 'packer.'  We take two mules for packing, three mules for riding and Lynn will walk with the dogs.  It is a beautiful day and a two and half hour ride each way.  Nathaniel and I will drop off Lynn and Mike with their gear and ride back to the ranch.  When packing for hunting camp six or seven mules are packed and the rest of the stock is ridden.

The pack mules are hitched together with a light twine or rope and lead by a rider.  A strong thick rope is not used.  If one mule accidentally goes off the trail the light rope will break and the other mules will not be pulled off the trail.  The mule behind a mule going off the trail will see what is happening and can  potentially brace itself from the fall, but the mule in front will not see and thus could be pulled over and so on.

Everything packed on a mule is placed in a mantie (a large canvas/tarp cloth) or a wooden box.  The packs must be in equal weight on each side of the mule so that the mule is balanced on the trail.  The box is tied with a basket hitch and the mantie is tied with a barrel hitch.

The word mantie is derived from the Spanish, referring to a woman's shawl or scarf called a mantilla.

We take Molly and Itchy for packing and Willy, Jerry and Alfalfa for riding. 

Here Mike and Nathaniel are readying the packs . . . .

 

Itchy ready with his Decker pack saddle . . . .

 

Loading the Molly with a mantie . . . .

 

Back end of Itchy with box and mantie load, ready to go . . ..

 

Itchy loaded with mantie, box and  crosscut saw . . .

 

The saw will be used to clear any trees blocking the trail.  The cross cut saw is a two man saw.

 

Mike does a final check on all saddles and packs before we head out on the trail . . .

 

 

Lorrie again rides her trusty mule,  Alfalfa .. . .

 

Leaving the ranch . . . .

 

Headed up the air strip . . . .

 

On the trail . . . . .

 

I am holding up the rear so if Nathaniel and Mike have to work on the trail I will stop the mules from going back home.  If left unattended/untied the mules will automatically head back to the ranch.

 

Trail goes up a high ridge . . . . .

 

We arrive and Nathaniel unloads the mules . . . .

 

Lynn arrives and hour later with the dogs . . . .

 

Nathaniel and I head home at 2:30 and arrive at the ranch at 4:30 p.m. . .  a long, hot ride.