My hiking buddy is an ass.

[J P]

But he carries his own, and then some.

Packed up and ready to go.

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Recently, the burro, the dog, Herself, and I, (weird to be down to one dog now) headed out for a little overnight out-and-back camping trip about six miles up a local canyon. I’ve only been about three miles up this trail before and I always enjoy seeing some new country.

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[J P]

Scent of a shadow.

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This canyon burned in 2000 – a big wildfire year in this area. With granite walls rising over 1000ft, the canyon is popular with rock climbers. The Forest Service has been working on developing policy to address the increasing environmental impacts of climbing and I believe there is currently a (Forest-wide?) moratorium that prohibits bolting any new climbing routes. There are also seasonal closures for climbing in some areas to protect raptor nesting sites.

[David G]

What fun. One friend & one niece own them, and say they are sterling companions.

I once hiked with a pair of llama belonging to an acquaintance. I had the impression the whole time that they were space aliens of some sort. But great pack animals, compared to the horses I've known.

[J P]

It was getting late in the day and we were getting tired, so we took what we could for a camp site. Not a lot of options in that area. The site was less than ideal with all the standing dead timber around and lack of grazing. Fortunately the forecast was accurate and the wind was calm, but still, it made me a bit nervous. (Note: This being designated Wilderness, all log cutting as seen here, is done with handsaws. I packed a 2ft folding pull-saw but the trail had been well cleared as far as we went.)

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Burro at sunrise:

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That last pic is from where I slept. Laying there, looking up through the tall pines converging in single point perspective to a wonderful clear starry sky … just the sounds of the woods and nearby creek, far from light and sound pollution …
Good medicine.

I awoke several times to check on burro but he hardly moved the whole night and seemed at ease on the highline. I only heard the dog low-growl a couple times, otherwise, no drama with doggo or donko.


Out of the canyon on the home stretch:

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He loved to snatch mouthfuls of those currant blossoms and leaves as we trailed along. Thimbleberry and Huckleberry leaves were also preferred browse. Not a lot of grass in some of that country so being a browser has its advantages.

On the hike out we passed maybe fifteen or so folks/groups day-hiking up the canyon. Just about every one of them had a dog or two, off-leash, well behaved, controlled, no problems. And not a one packing a gun. Visibly anyway.

[wizbang 13]

What a cool deal !
I know nothin about it, but it look like the sail n oar version of goin into the sticks.

[Spin_Drift]

Such a wonderful outing. Lovely burro and nice dog. Couldn’t get better that this.

[Hugh MacD]

Looks like a rgeat way to go! I've always been my own pack mule to the detriment of my lower spine (among other abuses !

[skuthorp]

I've used a pack horse a couple of times. Trip looks fabulous.

[SKIP KILPATRICK]

J P, you got a real nice ass!

[J P]

J P, you got a real nice ass!

Well thank you Skip. LMAO!

Funny, I was just trying to think of a way to describe the 'chick magnetism' that we, or rather, he, the burro, often encounters on the trails.

[J P]

Now that's a dream come true.

Indeed, it is for us. Not without trials and tribulations getting there though, and no doubt more down the road. That's life though, eh?

Is this something you've dreamed of doing?

Does a body/mind good, time in the outback.

[L.W. Baxter]

is it not also a dude magnet? i would want to stop and talk and have a look over that rig.

[J P]

is it not also a dude magnet? i would want to stop and talk and have a look over that rig.

Seems to be less so with dudes. Kids though! Children and donkeys got something going on.

Fire away with any comments/questions about the rig, or whatever, we’re on the e-trail here.

[Figment]

Amused to see you wearing a backpack. Leading by example!

[Breakaway]

Cool as!

Kevin


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[bluedog225]

6689637[/URL]]J P, you got a real nice ass!

Thank you…somebody had to say it!

[J P]

Amused to see you wearing a backpack. Leading by example!

Heh. Yeah, I had a full size backpack but there wasn’t much in it, just some essentials that I’d want to have should we become separated.

When I was making up the pannier loads – burro gear in one, people stuff in t’other – I had intended to balance out any weight difference with a few cans of beer to make it a luxury trip. But the loads came out the same and I forgot the dang beer. Dog carries a pack too with his food in it.

[J P]

This past weekend we headed up a trail on a day-hike to a high mountain lake.

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Burro in the boulders and bear grass (the white blossoms):

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[J P]

About a couple miles in, a creek crossing stopped us. The hewn single-log, people-bridge was good, but there was a snarl of down logs in the stock ford area. We scouted around for other crossing options, but none were worth the effort or risk, so we turned back. Just as well, since thunderstorms were rolling in. We got caught in one in our last half mile out. A real soaker, with lightning hammering the mountain around us.

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Met some children coming up the trail.

“Look! It’s a donkey! Can we pet him, or her?”

“He’s a boy. Sure, you can pet him, just move slowly.”

“He’s sure got big ears.”

“Yep, he could hear you coming from two miles away.”

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[Dave Hadfield]

Do you pack any oats for the night, when there is no grazing?

Looks like a great trip.

[JimD]

Nice.

[John B]

Thanks JP.

[Hallam]

Fantastic!

[J P]

Do you pack any oats for the night, when there is no grazing?

Looks like a great trip.

Yes, I pack some steam rolled oats. And he got an apple with his dinner, and his breakfast, that were intended for our lunch. I also was able go out before dark and hand pick a small armload of bunch grasses that were scattered around. Pretty sparse pickin’s though. I should have packed a little top load bundle of hay as he was well under his weight carrying capacity, but I didn’t have any certified weed-free hay which is required in the backcountry. I’m going to try and find some this week to have a few bales on hand.


Glad to see some folks here enjoying this stuff.


A gear note: New England Ropes 12-strand Regatta Braid makes for a really nice lead rope. I’ve made a couple out of 5/8”, which is nice in hand, but found it to be a little heavy and a bit bulky for equine related knotting. I’m using ½” now and it’s just right for our purposes.

[Robbie 2]

Thanks for sharing.

[J P]

Took the critters out for a few miles of exercise.

All in step:

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Burro radar.

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Sure enough, there were some cattle over the hill.

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Grass is tall this year.
Good to see Herself back in the saddle, she suffered a bad wrist fracture this past winter from a bicycle accident.

[J P]

Headed for the hills again

On a trail we’ve not yet been …

-- J P
“Pack Burro Blues”


Another little pack trip.

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We’d hoped to find a suitable camp about five miles in, but ended up going about seven before finding a beautiful meadow in an avalanche run-out zone with good grass and water nearby. Well worth the extra couple miles.

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Burro approved:

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At ease on a highline for the night. Pannier pack-box doubles as a water trough. Still some snow up near the ridge on the distant north facing slope:

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[L.W. Baxter]

that shot of donkey grazing calls to mind the prospector story in the ballad of buster scruggs

[JayInOz]

J P, you got a real nice ass!

I knew someone would say it. Even funnier that it was Skip

[J P]

that shot of donkey grazing calls to mind the prospector story in the ballad of buster scruggs

Funny you mention that L.W. “All Gold Canyon”, a Jack London short story, a favorite of mine, and I love the film version in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.
Our camp had the feel of that film setting and that story crossed my mind while we were there. After we’d unpacked at camp, and while I was checking and cleaning out the burro’s hooves, I exclaimed to Herself, joking, in my best crusty old prospector voice, “There’s gol’dang gold nuggets packed in this hoof! We gonna find Mr. Pocket!” She didn’t ‘get it’, not knowing the story, but got a chuckle.

[J P]

Morning coffee and grazing duty under an unnamed mountain peak:

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^ Unnamed peak is ~8000ft ASL. Tempting to climb that. Looks like a good scramble and I imagine an incredible view from the top. Maybe if we get back there someday …


A mile-long mountain lake about 3000ft higher than the starting trailhead:

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^ It was good to see a bit of snow still lingering through this hot summer. The westerlies that blew during most of the trip brought a welcome break from the heat we had at home down in the valley. Kept the bugs down too.

Nice little camp spot down by the trees in the foreground. Not good for stock though – just bear grass and too close to the water.

[SKIP KILPATRICK]

J.P.

I love these threads your photos are so beautiful. Ken and I are headed west to next month Colorado. My first trip out there in +30 years and Ken has never been. We will spend some time up in the mountains. Your photos are really getting me pumped for our trip.

Thank you,

[Concordia...41]

What an excellent adventure! Thanks for sharing!

-M

[Gary Davis]

Beautiful as always. Thanks

[Andrew2]

Great photos and trip (as well as ass!)
Does Burro/Donk have a name?