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Outpost:  A Pack Trip (long)  |
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HiDez Gal
True Blue Farmgirl
122 Posts
Roberta
Joshua Tree,
CA
USA
122 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 11 2004 : 09:57:10 AM
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Hi,
Just returned from a pack trip. Biggest lesson learned: despite how prepared you think you are stuff happens that can throw a wrench into the works.
A couple of friends and i decided to take a pack trip using their horse, mules (we all had some to pack or ride) and my Mammoth donkey. I spent a good six weeks making sure my animals were truly conditioned for this trip. I ride on a regular basis so i knew my animals were okay in that respect but the mules needed additional conditioning because they were going to be carrying pack saddles with about 150 lbs of dead weight. Dead weight is much heavier than live weight (i.e. a rider).
I also was in charge of food since they didn't have a clue how to come up with food that would keep well and keep the three of us well fed for a week. Originally the plan was to just get mostly dehydrated stuff and do little cooking. We did use some MJF backpacking food but they felt their budget wouldn't allow them to eat that way for a week. I have lots of dehydrated stuff on hand so i managed to come up with balanced meals for the trip and we shared the cost of what had to be purchased. It was a lot of work though and i am not sure i would volunteer to do this again. We did enjoy some good meals so i guess that made it worth doing this time :-).
One person in our party does not eat eggs or chicken (no real reason just a quirk) so that made breakfast planning a bit more of a challenge. I was told on the sly that if this person didn't know what was in a dish there were no complaints so i was able to smuggle a bit of powdered egg into the pancake mix, etc. Some of the other breakfasts were quick cooking brown rice with mixed dried fruit and pecans or couscous with dried cherries and walnuts. I was able to use my "Outback Oven" which is a backpacker's oven that fits on one of the little backpacking stoves. It was great fun to use and turned out some nifty baked goods with less fuel use than would be used without it. It can be used to bake anything as you would at home (even pizza), just on smaller scale.
We based at a horse camp which leads into the Golden Trout Wilderness in the Sierras here in California. We packed up the animals with all of our gear, making sure the loads were well balanced and properly secured and headed down a mountain trail of switchbacks.
The trail was a bit more steep and narrow then we had been led to believe. One of the people in our party began to experience a problem with their riding horse. The horse became pretty worried and was failing to pay attention to where it was putting its feet and before long all of the equines were on edge (equines are herd animals and often these things are contagious LOL). My friend decided to walk down and lead the horse, at which time i could see that would be the best course of action for me too because they were leading my extra pack mule and there would not be enough hands to lead all of these animals.
As it turned out i sent my riding donkey and one of my pack mules down ahead of me all on their own while i followed on foot and led another animal. Six weeks of training and practicing leading as a team and the animals bonding in that fashion really paid off because the two animals quietly headed down without any further direction from me.
In the meantime, my friend who is in good health but overweight ran into problems with some rough areas in the trail resulting in a twisted knee and a tweaked back. We could not have turned back at this point because it probably would have been impossible for this person to remount the horse because of the injury. Eeek! When we got to the bottom we decided we would have to just stay where we were because we would be unable to continue since our friend was now having muscle spasms. There were also some breathing problems but they appeared to be mainly anxiety and due to the pain from the spasms. I have had some Red Cross CPR training etc. so i felt pretty certain that the most important thing was to stay calm and to help my friend slow her breathing and just go with the pain until the spasms could subside.
Long story short, we spent the entire time right at the base of the trail. There was a river for water and trees to picket the animals and a small meadow but not much grazing other than that. Fortunately we had also brought horse feed with us so there was no concern about enough food for the animals.
Our friend was able to rest and towards the end of the week was able to ride back up the mountain on one of the mules after switching the pack equipment to the horse and giving him a short lesson in carrying a pack. It was an uneventful trip to the top and took much less time then the trip down which had been torturously slow.
It was beautiful there in the mountains but it was also sad to see the effects of the years of drought here in the West. I was able to get out for some riding in the area and had fun splashing in the water of the river.
We saw deer in the area but fortunately no bears. In the evening hanging our food and personal items that might be attractive to bears was a hassle but better to be safe than sorry. Filtering every drop of water was a bit of a chore too but the newer filters are pretty easy to use and not too difficult to maintain or clean. Having to work to get water makes one appreciate how precious this resource is to all of us.
I love sleeping in my little backpacking tent and to sit around a campfire with friends in the evening as the sky darkens and the moon and stars begin to light the sky. Makes for special memories despite the difficulties of camping/packing.
From my favorite coffee cup:
"A gal's gotta do what a gal's gotta do." Minnie Cody, 1901 |
Edited by - HiDez Gal on Aug 11 2004 09:58:18 AM |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Aug 11 2004 : 10:41:28 AM
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Oh My Roberta! You had quite an adventure with your friends! I was thinking about you out there on the trail! I'm glad everything turned out okay and that you enjoyed your time away and together.
Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural |
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HiDez Gal
True Blue Farmgirl
122 Posts
Roberta
Joshua Tree,
CA
USA
122 Posts |
Posted - Aug 12 2004 : 11:31:49 AM
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Thanks Clare, it was just about as much adventure as i am up for these days <VBG> I have finally cleaned and mended all of my equipment that needed it and am getting back into more of a normal routine which feels really nice.
From my favorite coffee cup:
"A gal's gotta do what a gal's gotta do." Minnie Cody, 1901 |
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cecelia
True Blue Farmgirl
497 Posts
cecelia
new york
USA
497 Posts |
Posted - Aug 12 2004 : 5:34:04 PM
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Roberta, that trip sounded like fun when you first mentioned it, but that kind of adventure I can do without at my age. The worst trip I ever went on was a canoeing trip in Canada, where we met some terrible thunderstorms, and had no choice but to canoe across a lake during one. I honestly thought I was going to die on that trip, but we made it back with no injuries, even though we nearly were swamped. Sometimes all the preparation, etc. does not help, you're lucky you had some first aide training. Take care, and hope all's well now.
Cecelia
ce's farm |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Sep 09 2004 : 11:29:29 AM
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Thought you might all enjoy this update on HiDez Gal, Roberta.....
>Hello Roberta,
>Just checking in on you to see if everything is ok, since you
>haven't posted much since your return from your big packing trip. I
>miss your input!
>I hope all is well.
>Take care, Clare
Hi Clare,
I have FORCED myself to stay away LOL. I get so caught up in all of
the fun there that i don't get enough done around here. I am trying
to get my big donkey ready to work in harness this fall and so when i
have been online it has been mostly to be in contact with harness
makers and collar makers trying to get the equipment right and ready.
Once i get him pulling a drag and stuff i will send you all some
pictures of us farmin' our sand (i plan to use him to turn the manure
in the arena and to drag the drive and even possibly sled some rock
down to the house for a landscaping project.)
We spent about a week getting in hay for winter, we had to haul and
stack it in the barn ourselves and it was really hard work because
bales in California are big - these were about 118 lbs. Now i have to
start on my gardens because they are a mess and need prep work for
fall crops. We also have a new Australian Cattle Dog Pup and she is
really taking up a bunch of time, we are trying to teach her gently
to have good manners - practically a full time job! It has been
pretty hot here and with all of this going on i haven't had much time
to ride but i am hoping to get caught up before the cooler weather
hits so that i can spend lots more time riding and working with
donkey on his driving lessons. Also maybe then i can get organized
enough so that i can spend some time on the MJF Forum i really miss
all of you and wonder what you are up to all of the time. But i am
remaining self disciplined no matter how curious i am about the
doings there <VBG> I just got my Sweet Lena Iris plant yesterday and
finally got my copy of the magazine. Planted the iris but haven't
done much more than peek in the magazine...want to wait until i can
savor it.
I still haven't been able to get my sewing projects done (aprons)
with the new puppy it is really hard to try to sew because she gets
into everything and i am a messy seamstress so i can just visualize
her swallowing pins or thread. Gotta get, have sweet potato pie in
the oven and it needs checking. Please feel free to write me anytime,
it was great to hear from you.
Best thoughts - tell all of the gals "hi" from me,
Roberta
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Eileen
True Blue Farmgirl
1199 Posts
Eileen
USA
1199 Posts |
Posted - Sep 09 2004 : 12:45:44 PM
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What an adventure! I finally have figured out how to get hooked up so now I can respond to these wonderful discussions. Sounds like Roberta has a very full plate indeed. New puppies and sewing are not a good combination nor are sewing and any age cat. I have sewn for as long as I can remember having learned to sew on my mothers treaddle machine when I was 6 and my father fitted the peddal with a block for me so I could reach the treddle. I learned to never ever leave a needle with thread still in it in any pin cushion or on any table. Still after all these years( over 48 sewing) I have had to take one cat or another to the vet to have a threaded needle removed from its throat. One of my cats insists on getting up onto the sewing table and removing the pins from the project if I am not dillegent enough to lock her out of the room. With puppies it is different because if you lock them out they cry and scratch to get in and you get no peace. You almost need puppy day care in order to accomplish anything.
Eileen
songbird |
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Kim
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Kim
Pflugerville
Texas
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Sep 09 2004 : 3:53:16 PM
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Roberta, I envy you the strength to take on such a trip! I can be a weenie (lol) when it comes to things like that. I bet it was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Glad you are back!
farmgirl@heart
Longaberger Lover and all things antique |
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Outpost: A Pack Trip (long) |
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A Pack Trip (long)
