There are also a few wild burro’s near enough to get interesting near the CA border. (They are more common towards Alvore, but if its really dry they can work over to the west)

Take a bottle of the purple magic from a vet supplier, and some sterile surgical catgut. My experience with horses and mules is they have a singular talent for nasty gashes from tree limbs, barbed wire, and some of the most amazing other stuff. The ability to put in a couple clean stitches is invaluable, and some horse vets will let you watch them work and teach you some emergency techniques. Also carry a list of farriers along the way, most are certified to give anesthetic to horses and they have the gear to help you.

You have been to trail farriers school right? Take a set of pre fitted shoes for the mule.

Have a good time it sounds like a great trip.

I grew up horsepacking but that was in the 1940’s and 1950’s, about a century too late. I can tell you that when you take an animal along, you won’t be “hiking your own hike” but hiking your animal’s hike! That’s true whether the animal is a horse, mule or dog. You have to keep the mule healthy, well-fed and shod. Your stopping places will be dictated by where the mule can graze and have water. If he goes lame, you’re done until he recovers. Be really sure he’s vaccinated against West Nile. My-daughter-the-veterinarian says it has become widespread in California and has seen quite a few unvaccinated horses die.

You’ll probably want to do some research on equine gear. A surprising amount of horse tack is little changed since the 19th century. I know that in the 19th century, hobbles and halters were generally made of braided rawhide. At least in the later 19th century ropes were made from manila, Mexican maguey or hemp. When we started out (1945) there were no manila ropes (manila came from the Philippines, and World War II ended only 2 days before we started) so we used hemp. Cotton and nylon rope came along quite a bit later. You’ll have to find out when these materials started being used for rope. My oldest son is a Civil War re-enactor, although he’s been out of it the past two years while being stationed in Central Asia. However, that period is later than what you’re looking for. A better source might be to research early 19th century practices in California and Mexico.

One “modern” item (like the alcohol stove) you’ll have to take is weed-free horse feed. This is required by US Forest Service regulations. Plain old oats (what we used) is now illegal. Grazing is limited, and you can’t expect the mule to survive on only grass anyway. At least half of what your mule carries will be his feed and gear, not yours.

Another “modern” item you’ll need for the Sierra is bear-proof panniers. Google “Sierra Wild Bear” to find out what’s approved. I don’t know if you could get by with regular panniers, using a hikers’ bear canister for your food. It may be that you’ll have to bear-proof your mule’s food as well. If that’s the case, you’ll definitely have to use the metal panniers.

When we started horsepacking, my parents bought used gear. I don’t know when the regular wooden sawbuck pack saddle was invented, but I know from Charles M. Russell paintings that it was around in the later 19th century. My parents got a set of homemade cowhide box panniers–with the hair on the cowhide. They were already very well-used but continued to hold up until the late 1950’s when they finally were bucked off a horse one too many times. I don’t know when canvas panniers became common, and early ones may have been made from rawhide. Note that pack animals like to bash the panniers into trees and have been known to try to roll with the pack on, so if you have to carry any breakable items, box panniers would be better. If you have to use bear-proof panniers, they certainly will protect the contents from abuse by the mule, too.

Re the lantern: my parents had a folding candle lantern with isinglass (thin sheets of mica) windows. I know the use of isinglass goes back a few hundred years. I doubt such a thing still exists in these days of plastic, but you could check antique stores. I don’t think we ever took a flashlight until the 1950’s when someone gave my parents a battery lantern for Christmas.

I’m really excited about your trip and will be following it closely!