Comments on: Mule http://www.manandmule.com Traveling as much of the PCT as possible using only 19th century means Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:12:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: barry silver http://www.manandmule.com/mule/comment-page-1/#comment-2441 barry silver Thu, 12 Aug 2010 23:00:06 +0000 http://www.manandmule.com/?page_id=11#comment-2441 Please am planning a 2011 or 2012 500 miler on horseback — i desperately need some suggestions — at very first blush i am looking at yosemite north — my sister and a good friend can help me in that stretch — my daughter is in Portland so oregon would also be a choice Please am planning a 2011 or 2012 500 miler on horseback — i desperately need some suggestions — at very first blush i am looking at yosemite north — my sister and a good friend can help me in that stretch — my daughter is in Portland so oregon would also be a choice

]]> By: Kevin http://www.manandmule.com/mule/comment-page-1/#comment-244 Kevin Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:31:33 +0000 http://www.manandmule.com/?page_id=11#comment-244 Bronze, I know squat about mules, I know abit about farm animals I would suggest you find a book about plant identification in the area you will be traveling. It will help you make sure Bootsie doesn't eat something that will harm her. Just because it tastes good to them it doesn't mean it won't harm them. Bronze, I know squat about mules, I know abit about farm animals I would suggest you find a book about plant identification in the area you will be traveling. It will help you make sure Bootsie doesn’t eat something that will harm her. Just because it tastes good to them it doesn’t mean it won’t harm them.

]]> By: Pat Megowan http://www.manandmule.com/mule/comment-page-1/#comment-204 Pat Megowan Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:20:11 +0000 http://www.manandmule.com/?page_id=11#comment-204 Hi Bronze, I'll be heading SOBO from Ashland in the next week or so, heading to Kennedy meadows. Then I double back and wander for a while in the Sierra - maybe we'll cross on the trail! I live in Corvallis - where are you putting up your mule? I'd love to have a short visit if your in town before I leave - email and I'll send a phone number. Pat Hi Bronze,

I’ll be heading SOBO from Ashland in the next week or so, heading to Kennedy meadows. Then I double back and wander for a while in the Sierra – maybe we’ll cross on the trail!

I live in Corvallis – where are you putting up your mule? I’d love to have a short visit if your in town before I leave – email and I’ll send a phone number.

Pat

]]> By: Ed Anderson/MendoRider http://www.manandmule.com/mule/comment-page-1/#comment-202 Ed Anderson/MendoRider Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:52:37 +0000 http://www.manandmule.com/?page_id=11#comment-202 Hello Bronze, I rode the PCT from the border of Mexico to Sisters, Oregon in 2008. I rode, solo, on an Arabian endurance horse. Primo is 14.3 hands, is very sure-footed, agile, strong, He held his weight on the 6 pounds of processed feed that I brought and gave him on an average day. I let him graze not just in camp but any time he saw something he wanted to eat along the trail. He is a desert horse by breed and by experience (in his past he ran virtually wild on the desert north of Bend with about 15 other horses}. So long as he is not sweating much he can go a long time without drinking. Sometimes you can't find a camp with both graze and water. If I came to a place, and it was time to camp, that had good graze but no water I would camp so long as Primo had had a recent drink. He had no problem with this. I agree that mules are sometimes pretty smart. This can become a disadvantage in that they can also become "opinionated" and stubborn - - -. Your best source of info on mules would be Ray Drasher. I know him and consider him an expert. If you get a chance to connect with Ray do so. You will learn a lot. I will be returning to the PCT going north this year, hopefully to Canada. If you want me to I will email info that might be useful to you. Hello Bronze, I rode the PCT from the border of Mexico to Sisters, Oregon in 2008. I rode, solo, on an Arabian endurance horse. Primo is 14.3 hands, is very sure-footed, agile, strong, He held his weight on the 6 pounds of processed feed that I brought and gave him on an average day. I let him graze not just in camp but any time he saw something he wanted to eat along the trail. He is a desert horse by breed and by experience (in his past he ran virtually wild on the desert north of Bend with about 15 other horses}. So long as he is not sweating much he can go a long time without drinking. Sometimes you can’t find a camp with both graze and water. If I came to a place, and it was time to camp, that had good graze but no water I would camp so long as Primo had had a recent drink. He had no problem with this. I agree that mules are sometimes pretty smart. This can become a disadvantage in that they can also become “opinionated” and stubborn – - -. Your best source of info on mules would be Ray Drasher. I know him and consider him an expert. If you get a chance to connect with Ray do so. You will learn a lot. I will be returning to the PCT going north this year, hopefully to Canada. If you want me to I will email info that might be useful to you.

]]> By: Michael Bravo http://www.manandmule.com/mule/comment-page-1/#comment-183 Michael Bravo Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:13:40 +0000 http://www.manandmule.com/?page_id=11#comment-183 Hans, I went to Mule Days 40th Anniversary in Bishop, CA last week. Great animals. Smarter than horses and ready for the trip. Definite survivalists. Best of luck to you. You're gonna have a geat time. I'm envious. Take some matches. They had em' back then. Blue tips. Let me know what you didn't use when you get back. Best, Michael Bravo Hans,

I went to Mule Days 40th Anniversary in Bishop, CA last week. Great animals. Smarter than horses and ready for the trip. Definite survivalists. Best of luck to you. You’re gonna have a geat time. I’m envious. Take some matches. They had em’ back then. Blue tips. Let me know what you didn’t use when you get back.

Best,

Michael Bravo

]]> By: amanda http://www.manandmule.com/mule/comment-page-1/#comment-170 amanda Thu, 21 May 2009 16:19:46 +0000 http://www.manandmule.com/?page_id=11#comment-170 howdy. If your in oregon I know where some pack saddles are. It is crucial to get them fit and get your mule used to it. The hardest thing for my mule to get used to is picketing. it is a good idea to do it as much as possible especially overnight. If boots is saddlebroke he should take his pack saddle well. Heay granny hiker-I would like to hear some of your packing expirences,as well as advice. good luck bronze,mabye you will have the pleasure of running into our rag-tag gypsy pack team,for we will be in the southern oregon/nor cal area! good luck. check with back country horesmen for good packing info. howdy. If your in oregon I know where some pack saddles are. It is crucial to get them fit and get your mule used to it. The hardest thing for my mule to get used to is picketing. it is a good idea to do it as much as possible especially overnight. If boots is saddlebroke he should take his pack saddle well. Heay granny hiker-I would like to hear some of your packing expirences,as well as advice. good luck bronze,mabye you will have the pleasure of running into our rag-tag gypsy pack team,for we will be in the southern oregon/nor cal area!
good luck. check with back country horesmen for good packing info.

]]> By: bronze http://www.manandmule.com/mule/comment-page-1/#comment-157 bronze Mon, 18 May 2009 03:21:20 +0000 http://www.manandmule.com/?page_id=11#comment-157 I had a great time too and I think another ride is definitely in order! She is a sweet gal for sure. After 5 months of non-stop contact I might find it awful hard to part with her. I had a great time too and I think another ride is definitely in order! She is a sweet gal for sure. After 5 months of non-stop contact I might find it awful hard to part with her.

]]> By: Kayla D http://www.manandmule.com/mule/comment-page-1/#comment-156 Kayla D Mon, 18 May 2009 02:04:19 +0000 http://www.manandmule.com/?page_id=11#comment-156 Hey there. Its Kayla. I met you and bootsie today through Dennis. I wish you the best of luck on your journey. I really love Boots! If you ever don't want her anymore ill steal her from you! Hopefully we can go riding one last time before you go. Hey there. Its Kayla. I met you and bootsie today through Dennis. I wish you the best of luck on your journey. I really love Boots! If you ever don’t want her anymore ill steal her from you! Hopefully we can go riding one last time before you go.

]]> By: Grannyhiker http://www.manandmule.com/mule/comment-page-1/#comment-74 Grannyhiker Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:27:47 +0000 http://www.manandmule.com/?page_id=11#comment-74 Speaking of conditioning: Consider more frequent resupply the first few weeks so you don't have to carry more than a week's food at a time. This will help your mule get conditioned en route. I believe there is only one stretch on the PCT--the southern Sierra--where you have to go longer than a week. By that time, Bootsie will be as tough as nails! Do you have people to meet you at various points? This will save many miles of extra riding/hiking into town. I doubt that hitchhiking will work with Bootsie in tow! Speaking of conditioning: Consider more frequent resupply the first few weeks so you don’t have to carry more than a week’s food at a time. This will help your mule get conditioned en route. I believe there is only one stretch on the PCT–the southern Sierra–where you have to go longer than a week. By that time, Bootsie will be as tough as nails!

Do you have people to meet you at various points? This will save many miles of extra riding/hiking into town. I doubt that hitchhiking will work with Bootsie in tow!

]]> By: Grannyhiker http://www.manandmule.com/mule/comment-page-1/#comment-73 Grannyhiker Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:18:54 +0000 http://www.manandmule.com/?page_id=11#comment-73 The sawbuck saddle with leather rigging shown on the Wyoming Gear website is exactly what my parents used in the 1940's, and, as I mentioned earlier, was certainly in use in the later 19th century. I'm sure it was around long before that! The sawbuck saddle with leather rigging shown on the Wyoming Gear website is exactly what my parents used in the 1940′s, and, as I mentioned earlier, was certainly in use in the later 19th century. I’m sure it was around long before that!

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