Commercial Packers

This was recently posted on BCHW by Lori and I'm cross posting here as there's great information in this well written article.

Happy Trails!

I've posted some photos from a recent pack trip into the Pasayten Wilderness on the Yahoo website at http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/BCHW/ . If you live in WA and have not ever been there: DO IT! There is a reason it is so popular for stock users. The most populated areas are that way for a reason: the scenery is spectacular!

Now:
This message is to those who are not one of 'them', as most trail riders today are not. 'THEM: one who heads into the middle of the mountains for days on end, pack stock in tow, with no plans to return to their trailer/camper at the end of each ride. Note: if personal hygiene is REALLY high on your list of 'must haves' then you can quit reading now....8-)

Maybe you don't have the pack equipment and/or no pack horse? Not enough knowledge to make sure your trip is going to be worry free (excluding weather, trail conditions, etc. of course)? Or maybe you feel like it takes too much pre-planning and work? Well, that's me. In a 'previous life' I packed all over the place, several times a year. In my current life - not! And then I finally discovered the Joys of Hiring a Packer! An old dog CAN learn new tricks....

For the uninitiated, here is how one version (my favorite) works:
1. Me, my horse & friends all show up at the trailhead with our personal duffle, place it on the ground and head up the trail to the camp site.
2. Pretty soon, here come the packer and all his mules with all our stuff and the camping gear. Which HE sets up while I sit on my rear and read a book and drink an Adult Beverage.
3. But best of all, along comes the camp cook with all the food that SHE organized, purchased and packed and COOKS! While I again sit on my rear and read a book and drink an Adult Beverage.

Is this more expensive than doing everything yourself? Sure. But for those that do not have the experience or resources to do it SAFELY themselves it's sure much less stressful! Stress can be bad for your blood pressure and can add lines to your face...... And hey - I'M WORTH IT! Having a pro - with their experienced animals - deal with everything involved results in fewer things that can and do go wrong on pack trips. Been there, done that.....

If you've ever wanted to get back into the high country for several days on end and NOT COOK, then this is the way to go. Packers also offer Drop Camps. This is where you assemble all your personal items, your own camping and cooking equipment and food and the packer packs it in for you and then returns to pack it out when your trip is done.

For more info on commercial packers in WA check out the Washington Outfitters and Guides Assn. http://www.woga. org/ . If you want to go out of state then the WOGA website has a list of other state organizations too. Or many of them are at some of the first of the year Sportsman's Shows where you can meet them in person. Decide where you want to ride and then contact them and get references. If you want to ride your own horse (make sure it is in shape and experienced! The wrong horse can be a real pain for you and can easily ruin your trip. It may be a better - and safer - idea to use one of the packers horses in some cases) make sure you ask if they allow them and what the conditions to do so are.

Now get with some friends or family and start planning a memorable pack trip for next summer!

Lori

PS: I even
got to meet Cheryl from the BCHW Yahoo Group on my trip! She was one
of the many with some good ideas for Adult Beverages on pack trips.