Eagle caps trip

[chukarchaser]

Still experimenting with posting pics. Thought I'd try to share a few from this summer's scouting/family backpacking trip in the Eagle Caps.

CC

[canes_venatici]

Love the pics.... First pic, Bear lake?

[chukarchaser]

First pic... Traverse lake.

CC

[hunteraholic]

great pictures. Not to chang the subject, how many miles to you go with the goats in a day and with how many pounds do you have on them? Thanks Blake

[Nw dukn]

Awesome pictures..

[chukarchaser]

Originally Posted by hunteraholic

great pictures. Not to chang the subject, how many miles to you go with the goats in a day and with how many pounds do you have on them? Thanks Blake

No problem changing the subject... always happy to talk packgoats .

Heat is a limiting factor but if it isn't blazing hot, they will typically hike pretty much all day long with about 40lbs each. I know some people put more weight on their goats but I haven't had more than about 40 lbs on mine.

CC

[Zumwalt]

Originally Posted by chukarchaser

No problem changing the subject... always happy to talk packgoats .

Heat is a limiting factor but if it isn't blazing hot, they will typically hike pretty much all day long with about 40lbs each. I know some people put more weight on their goats but I haven't had more than about 40 lbs on mine.

CC

How do the horse and mules react to your goats? Seen many crashes?

[hunteraholic]

thanks for the reply. I;m pretty new to the pack goat thing ive made a few trips this last summer. 4.5+- mile with 45 pounds no problem. That was with me walking with no weight (mabye a couple beers) I hear so many different stories of weight and miles (Books and on line). I dont wont to push it to far. THe last trip was a fishing trip on had the raft the other had the gear. One way was 2.4 miles I was 200 yards from the truck and he laid down he only had 25 pound on him. Im still trying to figured this out. So far I,m very impressed with them. If i can figure out how the post ill post a few pictures. Blake

[Bait O' Eggs]

There is no way I will camp in the traditional campgrounds you can drive to. I am tired of packing camp on my back into the remote lakes trying to get away from the masses.

Been reading about ultralight backpacking. Guys taking off for days at a time with 15 or 20 lb packs not counting food and water. I am not sure I want to be surviving that light on gear.

Stock seems to be the other choice, I dont have plans to own a hay burning horse, or mule but goats keep getting my attention. I have a few acres they could run on. If they can pack 40 or 50 lbs, 3 of 4 of them could get my family remote camping in style.

Roughly what does a pack goat cost? and what does it take financially to keep it fed and cared for in a year.

If they ate oak tree leaves I will have it made, just hauled off 20 yards of them cleaning up the fall shedding of my trees.

[chukarchaser]

Originally Posted by Zumwalt

How do the horse and mules react to your goats? Seen many crashes?

No crashes yet... . I always give horses/mules a wide right of way. Most have not paid much attention, a couple have been a little spooky.

CC

[chukarchaser]

Originally Posted by hunteraholic

thanks for the reply. I;m pretty new to the pack goat thing ive made a few trips this last summer. 4.5+- mile with 45 pounds no problem. That was with me walking with no weight (mabye a couple beers) I hear so many different stories of weight and miles (Books and on line). I dont wont to push it to far. THe last trip was a fishing trip on had the raft the other had the gear. One way was 2.4 miles I was 200 yards from the truck and he laid down he only had 25 pound on him. Im still trying to figured this out. So far I,m very impressed with them. If i can figure out how the post ill post a few pictures. Blake

In my experience, if they lay down it is for good reason, usually overheated. Of course, there is always the occasional lazy pack animal. None of mine have ever laid down, I think they are too terrified of being left behind by me. IMO the best way to ruin a young packgoat is to overload and overwork him those first couple years. Just like training bird dogs, make it as fun as you can that first year or two, otherwise they may learn to hate it. Take em' on lots of fun hikes with not much weight. Once they bond with you and learn to love hiking, there doesn't seem to be much they won't do or anywhere they won't go.

CC

[burnsfactor]

Any trouble with something trying to eat your goats??

[chukarchaser]

Originally Posted by Bait O' Eggs

Roughly what does a pack goat cost? and what does it take financially to keep it fed and cared for in a year.

I have 4 goats on about 1.5 acres of pasture that they feed on spring through fall. I purchase 1 ton of local grass hay annually to get them through the winter. As far as the initial cost, it varies wildly. You can pay top dollar ($200+ for a kid ) by purchasing from an actual "packgoat" breeder (yes, there are a few in the area) or pick up a young wether or kid from a local dairy or off craigslist for around $50. You just have to be a little more careful if you go with the latter option.

CC

[chukarchaser]

Originally Posted by burnsfactor

Any trouble with something trying to eat your goats??

Not yet, and they've been left alone at camp plenty . Certain breeds of goats tend to be very vocal and "sound the dinner bell" when left alone.... fortunately for them, mine are quiet.

CC

[Gus Orviston]

very cool.. never thought of using goats.. was thinking of boarding a mule or two when I get back, but we will have 3 acres and that would support goats.. and I need land clearing as well.. so I could double down.

do you bring feed for them,, or let them graze on their own?

oh,, and great pics too ;-)

gus

[Quaka Wacka]

I found this year, that puting them on timothy intsead of grass hay a few weeks before you start packing seems to be thier equivlent of Red Bull. They get more rowdy and seem to do better on the longer packs.

As far as weight, I load them light (20lbs or so) when I'm going up steep hills, and load them normal (35-50lbs depending on the goat), for flat or downhill. They seem to pack longer and at a better pace this way.

And BOE- I was into the lightweight gear before I got goats, I never pushed it with the "20lb" pack for overnighters, but always buy the lightest gear, when I shop. Now that I use the goats I still use the lightest gear I can find, I am just able to go further with more supplies. And pack out a deer or two as well. All while carrying a moderate pack. The only downfall is that it really slows down the pace, and there is a definate learning curve where you wonder if its worth it.

[chukarchaser]

Gus, they seem to get plenty of feed on the trail. I don't pack any extra.

QW, I like the timothy hay idea before a pack trip... I will definitely try that next time. Thanks.

My wife and I used to backpack a lot (pre-kids) so we had a lot of the lightweight gear as well. The goats were an easy sell to my wife when I told her we could stop car camping and start backpacking again with our two boys. Our 5 year old is a great hiker, I pack the 3 year old on my back and the goats carry everything else. My wife loves not having to carry anything .

CC

[Gun Rod Bow]

Originally Posted by Bait O' Eggs

but goats keep getting my attention

Get a cute one

[jnicholson]

Originally Posted by Gun Rod Bow

Get a cute one

Huh?
Lonely nights in the wilderness?

[Hard Cast]

Originally Posted by Gun Rod Bow

Get a cute one

Originally Posted by jnicholson

Huh?
Lonely nights in the wilderness?

[Tulelicious]

I was at traverse lake late this summer, Beautiful country. Your pics are very nice but you still cannot capture the beauty of that land with a camera. I was there 25 years ago as a kid and I finally went back.

Did you fish Traverse? I fished echo and traverse it was a lot of fun. Traverse was crazy with small brookies. Did you see the mountain goats running around the terrain?

Sounds like you had a great trip

How did you like the ridiculous number of switchbacks on that trail?

[BarroomHero]

Originally Posted by chukarchaser

No crashes yet... . I always give horses/mules a wide right of way. Most have not paid much attention, a couple have been a little spooky.

CC

We had our eldest mule brutally attack and kill 2 goats one summer. It was a horrifying experience for a 9 year old! Never had a problem for years with having mules and goats graze together. Lesson learned.

[chukarchaser]

Originally Posted by Tulelicious

I was at traverse lake late this summer, Beautiful country. Your pics are very nice but you still cannot capture the beauty of that land with a camera. I was there 25 years ago as a kid and I finally went back.

Did you fish Traverse? I fished echo and traverse it was a lot of fun. Traverse was crazy with small brookies. Did you see the mountain goats running around the terrain?

Sounds like you had a great trip

How did you like the ridiculous number of switchbacks on that trail?

Speaking of switchbacks, did you happen to come across a set of tent poles on those switchbacks??? Didn't realize til' we were back at the trailhead and there was no way I was heading back up to get them. Apparently didn't tie them onto the goat good enough!

CC

[Tulelicious]

Originally Posted by chukarchaser

Speaking of switchbacks, did you happen to come across a set of tent poles on those switchbacks??? Didn't realize til' we were back at the trailhead and there was no way I was heading back up to get them. Apparently didn't tie them onto the goat good enough!

CC

Nope no tent poles. I counted 56 switch backs from Echo lake to West eagle meadow. I never did count the ones from echo lake to the top of the ridge by the horn though. Im sure there were 30 to 40 there too.

[hunteraholic]

Originally Posted by Quaka Wacka

I found this year, that puting them on timothy intsead of grass hay a few weeks before you start packing seems to be thier equivlent of Red Bull. They get more rowdy and seem to do better on the longer packs.

As far as weight, I load them light (20lbs or so) when I'm going up steep hills, and load them normal (35-50lbs depending on B?the goat), for flat or downhill. They seem to pack longer and at a better pace this way.

And BOE- I was into the lightweight gear before I got goats, I never pushed it with the "20lb" pack for overnighters, but always buy the lightest gear, when I shop. Now that I use the goats I still use the lightest gear I can find, I am just able to go further with more supplies. And pack out a deer or two as well. All while carrying a moderate pack. The only downfall is that it really slows down the pace, and there is a definate learning curve where you wonder if its worth it.

Alex you pick any more goats yet? I"m curently looking for two more. Joe is the one that laid down. I was probably pushing the last bit two hard.Blake

[Quaka Wacka]

Originally Posted by hunteraholic

Alex you pick any more goats yet? I"m curently looking for two more. Joe is the one that laid down. I was probably pushing the last bit two hard.Blake

Thinking of picking up a couple kids this spring. I had a rough day of hunting earlier this year, after one of our goats lost all motivation and would not move. At least not the last 1/4 mile to camp. Every time he would stand up, he would head back toward the truck. Even when I took his pack and saddle off. If he wasn't my friends sons 'pet' that goat likely would have stayed up on that hill. In hindsight I was pushing the last bit too hard for the shape they were in.

How have they been doing other than that?

[Silver Eagle]

The Goats are cool and I'm surprised that some of the pack animal owners have not chimmed in, I would love to have some kind of animal to pack some of my gear but am not a real fan of the bigger animals, cool deal...

[Zumwalt]

Originally Posted by BarroomHero

We had our eldest mule brutally attack and kill 2 goats one summer. It was a horrifying experience for a 9 year old! Never had a problem for years with having mules and goats graze together. Lesson learned.

Ouch!!!!

[Bait O' Eggs]

Originally Posted by Gun Rod Bow

Get a cute one

Beauty is only skin deep