The mountains are calling!

Join us this season to elevate skills in both Decker and Sawbuck Styles of packing. We’ll cover everything from the basic fundamentals of packing and get into some of the more advanced skills and hitches in the Advanced class. You do not need your own equipment, but if you have your own, you're encouraged to bring it. Space is available for your horses and mules. If you don’t have one, thats ok. There will be others and Iron Mules available that stand really well. In-fact they don’t move at all!

Clinics will be hosted by Davis Creek Ranch here in Twisp, WA. For more information about the location, email or call me at 360-961-5510 or trentpeterson@me.com

I’ve spent the last 20 years of my life gathering knowledge and skills for packing and traveled the world to learn other cultures and their packing methods. That time would be wasted if I didn’t share them and Id love to share them with you!

Pack clinic information:

Clinic Sessions: 

8:00am – 12:00pm: $125/for this session only/person & equine

1:00pm – 5:00pm: $125/for this session only/person & equine

One Day session: $225/ Single Day/person & equine

3 Day Clinic Pass : $600/person & equine. you do not need to have your own horse, mule or gear. Iron Mules “practice dummies” are available and all gear will be provided. But if you have your own, we strongly encourage you to bring it. Spot is reserved when payment is received in full. 

For both clinics: $1,000. This will include all 6 days/2 sessions. In-between the two sessions there are spaces still available with the talented Wylene Wilson Of Wild West Horesmanship . This is a great class to take advantage of after the beginner packing 101 class or before my advanced packing class.

Auditing the classes: 

$30 for the whole day and $80 for the weekend. 

Session Dates: 

Packing basics 101 - April 26,27,28 

Skills that will be covered:

Day 1 - Morning Session:

-Pack saddle types, saddle fitting, saddle parts, saddling and unsaddling techniques, catching your mule or horse (the do’s and don’ts) + how the conversation starts and the intentions begin. 

Afternoon Session: 

-Tying to the hitching rail, Bowline knot, Modified Prusik knot & Clove hitch  

Day 2- Morning Session:

- The sawbuck pack saddle review, building a sawbuck bag load, tying the Box Hitch & Squaw Hitch 

Afternoon session: 

- The Decker Pack saddle review, building a decker load & Basket Hitch. 

Day 3- Morning Session:

- Setting up a highline and highline safety. 

Afternoon Session: 

- Hitch review, saddle fitting review plus things to think about to take with you and what you can leave behind.

Advanced Packing Clinic - May 17, 18, 19

Skills that we’ll cover: 

Day 1 - Morning Session:

- Sawbuck loads. How to build a bag load, box load, and top loads. 

- Box hitch review, and diamond hitch and what loads to use it on. 

Afternoon Session: 

-Decker loads, manties loads, box loads 

- Basket hitch review, learn the crows foot and where and how to use it. 

Day 2 - Morning Session: 

- How to pack a cross cut saw using sawbuck hitches, how to pack hand tools. 

- Double Diamond on a sawbuck and Northwest Diamond hitch. 

Afternoon Session: 

- How to pack a cross cut saw on a Decker 

- Packing hand tools 

-Lumber hitch on a decker 

Day 3 - Morning Session: 

- Riding techniques for the trail. 

- String your mules together.

Afternoon Session: 

- Leading your string of mules.

- Highline review. 

- Backcountry vet care, backcountry shoeing, things to take and things to leave behind.  

Also Available: 

• $75/ LQ trailer hookup- water, propane, electric, septic - NO tent Camping

• $25/stall per horse/session. Includes high quality feed + weed free- grass and alfalfa

• Coffee, lunch, cocktail hour, sandwich bar with chips at lunch + nuts and beer at end of day provided by Molly Paterson of Dry Creek Ranch.