The mountains are calling!

Join us this season to elevate skills in both Decker and Sawbuck Styles of packing in a full 6 day Packing School. 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 my string will be with us, and Iron Mules available that stand really well. In-fact they don’t move at all!

RESERVE YOUR SPOT WITH A DEPOSIT OR PAYMENT IN FULL

These clinics are intended to give you a solid foundation in the 101 class to build on, or to elevate you into a career in packing mules both commercially and/or for the US Forest Service.

Clinics will be held here in Twisp, WA and in Yreka, California. For more information about the locations, bringing your own stock, or any other questions you might have... 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: $350/for this session only/person & equine

1:00pm – 5:00pm: $350/for this session only/person & equine

One Day session: $600/ Single Day/person & equine

3 Day Clinic Pass: $900/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: $1600. This will include all 6 days/2 sessions. In-between the two sessions there will be an off day where an option of a trail ride could be available.

Skills covered

Packing basics 101 - 

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 (we will be using the Iron Mules for this. No live animals at this time)

Afternoon session:

- The Decker Pack saddle review, building a decker load & Basket Hitch. (we will be using the Iron Mules for this. No live animals at this time)

Day 3- Morning Session:

- Setting up a highline and highline safety. 

- Setting up your camp, kitchen, meal prep and grazing your stock in the wilderness.

Afternoon Session:

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

-Well spend the rest of the day reviewing the gear I always take, and what I leave behind and why.

Advanced Packing Clinic -

Skills that we’ll cover:

Day 1 - Morning Session:

- Riding techniques for the trail. (this will be done in the arena, and saddled. There will be obstacles to work around and through.

- Stringing your mules together.

Afternoon Session: 

- How to safely lead your string of mules. (if you don’t have your own, my string will be available to lead)

- Highline review. 

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

-Backcountry Cooking.

• Meal prep

• Meal planing

• Refrigeration

• we’ll review different cooking/stoves

Day 2 - 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. 

- Double Diamond on a sawbuck and Northwest Diamond hitch. 

Afternoon Session: 

-You’ll now take your new skills and put them to the test where everyone will (working together is encouraged) build pack loads and secure them to the mule with the hitches you learned.

-If you brought your own mules and horses, you’ll do this own your own mules, and if you didn't , you’ll use my string.

-youll learn how to build your string, and how to manage getting on and off safely.

-everyone will get a chance to lead the string of mules loaded.

Day 3 - Morning Session: 

-We’ll start the day first preparing one of my favorite back country meals

-Then move onto building Decker loads, manties loads, box loads 

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

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

-Lumber Hitch

-Everyone will get another opportunity here to build their own Decker loads, and get them packed onto the mules.

Afternoon Session: 

-We will now take all of our new skills where we will ride out with mules packed and set a “wilderness” Camp.

-Finish with a closing dinner around the campfire.

Clinic Dates 

Northern California - 

101 beginner clinic March 7th - 9th

102 advanced clinic March 11th - 13th

Methow Valley, Washington 

101 Beginner Clinic May 21st - 23rd

102 Advanced Clinic May 25th - 27th