Sue and Ed, work together as a team.  They discuss everything to make sure Sue is still, always, right.  The mules have convinced Ed that he has no business being right.  Photo was taken during a shake pack in 4/24/04 at Harps Shelter Olympic National Forest.

"The worst day packing is better then the best day on the flatland!"

• We are owned by eight critters, six wonderful mules and two Haflinger Horses.  They all ride and pack.   They are each wonders in their own right.
  
  
  
• When ever we offer an opinion about mule or horse behavior, we are not speaking off the cuff, we are relying on what the mules and horses have taught us.  We have been blessed with some of the greatest teachers with four hooves.
  
  
  
• The Olympic National Park has given us the greatest opportunity to practice the stock packer's trade.  It is greater then we could have imagined.  2008 will be ourtenth year working as volunteer packers.  We are there to fill in as packers in support of their own packers, to pack for their trail crews,volunteer trail crews, and local ranger district staff.  We assist inrescues by aiding the park staff in transport of injured persons out of the backcountry.  It has been great.  We can hardly wait until the next packing year to begin.
  
  
  
• We have also been working as packers for the OlympicNational Forest USFS, packing in volunteer trail crews.  Plus WashingtonState Department of Natural Resources by co-coordinating and packing in an annual event "The Great Gravel Pack-in".  This event is held onthe first Saturday in March each year.
  
  
  
• We have been members of the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington for several years.  We have not always agreed within dividual leaders or an occasional policy idea, but we have never doubted the intent of the whole and their goals.  Without the efforts of this active political group, we all would be riding only on black top and all of our horses and mules would be sporting equine diapers.
  
  
  
• Our goal is to make this web site a continuous source of information to encourage folks to develop their packing skills and become safer and better backcountry riders.  We intend to continue to write and publish works that will keep others informed and stimulated, to think on their own, about varied critter related subjects.  We will be offering our book, ideas and plans for items of equipment that we build for ourselves, for purchase. 
  
  A free horse is an animal of little or no value and it normally suffers for it. 
  
  The same with knowledge, if it comes at no cost, it must be valueless.
  
  
  
  
• Our interest in back country riding and packing has taken ona life of it's own.  We are now the eternal students.  Instead of spending the rest of our lives locked behind Ivy covered walls, we are tutored by experiences.   Ed learned long ago as a fire service officer, that by establishing a training program for his company, beyond what the Fire Dept.,required his personal learning curve increased.  That has been the payback for us in putting on workshops over the years.  The greatest dividend thathas been paid in learning has come from writing the "Mountain CanaryCompany Packers Guidebook".  When one conducts a class, you arer equired to check your references on a specific subject.  When one writes a book, the required reference check is unbelievable.  Add to this, the blending of all the material into the same pot.  It all ends up a tremendous opportunity, to say the least.  If you the reader find the information  on this site, or in our book to be valuable, just imagine how much we have gained from building it for you.
  
  
  

"Why not take a better look at us?"

 This is as good as it gets.

Ed and Sue on the First Divide Olympic National Park, 2005.

Sue and Ms. Kitty waiting for their next turn, packing gravel 2007.

Ed heading into the Dosewallips, Olympic National Park 2006.

  Sue, riding on Lizzy, over the First Divide, Olympic National Park.

Ed leading the string into gravel dump site 2006.

In the late-80’s Sue took a packing course for nine days in Bishop, California.

Ed loading up Moby packing out trail crew from the Five Mile camp on the Duckabush, Olympic National Forest 2005.

Ed discussing who is in charge of the day’s agenda.  Olympic National Park, Dosewallips, 2006.

 

   "A Bud never looked so good!"
                     (1953)