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WILDERNESS PERMITS for our guests are issued from our commercial quota, NOT from the general public quota.

PROFESSIONAL PACKING SCHOOL COURSES 2024

WILDERNESS PERMITS: All wilderness permits for our guests are provided through the Pack Station commercial quota allocation not from the general public quota.

Schedule your own customized PACKING SCHOOL or participate in one of our scheduled classes!

Book a Packing School online now!

Packing School PROFESSIONAL PACKING SCHOOL
Packing Fundamentals

6 days
June 24-29, 2024
$1995.00 including fees
Backcountry itinerary at Tamarack/Hilton with emphasis on mastering hitches, packing techniques and management of livestock and people to minimize impact on wilderness.


PROFESSIONAL PACKING SCHOOL #2
Advanced Packing in the Wilderness (section 2)
6 days
July 1-6, 2024
$1995.00 including fees
This trip is operated by the Mt. Whitney Pack Train
Meet at Horseshoe Meadows—a six day traveling educational pack trip into the Golden Trout Wilderness
Emphasis on moving camps, wrangling and feeding livestock on the extended wilderness pack trip.


PROFESSIONAL PACKING SCHOOL
John Muir Wilderness
6 days
September 7-12, 2024
$1995.00 including fees
Start and End at Rock Creek
Master packing and outfitting skills in this September course on a six-day pack trip into Mono Creek. Emphasis on wrangling and moving camp daily to improve packing skills. This fall session will be an ideal course for those who have completed UC packing courses, Backcountry Horseman seminars and introductory packing clinics.

ABOUT THE COURSES
Each is designed for:

Students will participate in all activities such as moving camps, wrangling and packing. There will be time for discusssion and questions and free time for fishing and sightseeing. The course will conclude with a practical as well as a written examination. All students will receive a written evaluation and certificate of completion.


TOPICS TO BE COVERED:
  1. Catching, saddling and handling horses and mules.
  2. Planning and making loads for mules.
  3. Pack hitches and how to tie on bulky items.
  4. Riding and leading strings of mules.
  5. Feeding in the backcountry—how to graze stock, when and how to picket, how to wrangle.
  6. Horseshoeing.
  7. Veterinary skills for the layman.
  8. Methods in selecting horses and mules for back country use.
  9. Nutritional needs of pack animals.
  10. Selection of campsites.
  11. Management of livestock to minimize impact on wilderness.
  12. Planning and outfittng your own pack trips.
  13. Selection and maintenance of camping equipment.
  14. History of packing in the High Sierra.
  15. Knots used in packing.
  16. The effects of altitude on livestock performance.
  17. Maintenance of pack equipment.
  18. Trail safety.
(Cick here for a complete outline of the topics covered, as well as the itinerary for the September Professional Packing School).

Craig London D.V.M. outfitter and owner of Rock Creek Pack Station, teaches packing to University of California riding groups.

HANDOUTS GIVEN TO STUDENTS: