Here at Glacier Outdoor Center, we enjoy anything dealing with the outdoors. Not only do we dabble in rafting, fishing and boating, but over the past few years packing in the backcountry with the mules seems to have found an important place among our summer and fall activities.
This past weekend, I got first-hand instruction from the legendary mule packer Smoke Elser. The course included everything from knot-tying to properly loading packs and even basic First Aid kits for mules. Most of the students had experience in backcountry packing, but Smoke showed how 50-plus years experience can fine-tune a trip.
Mules at his side, Smoke gave hands-on instruction for the 16 students who wanted to achieve a better understanding of packing. Between the classroom discussion and working over the mule, the 76-year-old Smoke laid out more information than most could retain in a two-day course. Proper use of a Bankrobbers knot, how to top pack anything with a diamond hitch and what not to use if your mule gets cut are basics to the Smoke Elser Wilderness Outfitters training course.
In the end, Smoke proved to be a good instructor, great packer and fantastic story-teller. Smoke is constantly on the road giving packing clinics throughout the Northwest and continually works with the U.S. military as a consultant on backcountry packing. With his busy schedule Smoke does however, still log about 250 miles a year in the back country.
