Wilderness Outfitting and Packing Course

Learn the Art of Packing Horses and Mules!

Offered to the public and students packer
RECM 395, 1 credit, Spring 2011

Instructor: Smoke Elser, Wilderness Consulting Group

This complete course offers hands-on instruction working with packing equipment, horses, and mules. Classes are limited to 12 students per session allowing the instructor to work closely with each student. No prior experience is necessary and credit is available through Continuing Education at the University of Montana.

Course topics include general horse handling, packing, and minimum impact horse use and camping techniques. Students receive an introduction to safe handling of horses and mules, main injury points, riding equipment, picketing, hobbling, emergency shoeing, and basic backcountry horse care. The course also teaches packing, cargoing, loading, stringing of stock, and light on the land travel techniques.

The 8 week course begins the week of January 23, 2011 and ends the second week of March. Class meets once a week for 3 hours at Smoke Elser's barn in the Rattlesnake.

The choice of class times are: Sundays 2-5 pm, Mondays 7-10 pm, Tuesdays 7-10 pm, or Thursdays 7-10 pm.

Course fee: $185, plus continuing education tuition fee, if taken for UM credit.

To register for the course or for more information contact Smoke at 549-2820 or telser2820@aol.com.