My grandma and grandpa went on a Grand Canyon mule ride for their honeymoon! Running family laugh was that they only told my grandma at the end of the trail ride that her mule was blind.
I enjoyed this interview and Casey's stories about the trail rides in the Grand Canyon. Made me think of the Boots Reynolds painting "It Never Fails" that's in his cook book "Boots and Beans".
Boots said in the book an old packer told him of a time there was a problem at the back of his pack string and he couldn't get around them to go back and fix it. Said he'd had to crawl on his hands and knees between the legs of nine mules to get back there. Said he'd never talked that sweet again to his wife or to any mules since then either. :-)
I was on a pack trip along the Lamar river in Yellowstone in 1988. We were coming out of there when the big fires were getting started. one of the guys I was with went back in there and helped pack in supples to the people fighting it like Casey hired on to do.
We were in the back country again in 1989 and started at the east entrance and went around the lake to the south entrance. Crossed the head waters of the Snake and Yellowstone rivers. The grass and wild flowers were really good where the fire went through. Had to do some bush whacking and sawing to get through in places because of downed trees.
My name is Carlos Flores and worked for Fred Harvey from 1988 till 1993 as a fire and Safety officer. I met Casey as part of the Mule Stables operations headed by Ron Clayton. The canyon is not only part of this country's golden natural wonders but has a special relationship with everyone who values its beauty. Very fond memories of the Grand Canyon and the many people who worked there in all agencies and Fred Harvey operation/management. Casey is an icon, part of the personalities that made up the mule skinners working at the canyon. Thanks, Casy for fighting for the Mule Rides.
Thanks for this interview! My wife, when she was 11 or 12 back in the 1960s, took the mules down into the canyon with her family. My wife was terrified. Her mule kept looking over the edge into the chasm. She was afraid her mule was going to leap into the void.
And all this time I thought those mules were a private company. I'd love to listen to this, but having spent some very good years of my childhood on a ranch I am very biased toward them. I just get madder and madder about so much of this. I'm very concerned about the talk of tokenizing or using our natural assets for collateral and of all the mining of resources, the destruction of the environment by the environmentalists.... crazy crazy crazy. It's like the West is the last frontier for all the hedge fund ignorants. Perhaps when I get into zen mode I can handle it.
Casey tells me the mule packers are private companies; concessioners with the Park Service. But I guess at some point the Park Service felt they were no longer welcome.
Humph... Seems like when some people put on a uniform it goes to their head and they get all bossy. Let's put all of govt in jeans & t-shirts and see if it changes their behavior. ;)
I took a mule trip in the early 90’s. It was Feb., and it had snowed and was freezing out. I had so many layers of clothing, I thought a crane would have to lift me into the saddle ! When we got to our “lunch” spot our lunch was frozen ! When we finally got to Phantom Canyon, it was 75 degrees and there were flowers ! The ride back up the next day was spectacular scenery, as was the ride down, and turned out to be one of the funniest and best trips I have taken and made for great story telling. I am sad to hear about the situation now.
The thing about western ranching and ranchers is they believe that the multiple use principle of our public lands means their use should continue at over use past levels with no consideration for the health of the land, impact on wildlife habitat, or the rest of the public’s use and enjoyment of the land. They believe they should be able to use and abuse the land however they wish. And any effort to reduce the damage caused by ranching is unwarranted. Like they own the public land and all other uses or land or water health are subservient to whatever they want to do. This biased story about the mule rides is indicative. I’ve hiked into the Grand Canyon twice. First time was during 1985. On this trip we encountered a couple of mule rides. It was no problem. Trail was in good shape. There was of course some mule urine and manure on the trail. But it was reasonable and not really an issue. Sharing of the trail between mules and hikers was well balanced. However, when I went back about 2005 and hiked with my four young kids it was a completely different experience. The trail was like a river of mule urine and manure. The trail degradation over the twenty years was unbelievable. It was an unpleasant experience.. Especially the mule urine. There is no question that the park service should have limited the number of mules on the trails to balance the use between hikers and riders. It sounds like that is what the park service did. It is very reasonable of the park service have done.so. I ride and hunt off of mules all the time. I’m not anti-mule or anti-ranching. But it’s a matter of degree and management. Western ranchers believe that there should be no limits of their use of the land. No matter the consequences or impact on the land and water or other users. Especially in the arid southwest as it gets drier it is ridiculous to think public land ranching should continue at the levels that still occur. I hunt all over the west in many states. It is long past time to reduce livestock grazing levels that is killing the land in so many areas. It’s the same thing with the mule rides. Complete denial of the negative impacts on the land and other public land users by ranchers and cowboys. The irony is that western public land ranching is heavily subsidized by taxpayers. Which is good public policy. It creates food. It keeps open undeveloped spaces. It keeps families working on the land and making a living. I’m not saying put public land ranchers out of business. But reduce stocking levels and increase subsidies so it is win-win for ranchers, the land and water, wildlife, and all public land users. The western lifestyle the host talks about is not an absolute right without regard to the land and other multiple uses of the land like she seems to believe.
Cattle ranching is the least subsidized sector in ag. I do think people having the freedom to live their lives and celebrate their culture is an absolute right. I also believe in balance and multi-use when it comes to public land and I’m not sure where you get the idea I feel otherwise.
Keely, you need some exposure at the Potter Valley store. Get something on the bulletin board and educate the owners please. Especially before the rodeo.
Hi William, I don’t live in Potter Valley anymore. I agree more folks should know about the situation. If any of my articles or info on the dam is helpful feel free to post it at Hopper’s or wherever else. I’ve taken off the paywall on all dam-related posts so everyone can access. Thanks for the comment
My grandma and grandpa went on a Grand Canyon mule ride for their honeymoon! Running family laugh was that they only told my grandma at the end of the trail ride that her mule was blind.
I love this story so much.
I enjoyed this interview and Casey's stories about the trail rides in the Grand Canyon. Made me think of the Boots Reynolds painting "It Never Fails" that's in his cook book "Boots and Beans".
Boots said in the book an old packer told him of a time there was a problem at the back of his pack string and he couldn't get around them to go back and fix it. Said he'd had to crawl on his hands and knees between the legs of nine mules to get back there. Said he'd never talked that sweet again to his wife or to any mules since then either. :-)
I was on a pack trip along the Lamar river in Yellowstone in 1988. We were coming out of there when the big fires were getting started. one of the guys I was with went back in there and helped pack in supples to the people fighting it like Casey hired on to do.
We were in the back country again in 1989 and started at the east entrance and went around the lake to the south entrance. Crossed the head waters of the Snake and Yellowstone rivers. The grass and wild flowers were really good where the fire went through. Had to do some bush whacking and sawing to get through in places because of downed trees.
My name is Carlos Flores and worked for Fred Harvey from 1988 till 1993 as a fire and Safety officer. I met Casey as part of the Mule Stables operations headed by Ron Clayton. The canyon is not only part of this country's golden natural wonders but has a special relationship with everyone who values its beauty. Very fond memories of the Grand Canyon and the many people who worked there in all agencies and Fred Harvey operation/management. Casey is an icon, part of the personalities that made up the mule skinners working at the canyon. Thanks, Casy for fighting for the Mule Rides.
Carlos, thank you for this comment. Honored to hear from you!
Thanks for this interview! My wife, when she was 11 or 12 back in the 1960s, took the mules down into the canyon with her family. My wife was terrified. Her mule kept looking over the edge into the chasm. She was afraid her mule was going to leap into the void.
Have done backpacking trips into the Grand Canyon, and loved seeing the mules. A high point of every trip.
And all this time I thought those mules were a private company. I'd love to listen to this, but having spent some very good years of my childhood on a ranch I am very biased toward them. I just get madder and madder about so much of this. I'm very concerned about the talk of tokenizing or using our natural assets for collateral and of all the mining of resources, the destruction of the environment by the environmentalists.... crazy crazy crazy. It's like the West is the last frontier for all the hedge fund ignorants. Perhaps when I get into zen mode I can handle it.
Casey tells me the mule packers are private companies; concessioners with the Park Service. But I guess at some point the Park Service felt they were no longer welcome.
Humph... Seems like when some people put on a uniform it goes to their head and they get all bossy. Let's put all of govt in jeans & t-shirts and see if it changes their behavior. ;)
I like that idea
I took a mule trip in the early 90’s. It was Feb., and it had snowed and was freezing out. I had so many layers of clothing, I thought a crane would have to lift me into the saddle ! When we got to our “lunch” spot our lunch was frozen ! When we finally got to Phantom Canyon, it was 75 degrees and there were flowers ! The ride back up the next day was spectacular scenery, as was the ride down, and turned out to be one of the funniest and best trips I have taken and made for great story telling. I am sad to hear about the situation now.
The thing about western ranching and ranchers is they believe that the multiple use principle of our public lands means their use should continue at over use past levels with no consideration for the health of the land, impact on wildlife habitat, or the rest of the public’s use and enjoyment of the land. They believe they should be able to use and abuse the land however they wish. And any effort to reduce the damage caused by ranching is unwarranted. Like they own the public land and all other uses or land or water health are subservient to whatever they want to do. This biased story about the mule rides is indicative. I’ve hiked into the Grand Canyon twice. First time was during 1985. On this trip we encountered a couple of mule rides. It was no problem. Trail was in good shape. There was of course some mule urine and manure on the trail. But it was reasonable and not really an issue. Sharing of the trail between mules and hikers was well balanced. However, when I went back about 2005 and hiked with my four young kids it was a completely different experience. The trail was like a river of mule urine and manure. The trail degradation over the twenty years was unbelievable. It was an unpleasant experience.. Especially the mule urine. There is no question that the park service should have limited the number of mules on the trails to balance the use between hikers and riders. It sounds like that is what the park service did. It is very reasonable of the park service have done.so. I ride and hunt off of mules all the time. I’m not anti-mule or anti-ranching. But it’s a matter of degree and management. Western ranchers believe that there should be no limits of their use of the land. No matter the consequences or impact on the land and water or other users. Especially in the arid southwest as it gets drier it is ridiculous to think public land ranching should continue at the levels that still occur. I hunt all over the west in many states. It is long past time to reduce livestock grazing levels that is killing the land in so many areas. It’s the same thing with the mule rides. Complete denial of the negative impacts on the land and other public land users by ranchers and cowboys. The irony is that western public land ranching is heavily subsidized by taxpayers. Which is good public policy. It creates food. It keeps open undeveloped spaces. It keeps families working on the land and making a living. I’m not saying put public land ranchers out of business. But reduce stocking levels and increase subsidies so it is win-win for ranchers, the land and water, wildlife, and all public land users. The western lifestyle the host talks about is not an absolute right without regard to the land and other multiple uses of the land like she seems to believe.
Cattle ranching is the least subsidized sector in ag. I do think people having the freedom to live their lives and celebrate their culture is an absolute right. I also believe in balance and multi-use when it comes to public land and I’m not sure where you get the idea I feel otherwise.
Keely, you need some exposure at the Potter Valley store. Get something on the bulletin board and educate the owners please. Especially before the rodeo.
Hi William, I don’t live in Potter Valley anymore. I agree more folks should know about the situation. If any of my articles or info on the dam is helpful feel free to post it at Hopper’s or wherever else. I’ve taken off the paywall on all dam-related posts so everyone can access. Thanks for the comment