Shellyrides

Today we went on a 5 mile training hike. This is me with my main packer Time and my new 2 year old prospect, Sid. Goats can carry up to 35% of there body weight. I keep them closer to 25% for Time that is a little over 50lbs and we have others that easily do 75 lbs. Great hiking buddies. When on trail with no traffic they do not need lead ropes and follow along better then most dogs.

aenlaasu

That is so cool! Something new learned for the day and I've only been up for 45 minutes!

bassjones

Awesome! Are they female? I'm sure you know this, but goat's milk is very healthy.

howsteepisit

How about that! Never seen a pack goat before. Thats pretty neat. Any worries about predators? I lived and hiked in Montana and there were a lot of people worried about dogs not getting along with black bears, but I know of at least two occasions where my black lab and I walked right by bear and had no issues at all.

Shellyrides

Bassjones Time can never be breed and Sid and the rest are all boys. We have girls that give us great milk and new packers everyyear. They can pck but we like the bigger boys.

Howsteep in the 5 years I have been packing we have seen but never had issues with wildlife. Dogs on the other hand are allways a worry. I have a 100lbs lab cross that hikes with us that helps with that issue.

Mr. Beanz

........and they're better looking than most of the posters here!

Cool

goldfinch

Me too! Except I've been up for three hours.

baron von trail 

I hike rather than bike almost all winter now. Around here, that's not all that long, mostly just half of December, all of January and half of February. I just don't see the point of trying to ride when there is ice and snow on the ground. But hiking is something that can be done in any and all conditions.

Like the op, I always take my dog along too.

nkfrench 

Cool. I could use some goats to help me get my bicycle to hilltop.