Sharing a lifetime of outfitting experience

SEELEY LAKE - Former Bob Marshall Wilderness outfitter Smoke Elser broke down the history and methods of packing during a special outdoor presentation at the Big Larch Campground amphitheater Thursday, July 15.

Elser spent over 50 years as a wilderness outfitter in the Bob Marshall and as an instructor in packing, horsemanship and minimal impact camping. He currently lives in Missoula and teaches a packing class at Ninemile Ranger Station in association with the University of Montana.

He started packing in 1958 with White Tail Ranch and seven years later he started his own packing outfit. He said he used to travel around 1,500 miles a year on horseback. Some of his more notable clients included state senators and even former President Gerald Ford's son Steven Ford who worked under Elser. 

"I've outfitted in the Bob Marshall for a long time and taken all kinds of crews in there," he said. "Important people, but also a lot of people that are just shoe salesmen and gas station attendants, where they put all their nickels and dimes in a jar until they can afford a pack trip, then they go on a pack trip. And I still have some of those clients still coming back."

According to Elser, once the backcountry was legally declared wilderness, everything had to be carried on a horse or someone's back. He called stock "the pickup truck of the wilderness."

Horses and mules are able to carry up to a fifth of their weight for a rough total of 200 pounds of supply. They are able to travel 24 miles a day and require 24 pounds of grass.

Horses are able to work until they are around 25 years old while mules can continue packing until they are almost 30.

When he was originally buying stock, he paid anywhere from $55 to $150 for "good ones." Today, "everybody's getting into the horse market" and horses are going anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000. He said he was at an auction in Idaho where a mule sold for $33,000.

When selecting an animal, Elser said looks for the "smart ones" which will show curiosity. 

He talked about the history of saddles and the forms they came in including sawbucks and Deckers. The main difference between the two types is that sawbucks have wooden crossbucks while Deckers have metal hoops. This means that sawbucks are more likely to break should the animal fall or roll onto it.

The Decker saddles were made by Oliver P. Robinette (O.P.R.) and are sometimes known as the O.P.R. Decker.

Following the Great Fire of 1910, the Decker saddles became more common after many of the sawbucks burned up. According to Elser, Decker saddles were often easier to pack and balance loads. Their bases were made of cottonwood.

Elser said the goal of a saddle is to have it fit exactly to its animal's back. Before putting a saddle on, he takes it apart and uses hotcake flour to help it fit on. Then it is adjusted accordingly and eventually labeled.

One lesson Elser has taken away from packing is to always carry a knife whenever around stock in case he ends up getting caught by a rope.

While packing may seem like an older form of travel, Elser said FBI and Border Patrol Agents continue learning the skill because fugitives will often travel on foot in desolate regions so it is important for members of law enforcement to continue learning how to venture into these areas.

The most common way a horse can die while walking along a trail is if it is overused. In situations like this, the Forest Service is called and will blow up the horse with dynamite as part of standard procedure to avoid having bears come into contact with hikers. Scavengers then pick up the remains.

This presentation was part of the Seeley Lake Outdoor Series. According to organizer Heather Martens, due to smoke conditions they are unsure when and where the next one will be scheduled. Follow the Lolo National Forest Facebook page for updates.