I had a wild summer. It’s strange that I’m only starting to share some of these photos with you now, in the waning days of January, but things take as long as they take (and I have the most dependable WIFI I have had in a long while so I can actually get images uploaded for you — hallelujah).
The short of it is this: I spent a week on the back of a hilariously stubborn, thistle-chomping Haflinger while riding 80+ miles into the heart of the Bob Marshall Wilderness of Montana (I abated the stubbornness with a little willow switch). One of my dearest friends was with me and we had a blast choking on the dust kicked up by the full string of mules we were riding behind, freezing to death on the first day which involved 21 miles of rain after un-sleeping in a haunted Forest Service cabin, fishing the pristine waters of the Southfork of the Flathead River, and generally being spoiled rotten by our hosts, guides and friends (you’ll know them as @muledragger and @bigskybandits on the old Instagram machine). I shot most of the trip from the back of my bumpy and delightful horse with my x100t — it shoots pretty soft so if you notice a difference in the feel of these photos, that’s the reason why.
The entire trip was terrible for my already acute case of horse-fever. While I’ve always dreamed of having a pack mule for mountain trips and high country hunts, I walked away from this backcountry horseback trip with such a rich respect for the hybrid. They are truly such wonderful, stout, complex creatures. A joy to behold and to know. And boy howdy, when you reach your fingers down into their big, beautiful ears to give them a scritchy scratch and they lean in and drop their enormous heads down on your shoulder and forget their size and weight because they’re too busy feeling mule ecstasy…well, it’s a pretty darn magical thing to experience. Our libraries need more books about the solid love of good mules.
Without further adieu, I give you the Bob Marshall Wilderness and a smattering of humans, horses and mules in the fat heart of summer. Enjoy!
What a dream, how did you happen upon a trip like this? I would love to do this someday.
Well, I went in with friends. There are outfitters who do trips like this for people. You’d just need to do a little research to get such a trip planned for yourself!
Talk about Mule ecstasy….I’ve got Mule LUST!
I would PAY to scroll through that journey…again & again… Almost felt like I was on that pack trip!
The muddy canvas bags, the eight-plus sets of gorgeous mule ears in a perfect string, the sexy, rugged girls & boys. Oh, all those smiles.
Hard work but a trip of a lifetime! Thank you for every last one of those images! Lucky mule shoes in the air!
Outstanding.
x
All I can say is: WOW! Such beauty!
Oh my goodness, Jillian, what a marvellous photo essay of the beautiful wilderness….diamond hitched and tailed tied mules, could it possibly been any better, I think not….thank you for sharing those wonderful almost aching beauty shots.
Xox
Dagmar
Oh Jillian, such a great post and those photographs… BUT, is anyone else itching to know the story about the haunted Forest Service cabin?:)
Good morning Jillian, looking thru your pictures I never want them to end… magical creatures these beings are!
The best years of my life (so far) were spent just like this! PERFECT summer! Perfect Photos! What I loved about mules was how they could be your best friend – but still keep you in your place. LOLOL. Thank you for taking us along. 🙂
I hope this is what heaven is like…
I have yet to have the pleasure of meeting a mule, but I’ve met some darn persnickity Haflingers in my day! I must someday experience western life…I think my soul was meant for it. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Wow…gorgeous post and again gorgeous pictures! Thank you very much for always sharing parts of your wonderful life. It is almost like doing the trip too!
You seem to capture the soul of every creature you shoot with your camera. This trip looks like so much fun!!! The mules are most photogenic and I LOVE their neck bells!!!
Oh my word. My all time favorites of yours. Too many gems in there to count. Need myself one of them cute thangs, as well.
Beautiful writing and beautiful photos! (as usual:))
Any chance of getting a print of any?
Absolutely adore this photo story.
I could ssy so much, but I’m speechless. I say, beautiful. Thank you. And if you ever decide to make prints out of those horse eye pictures, I will buy them. 🙂
These would make lovely postcard packs. The golden light, the fireweed, the mules, the river… they’re all soooo dreamy. I see myself penning some adventurous notes. Looks like good times were had.