New from New England

[fibafingers]

Fibafingers, just an FYI--goats are not permitted on the AT:https://www.appalachiantrail.org/hiking/...ns-permits
Wishing you happy trails with your Saanen!--Saph

Thanks for the heads up on that ---- I will go it alone on the AT this spring, however my goal with training our 1 y. o. wether is to take him on a "Maine Huts" trail near Flagstaff Lake this fall. I have called to ask and was told the same rules applied to dogs will go for goats. It will be our "dry run" a two hour drive from home. I have much ahead of me and may decide he's not ready…. believe it or not his 2 y.o. doe sister loves me so much more and I may have to use her to get him to follow. When it's just me and him, there is lots of stops as he wonders WTF are we doing this for…until I shake the little bit of oats in the container….yet he's happy to jump into the pick-up.
Annie

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We have taken our two alpines on local trails in MA half a dozen times now and it's going well so far. Too young to load yet (6 months) but they seem to be enjoying the hikes. Going to bring them a little further in the next month. Thinking up to 8 or 10 miles in some of the state parks. Scouting online for some of the more rocky trails. They would love Monadnock but unfortunately pack animals are not permitted there. Mt Tom might be good. Would love to hear any other suggestions too.

Now that your alpines are older are you planning a day trip or overnighter? I would love to hear how it goes as we live in Maine and are still quite snowed out of the woods and then it will be wet----I must teach our kids not to fear water! I am working with a year old wether who hates water and I don't know yet if it will work out when he might have to wade across a stream---he's quite a jumper. I too am looking for rocky trails not too far from home. Western Maine has some after a few miles in the woods. How far will you travel to pack with your boys?