Chat
06-30-2016, 09:18 AM
Sorry for the delay in my report. I didn't take a single photo but folks have been posting photos and even a drone video on the NAPgA Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/711939102246721/
The packgoat rendezvous was awesome! There were folks attending from Arizona, California, Idaho, Kansas, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming! (I think I got all of the states.) Curtis did an outstanding job arranging everything and lining up speakers! I can’t thank he and his fiancé, Lori, enough for all of the work they did before, during and after the Rendy to make it such a fabulous event. The Twin Ponds location was perfect. Tall pines, open meadows and two ponds.
I arrived Thursday afternoon. I brought Bourbon, my 2 year old LaMancha, and Morgan, my yearling seasoned traveler. Morgan went on the trip to the San Rafael Swell and Goblin Valley in Utah last fall. He was small enough to fit in a crate and a friend for Pac-Man who we were bringing back to Washington after the trip.
Once parked, with the help of Clay Zimmerman and Jon Clough directing me as I backed into my camping spot, the goats were unloaded and I set up camp. Jon and Nancy Clough were on one side of me and Eldon & Debbi Otta came in on Friday and camped on the other side of me. I sold my 4 year old Alpine, Dude, to Nancy & Jon a few weeks ago. It was great to see him. He’s already been to Montana on a pack trip and will be going to the Sawtooth Mtns in July. They’re very happy with him and it makes me feel good to know he has such a wonderful home. He’s been re-named Dodge because their goat, Cruiser, is nicknamed Cruiser-do or just Do. Poor Dodge was a little confused about being in with Cruiser and Blaze and not being with me. He’d head straight for my trailer each time Nancy let him out of the enclosure! It was especially hard on him when I’d yell, “Come goat!” to Bourbon and Morgan. He’d call to me saying, “I’m here but I can’t get out of the electric fence pen!” I made sure to treat him to peanuts a number of times.
Friday morning after breakfast everyone went in different directions to do service projects. The service projects were a hit with the Forest Service folks. I heard they asked a lot of questions about the goats and that they were impressed with what the goats could carry and how well trained they were. I also heard 2 miles of trail was cleared and one of the trails worked on is a wheelchair accessible trail. The area around the Twin Ponds was cleaned up by those who stayed in camp. It's always amazing to see how much trash is left behind by others.
Friday night we had a potluck dinner. Curtis announced a few times at each meal that if we left hungry it was our own fault. There was a plethora of delicious foods at every potluck meal!
After dinner on Friday two Forest Service men gave a brief talk then an area historian spoke about the area. It was interesting hearing the history of the area from how it was first settled to present day.
Saturday was filled with classes, goat weighing and measuring, bonded goat race, and more. Mark Warnke gave an excellent talk on hunting, gear and conditioning himself and the goats. Clay Zimmerman of High Unita Pack Goats was a walking encyclopedia! I learned a huge amount of information from his presentation! Irene Saphra gave a presentation on dehydrating food. Maggie was taking samples for the MOVI study. Curtis brought a grooming stand and a lot of goats had their feet trimmed while their owners and others learned how to trim hooves. So much was going on I hope I remembered everything!
I took the electronic bale scale we use to weigh bales as they come out of the baler so we could weigh everyone’s goats. I brought my measuring stick and Debbi Otta measured their heights after I weighed them. There was a “Guess the Goat’s Weight” contest. Everyone had to tell me what they thought their goat weighed before they got on the scale. Some folks were way off. Mark Warnke was within 2 pounds on all 13 of his goats! He won the contest and a bag of the goat treats Irene Saphra donated to the Country Store.
For the “Bonded Goat” contest handlers lined up holding the goats and owners lined up across the field from them. Curtis counted down from 5 to 1 and the goats were let loose. I thought for sure Nancy Clough’s yearling, Blaze, was going to win. When Jon released him he bolted toward Nancy. Boy, can he stretch out and run! Susan Conner’s huge goat, Dusty, came barreling up behind Blaze and Blaze veered off. It was Dusty by a nose! Well, maybe more than a nose! LOL. Bourbon came in 2nd. If he’d galloped instead of trotting fast he would have won!
Saturday evening Maggie Highland gave an update on the Movi. She hopes to publish her findings in November. This is such an important study!
The Rendy was a huge success! I met a lot of new folks and enjoyed seeing old friends. Leaving on Sunday was bittersweet. I’m already looking forward to next year’s Rendy.
I heard rumors they are considering holding the Rendy in Colorado next year…..
The packgoat rendezvous was awesome! There were folks attending from Arizona, California, Idaho, Kansas, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming! (I think I got all of the states.) Curtis did an outstanding job arranging everything and lining up speakers! I can’t thank he and his fiancé, Lori, enough for all of the work they did before, during and after the Rendy to make it such a fabulous event. The Twin Ponds location was perfect. Tall pines, open meadows and two ponds.
I arrived Thursday afternoon. I brought Bourbon, my 2 year old LaMancha, and Morgan, my yearling seasoned traveler. Morgan went on the trip to the San Rafael Swell and Goblin Valley in Utah last fall. He was small enough to fit in a crate and a friend for Pac-Man who we were bringing back to Washington after the trip.
Once parked, with the help of Clay Zimmerman and Jon Clough directing me as I backed into my camping spot, the goats were unloaded and I set up camp. Jon and Nancy Clough were on one side of me and Eldon & Debbi Otta came in on Friday and camped on the other side of me. I sold my 4 year old Alpine, Dude, to Nancy & Jon a few weeks ago. It was great to see him. He’s already been to Montana on a pack trip and will be going to the Sawtooth Mtns in July. They’re very happy with him and it makes me feel good to know he has such a wonderful home. He’s been re-named Dodge because their goat, Cruiser, is nicknamed Cruiser-do or just Do. Poor Dodge was a little confused about being in with Cruiser and Blaze and not being with me. He’d head straight for my trailer each time Nancy let him out of the enclosure! It was especially hard on him when I’d yell, “Come goat!” to Bourbon and Morgan. He’d call to me saying, “I’m here but I can’t get out of the electric fence pen!” I made sure to treat him to peanuts a number of times.
Friday morning after breakfast everyone went in different directions to do service projects. The service projects were a hit with the Forest Service folks. I heard they asked a lot of questions about the goats and that they were impressed with what the goats could carry and how well trained they were. I also heard 2 miles of trail was cleared and one of the trails worked on is a wheelchair accessible trail. The area around the Twin Ponds was cleaned up by those who stayed in camp. It's always amazing to see how much trash is left behind by others.
Friday night we had a potluck dinner. Curtis announced a few times at each meal that if we left hungry it was our own fault. There was a plethora of delicious foods at every potluck meal!
After dinner on Friday two Forest Service men gave a brief talk then an area historian spoke about the area. It was interesting hearing the history of the area from how it was first settled to present day.
Saturday was filled with classes, goat weighing and measuring, bonded goat race, and more. Mark Warnke gave an excellent talk on hunting, gear and conditioning himself and the goats. Clay Zimmerman of High Unita Pack Goats was a walking encyclopedia! I learned a huge amount of information from his presentation! Irene Saphra gave a presentation on dehydrating food. Maggie was taking samples for the MOVI study. Curtis brought a grooming stand and a lot of goats had their feet trimmed while their owners and others learned how to trim hooves. So much was going on I hope I remembered everything!
I took the electronic bale scale we use to weigh bales as they come out of the baler so we could weigh everyone’s goats. I brought my measuring stick and Debbi Otta measured their heights after I weighed them. There was a “Guess the Goat’s Weight” contest. Everyone had to tell me what they thought their goat weighed before they got on the scale. Some folks were way off. Mark Warnke was within 2 pounds on all 13 of his goats! He won the contest and a bag of the goat treats Irene Saphra donated to the Country Store.
For the “Bonded Goat” contest handlers lined up holding the goats and owners lined up across the field from them. Curtis counted down from 5 to 1 and the goats were let loose. I thought for sure Nancy Clough’s yearling, Blaze, was going to win. When Jon released him he bolted toward Nancy. Boy, can he stretch out and run! Susan Conner’s huge goat, Dusty, came barreling up behind Blaze and Blaze veered off. It was Dusty by a nose! Well, maybe more than a nose! LOL. Bourbon came in 2nd. If he’d galloped instead of trotting fast he would have won!
Saturday evening Maggie Highland gave an update on the Movi. She hopes to publish her findings in November. This is such an important study!
The Rendy was a huge success! I met a lot of new folks and enjoyed seeing old friends. Leaving on Sunday was bittersweet. I’m already looking forward to next year’s Rendy.
I heard rumors they are considering holding the Rendy in Colorado next year…..
Goatberries Happen!