[at-l] goats as "pack animals"?

[David Addleton]

>From the link:

"WRPG moves forward, operating in both Wyoming and southern Utah...
Goatpacking seems to be gaining an ever increasing presence as a mainstream
means of transporting people and their gear in the mountains."

WHAT?  What kind of goat are they talking about that can transport PEOPLE???

On Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 6:59 PM, Art MacAilein <macailein at gmail.com> wrote:

> Well, I think they look cute carrying their packs. Like smart, personable,
> little mules. I couldn't bring myself to eat one but goat cheese is
> scrumptious.
>
> They use them as pack animals out west where there aren't trails. They
> don't carry a great deal of gear so the guides take a whole bunch of them at
> a time. The goats walk in a line following each other, they eat grass and
> such so they don't have to carry food, and their scent allegedly masks that
> of the humans with them. They don't smell threatening to wild animals so the
> tourists are more likely to see critters.
>
> That's what the magazine said, anyway.
>
> http://www.goatpacking.com/index.html - Wind River Pack Goats in Wyoming
>
>
> David Addleton wrote:
>
>> I finally read the tread about the goat on the AT.
>>
>> Since I've lived in several parts of the world where goats are important
>> domesticated animals for many purposes, and since I've never heard of a goat
>> being used as a "pack animal" anywhere, in any part of the world, I decided
>> to run a WestLaw search looking for the meaning of "pack animal" in US law.
>> [I have seen them, for purposes of humor at fairs, etc., placed in front of
>> a cart; but no one in their right mind would use their goat source of food,
>> milk, cheese, and a fine skin for water or wine as pack animal!]
>>
>
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