The California Inland Trout Program is excited to announce a collaborative position in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service – Inyo National Forest Pack Stock Program. The Inyo National Forest (INF) covers 2 million acres, mostly on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, of some of the most beautiful and remote terrain in California. This position will work with the Pack Stock Center to support personnel and projects in national forest wilderness areas.

Trout Unlimited is hiring an animal packer position to dually serve TU’s Inland Trout Program and the Inyo National Forest. This is a temporary position located on a Forest Service Ranger District. The incumbent of this position will become skilled in packing supplies and equipment to backcountry locations by horse or mule. The incumbent is responsible for aiding with the complete care of the stock, including training, feeding, shoeing, and first aid needs. They will also assist with the responsibility for ranch and pasture management including the design, building, maintenance, and safety inspections of stock facilities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Works as a member of a crew that is responsible for packing horses or mules for project crews and their equipment such as food, tents, and various tools such as crosscut saws, chainsaws, rock drills, rock bars, grip hoists, wheelbarrows and sleds. Assists with packing construction materials such as poles, cables, lumber, sand, gravel and bridge materials. May provide pack support for fire crews (if needed and packing in the same location should there be a fire) including food, water, saws, fuel, hoses and portable pumps. May supports a variety of resource crews by packing netting, plant presses, screens and fragile survey equipment.
• Under supervision selects the proper type of pack equipment for the loads to be packed. With minimal supervision incumbent builds and packs loads and strings of animals together. Builds balanced loads using pack bags, slings, boxes, manty loads with sling ropes, pack racks, etc. Ties multiple hitches (e.g. box, diamond, sling, etc.) as appropriate to the load.
• Properly fits all types of riding saddles and pack saddles to mules and horses.
• Responds to medical conditions and emergency situations safely for animals and humans. Acts as “Wilderness First Responder” for the animals, providing first aid as needed including administering shots and wound care. Assists with the safe use of restraints for doctoring, shoeing, training, or containment purposes.
• Recognizes the shoeing needs of horses and mules for working in a mountain environment.
• Responsible for aiding with the ranch and pasture management including the design, building, maintenance, and safety inspections of stock facilities. Maintaining fences (including board, pipe, wire, and electric fencing). Flood irrigation of native pastures and forage utilization monitoring of annual grassland pastures. Operates ranch equipment such as a tractor with an auger to make post holes.
• Pulls a gooseneck stock trailer and bumper-pull stock trailers to safely haul stock on rugged mountain roads. Hauls gear, equipment, supplies, and hay on flatbed trucks and trailers. Hauls tractors and equipment for other functions. Reports mechanical or equipment performance problems to the supervisor.
• May spend up to 10 days camping in the wilderness utilizing Leave-No-Trace skills. Responsible for all animal care in wilderness settings.
• Provides assistance in training firefighters, trail crews, wilderness rangers, project crews and volunteer groups how to work safely around pack stock.

This is not an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Skill and experience safely packing a variety of equipment and supplies of awkward size and weight on pack animals. Skill and experience building balanced loads on stock, using pack bags, slings, boxes, manty loads with sling ropes, pack racks, etc.
• Ability to evaluate medical conditions of stock and skill in assisting with required medical attention.
• Skill in riding animals and leading pack animals in order to reach destination without injury to pack stock or to the cargo.
• Have a class A driver’s license. Ability to drive both manual and automatic transmission vehicles in mountainous terrain and severe weather conditions, including snow.
• Knowledge of ranch and pasture management, including forage management, with the ability to design, build, maintain and safely inspect stock facilities and fencing using various hand and power tools such as drills, saws, hammers and chisels.
• Skill and experience properly fitting a variety of riding saddles and pack saddles.
• Skill in correct shoeing methods for horses and mules working in mountain conditions.
• Ability to clean and repair saddles, pack saddles and pack equipment.
• Ability to tie multiple types of hitches using sawbuck and decker saddles.

RESPONSIBLITIES

The position makes decisions and works under close supervision. Each pack trip and each load is different and requires the incumbent to evaluate and adjust the requirements for each particular trip. The incumbent must function safely and as a part of team in the wilderness for up to 10 days at a time managing livestock while in the wilderness. The purpose of the work is to safely work on a team that supports personnel and projects in national forest wilderness areas. This work contributes to the achievement of program objectives by facilitating resource work while complying with wilderness area restrictions. The position is highly visible in the backcountry and needs to be an ambassador for the agency. May provide wilderness education to backcountry visitors whenever possible, may be involved with trail maintenance, search and rescue, and as an information officer for other stock users. Provides support for fire personnel and agency partnerships.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• The work involves extensive walking, hiking and bending. Requires good physical stamina and strength in arms, back and legs.
• Lifting of heavy gear, equipment, tools, pack equipment, side loads up to 70 pounds each. The use of arms and holding side loads in position while hitching to pack saddles with ropes. Lifting, loading and carrying bales of hay up to 100 pounds with assistance.
• Working longer than normal hours due to travel time and care of the animals.
• Ability to ride mules or horses 8 to 10 hours daily. At times requires long-distance driving pulling trailers for regional packing assignments.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The majority of the time is spent outdoors where employee is subject to all types of weather conditions from rain to snow to extreme heat. Exposure to extreme dirt, dust and manure. May be camping from several days up to a week in remote locations. Packer may be required to travel on foot for long distances due to unsafe trail conditions. Required to travel on trails in poor conditions due to severe weather and poor maintenance. Trails are located in rocky, uneven, mountainous terrain. Required to work at high altitudes. There is potential for danger of cuts, bruises and burns from rope, or injuries due to falling from animals. Danger of strained or wrenched muscles due to movement of animals while leading, tying, loading or lifting on loads. Always the danger from animals crushing, striking, biting, kicking and stepping on packer while performing the daily duties.

Staff and leadership at TU and the INF understand that life outside of work is important to personal health, and we strive to create a healthy and family-friendly atmosphere. This is a full-time temporary position running from June – September (or October, weather-dependent). Formal supervision is through TU, although daily coordination of assignments and oversight will be with a Forest Service work leader.

HOW TO APPLY

Please upload a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information for three references to Trout Unlimited via our online job application system at the link below. The position is open until filled.