In The Mule A History of Stock Packing in the Sierra Nevada , Louise A. Jackson takes us inside the adventure, hardships, and joys peculiar to the packing trade. The book covers two hundred years, from the 1750s to the 1950s. The physical area is the southern Sierra Nevada, the backcountry containing most of California's wilderness and national park lands. From Yosemite to the Tehachapis, the Tuolumne River to the Kern, these lands above and beyond any major roadways are the wild areas where the majority of the modern Sierra packers have plied their trade.
A fun and interesting history of packing in the Sierras since the mid-1800's. I loved the personal stories of packers, pack station owners, and thier miles that were shared throughout this book. Will definitely be seeking out some of the sources listed within the biography to round out my reading of the history of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.