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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 23, 2008 - 09:12pm PT
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It was in 1983 that my friend Kurt talked me into fronting him $600 for a half interest in a mule.
Kurt long extolled the virtues of an animal that could travel rougher ground, for longer, on less water and tougher feed than horses until I eventually conceded and, as it were, ponied up.
He spoke the truth but there were some hidden down sides; maintenance cost, vets, tack, pasture, yada, yada.
Still, mules in general have character and Archie was a character among mules.
Anytime I arrived home from a trip I was greeted with the song of the mountain canary (as was everyone in a three block radius) reminding me that he could ALWAYS be counted on to want a nosh. (Did I mention he was jewish?)
Eventually we had three mules (actually one was a jenny) but Archie was always Mr. Alpha.
So what does this have to do with climbing?
As soon as we got him Archie went through several pieces of old lead rope dedicated as,.. well,.. lead line.
You see the trouble was Archie was strong as,.. well,.. a MULE!
And after a section of rope was tied to his halter he would pull it so tight that even Largo and Bird put together could never untie the knot.
This prompted me to come up with a new knot.
I would tie the standard figure 8 loop but then I would pass the end (without a fat mushroom fused end) back into the knot, but not all the way. This would leave a loop which, when used to "extract" the end, would allow for enough slack in the knot to allow the rest of it to be untied.
Only the year after we got Archie I started finishing my lead tie in the same way but foregoing the loop used to start the untying process.
I dubbed it the Olevsky knot and eventually demonstrated it at an AMGA meeting in Yosemite.
Imagine my surprise when years later somebody asserted to me that I was using the "Yosemite finish"!
Kurt had been living with Archie up in Montana for over a dozen years now.
Known locally as the "escape artist mule", Archie had wowed ranchers by calmly climbing 6' metal fence sections, mantling and hopping over the top only to browse on some grass just beyond the fence.
Last year Archie had a stroke, but no sooner had the vet suggested putting him down than Archie untied the lead line with his lips (!!!!) and wandered off leaving Kurt cracking up at the vet who was dumbfounded.
I got an email from Kurt.
Earlier this month he fed Archie and went to work.
When he came home Archie was lying on his side. Gone.
He had a pretty good life for a mule.
And if you use a "Yosemite finish" you ought to tip a glass and toast a fine animal whose strength inspired the knot.
Maybe some day I'll post a picture.
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Jul 23, 2008 - 09:17pm PT
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Piton, tipping my glass to Archie as I refresh my knot knowledge tonight..climb on Archie...! Big Smiles, Lynne
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TrundleBum
Trad climber
Las Vegas
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Jul 23, 2008 - 09:21pm PT
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Cool story Ron.
Archie sounds like he became part of your extended family.
He sounds like a true character and a local folk hero at that.
I never dealt with a mule.
But my aunty told me that when she was young she would walk and her younger brother would ride the mule, too school.
She told me you can't pull a mule, not for all the tea in China.
But...
if you have a little switch or stick, that's all you need.
She said that if you prompt a mule from behind it will move forward, but that they get very obstinate when lead, unless in a large pack train.
That true ?
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 23, 2008 - 09:27pm PT
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The whole thing about mules being stubborn is only because they are smarter than horses and can't be bullied into doing something they know they shouldn't.
They really aren't stubborn at all if you can be smarter.
Kit Carson rode across north America numerous times, over 13,000 miles, by mule.
It wasn't because horses were unavailable.
In the endurance races around here the mules start passing the horses about 35 miles out.
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nature
climber
Santa Fe, NM
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Jul 23, 2008 - 09:55pm PT
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Nice read, Ron. Thanks for the smile.
RIP Archie. Thanks for the knott.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
New York, NY
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Jul 23, 2008 - 10:00pm PT
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Oh, what a nice story. Archie sounds like a wonderful mule.
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Fish Finder
Social climber
THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART
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Jul 23, 2008 - 10:09pm PT
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hey piton, i live here in bishop. the mule capitol of the world.
until you study them for awhile they seem just like any other mount,
but they are not, all personality , very smart characteristics.
presently i have several horses but have owned and had the pleasure of
knowing many mules.
sorry for the loss of your friend.
gregg
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Levy
Big Wall climber
So Cal
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Jul 23, 2008 - 10:13pm PT
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Ron, What a nice story. I am glad you shared a little of Archie with the rest of us here who frequent the S.T. forum.
I'd say that Archie was no dumb ass. It's amazing how animals can really touch ones life in deep & emotional ways. Thanks again for sharing
Levy
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Indianclimber
climber
Las Vegas
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Jul 23, 2008 - 10:26pm PT
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Ron ,sorry for your loss of a good friend ,he sounded like he was all heart and character RIP
Ninfa
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couchmaster
climber
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Jul 23, 2008 - 11:48pm PT
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I suggest we forever call it the Archie, instead of the Yosemite, finish.
Hmmm, "Olvesky Finish" sounds good too.
Nope, gotta go with the "Archie Finish", cause it would be fun to explain it every time I'm asked by saying "Ron Olveskys' mule Archie use to......."
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Scared Silly
Trad climber
UT
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Jul 24, 2008 - 12:07am PT
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Sorry to hear about the loss of the family mule Ron. Great story. You just gotta love animals that do things that just piss you off but deep down you laugh (Especially when your mule makes an a$$ out of you).
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jul 24, 2008 - 12:19am PT
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Thanks, Ron. I'm sorry to hear that Archie has died. It sounds like he led a full life, and that you and he were well-matched. I'm sure he was well taken care of, and a good companion.
That's a nice story about the knot, too. I kind of like it being called the Archie knot - there are already too many knots or hitches with the word mule in them. (How is a knot or hitch defined, anyway?)
Here is a picture of Nita's equine, which may be a little cheering.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jul 24, 2008 - 12:27am PT
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hey there ron... oh, my.... may you be somehow comforted during this loss... yet, i know he had a good long life---but to me, too, i would be missing him dearly, if i were you....
thank you for the wonderful story.... i am going to tell my buddies about it.... they love horses and they know how each one has its own special personality....
they will treasure your mule story and the wonderful history that archie created by his rich ol' personality, the same as i always will....
oh my, ron, you know, archie will be even more well-known, as i have to tell my mom too.... say, archie is warming our hearts ron...
thank you for sharing this treasure from your life and the unique yosemite knot....
ps.
i had goats before but never got to have a mule or a horse---perhaps someday, you never know... god blesss....
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 24, 2008 - 01:09am PT
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I've got to get out to Bishop to Mule Days one of these years, but worry I'll drive there in the BMW and end up riding back with a new string,..
Archie used to escape daily, sometimes more than once. He rarely had any place to go. It was more like he just enjoyed the challenge. Trouble was, the jenny, Vita, would follow him.
The only way to get HER back in was to open the gate and chase Archie back in giving her room to follow since she wouldn't let anybody get near her. Her previous owner didn't understand that the way to work mules was with 90+% positive re-enforcement with the remainder merely a harsh tone.
Vita would just walk right up to me though. But nobody else.
She would carry two haulbags as far as I could walk a daypack without me even feeling her tug the line.
Incredible animals.
If you treat them right they'll work their hearts out for you.
I have an interesting book on mule packing in the Sierra.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jul 24, 2008 - 01:11am PT
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Ron, do you have any pictures? That would be nice.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 24, 2008 - 01:42am PT
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Buried. No scanner.
Somewhere I have a shot by Armondo Menocal of my biggest mule, Blue, eating an apple out of my mouth.
Huge jaws.
Always freaked people but Blue never bit me.
Drool was another story though.
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jstan
climber
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Jul 24, 2008 - 02:38am PT
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Have to ask an ignorant question. Could you work the mules without a lead line? Would they just follow? A bag of apples do it?
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Jaybro
Social climber
wuz real!
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Jul 24, 2008 - 03:19am PT
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Project a slide, take a digital photo of it, (someone near you has a digital camera, or Walmart is close by when you have BMW) email it to me, I'll post it.
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steelmnkey
climber
Vision man...ya gotta have vision...
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Jul 24, 2008 - 09:20am PT
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Sounds like a pretty cool mule. Sorry to hear he's passed.
Seems like sometimes the animals that offer challenges are the ones we remember the most. Or maybe it's just the ones with the most personality.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 24, 2008 - 10:03am PT
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When he worked as a pack animal on the cattle drives through the Kolob there was no need for a line as he tended to herd.
But generally he was, as I said, Mr. Alpha, lead mule, so if he wasn't being ridden he would require some form of induced direction.
It was Vita that would follow obediently.
But mules are so smart they can be taught to plow fields without stepping on the produce and can be turned verbally with "Gee" or "Haw".
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