Park rangers have been working with mules in Yosemite National Park to efficiently patrol it’s nearly 1,200 square miles of rugged terrain for well over 100 years and they are still quite useful in modern times and the park currently maintains around 90 mules and horses to assist in various tasks.
Currently mules are utilized throughout the summer months to carry supplies for crews working on Yosemite’s 800 miles of trails and to remove unwanted items from the backcountry including compost from their network of backcountry outhouses:
“If you’ve used the bathrooms in the Vernal/Nevada fall corridor or just like clean water in the Merced, thank a mule.” –Yosemite National Park
Along with ferrying items in and out of the wilderness, Yosemite’s working mules also haul injured hikers to safety in search and rescue situations and perform front country patrols in Yosemite Valley to help alleviate traffic problems and help countless visitors find their way. Great to see Yosemite’s unsung heroes returning to work after a restful winter at pasture.
