There will be no air-conditioned seminars or PowerPoint presentations next to a strip mall for this event.
From July 30th to August 2nd, Leyo Outfitting is hosting Montana’s Packer’s Program. This is a 4-day, 3-night backcountry masterclass where participants trade desks for saddles, coworkers for four-legged stock, and ceilings for a couple million stars.
Spots are tight, and for good reason. This is what attendees are actually signing up for:
Anyone can watch “how-to” videos, but no one has truly packed until they have tried to balance a mismatched load on a mule eyeing a steep mountain switchback. This trip is designed to give participants the exact skills every backcountry hunter, trail rider, and aspiring cowboy needs to survive—and thrive—in rough country.
Under the watchful eyes of veteran outfitters who have seen and survived it all, attendees will get their hands dirty with real-world training.
What’s on the Agenda? (Beside Adventure)
Participants will not just be sitting around the campfire. They will be learning the actual, unvarnished realities of managing a pack string:
- The Art of the Load: How to swing panniers, manny up gear, and pack everything from awkward wall tents to oddly shaped camp stoves so it stays put on a steep incline.
- Knot Magic: Mastering the hitches that hold under pressure—and the ones that won’t ruin a morning when it’s time to unpack.
- Backcountry Logistics: Setting up camp, breaking it down, moving through rough terrain, and keeping both horses and humans completely safe miles from cell service.
- Stock Savvy: Learning to read animals, manage them in the wilderness, and lead a string like a seasoned pro.
The goal of the program is not just to teach a few cool knots to show friends. The goal is confidence. By the time the group rides back down to civilization, participants will not just know how to head deep into the mountains—they will have the genuine peace of mind that they can handle whatever the wilderness throws at them and bring their crew, their animals, and their gear back out in one piece.
Space is limited because real-deal packing cannot be taught to a massive crowd. For those ready to trade the pavement for some serious elevation, it is time to claim a spot.
Photos and content via Maria Lovely Daggett