Horses, Hitches, and Rocky Trails [Paperback]

Joe Back (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1959

"Horses, Hitches and Rocky Trails" is often referred to as the packer’s bible. Written in the language of the West, it is a complete and often humorous presentation of the method of packing horses into the wilderness. Amplified by the brilliant drawings of artist Joe back, the book is for both the amateur and professional packer.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joe Back was born in Ohio in 1899 and moved to Wyoming when he was thirteen. He served as machine gun instructor during World War I, then took up trade as a cowboy, guide, and packer. Later he spent four years at the Art Institute of Chicago where, to use Joe’s words, he "damn near starved to death." Art education changed his life, however, and although he went back to packing and guiding, he also became nationally known as a sculptor. Joe Back died September 7, 1986, at the age of 87.

Product Details

• Paperback: 117 pages
• Publisher: Johnson Books (December 1959)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555661416
• ISBN-13: 978-1555661410
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #873,917 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Joe Back understands horses, mountains and much about life, March 25, 2002

By 

Lawrence P. Straight (Capistrano Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Horses, Hitches, and Rocky Trails (Paperback)

This is a repurchase of an old friend. Years ago my career and life took me to Wyoming. Like many, I fell in love with the high country and soon realized that the only way to get to the best of it was with horses. As a relative greenhorn, however, I had a lot to learn about getting to and living in the high country, with or without horses. A friend gave me Joe Back's book Horses, Hitches and Rocky Trails. Somewhere along the way, I misplaced it. I'm glad to have it back.

This book is more than informative. It delivers all its name suggests, telling all I needed to know about the tack, rigging and techniques of handling horses in a pack string. By simply following his advice, I found myself not only able to do it, but do it without embarassing myself in the company of real mountain men.

Beyond that, Joe's earthy narrative and humorous, but informative, illustrations make the book a joy to read. Even after you read it cover to cover, you'll want to spend some time looking at the illustrations and re-reading the tidbits of wisdom. If you have an interest or plan to go into the primitive areas of the mountain West, I encourage you to read this even if you never intend to pack a horse yourself.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very well written and illustrated book by Joe Back ., March 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Horses, Hitches, and Rocky Trails (Paperback)

This is a great book for anyone interested in packing horses into the mountains. Weather you are a experienced or inexperienced packer. The writing and illustrations are one of a kind,and with a style of the west.When reading the book you feel like your there packing your own string into the mountains. I would recomend it to any packers past present or future.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Horses, Hitches, and Rocky Trails, October 18, 2007

By 

cortezhill - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Horses, Hitches, and Rocky Trails (Hardcover)

This is a presentation of the method of packing into the wilderness. It is for the amateur just learning what to do in the wilderness and for the professional packer. One packer put it, "I'm surprised how many of those books I see, wide open on the back of a horse." Pat Murray, then Supervisor of the Shoshone National Forest, says in his Foreword: "Joe's home range starts where wheeled travel stops. To haul loads successfully and not hurt your animals takes know-how. Much of the know-how you have in your hands has never been written down before. Rangers, outfitters, and many so-called dudes will use this handbook, and be thankful every day they have it on the trail."

There are 52 drawings to amplify the text. First published in 1959, it has been reprinted 18 times.
--- from book's back cover