Vincent van Goat, Bosco, Oatcake, Jojo, Sharkey, Jon Snow and Stoic form a happy train whenever they clip-clop up Prison Hill. Hikers stop to grin and stare, wondering who in their right mind would put saddlebags on a herd of goats and lead them up a mountain. Jodie Gullickson – that’s who. She and her seven boys are the High Sierra Pack Goats, a local business herding hikers around Carson City. Gullickson is a Northern Nevada native, and goats have always been a subtle part of her life. Her parents kept them around to calm their horses, and Gullickson has photos of them eating the flowers at her backyard wedding. Though, “I never really got close to goats until just this last year,” she told the Appeal on a walk with the “Goateo” – her name for the herd. Over the summer of 2021, she decided to hike the Tahoe Rim Trail. “I was laid off because of COVID, and I wanted to do another big trip,” she said. “My husband thought that was a great idea … but he wanted me to bring company. He wanted me to bring an animal along, and he was thinking about a dog.” Gullickson was thinking about a goat. It was partially a hiking injury that sparked the idea. On a previous trip trekking 731 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, Gullickson fell into a gopher hole and fractured her foot because of all of the water weight she was carrying. With saddled-up goats helping her along the trail, she could disperse the weight of her equipment. Four goats accompanied Gullickson when she hiked Tahoe in 2021. Since then, her herd has grown to eight, including the newbie, Hank, who’s still learning to hike with the pack. Clients who join Gullickson on her hikes are surprised and elated at how social the Goateo is. “The goats just steal your heart immediately. They’re such happy creatures,” Gullickson said, smiling. She always asks her hikers which goat is their favorite. Jon Snow is a popular choice – he attaches himself to newcomers. Sharkey likes to take up the rear of the pack with him. Together, they sandwich hikers between them so that nobody loses the trail or falls behind. Vincent van Goat tends to lead the pack with fast hikers. Oatcake trails close behind. Jojo the Hero Goat with coyote-nipped ears and the littlest Stoic take up the middle. But Gullickson’s not-so-secret favorite is Bosco. He’s the OG (original goat), her first hiking companion. Together, the group has a lot of personality. “Goats love what they do. They wag their little tails, and everyone wants me to put on their packs first,” Gullickson said. “They’re so silly, and they’re so fun, and I’m just so glad that they came into my life at such a perfect time.” Looking toward next summer, she’s hoping to secure permits to hike along the Carson River and take camping excursions to the Tahoe National Forest with the Goateo. Hikers who come on overnight trips with the pack won’t be glamping – they’ll be gloating. To schedule a hike with the High Sierra Pack Goats, visit https://highsierrapackgoats.com/ or follow Gullickson’s adventures on Instagram and Facebook, @highsierrapackgoats.
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