Are you uninterested in compromising on campsites, path food plan, and the tempo at which you hike? Listed below are fourteen causes you would possibly contemplate giving associates and vital others the flick, and as an alternative group up with a donkey in your subsequent backpacking journey:
1. Donkeys aren’t large on idle chitchat, however in case you really feel the necessity to have a chinwag, they’re excellent listeners – observe the scale of the ears.
2. They have an acute sense of self-preservation and are a great choose of whether or not or not a scenario is doubtlessly dodgy. It’s nigh on unimaginable to influence a donkey to take a route or path that they contemplate to be harmful.
A hiker’s finest buddy (picture from Wikipedia)
3. Donkeys have nice recollections. They’re mentioned to have the ability to acknowledge areas the place they’ve beforehand been as much as 25 years earlier than. A really helpful high quality whereas route-finding in difficult terrain.
4. No danger of teary moments or emotional breakdowns on path. Certainly, because of their resolute character and uncannily correct kicking means, donkeys are extensively thought of to be the Chuck Norris of the Equidae household.
5. They could be tougher than a coffin nail, however donkeys are additionally playful, sort, and fiercely loyal by way of thick and skinny.
Regardless of their unfailing loyalty, typically donkeys can get in your nerves.
6. Donkeys are centered and surefooted in all varieties of terrain. You’ll by no means see a donkey get distracted and fall ass over teakettle whereas checking their telephone on path.
7. Talking of which, donkeys aren’t large into social media. Meaning you gained’t must freeze your #*!# off whilst you watch for 20 additional minutes on a excessive move, as your associate uploads the six selfies they took that morning to their Instagram account.
8. For amateur hikers which might be nervous about sleeping within the nice outside, donkeys could make good guard animals. They’re fairly territorial by nature, much less skittish than horses, and in contrast to canine, gained’t hold you up at night time with their barking (or on this case, braying). In some areas, donkeys are literally used to guard sheep and goat herds towards coyotes, raccoons, and foxes.
Justin “Trauma” Lichter and Darrell the Donkey | Copper Canyon Traverse (2013).
9. Donkeys are stoic by nature. After millennia of use as beasts of burden, you’ll by no means hear a donkey incessantly complain about blisters, chafing, or different minor on-trail maladies.
10. They have a great deal of endurance and are wonderful at preserving a gradual tempo.
11. Donkeys are humble and traditionally under-appreciated. At the present time, their low-key method to getting the job performed is each refreshing and endearing. It is rather unlikely you’ll hear a donkey ramble on about how a lot distance they’re protecting, what number of “identify” thru-hikes they’ve accomplished, or how gentle (or on this case heavy) their load could also be.
Grazing within the Dolomites (2019 – picture courtesy of Nathan Larsen).
12. They reside a very long time (“donkey’s years”), so in case you occur to get alongside famously, likelihood is you’ll have a buddy for the remainder of your mountain climbing life.
13. Donkeys have very robust digestive programs and aren’t choosy on the subject of meals. No worries about gluten allergy symptoms or fad diets, and you’ll by no means hear a donkey complain about consuming the identical factor on daily basis.
14. And final however not least……………they carry your stuff for you.
Morning customer | Quebrada Joncopampa | Cordillera Blanca Traverse, Peru, 2014.
