In a way, the pack mules “just lightened things” for people who were living through a historic disaster, said Michele Toberer, who runs Mountain Mule Packers alongside her husband, Mike.

That was then. This is now. Last Wednesday, my wife had a total knee replacement over in Laramie, and now our friends are encouraging her to – in the colorful words of one – work me “like a pack mule” ...

Mountain Mule Packer Ranch, also based in North Carolina, helps train pack mules among other services.

In a way, the pack mules “just lightened things” for people who were living through a historic disaster, said Michele Toberer, who runs Mountain Mule Packers alongside her husband, Mike. “We have many ...