The reset that happens when you step away from the noise and spend real time in the woods.

Wilderness packer and saddle maker Chris Eyer joins us for the first time, and it feels like talking with a friend who lives right up against the wild edge of Montana. Chris walks us through the places that shaped him and how he found his way from Southern California trail work to a life built around horses, mules, and the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

He shares the moment in the Sierra Nevada that first pulled him toward this world. He talks about learning the craft, the long days with his animals, and how those relationships changed the way he sees wild country.

We also get into what it’s like to bring people into the backcountry for the first time. Chris opens up about the pressures facing public lands and why these places feel so important to protect. And he talks about the reset that happens when you step away from the noise and spend real time in the woods.

It’s an easy, grounded conversation with someone who carries a deep connection to the places he loves.

Today’s highlights:

• How a single moment can shape a life – early trail work in the Angeles Crest and the brief encounter in the Sierra Nevada that set Chris on the path toward wilderness, horses, and mules.
• What packing really looks like – the day-to-day work of hauling lumber, steel, tools, and supplies into wilderness areas, and why this work keeps trails open for everyone.
• Why mules change the experience – riding with mules lets people see more of the landscape, tune into their surroundings, and feel a deeper sense of connection.
• The cost of losing wilderness crews – concerns about the shrinking workforce on the ground and what it means for access, safety, and long-term stewardship.
• Social media: a platform for public lands – showing the reality of working equines helps people understand that these lands belong to them, plus navigating the responsibility that comes with a growing audience.
• Finding clarity in wild places – reflections on mindfulness, constant change in the backcountry, and the reset that happens when you spend real time away from the noise

Links & Resources:

Connect with Chris

• Instagram

Public Lands & Wilderness References

• Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex – Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, affectionately known as “The Bob,” is located in Northwestern Montana on lands traditionally inhabited by the Amskapi Piikani (the Blackfeet Nation of Montana), the Niitsítapi (the Blackfoot Confederacy), the Séliš (Salish), Ql̓ispé (Pend d’Oreille or Kalispel), and Ktunaxa (Kootenai) tribes. The third largest Wilderness in the lower 48, The Bob Complex is made up of three separate wilderness areas: 
  • Bob Marshall Wilderness, est. 1964
  • Scapegoat Wilderness, est. 1972
  • Great Bear Wilderness, est. 1978

• Big Prairie Ranger Station
• Glacier Bay Wilderness, est. 1980
• Otter Creek Wilderness, est. 1975
• Upper Bald River Wilderness, est. 2018
• Pelican Islands Wilderness, est. 1970
• Wrangell–St. Elias Wilderness, est. 1980
• Roadless Rule, (USFS)  For more on the Roadless Rule, listen to Roadless Rule Rescinded with Chris Wood
• Public Lands Rule (BLM)

Organizations & Agencies

• U.S. Forest Service
• Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation
• BMTC mountaineering course, Sierra Club
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

Legislation & Policy References

• The Wilderness Act
• Tennessee Wilderness Act (2018)
• Great American Outdoors Act

People Mentioned

• Bob Marshall
• Conrad Anker
  • Listen to our conversation with Conrad
• Chris Wood
  
  • Listen to our conversation with Chris

Other References

• Mammoth Jack stock (donkey lineage used for many Western mules)

Chris Eyer is a wilderness packer, saddle maker, and outfitter based in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley. Many people first discover him through @muledragger, where he shares life with his mules and the long miles spent carrying supplies into some of the wildest country in America. But his work in the backcountry is only one part of his story. Chris served in the Marine Corps, built a career as an electrical contractor, learned leatherwork, and spent years climbing and traveling through mountains long before he made packing his full-time focus.

He grew up in California and was drawn to wild places early on. As a teenager in the Sierra Nevada, he crossed paths with a man leading a string of mules, and the image stuck with him. When he finally decided to learn the craft, he taught himself through trial, error, and long days around horses and mules. Those years shaped the way he works today and the deep relationships he has with his animals.

Chris now packs for the Forest Service, outfitters, and trail crews, hauling everything from tools and food to bridge materials and cabin supplies. His approach blends practical skill with a steady, thoughtful way of moving through the world, influenced by his study of Buddhism and a belief in paying attention to the land and to the animals that travel it with him.

Whether he’s talking about stock work, wilderness travel, or the lessons he’s picked up along the way, Chris brings a grounded, honest perspective shaped by a life lived close to the places he cares about.

The Wild Idea is independently produced by Wild Idea Media. If you believe conversations like this matter, you can help us keep them going by subscribing, leaving a review, sharing the episode, or signing up for our newsletter at thewildidea.com. Together, we can protect what connects us.