Episode Details

About the Guest

Shane Weigand is the founder of New Mexico Pack Burros, based outside Albuquerque, New Mexico. A former wildland firefighter and wildlife biologist who spent his career managing public lands, Shane picked up his first burro off Craigslist about ten years ago and has since built a community-driven business around backcountry packing trips, wilderness clinics, pack burro racing, and the book Backcountry Burro: Your Guide to Packing Burros and Donkeys in the Backcountry. He currently owns six burros of all three size classes — miniature, standard, and mammoth — and directs five races on the Southwest pack burro racing circuit. New Mexico Pack Burros is in its first year of guided multi-day expeditions in the Pecos Wilderness.

Episode Highlights

The Craigslist Burro

Donkey, Burro, Mule — The Definitive Guide

Why Burros — The Practical Case

Pack Burro Racing

The Guided Expedition

The History the Horse Didn't Write

The Water Stories

Comet — He's Family

Links & Resources

• New Mexico Pack Burros — Website: https://www.newmexicopackburros.com
• New Mexico Pack Burros — Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newmexicopackburros
• BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program: https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro
• Backcountry Burro: Your Guide to Packing Burros and Donkeys in the Backcountry — Shane's book. Available on Amazon or order signed with a sticker from newmexicopackburros.com.
• Unbranded — Adventure documentary following a group of men who trained wild mustangs and rode from Mexico to Canada. Available free on YouTube. Shane's media recommendation. Strong cinematography and a fair treatment of the wild horse and burro issue on public lands.

Pack Burro Racing — Key Events

• Fairplay, Colorado — Birthplace of pack burro racing, 1949. Annual race to the top of Mosquito Pass. Part of Burro Days festival.
• Leadville, Colorado — Flagship race. Centerpiece of Boom Days. Shane completed 150 miles of the Colorado Trail before racing here with Comet.
• Tombstone, Arizona — One of Shane's favorite venues on the circuit.
• Ruidoso and Silver City, New Mexico — Fall circuit races.
• Full circuit — 20 to 30 races annually across the Southwest. Season runs January through fall. A race ran in France two years ago.

Connect with Hiker Trash Radio

• Email: mailto:hikertashradio@gmail.com
• Social: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok — search Hiker Trash Radio.

The full interview with Shane drops Wednesday in two parts. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it takes 60 seconds and makes a real difference.

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