Doc White & the Mules

In Loving Memory

Robert L. White DVM
aka Doc

September 9, 1945 - April 13, 2009

We lost someone very near and dear to our hearts in April. Doc passed away at the family home with Neta by his side. He has left some pretty big shoes to fill and we're just now really figuring out how big they really are.

He was the type of person who would do whatever he could to help anybody in need. Every year you could find him down at the fairgrounds helping the 4-H kids with their livestock. As a vet you could call on him anytime of the day or night and he'd come running, usually dragging along Neta, his wife, to help with whatever the emergency was, big or small. As a friend you could also call on him anytime and he'd be there for you. Whether it was to comfort you and/or tell you a story of a different time that would always bring a smile to your face.

Doc you have carved a spot into so many peoples lives and hearts that you will never be forgotten but greatly missed.

"If you don't learn something new on every pack,
you're not paying attention!" - John DeMerrett
U.S.F.S Packer from St. Joe.

John would lead 4 strings of pack mules with 10 head per string from Avery to Central Ferry every Fall to winter. Every Spring he would catch a ride back down to Central Ferry to lead 'em all back to Avery.

"When you come to the end of your lead rope,
tie a knot and hang on!" - Joe Back
U.S.F.S. and Park Service Packer

Joe was required by the U.S.F.S to lead a minimum of 10 mules. Each mule was required to pack no less than 300 lbs on the way in and they had to travel 15 miles a day.

This is why you always wear a britchen on a mule!
(Picture at right)

Overlooking the Cornwall Drainage

Doc White riding LeRoy with JD & Billy
Just past the old snag there is a 1000 foot drop to the bottom.
They were taking the U.S.F.S. Trail Crews into camp.

Doc White riding LeRoy

with Decon and Doc in the background.
LeRoy on average packed over 400 lbs
of gear and of course Doc.
This was Decon's 1st pack trip as a long yearling. When they came to a creek that was deeper than it was wide, Decon decided that he wasn't going to cross and since he was the last of the 3 on the string he sat down like a dog & tipped JD & Billy over. Doc realized then that you always put the least experienced mule at the front of the pack!

There's a trail that'll go right to it!

Bud Dianda got a really nice 6 point Elk on Grassy just outside of St. Maries. As they're mounting up and leaving the trailer, Bud told Doc that there's a trail that'll taken them right to the elk. It was a trail for a chipmunk! Bud was on his hands and knees going thru the brush while Doc was trying to lead the mules thru. By the time they reached the top, Doc had lost a suspender and his lighter! Luckily he had a spare lighter in one of the packs.

East Fork Cabin 1987

On the way into reshingle the roof and repair the porch, Doc was riding Billy over a windfall. Well, Billy's riggin' got caught up and he slowly tried to back off the windfall nice and easy when Sarge came up from behind and pushed him over. Needless to say Doc went for a ride and lost his glasses. Once they got to the cabin they made camp and got ready for the next day's work. Jerry Bott's mule pulled the 1st cedar log to camp but in route they had a minor run away. After the 3rd time of looking over his shoulder and that thing was still following him, he took off as fast as he could. Running right thru camp with the 30' plus log swinging from side to side behind him. Everyone was jumping for cover. They finally got him stopped when he jumped across a deep creek and the log got caught in the far bank of the creek. They had to cut the rope off of the saddle since it was pulled so tight. Doc did find his glasses in the windfall on the way back down from the cabin a couple days later.

Fly Creek Late Elk Season

Packing an Elk out of Fly Creek with Bill Ross. Bill didn't have his elk yet and they seen 2 spikes about 2000 ft above them. Bill told Doc that he was going to go up and get one. By the time Doc got off LeRoy and got out a smoke and had it lighted, Bill had shot. The elk came tumbling down the mountain side and came to a stop about 12 feet from Doc and the mules.

Emerald Creek
(between Fernwood & Clarkia)

Doc, Neta, and the crew headed into Emerald Creek
with straw to help stop the erosion caused by the
garnet diggers and help reclaim the land.

Now the work begins!

Bear Creek - Moving U.S.F.S. Trail Crew

<- Setting up camp

Heading into camp ->

Headed back empty
(below)

I told you so!

"I decided to enter LeRoy in a pulling contest. Neta suggested that I take LeRoy out and practice pulling...well I figured that after all the stuff that we'd pulled around in the past we'd be fine. We went to the arena to take our turn. Everything was going great until LeRoy heard those metal runners on the sand and dirt. Once he figured out that the sound was still chasing him everything went south in a hurry! I'm here to tell you that when a mule bucks and his head disappears between his legs it makes you feel like you're on the edge of the earth about ready to topple over. I just succeeded in undallying the rope in the midst of the ride of my life and thinking to myself that we're going to come out of this one alright. When the unthinkable happened...the blevins buckle broke and off I went. When the dust settled and I was lent a hand to get up, I was told that it was one heck of a ride until I lost my stirrup. I looked down at my foot, looked back up and replied, "I didn't lose it, it's right here on my boot!" Someone was sent to the liquor store for some pain medication and I made it thru the rest of the day shuffling livestock around the fairgrounds. Towards the end of the day, I finally had to go to the hospital because I couldn't go to the bathroom and boy did I ever have to go! The Doctors took x-rays and found out that I had broken my pelvis. When I was finally able to, I peed over 3 quarts. The x-rays showed my bladder looking like an hour glass between the fluid and blood. Before it was all said and done, I ended up being black and blue for a long time from my waist clear down to my toes! I'm still waiting for the I told you so."
- Doc White

West Fork of Big Creek

The mules were loaded up to take Dr. Baines up the West Fork of Big Creek to hunt for elk. On the way they ran into Bob Lehman who was the Ranger at Red Ives. He asked them where they were going and after They told him he informed them that it was actually known as Never, Never Creek...as in I'll never, never go back there again. Boy was it steep!

Neta and her Moose

Neta received her once in a lifetime Idaho Moose tag in 1999. When she finally found the bull that she wanted she dropped it with one shot. She was shooting a 300 Weatherby with a 4 power scope. And, get this...the shot was 520 yards! It was checked with a range finder. She had to use binaculars to see which moose she actually wanted to shoot. Needless to say that if Doc ever makes her really mad and she has a gun he is going to be 800 yards away and running in a zigzag so he'll have a better chance! To pack out the precious cargo the 2 most trusted mules were used. Who of course were JD & Billy.

Neta & Al Buck with the moose in the background.

Neta & Doc securing the meat to the mules for the trek back.

JD & Billy made the trek back to the trailer safe and sound.

Doc and Buckshot

Neta's favorite Grand Champion mule and Doc didn't get along so good to begin with. The first time that Buckshot had a pack put on him didn't win him any brownie points. The pack went on with no problems but when Neta handed to lead rope to Doc and he mounted LeRoy Buckshot come unglued. Doc held on for all he was worth while Buckshot was running down the road. Doc finially had to let go when it felt like the bones in his elbows were grinding against the gravel and rocks. Once Buckshot got rid of Doc he jumped into Marble Creek and headed for home. Doc jumped in his pickup and headed down the road to head him off. While he was gone, Neta finally got Buckshot to stop and come back to her. Doc was cleaning gravel out of his arms for weeks. The only thing that was figured out is that he had never seen a person on a mules back before.

This is the place to be

All this talk about workin' and playin'
just makes you want to relax in the hot tub.