Backcountry Horsemen of Montana

Standing out within the horse-packing world Greg Schatz has dedicated the last 30 years to a working relationship between animal and man that few ever get to experience. Learning from one of the greats-Smoke Elser, Greg is taking up the yoke of passing this threatened part of Western heritage to a motivated and inspired younger generation. From the moment you meet him you realize his heart is as big as one of the horses that he is likely around. His direct speech, steady demeanor, warm smile, and durable patience have all clearly been earned. He is passionate about wild places and keeping them that way. In particular, the Bob Marshall Wilderness where he has based much of his life around. He now works to protect and preserve this one-of-a-kind place in the world. He feels equally passionate about doing the same for a way of life that has so much to offer. You can see in the way he balances a load on a horse how much this all means to him. Sure at its root horse packing is a way to take people and their stuff into backcountry places that otherwise may be difficult to get to. It also seems to be a way to live in a way and practice basic human principles that are being swallowed and forgotten by a well-designed distraction.