Poor Mule taken wonderful care of, shod, fed, vet care with a regular job, not half starved in some back lot somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Think before you speak. People and animals of all kinds have heart attack every day, everywhere. Not due to being miserable. Lord!!!
The helicopter is one we call "Bumblebee" it's THE rescue chopper. It handles well in high winds, but the chopper is not the best for carrying a deadweight mule (sometimes weighing up to 1200 lbs) over long distances, ESPECIALLY in high winds. There are many reasons they didn't chuck the mule in the river, one of the main reasons being the condors, I know it's strange but the California condor population is so carefully monitored that any type of livestock or pack animal that dies in the canyon must have it's vet certificate examined before allowing it to rot naturally in the gorge. If the animal has any sort of blood disease or such it has to be removed to prevent the California Condors from feasting on it and in turn contracting whatever disease or parasites they might have. Also, polluting the rive just isn't a grand idea. The mules at the canyon are spoiled and well cared for, they actually enjoy their job, they love attention and having their ears scratched, the mule wranglers at the Canyon LOVE their mules, one freezing night (the temp was below zero) I was walking home from a hike and passed the NPS corral and spotted 3 wranglers around a little bum fire in the corral with the mules all pressed in beside them. The wranglers were making sure their mule friends were warm, some even had blankets on their backs, although nearly unnecessary mules have enough body fat and thick winter coats to keep them warm. but it was extremely sweet and thoughtful of the wranglers to spend the night out there. Saying a mule's job is sad...well, what about seeing eye dogs? What a sad life they too must lead, directing their blind master around the world...the mules lead their blind riders down to the only lodge in the bottom of the GRCA. Mules are happy loving creatures, go hang out with a GRCA mule sometime, they're fat, happy and extremely intelligent and loving.
Thank you for that information. I have a narrated short by Mr. Brumly made years back about the mule ride history, how the steel cable bridge was built, and the brothers that had a photography studio at the top of the mile trail, to take pictures of the tourists; they’d have the pictures ready by the time the tourists got back to the top of the canyon. Also, how, I believe, it was President Teddy Roosevelt who spent the night in the quarters at the bottom of the canyon. Thank you, little mule for your years of service…..I’m sad about your passing. I’m determined to do that mule ride into the canyon one day…..it’s on my bucket list!
THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS.....my friend is the one in the red jacket on the bridge and she knew someone was taking video but hadn't thought that it might be posted on youtube. She and her friends were part of this trip and said it was QUITE an experience!!!!
Okay, to the people criticizing the rides: 1. It's the safest way down the canyon. Hikers have to TRAIN to do this trip. Hikers die - usually young men who think they're invincible. Only one person has ever died as a result of the mule trips - a muleskinner who's mule slipped off the trail in 1951. There was another death in 1998, but it was some idiot who jumped OFF her mule, leaned over the edge, and fell. Can't blame the mules or the guides for that one. 2. Animal deaths happen but are extremely rare. Mules are well adapted to these conditions (they have far greater heat tolerance than horses and need much less water. People do take horses down the Bright Angel, but I wouldn't do it myself). They are sure footed and the trail is actually pretty easy for them. It can get treacherous in winter (that's when the 1951 death happened). 3. I'm not a muleskinner, but I know equines. I've seen, handled, and ridden these mules. Every one of them was in good flesh with a shiny coat (Mules traditionally have their tails trimmed and manes shaved). They were well trained, well mannered and knew where people keep pockets ;). I'd go as far as to say those mules are a little spoiled! They're a mixture of light mules and draft type mules. They get plenty of rest, again, the trail is pretty easy for them... 4. What happened to this mule was not a "heart attack" in the sense we think of them. The most likely culprit was an aortic aneurysm, which, given the health of the animals and the good care they receive was not likely caused by parasites or copper insufficiency, but most likely from a congenital heart defect. It's the same thing that sometimes causes healthy human athletes to collapse mid competition. There's no way of predicting this and often the first you know is the animal drops dead under you. IOW, blaming the muleskinners for this is either ignorant or using it as an excuse to disagree with "abusing the poor mules." The only "abuse" my mule got was a good whack with the quirt when he insisted on trying to check the pockets of the hikers he passed for treats! (LIke I said. SPOILED).
Jennifer R. Povey . I would love to do this. Nobody can predict death. My gf's horse dropped dead while being hand grazed. Mules are built for this. They are much stronger than a horse. It was the mule's time to go, RIP
Just so everybody knows mules in the canyon all have yearly check up by Arizona's state vet and are Fed the highest quality diet. they work hard yes! but a mule that sets in a pasture has more health problems then the ones that go in and out every other day also I know for a fact this mule was healthy. mules being hybrids with a odd number of chromosomes often have cardiovascular issues. that show up randomly as it does suddenly in humans. moral of my comment is hikers respect the mules they respect you there wouldn't be a kiabab or bright angel phantom ranch or both bridges across the ol Colorado if it want for those long eared hero's if mules could talk they would tell you the greatest honor they could have is showing people that can't walk there being she illness or disability the majesty of the grandest hole on earth. so let's honor this mule and thank the others that make it possible for anybody to see OUR!! grandest canyon love y'all
Stetson Mangum Dont know anything about a yearly check-up, all I do know is they are taken very well care of on a daily basis. We used to get drunk after work at either the employees pub or Victor Hall and turn them loose in the middle of the night. Down the street they would go, they looked forward to it. During the day, sometimes after work we'd go down and sneak them an occasional apple and pick cactus needles out of their noses. Back then...John Wayne was denied a trip because he weighed over 200 lbs. Not long after, Paul McCartney was told to shut up when he started playing the piano at El Tovar, no favorites played here. Those mules know their way down and back, this one decided to quit while he was ahead.
Wow, What a crazy event to experience in the Canyon! I feel bad for the mule. I guess he just could not take it anymore. I just returned last week-did the Tanner to Beamer to LCR. It was relatively uneventful compared to this. Adios from Tempe,AZ
Those mules probably enjoy their jobs. As long as they have all their needs met and are not overloaded, there is nothing wrong with riding mules. They are incredibly strong, sure footed animals.
Did you ask the mules how they feel about being held captive and forced to work in the heat carrying people's fat asses up and down the Grand Canyon? It's easy to claim that they "enjoy their jobs" when you're not the one doing the work!
Just wanted to clarify about the helicopter. This type of helicopter is an MD 900. It is a turbine helicopter like most but the tail does not have a jet engine on it. this type if tail is called NOTAR. It uses a fan inside the base of the tail which then blows air out of ports at the end in order to counteract the torque produced by spinning the main rotor system just like any other helicopter with a conventional tail rotor. This type of anti torque system is used to reduce noise and hazard
I've been down to the bottom at Phantom Ranch a number of times. In the older days a helicopter wasn't powerful enough to lift a dead mule out of Grand Canyon. In those days they had to cut it in half first.
Tourist gotta realize that the grand canyon is no amusement park!!! This national park is a deadly wilderness and should be respected like one respects a firearm!!
Good catch these animals are well taken care of and this one just happened to die probably most likely of old age just happened to be out on a ride when it went down
The mule barn is across from Human Resources, we would get drunk at either Victor Hall or employees pub and turn them loose and down the street they would go...middle of the night, they looked forward to it. But besides feeding them apples and pulling cactus needles out of their noses on our way home from work... they were well kept. John Wayne was denied a mule trip because he was over 200 lbs. just as Paul McCartney was told to shut up when he started playing the piano one night at El Tovar, no favorites played here.
+Elaine Eike I've witnessed a horse drop dead. Here the horses immediately go to a special institute (if the horse is in a competition or something like that) to be checked. Turned out the aorta had ruptured. It happens. Happens to people too. It's sad though.
I also know of a horse that died suddenly of a heart problem, he was just walking with a rider on a trail, and his knees buckled under him and that was it. :0( It's sad but it happens, just like it can happen in humans.
what happened to the person who had the mule die right under him/her ?! thank God it didn't happen to me ! would have died right after the mule but of embarrassment, thinking it had collapsed under my weight or something ! ( whats the max mule can carry and it is the same for the canyon trail ride ?)
Poor baby. They put 400 pound fatties on these poor undernourished, hot and thirsty ,old and tired mules. This is sickening and needs to stop. This is animal abuse. That poor donkey died a horrible death. If you’re too fat to walk the trail why would you force a small donkey to carry you. Whoever runs the donkeys needs to be shut down. People who make their livings off of animals are disgusting non humans.
We are going to South Rim in April and I am dreading the sight of those poor mules being worked in that heat. I think it is disgraceful that in this point in human evolution we still treat animals this way. It's slavery, nothing less.
Are the mules not forced to do labor? Are they not forced to work in the heat? Are they not forced to carry heavy weight up and down the steep switchbacks of the Grand Canyon? Being held captive and forced to work against your will, is that not a form of slavery? Or are animals too "lowly" for you to consider that term?
You are showing your ignorance. America was built on the work of mules , donkeys and horses. It doesn’t hurt a mule or a horse or donkey to work. As long as it has farrier care, medical care , is fed properly for the work its being asked to do , has the proper tack ( a mule because it’s differently shaped than a horse, must have different tack ) and it is not overworked and not over loaded wieh a rider that it too heavy for the animal. Considering where these mules work, any owner would be a damn fool to not take care of the mules because if they weren’t taken care of , it could kill people…..and result in massive lawsuits. Sometimes animals die unexpectedly. Everyone should wait for the necropsy on the mule and the witness accounts before getting the torches and pitchforks and go out to attack the owner of the mule riding company. There are areas of the country that are hot and horses live there , the mustang or wild horses, and there are wild donkeys too. They run , breed, walk and live in those areas 24/7 365 . So you are saying those animals should not be living in hot areas?
@@teresahiggs4896 Actually, you are showing your ignorance. America was also built on the backs of enslaved Black and Indigenous people. Your argument that we built this country on the backs of animals highlights the attitude that is STILL prevelant, mostly in right-wing circles, that animals were "put on this earth" for the sake of humans so we can use and abuse them as we wish. And that antiquated, illogical and backwards way of thinking is thankfully on its way out.
I suppose the African and Indigenous American slaves who were forced to care for white babies loved with they did, too? What on EARTH makes you think that these mules "love" carrying people's fat asses up and down mountains in the desert heat? Would YOU like it? Animals have preferences too, and I'm sure if given the CHOICE they would NOT be choosing this life.
Why are they using mules to carry people up the canyons? Nowadays an average American weighs 200 pounds, and considering how high these canyons are, I wouldn't doubt this is a common occurrence.
They have a strict weight limit of 200#. You weigh in at check in and if you are over weight, you don’t get to go. Only ten riders a day for the mule ride and it generally takes getting your ticket a year in advance.
Poor mule, maybe people should not take mule rides up to the top. Since mules can't talk, I wonder if they really feel up to such a trip anyway......I don't like the ideal, just my opinion.
Poor Mule taken wonderful care of, shod, fed, vet care with a regular job, not half starved in some back lot somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Think before you speak. People and animals of all kinds have heart attack every day, everywhere. Not due to being miserable. Lord!!!
PRECIOUS MULE NOW YOU GO REST IN PEACE YOU SWEET LITTLE ANIMAL. NOW ALL YOUR LABORS ARE DONE AND YOU CAN ROMP IN HEAVENLY FIELDS FOREVER!
The helicopter is one we call "Bumblebee" it's THE rescue chopper. It handles well in high winds, but the chopper is not the best for carrying a deadweight mule (sometimes weighing up to 1200 lbs) over long distances, ESPECIALLY in high winds.
There are many reasons they didn't chuck the mule in the river, one of the main reasons being the condors, I know it's strange but the California condor population is so carefully monitored that any type of livestock or pack animal that dies in the canyon must have it's vet certificate examined before allowing it to rot naturally in the gorge. If the animal has any sort of blood disease or such it has to be removed to prevent the California Condors from feasting on it and in turn contracting whatever disease or parasites they might have. Also, polluting the rive just isn't a grand idea.
The mules at the canyon are spoiled and well cared for, they actually enjoy their job, they love attention and having their ears scratched, the mule wranglers at the Canyon LOVE their mules, one freezing night (the temp was below zero) I was walking home from a hike and passed the NPS corral and spotted 3 wranglers around a little bum fire in the corral with the mules all pressed in beside them. The wranglers were making sure their mule friends were warm, some even had blankets on their backs, although nearly unnecessary mules have enough body fat and thick winter coats to keep them warm. but it was extremely sweet and thoughtful of the wranglers to spend the night out there.
Saying a mule's job is sad...well, what about seeing eye dogs? What a sad life they too must lead, directing their blind master around the world...the mules lead their blind riders down to the only lodge in the bottom of the GRCA. Mules are happy loving creatures, go hang out with a GRCA mule sometime, they're fat, happy and extremely intelligent and loving.
The mule with the blanket was the wrangler’s wife.
Thank you for that information. I have a narrated short by Mr. Brumly made years back about the mule ride history, how the steel cable bridge was built, and the brothers that had a photography studio at the top of the mile trail, to take pictures of the tourists; they’d have the pictures ready by the time the tourists got back to the top of the canyon. Also, how, I believe, it was President Teddy Roosevelt who spent the night in the quarters at the bottom of the canyon. Thank you, little mule for your years of service…..I’m sad about your passing. I’m determined to do that mule ride into the canyon one day…..it’s on my bucket list!
THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS.....my friend is the one in the red jacket on the bridge and she knew someone was taking video but hadn't thought that it might be posted on youtube. She and her friends were part of this trip and said it was QUITE an experience!!!!
Okay, to the people criticizing the rides:
1. It's the safest way down the canyon. Hikers have to TRAIN to do this trip. Hikers die - usually young men who think they're invincible. Only one person has ever died as a result of the mule trips - a muleskinner who's mule slipped off the trail in 1951. There was another death in 1998, but it was some idiot who jumped OFF her mule, leaned over the edge, and fell. Can't blame the mules or the guides for that one.
2. Animal deaths happen but are extremely rare. Mules are well adapted to these conditions (they have far greater heat tolerance than horses and need much less water. People do take horses down the Bright Angel, but I wouldn't do it myself). They are sure footed and the trail is actually pretty easy for them. It can get treacherous in winter (that's when the 1951 death happened).
3. I'm not a muleskinner, but I know equines. I've seen, handled, and ridden these mules. Every one of them was in good flesh with a shiny coat (Mules traditionally have their tails trimmed and manes shaved). They were well trained, well mannered and knew where people keep pockets ;). I'd go as far as to say those mules are a little spoiled! They're a mixture of light mules and draft type mules. They get plenty of rest, again, the trail is pretty easy for them...
4. What happened to this mule was not a "heart attack" in the sense we think of them. The most likely culprit was an aortic aneurysm, which, given the health of the animals and the good care they receive was not likely caused by parasites or copper insufficiency, but most likely from a congenital heart defect. It's the same thing that sometimes causes healthy human athletes to collapse mid competition. There's no way of predicting this and often the first you know is the animal drops dead under you.
IOW, blaming the muleskinners for this is either ignorant or using it as an excuse to disagree with "abusing the poor mules." The only "abuse" my mule got was a good whack with the quirt when he insisted on trying to check the pockets of the hikers he passed for treats! (LIke I said. SPOILED).
Jennifer R. Povey . I would love to do this. Nobody can predict death. My gf's horse dropped dead while being hand grazed.
Mules are built for this. They are much stronger than a horse.
It was the mule's time to go, RIP
Just so everybody knows mules in the canyon all have yearly check up by Arizona's state vet and are Fed the highest quality diet. they work hard yes! but a mule that sets in a pasture has more health problems then the ones that go in and out every other day also I know for a fact this mule was healthy. mules being hybrids with a odd number of chromosomes often have cardiovascular issues. that show up randomly as it does suddenly in humans. moral of my comment is hikers respect the mules they respect you there wouldn't be a kiabab or bright angel phantom ranch or both bridges across the ol Colorado if it want for those long eared hero's if mules could talk they would tell you the greatest honor they could have is showing people that can't walk there being she illness or disability the majesty of the grandest hole on earth. so let's honor this mule and thank the others that make it possible for anybody to see OUR!! grandest canyon love y'all
Stetson Mangum Dont know anything about a yearly check-up, all I do know is they are taken very well care of on a daily basis. We used to get drunk after work at either the employees pub or Victor Hall and turn them loose in the middle of the night. Down the street they would go, they looked forward to it. During the day, sometimes after work we'd go down and sneak them an occasional apple and pick cactus needles out of their noses. Back then...John Wayne was denied a trip because he weighed over 200 lbs. Not long after, Paul McCartney was told to shut up when he started playing the piano at El Tovar, no favorites played here. Those mules know their way down and back, this one decided to quit while he was ahead.
That's right and most equines sit in stalls!
Poor mule ! I love these hard working critters, but am afraid of high mountain paths.
More of a recovery than a rescue.
Wow,
What a crazy event to experience in the Canyon! I feel bad for the mule. I guess he just could not take it anymore. I just returned last week-did the Tanner to Beamer to LCR. It was relatively uneventful compared to this.
Adios from Tempe,AZ
Those mules probably enjoy their jobs. As long as they have all their needs met and are not overloaded, there is nothing wrong with riding mules. They are incredibly strong, sure footed animals.
Did you ask the mules how they feel about being held captive and forced to work in the heat carrying people's fat asses up and down the Grand Canyon? It's easy to claim that they "enjoy their jobs" when you're not the one doing the work!
@@ruinsane100 hey goof!? Held captive? They're BORN in captivity! There're no wild mules, Miss Peta
Grand canyon mule train is the only business on the planet that has NEVER had work-related accident
Just wanted to clarify about the helicopter. This type of helicopter is an MD 900. It is a turbine helicopter like most but the tail does not have a jet engine on it. this type if tail is called NOTAR. It uses a fan inside the base of the tail which then blows air out of ports at the end in order to counteract the torque produced by spinning the main rotor system just like any other helicopter with a conventional tail rotor. This type of anti torque system is used to reduce noise and hazard
I've been down to the bottom at Phantom Ranch a number of times. In the older days a helicopter wasn't powerful enough to lift a dead mule out of Grand Canyon. In those days they had to cut it in half first.
At least he didn't die on the trail where it is on the ledges!!!!
Marvin Lashley omg I was thinking the same thing...
It was on the bridge. That is also a dangerous place for the mule to collapse.
Tourist gotta realize that the grand canyon is no amusement park!!! This national park is a deadly wilderness and should be respected like one respects a firearm!!
Good catch these animals are well taken care of and this one just happened to die probably most likely of old age just happened to be out on a ride when it went down
On to mule heaven.
:'( Sometimes that happens, just as it does with people. An otherwise healthy, sound animal can just drop dead of a heart attack.
The mule barn is across from Human Resources, we would get drunk at either Victor Hall or employees pub and turn them loose and down the street they would go...middle of the night, they looked forward to it. But besides feeding them apples and pulling cactus needles out of their noses on our way home from work... they were well kept. John Wayne was denied a mule trip because he was over 200 lbs. just as Paul McCartney was told to shut up when he started playing the piano one night at El Tovar, no favorites played here.
That is an arduous trail for man or beast...What a shame that the animal collapsed and died. I wonder if there were any signs that the mule was ill?
+Elaine Eike I've witnessed a horse drop dead. Here the horses immediately go to a special institute (if the horse is in a competition or something like that) to be checked. Turned out the aorta had ruptured. It happens. Happens to people too. It's sad though.
I also know of a horse that died suddenly of a heart problem, he was just walking with a rider on a trail, and his knees buckled under him and that was it. :0( It's sad but it happens, just like it can happen in humans.
It just happens, as with people. My horse just dropped dead in the pasture with grass still in her teeth. Not sick ! It's very sad.
Well do you expect the guy to be happy or pissed.
overloaded that could have been a lot worst for the pilot
Looked like the mule was moving to me.
wow that was crazy
@wahedahbug So what exactly happened at the suspension bridge? Did the mule just die under the rider?
RIP Smurfee
what happened to the person who had the mule die right under him/her ?! thank God it didn't happen to me ! would have died right after the mule but of embarrassment, thinking it had collapsed under my weight or something ! ( whats the max mule can carry and it is the same for the canyon trail ride ?)
200 lbs. max, and 225 for the rim ride.
Given the unexpected heart attack, I think twice about using a mule to traverse the treacherous precipices of ye ole Grand Canyon
tishtashtishtash lmao
If I was traipsing along those hideous ledges on my own two legs, I'd worry about myself having a heart attack.
mules are a freek of mankind..............
recovery...
Rescue? Maybe more like a recovery.
For the mule to die on the trail it obviously suffered a great deal. So sad
Give me a chain saw. Feed the buzzards save lots of money.
How did it die?
heart attack. its in the discription
Poor mule. :(
Don't worry...It was a rented mule.
My husband packed to Phantom ranch. He's seen it all.
shit happens. rip mule
I hope those poor animals don’t have to carry people every day in their backs in extremely hot days .
They don't work everyday. I'm not sure what the rotation is but maybe 1 a week.
I'd be pissed off to. . . . most expensive mule ever. i wonder how much they charged him to ge the mule out of the canyon
Poor baby. They put 400 pound fatties on these poor undernourished, hot and thirsty ,old and tired mules. This is sickening and needs to stop. This is animal abuse. That poor donkey died a horrible death. If you’re too fat to walk the trail why would you force a small donkey to carry you. Whoever runs the donkeys needs to be shut down. People who make their livings off of animals are disgusting non humans.
Don’t make such disgusting remarks when you have NO idea what you’re talking about!!!!
These poor animals are worked to the bone 😡 disgusting humans
We are going to South Rim in April and I am dreading the sight of those poor mules being worked in that heat. I think it is disgraceful that in this point in human evolution we still treat animals this way. It's slavery, nothing less.
You know nothing of what you speak.
Are the mules not forced to do labor? Are they not forced to work in the heat? Are they not forced to carry heavy weight up and down the steep switchbacks of the Grand Canyon? Being held captive and forced to work against your will, is that not a form of slavery? Or are animals too "lowly" for you to consider that term?
You are showing your ignorance. America was built on the work of mules , donkeys and horses. It doesn’t hurt a mule or a horse or donkey to work. As long as it has farrier care, medical care , is fed properly for the work its being asked to do , has the proper tack ( a mule because it’s differently shaped than a horse, must have different tack ) and it is not overworked and not over loaded wieh a rider that it too heavy for the animal.
Considering where these mules work, any owner would be a damn fool to not take care of the mules because if they weren’t taken care of , it could kill people…..and result in massive lawsuits.
Sometimes animals die unexpectedly. Everyone should wait for the necropsy on the mule and the witness accounts before getting the torches and pitchforks and go out to attack the owner of the mule riding company.
There are areas of the country that are hot and horses live there , the mustang or wild horses, and there are wild donkeys too. They run , breed, walk and live in those areas 24/7 365 . So you are saying those animals should not be living in hot areas?
@@teresahiggs4896 Actually, you are showing your ignorance. America was also built on the backs of enslaved Black and Indigenous people. Your argument that we built this country on the backs of animals highlights the attitude that is STILL prevelant, mostly in right-wing circles, that animals were "put on this earth" for the sake of humans so we can use and abuse them as we wish. And that antiquated, illogical and backwards way of thinking is thankfully on its way out.
poor mule...what a miserable life. carrying people up and down the canyon day after day.... only to die on a bridge while doing just that :(
Don't worry. That mule was doing what he loved, 'til the end.
I suppose the African and Indigenous American slaves who were forced to care for white babies loved with they did, too? What on EARTH makes you think that these mules "love" carrying people's fat asses up and down mountains in the desert heat? Would YOU like it? Animals have preferences too, and I'm sure if given the CHOICE they would NOT be choosing this life.
ruinsane100 Lighten up Francis!
poor mule
Why are they using mules to carry people up the canyons? Nowadays an average American weighs 200 pounds, and considering how high these canyons are, I wouldn't doubt this is a common occurrence.
They have a strict weight limit of 200#. You weigh in at check in and if you are over weight, you don’t get to go. Only ten riders a day for the mule ride and it generally takes getting your ticket a year in advance.
Poor mule, maybe people should not take mule rides up to the top.
Since mules can't talk, I wonder if they really feel up to such a trip
anyway......I don't like the ideal, just my opinion.
Joyce Buckley I'm with you,
Thank you Randy Rierson.
la chaleur n'y est pas pour rien, c'est dommage d'exploiter des animaux pour le plaisir, c'est une honte.