Cisco
Type: Standard Jack
Born: 1974 @ Adams' Pack Station
Height: 11 Hands, 2"
Weight: 350 lbs.
Color: Silver Roan
Position: Packer First Class, retired
Cisco is one of the gentlest creatures on Earth. He never bothers the other animals, yet stands his ground and doesn't seem to get pushed around; perhaps they respect his age. The only complaint about him was his propensity to snack on trailside plants, holding up the string. He was sometimes fitted with an empty feedbag to curb this activity.
In the year 2000, Cisco was involved in an accident at Tin Can Point. He was forced off the trail with a Molly named Shonto and Bonnie the Donkey. His fall was stopped by a sharp branch that impaled him dangerously close to the colon. He was semi-retired upon recovery and only carried light loads.
Because of his easy nature he was chosen as a mail carrier for Sierra Madre's Pioneer Days (see Packing Page). He brought letters and postcards out of the canyon, then was trailered to town for delivery. Through all this excitement he was as cool as the center seed of a cucumber - until he saw his own reflection in the glass doors of the Post Office, that is.
Sometime in 2004, on the way back from Sturtevant's Camp, he tired and fell to his knees. He was in the middle of the string on the Stock Trail and the outcome could have been disastrous. He was completely retired after this event.
Cisco's health began to fail. He lost weight and he lost hair in large patches. Young donkey Kenny tried many times to engage him in play. He tolerated the colt's behavior but did not reciprocate.
When the Burgess's bought The Station in 2006, Cisco's hoofs were properly trimmed and he was allowed to tag along with the pack string. He is now enjoying his second childhood. His health has improved and his hair has grown back. He practically skips along the trail and he loves to wrestle and play with his pal, Kenny.
Written by Deb Burgess as an email to our friends on 12/27/2010:
Another good friend has passed to another place. Cisco, a truly great donkey and the last of the old guard, has left us at a ripe old age of somewhere in his late 30's (37? 38?).
Cisco was already a retired donkey when we bought Adams' Pack station. About 6 months later I realized that he wanted to go with the pack train. I thought, why not? I figured that he would get down a ways and then he could just turn back. After all, none of the other donkeys would even consider taking a walk voluntarily. Well, Cisco has never been just any donkey. He followed along behind Brad all the way to Sturtevant. Every Friday from that point forward until about 6 months ago he went along. Yesterday, he tried to go again. Maybe he knew it would be his last walk.
What great retirement benefits. A great walk in the woods and all you can eat too! He would stop, eat, and then run to catch up. He was just always there. A couple of times we would forget that he was following along and we would make a turn to drop stuff off at a cabin. He would miss the turn (because he was so busy eating) and then suddenly realize that the pack train was gone. He would totally freak out and let out his classic bray. Then he would run back toward the pack station looking for us. People would report a "lost" donkey. One time he stopped at Fern Lodge to eat acorns. It is a really great place to find acorns. He completely forgot about the pack train. 5 hours later we came back and he was still there eating acorns.
When we were up at Sturtevant we would stop and eat at Chris and Joan's picnic table. Cisco would come up and try to eat our food. He would put his head over our shoulders and grab at anything within reach. Really a pest.
A couple of years ago Joan started planting flowers in front of the lodge. Cisco was so into eating that he would go after Joan's flowers. We had to take a halter up to the Camp to keep him from snacking.
I am sure that Dennis, Jody, and Kim could all share their own special stories about this great guy. The place will just not be the same without him.