The History of Hells Canyon Muledays
In the Spring of 1981, local ranchers and packers met with representatives of the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce and USDA Forest Service to explore the idea of putting together a new county event.
As a result, the mule - tough, intelligent, individualistic, often maligned, but the mainstay of the many packers and outfitters working in Wallowa County - was elevated to center stage for the first annual Hells Canyon Mule Days celebration on September 19 - 20, 1981.
Hells Canyon was an appropriate title because that area owes most of its early settlement and development to the mule which predominantly served as a major means of transportation to gain access to this rugged region of the county.
Given the well-known independence of Mule Days’ long-eared star, the entertaining , action-packed event has met its initial goal - both mule skinners and spectators alike can be part of this family oriented mule show, with events and games for all ages
2024 Grand Marshals: Jim & Holly Akenson
Jim & Holly Akenson and Mules over the Decades
Intensive mule-use for the Akenson’s began in 1982 when they moved to central Idaho’s River of No Return Wilderness. They were managers of the University of Idaho’s Taylor Ranch – a research station 35 miles from a road and 21 miles to the nearest neighbor. They quickly developed mule use skills – packing, driving, riding, pack string leading, and equine care including shoeing and in the field doctoring. They began mowing/haying with a mule team in 1984, after one haying season using hand scythes!
They have pulled a mowing machine with mules for 40 years, mostly at Taylor Ranch, but also mowing Reds Horse Ranch airfield on the Minam River – Eagle Cap Wilderness. While at Taylor Ranch they taught many students how to handle and work with mules – riding, packing, driving. Some of those students went on to be USFS wilderness rangers and packers. While living and working in Idaho they offered mule packing certification courses for Idaho Fish & Game and the USFS and have put on many packing and driving clinics.
Many of their favorite mule use stories are in a book called, “7003 Days in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness,” published in 2015. They continue to use their riding and pack mules for public service – both with Wallowa County Search & Rescue and the Wallowa Mountains Hells Canyon Trails Association – clearing trees and improving trails for all users. Recently, they did hands-on training for Eastern Oregon Search & Rescue members evacuating injured people using mules. They first participated in Hells Canyon Mule Days in 1991 with a parade pack string and participated in packing events. They pulled a vintage 1843 Studebaker covered wagon with mules Rocky & Top as part of a multi-day wagon train to commemorate the Grand Opening of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center outside of Baker in 1991.
They currently use their mule team Bird and Bat to pull the arena service wagon during Hells Canyon Mule Days event and in the parade. As time permits, they also do personal recreational pack trips – usually in the Eagle Cap Wilderness and associated with elk and deer hunting
Hells Canyon Muledays Grand Marshals
1981 – WADE HALL & ETHEL THOMAS
1982 – MIKE & JOYCE McFETRIDGE
1983 – GLEN HAWKINS & GRACE BARTLETT
1984 – LEE MANES & LYNN MITCHELL
1985 – JESS EARL & CLARA HEARING
1986 – LAWRENCE & ILENE POTTER
1987 – CARMEN MAXWELL & A. L. DUCKETT
1988 – JOE McCLARAN & MARY MARKS
1989 – OAKLEY JOHNSON & HAZEL BARTON/FLEET
1990 – JOE ONAIDIA & GUS MALAXA
1991 – EMORY CRAWFORD
1992 – MAX & MARCEL WALKER .
1993 – JIM & JEAN BROOKS
1994 – JIM & LOIS BLANKENSHIP
1995 – GENE & MILDRED MARR
1996 – SAM & LAURA LOFTUS
1997 – DICK & BETTY HAMMOND
1998 – PEARL INGLE
1999 – DELBERT (DEB) WART
2000 – FRED TALBOTT
2000 – Noel & Genie Wright • Honorary
2001 – MANFORD & VERA ISLEY
2002 – MEREL HAWKINS
2003 – ARNOLD SCHAEFFER
2004 – BENNIE BANKS
2005 – DOUG & JANIE TIPPETT
2005 – Bonnie Shields • Honorary
2006 – BOB CASEY
2006 – Gerald Perren • Honorary
2007 – BLANCHE MAXWELL
2007 – Gene & Bonnie Westberg • Honorary
2008 – JUANA MALAXA & MARIE ONAINDIA
2008 – Mike Brennan • Honorary
2009 – CARMEN KOHLHEPP
2009 – R. A. “Ace” Barton • Honorary
2010 – BIDEN & BETTY TIPPETT
2010 – Ben Tippett • Honorary
2011 – LEO TIPTON “Tip” PROCTOR
2011 – George Hixson • Honorary
2012 – GRANT & BARBARA WARNOCK
2012 – Duke & Rhee Lathrop • Honorary
2013 – LARRY & JUANITA WATERS
2014 – DICK WALKER
2014 – Art Galbraith • Honorary (3-28-1937 • 7-11-2014)
2015 – DENNIS & PEGGY BRENNAN
2016 – MARVIN LOVELL
2017 – ROBERT “BOB” BALES
2018 – ORAN MCCRAE
2019 – JULIE KOOCH
2022 – WARREN MATTHEWS
2024 – CAL HENRY
2024 – JIM & HOLLY AKENSON