Zimmerman has taken his goats up to a 14,000-foot elevation in the Wind River Range of Wyoming, so altitude doesn't affect them much, either. They can also traverse snowy terrain.

"No horse or llama has that kind of footing," he said.

How about transportation? Goats easily can be hauled in a small trailer or a pickup truck. Zimmerman said some people have even used boxes containing kitty litter in their vans to haul several goats to trailheads.

They also don't need to be tied up at night in a camp if they are properly bonded to their human group.

Some forest areas require goats be on leashes. Otherwise, Zimmerman said he has his goats' leashes tucked in, to be used as needed.

"Usually, they will never leave your side," he said, lamenting some of the privacy you may feel like you give away by having these underrated animals along.

He stressed they cost much less than other pack animals to own and maintain. He charges about $20 a day to rent his goats, with a two-goat minimum. Families and Scout groups have used his goats.

Rendezvous events include a service project with the U.S. Forest Service to improve a trail and training classes on hoof trimming, saddling and loading.

Zimmerman expects 75 to 100 people to attend the event, the first time it has been held in Utah during the organization's six-year existence. Those attending will come from all over the nation, though the western states are the group's mainstay.

• For information on High Uintas Goats, call 1-877-packgoat, or go online to www.highuintapackgoats.com. North American Packgoat Association information is available at www.napga.org.

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E-mail: lynn@desnews.com