Richard Brigade
Richard was a fun loving and tough as nails pack mule who got an extra spring in his step every time he stepped on a trail with a full load. Adventuring outdoors and awaking to crisp mountain air is what he lived for--we think he was on to something. It's in his honor that we've formed the Richard Brigade.
If you're reading this, it means you've been recruited. Welcome aboard and get ready to celebrate the outdoors and enjoy some time with your friends (human and animals, alike)!
Unfortunately for you, as a Pack Mule Recruit in the Richard Brigade, you are currently lower than the skid mark left by a dung beetle pushing a donkey turd across the trail! You probably want to promote to a new station in life, quickly.
Here's how you promote to the next ranks, if you think you have it in you...
Rank: Pack Mule Apprentice
Here's how to get there: simply submit a photo of yourself enjoying any activity in the outdoors... walking, trail running, riding a mule, gardening, spearfishing, skiing, swimming... ANYTHING (but in the spirit of the Richard Brigade try to make it active. We're talking directly to you, person who tries to submit a photo of yourself playing chess on a park bench.) Submit your photo on Instagram by tagging @richardthemule if you have a public account -OR- if you have a private account on Instagram or don't use Instagram, send us an email at richardbrigade@cafemule.com (and know that when you email us your photo, we'll share it with the rest of the Brigade on our socials)
What's in it for YOU: an awesome Pack Mule apprentice rank sticker, memories, the relief of no longer being a desperately pitiful Pack Mule Recruit, and a personalized discount code for 10% off a bag of coffee.
Rank: Pack Mule
Here's how to get there: just submit a photo via Instagram or email of yourself enjoying any activity in the outdoors ALONG WITH either another human or an animal comrade. (Your Pack Mule Apprentice rank sticker must be present in the photo you submit or you must send us an additional selfie with your rank sticker present--gotta prove you aren't trying to take a whole bunch of photos on one outing and skip ranks, you scalawag.)
What's in it for YOU: an awesome Pack Mule rank sticker, memories, the relief of no longer being a very lowly Pack Mule Apprentice, and a personalized discount code for 12% off a bag of coffee.
Rank: Richard Head THIRD Class
Here's how to get there:
Complete one of the following:
OPTION 1
In the Strava App, join the Richard Brigade Club and then in a single outing:
- Hike or Run 5 miles
- Mountain bike 8 miles
- Road cycle 15 miles
Record your hike/run/bike in the Strava app and share your activity with a photo on Instagram tagging @richardthemule. Your Pack Mule rank sticker must be visible or in a separate photo attached to your shared post.
OPTION 2
Do any sort of adventurous and fairly challenging self-powered outdoor activity for at least 1 hour (this option is for you rock climbers, paddlers, SUP-ers, etc., or maybe those who are just getting into the swing of things and an hour of effort just won't quite put you close to the 5 mile range but you're willing to put in the hour of effort nonetheless). Post a photo of yourself on Instagram doing your at-least hour long outdoor activity with a little description of what you did and tag @richardthemule OR send us an email at richardbrigade@cafemule.com (and know that when you email us your photo and description, we'll share it with the rest of the Brigade on our socials). Your Pack Mule rank sticker must be visible or in a separate photo attached to your submission.
What's in it for YOU: an awesome Richard Head THIRD class rank sticker, memories, the relief of no longer being a lowly Pack Mule, and a personalized discount code for 14% off a bag of coffee.
Rank: Richard Head SECOND Class
Here's how to get there:
Complete one of the following with at least one other other human (they don't have to be a Richard Brigade member, but they are prob. jealous if they aren't):
OPTION 1
In the Strava App, join the Richard Brigade Club and then in a single outing:
- Hike or Run 8 miles
- Mountain bike 13 miles
- Road cycle 23 miles
Record your hike/run/bike in the Strava app and share your activity with a photo on Instagram tagging @richardthemule. Your Richard Head THIRD Class rank sticker must be visible or in a separate photo attached to your shared post.
OPTION 2
Do any sort of adventurous and fairly challenging self-powered outdoor activity for at least 1-1/2 hours (this option is for you rock climbers, paddlers, SUP-ers, etc., or maybe those who are just getting into the swing of things and an hour-and-a-half of effort just won't quite put you close to the 8 mile range but you're willing to put in the effort nonetheless). Post a photo of yourself on Instagram doing your at-least hour-and-a-half long outdoor activity with a little description of what you did and tag @richardthemule OR send us an email at richardbrigade@cafemule.com (and know that when you email us your photo and description, we'll share it with the rest of the Brigade on our socials). Your Richard Head THIRD Class rank sticker must be visible or in a separate photo attached to your submission.
What's in it for YOU: an awesome Richard Head SECOND Class rank sticker, memories, increasing pride in your accomplishments (you are solidly gaining rank now), and a personalized discount code for 16% off a bag of coffee.
Rank: Richard Head FIRST Class
Here's how to get there:
Complete one of the following with at least two other humans:
OPTION 1
In the Strava App, join the Richard Brigade Club and then in a single outing:
- Hike or Run 12 miles
- Mountain bike 19 miles
- Road cycle 30 miles
Record your hike/run/bike in the Strava app and share your activity with a photo on Instagram tagging @richardthemule. Your Richard Head SECOND Class rank sticker must be visible or in a separate photo attached to your shared post.
OPTION 2
Do any sort of adventurous and fairly challenging self-powered outdoor activity for at least 2 hours (this option is for you rock climbers, paddlers, SUP-ers, etc., or maybe those who are just getting into the swing of things and two hours of effort just won't quite put you close to the 12 mile range, but you're willing to put in the effort nonetheless). Post a photo of yourself on Instagram doing your at-least two hour long outdoor activity with a little description of what you did and tag @richardthemule OR send us an email at richardbrigade@cafemule.com (and know that when you email us your photo and description, we'll share it with the rest of the Brigade on our socials). Your Richard Head SECOND Class rank sticker must be visible or in a separate photo attached to your submission.
What's in it for YOU: an awesome Richard Head FIRST Class rank sticker, some good times with friends, and a personalized discount code for 18% off a bag of coffee.
Rank: CHIEF Richard Head
Here's how to get there: submit a photo of yourself sipping any non-water beverage in the outdoors-- coffee, kombucha, beer, etc -- with at least one other companion (human or animal). This is about taking some time to enjoy and appreciate your surroundings. Submit your photo by tagging @richardthemule on Instagram or emailing your photo to us at richardbrigade@cafemule.com (and know that when you email us your photo and description, we'll share it with the rest of the Brigade on our socials). Your Richard Head FIRST Class rank sticker must be visible or in a separate photo attached to your submission.
What's in it for YOU: an awesome CHIEF Richard Head rank sticker, a FREE Café Mulé hat, and a personalized discount code for 20% off a bag of coffee.
Rank: SENIOR Chief Richard Head
Here's how to get there: submit a photo of yourself AND at least one comrade on an overnight camping trip (car camping counts... backyard camping doesn't) and sipping any non-water beverage in the outdoors-- coffee, kombucha, beer, etc. Submit your photo by tagging @richardthemule on Instagram or emailing your photo to us at richardbrigade@cafemule.com (and know that when you email us your photo and description, we'll share it with the rest of the Brigade on our socials). Your CHIEF Richard Head rank sticker must be visible or in a separate photo attached to your submission.
What's in it for YOU: an awesome SENIOR Chief Richard Head rank sticker and a personalized discount code for 22% off a bag of coffee.
Rank: MASTER Chief Richard Head
Here's how to get there:
Complete the following in a single outing:
- Backpack at least 4 miles
- Undertake an overnight camping trip
- Submit a photo featuring yourself and at least two other comrades enjoying a "campfire" moment (real campfire is awesome, but if there happen to be fire restrictions where you are at... maybe gather around your JetBoil with some mallows.)
- Record your hike in the Strava app and share your campfire photo on Instagram tagging @richardthemule on Instagram or email your campfire photo to us at richardbrigade@cafemule.com with a description of your backpacking trip (and know that when you email us your photo and description, we'll share it with the rest of the Brigade on our socials). Your SENIOR Chief Richard Head rank sticker must be visible or in a separate photo attached to your submission.
What's in it for YOU: the knowledge that you have ascended to the highest ranks of the Richard Brigade, an awesome MASTER Chief Richard Head rank sticker and velcro patch, and a personalized discount code for 25% off a bag of coffee. Job well done!!!
At the end of 2025, one Master Chief Richard Head will be selected to the uber important rank and distinction of BRIGADE Master Chief Richard Head and will receive a special rank patch. The BRIGADE Master Chief Richard Head will be selected based on their photos demonstrating the greatest esprit and embodiment of the adventuresome, good-timing, hard playing, outdoor loving, Richard Head Brigade ethos.
The Café Mulé crew will also select a member of the Brigade at large, any rank, as the crew favorite based on the overall fun factor of their submitted photos.
The Richard Brigade will build anew every year, and that means that on 31 December 2025 all members will resume the rank of Pack Mule Recruit going into 2026 and all unused coffee discounts earned in 2025 will be cancelled and void. 2026 will bring the opportunity to earn a distinct new set of rank stickers and discounts.
Disclaimer: staying inside all the time is likely way more dangerous for you in the long-run, but doing activities in the outdoors can be dangerous and any of those activities that you undertake while a member of the Richard Brigade are taken by your own choice and at your own risk. In short, we implore you to be like 99.9% of the reasonable human beings in the world who evaluate risk appropriately, accept risk where they take it, and take responsibility for their own actions. Richard would want that for you.