Commercial Packers

This was recently posted on BCHW by Lori and I'm cross posting here as there's great information in this well written article.

Happy Trails!

I've posted some photos from a recent pack trip into the Pasayten Wilderness on the Yahoo website at http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/BCHW/ . If you live in WA and have not ever been there: DO IT! There is a reason it is so popular for stock users. The most populated areas are that way for a reason: the scenery is spectacular!

Now:
This message is to those who are not one of 'them', as most trail riders today are not. 'THEM: one who heads into the middle of the mountains for days on end, pack stock in tow, with no plans to return to their trailer/camper at the end of each ride. Note: if personal hygiene is REALLY high on your list of 'must haves' then you can quit reading now....8-)

Maybe you don't have the pack equipment and/or no pack horse? Not enough knowledge to make sure your trip is going to be worry free (excluding weather, trail conditions, etc. of course)? Or maybe you feel like it takes too much pre-planning and work? Well, that's me. In a 'previous life' I packed all over the place, several times a year. In my current life - not! And then I finally discovered the Joys of Hiring a Packer! An old dog CAN learn new tricks....

For the uninitiated, here is how one version (my favorite) works:
1. Me, my horse & friends all show up at the trailhead with our personal duffle, place it on the ground and head up the trail to the camp site.
2. Pretty soon, here come the packer and all his mules with all our stuff and the camping gear. Which HE sets up while I sit on my rear and read a book and drink an Adult Beverage.
3. But best of all, along comes the camp cook with all the food that SHE organized, purchased and packed and COOKS! While I again sit on my rear and read a book and drink an Adult Beverage.

Is this more expensive than doing everything yourself? Sure. But for those that do not have the experience or resources to do it SAFELY themselves it's sure much less stressful! Stress can be bad for your blood pressure and can add lines to your face...... And hey - I'M WORTH IT! Having a pro - with their experienced animals - deal with everything involved results in fewer things that can and do go wrong on pack trips. Been there, done that.....

If you've ever wanted to get back into the high country for several days on end and NOT COOK, then this is the way to go. Packers also offer Drop Camps. This is where you assemble all your personal items, your own camping and cooking equipment and food and the packer packs it in for you and then returns to pack it out when your trip is done.

For more info on commercial packers in WA check out the Washington Outfitters and Guides Assn. http://www.woga. org/ . If you want to go out of state then the WOGA website has a list of other state organizations too. Or many of them are at some of the first of the year Sportsman's Shows where you can meet them in person. Decide where you want to ride and then contact them and get references. If you want to ride your own horse (make sure it is in shape and experienced! The wrong horse can be a real pain for you and can easily ruin your trip. It may be a better - and safer - idea to use one of the packers horses in some cases) make sure you ask if they allow them and what the conditions to do so are.

Now get with some friends or family and start planning a memorable pack trip for next summer!

Lori

PS: I even
got to meet Cheryl from the BCHW Yahoo Group on my trip! She was one
of the many with some good ideas for Adult Beverages on pack trips.

Cross-post - Clackamas County Equine Trails

I got this in my email. Found it interesting. Am therefore passing it along.

Please voice your support for the Springwater Corridor in Clackamas County !

Clackamas County is requesting $1,200,000 for the Springwater Corridor Improvement Project through the 2011-2013 Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Transportation Enhancement Program (TE). The Project will pave 2.21 miles of the Springwater Corridor from Rugg Road in Clackamas County to Dee Street in Boring, with a 10 to 12 foot wide multi-use pathway with soft shoulders for use by pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians. ODOT is seeking public comments on projects being considered for Transportation Enhancement (TE) funding.

The comment period will be open from August 1 through September 15, 2008. Responses received during that period will help ODOT determine which projects advance to the TE Advisory Committee for final evaluation and selection, and will affect the committee’s scoring of those projects. All comments should be submitted through the internet survey site set that has been set up for this purpose.

This survey site will serve as the method of gauging public support and concerns for TE projects competing in the 2008 funding cycle. Agencies, interest groups, and the general public may respond to support or oppose a specific project, or to indicate priorities among competing projects in various areas of the state. Participants will select a geographic area of the state (The Springwater Corridor project is listed under Clackamas, Hood River , & ColumbiaCounties ), then indicate which project or projects they most strongly support or oppose.

They can mark their main reasons for supporting or opposing a project, and enter additional comments below that. If they have interest in another area of the state, they can repeat the process for another geographic area.

Please go to our project website to connect to the survey at http://www.boringstation.com/, or ODOT’s Local Government Section web site at http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/LGS. Those without access to the internet may contact the Transportation Enhancement Program Manager at (503) 986-3528 for a printed copy of the Comment/Response form.

Please vote that you strongly support project # 12 - Clackamas County : Springwater Trail Extension ( Rugg Road – Hwy 212 at Boring).

Below are some ideas for comments:·

• The Clackamas County Springwater Trail Extension project meets goal number 1 and goal number 8 of the TE activities by preserving an abandoned railway corridor as a multi-use trail for pedestrians and bicyclists.
• The construction of the Clackamas County Springwater Trail Extension project is identified in the Clackamas County Park ’s Master Plan but is only partially funded. Without funding by the TE Program, the project cannot be completed in a timely manner and cannot take advantage of current momentum and local support.
• The Project will benefit Highway 212 by improving pedestrian and bicycle facilities close to the Highway.
• The Clackamas County Springwater Trail Extension project promotes and encourages the use of trails for transportation and recreation by bicyclists, pedestrians, and equestrians. Currently, trail users turn around, or travel on a dangerous route along Telford Rd. to reach Boring.
• The Clackamas County Springwater Trail Extension Project will open up the trail to more users and enhance the travelers’ experience along the trail. Currently, the trail is gravel and inaccessible to many people traveling the Springwater Trail from Gresham and Portland, including those on street bikes, in wheelchairs and strollers and some walkers.
• Paving this trail section of the Springwater Corridor will provide the missing link between the Springwater and Cazadero Trails. Metro has identified the Cazadero Trail, owned by the State of Oregon , as one of the Great Eight Trail Packages for our region. Oregon State Parks and Recreation is currently working on completion of the Cazadero Trail. Without the completion of this project, there will be a gap in the Springwater Trail which directly connects to the Cazadero Trail, south of Hwy. 212 in Boring. Please forward this email to your friends, family, and co-workers!!

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Thank you for your support!! Sincerely, Katie DunhamPlannerClackamas County Parks9101 SE Sunnybrook BoulevardClackamas , OR 97015503-794-8051

37-yr-old Horse & an Endurance Race

Article from thehorse.com
by: Marsha Hayes

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=12530

Elmer Bandit, 37-year-old half-Arabian gelding, completed the Spotted Rump Ride Competitive Trail Event at Greensfelder Equestrian Park near St. Louis, Mo., Aug. 16 to boost his lifetime mileage to 20,420. Saddlebred Wing Tempo holds the current mileage record with 20,710 miles.

Elmer finished second in the Open Lightweight Division. Weight divisions are based on the weight the horse carries over the 60-mile, two-day event. Owner Mary Anna Wood of Independence, Mo., consistently weighs in (with tack) at around 150 lbs, well below the 189 lb limit for the Lightweight Division.

Elmer and owner Mary Anna Wood at a ride earlier this year. A half-Arabian named Jac Natalie took first place in Elmer's division. She was born the year Elmer turned 28. Jac Natalie, with owner Jackie Hathorn aboard, traveled the 60 miles of trail with Elmer. During parts of the competition, the mare had to canter to keep pace with tough gray gelding.
"Elmer has a 'turbo trot,' " explained Wood. Tracked using GPS technology, Elmer's "turbo trot" averages 11.7 mph.

Part of the course sent competitors through trail jump course. Although not required, Elmer took one of the jumps just for fun. He ended the ride just as strong, out-walking several gaited horses on the hilly terrain during the last two miles Sunday.

Veterinary Judge Lucy Hirsch, DVM, of Smithville, Mo., pronounced Elmer sound Sunday afternoon at the event's final vetting procedure.

"This is one of the toughest rides of this region--very hilly and very rocky," noted Hirsch.
Elmer is scheduled to compete again Aug. 30 at the Nebraska National Forest CTR near Halsey, Neb.

Back Country Horseman Article

There was a great article about the National Back Country Horseman (BCH) on HorseCity.com.

After taking in this article, be sure to check out the Mt. St. Helen's chapter of the BCH. They meet locally and are very active in maintaining our trails.

Back Country Horseman of America Volunteer Hours

Posted: Thursday, August 21, 2008

The Back Country Horsemen of America is pleased to announce that its members performed 244,840 hours of volunteer service for the year 2007 to benefit trail users in the back country. BCHA has member organizations in 25 states.

These hours were trail work and leave-no-trace educational training. The trail work included building trail head facilities, building and repairing bridges, manual trail work, and packing equipment, provisions and mail for trail crews, like the Youth Conservation Corps. All of the time is volunteered on national, state and local public lands including the state parks, USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and The National Park Service.

Travel miles to get horses and equipment to the work sites in 2007 was 1,079,870 miles. Stock days were 13,430. A stock day is one horse or mule used for one work day. The dollar value for hours, mileage and stock was $5,619,373 in 2007.

"We're proud of our volunteer work," said Mike Reedy, Chairman. He continued: "We work long hours at remote sites. Our national volunteer hours for the past thirteen years are 1,646,519.

Think of the dollar value as a gift or donation to the people of the United States who use our back country totaling $37,205,036. Impressive, don't you think!"

Founded in 1973, Back Country Horsemen of America is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the historical use of recreational stock on all public lands commensurate with this country's heritage. The group works to do this by assisting various government and private agencies in their maintenance and management of said resource as well as by educating, encouraging, and soliciting active participation in the wise use of the back country resource by horsemen and the general public. BCHA's membership is made up of individuals and organized groups across the country. Membership is open to all. BCHA can be found online at www.backcountryhorse.com. You can also contact toll free at 888-893-5161 for further information.

Busy Weekend

I heard on the news today that the upcoming weekend is historically one of the busiest of the year. It must be that everyone is itching to get out before school starts up again.

After doing a quick check of our Horse Calendar, I can see that's true in our world as well. There are poker rides, fun rides, game days, barrel races, camp-outs, festivals and more. It's a truly a horse extravaganza!

I love the possibilities though. I plan to partake in as many of the events as possible so that I can get my horse fix. The weather last week was a very clear reminder of what's to come this winter. Best to get out enjoy as much of the awesomeness as possible before we're all stuck inside.

I hope that you all get a chance to get out and enjoy some of the fun events this weekend. If you do, drop us a note and tell us about them!

Clark County Horse Calendar

Happy trails!