The Most Awesome Yard Sale is Coming

13. May 2012 by Ellen Knapp.

Most Awesome Yard Sale

 Saturday May 26 you just may find that treasure you have been searching for.

 Squaw Butte Back Country Horsemen (SBBCH) will be hosting their 5th Annual Most Awesome Yard Sale fundraiser on Saturday May 26 in the Key Bank parking lot, Washington Ave, Emmett.

An awesome variety of gently used items have been procured from around the county and from the SBBCH  members themselves.  Fabulous finds will include furniture, household items, clothing, books, children’s items, outdoor gear, craft items, and horse stuff. There is sure to be that treasure you have been searching for.

 Doors open at 8 AM in the Key Bank parking lot. Find those treasures and we will make them yours.We will gladly accept donated items. To donate call Charles at 208-365-7279. We can even pick up donations.  Proceeds from the fundraiser help pay for tools and supplies used in trail maintenance as well as fund our educational outreach programs.

SBBCH is a non profit organization and a chapter within Back Country Horsemen of Idaho (BCHI). BCHI is a non-profit organization with 15 chapters spread throughout our beautiful state, dedicated to perpetuating the common sense use and enjoyment of horses in America’s back country and wilderness. We work to insure that public lands remain open to recreational stock use and assist the various government and private agencies in their maintenance and management of those resources.

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Squaw Butte March 9, 1992

20. April 2012 by Ellen Knapp.

The first meeting, that lead to the formation of the Squaw Butte Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of Idaho was held on March 9, 1992.

At that meeting a board of directors and officers were elected.  Terry MacDonald became the first President.

Click Here, To learn more about that first few meetings and some early history our chapter.

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Equine First Aid Manual

29. January 2012 by Ellen Knapp.

Read More

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Former SBBCH member Ed Mixon passed away

10. December 2010 by Ellen Knapp.

Reverend Charles Edward Mixon, 74, of Emmett, Idaho, lost his struggle with Alzheimer’s and joined the Lord, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. Ed passed away at home, attended by his wife, Diana, his main “companion”/caregiver, Angie and her family.

Ed was born in Griffin, Ga., to Rebecca P. and William s. Mixon. He was the youngest of five children. He obtained he theology degree from Emory University and was granted full clergy privileges to the North Georgia Conference of the Methodist Church in 1961. In 1963, Ed transferred to the Rock River Conference of Illinois as Director of Camps and conferences. In 1966, Ed was appointed to Arlington Hts. First Methodist Church as an Associate pastor. For the next 30 years, he faithfully served eight congregations of the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church.
In 1956, Ed married Elizabeth A. Benedict. They later divorced, but had three sons during their marriage, Mike, Alan and Kevin. Ed enjoyed being with his sons and shared special activities with each of them. Mike and Kevin loved camping, fishing and hunting. Alan loved skiing. All of them enjoyed riding their motorbikes.

In 1985, Ed married a long-time friend, Diana King Damko. In 1996, Ed retired from the ministry and they moved to Emmett. They liked to garden, cook and enjoyed several outdoor activities together. Ed really found pleasure in exploring backwoods areas on horseback, hunting and fishing. Ed was just as content to sit quietly and enjoy watching a spike yearling walk down the road or five pheasant cocks sparring in the front pasture. In the last four years, he enjoyed the simple things in his life and being at home.

He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Diana; his three sons, Mike, Alan and Kevin; his brother, Bill; his two sisters, Bettie and Guinn; and four grandchildren. The family would like to thank X-L Hospice for the care and compassion they offered Ed and his caregivers.
A memorial service will be held at the Emmett United Methodist Church, 1500 E. Locust St., at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association

Story about Ed  (Terry MacDonald)

Eds favorite motto was any story worth telling is worth embellishing. The first time I met Ed he was helping with a back pack trip from Red Fish to Grand Jean with the Methodist Youth group from Sweet.  Kirk Darnell and I packed food to Barron Lake and met them there, after several days of dehydrated food they were glad to See us, steak, potatoes, bacon and real eggs.  Since we were to camp with two ministers and be on our best behavior we left all adult beverage at the trail head.  After several days tending a bunch of teenagers the first thing out of their mouths was wheres the whiskey.
I don’t remember how long He was with the SBBCH only a couple of years,  He got busted up pretty good one year and I don’t remember Him riding with us after that. He had one horse that gave him a hard time.

Ed ended up buying a couple of mexican ponies that someone was bringing in to the country at that time, they were good broke horses just don’t go near them when they were eating.

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Attention BCHI Members and Friends of SW Idaho

26. May 2010 by Ellen Knapp.

After all these years, as well as this year, it never dawned on me to provide a price list for items we talk about at the Back Country Skills Clinic and that Spirit Horse Enterprises sells. Here is a list of some of the items we talk about and OUR Spirit Horse Enterprises prices. Our goal is to provide these items at a very reasonable cost.

From the Outfitters Supply Catalog – we are distributors for Outfitters Supply.<http://www.outfitterssupply.com>

The following are OUR prices:

·         TrailMax In-line Swivel. WPH109 $10.95

·         2-leg Neoprene Hobbles WPH122 $24.50

·         TrailMax Packer’s Scale 20-100 pounds WPA212 $30.95

·         TrailMax Packer’s Scale 0-55 pounds WPA213 $27.95

·         TrailMax H-Style Top Pack WPA150 $78.95

·         Double Pack Cinch WPA216 $52.95

·         Canvas Mantee, 7’x8’ hemmed, 15 oz WPA207  $32.95

·         Canvas Mantee, 7’x8’ hemmed, 18 oz WPA107 $39.95

·         Packer’s Field  Manual by Bob Hoverson WBKPFM $17.50

·         Lash Cinch WPA102 $31.95

·         3 Gallon Collapsible Water Bucket WPH161 $16.50

·         Canvas Pack Pad WSP108 $47.95

And lots more top quality equipment and apparel, Visit our website or Call  208-398-7279

Spirithorse Enterprises - Ranch Wear and Supplies
www.SpiritHorseEnterprises.com // info@ccsutlery.com>  

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Final Prez’s Ponderings

6. January 2010 by Ellen Knapp.

Ponderings from The Prez’s Saddle 

Well, 2009 is closed and in the process of being archived. 

As I reflect back on the year I wonder - Where to begin? We had so many successes this year.  

We presented yet another well attended Back Country Skills clinic in the spring and hosted another fabulous Fun Day in October. We could not have provided either event if not for the dedicated work of the committees and excellent support by the volunteers. 

While June was essentially rained out, we had a very busy July and August. We had excellent turnout for the projects. I’d like to think it was due to the commitment to the BCH mission, but I know it was, in fact, due to the fabulous FOOD – the potlucks and breakfasts, some with fresh huckleberries. As Rob says, “We are an eating chapter that just happens to ride.” 

Once again the 2010 BCHI calendar sale had great participation from SBBCH. SBBCH committed to 300 of the 2000 total calendars printed. SBBCH was one of the few chapters committing to such a high number. And very few, if any, of those 300 remain unsold. Most were sold by the November BCHI meeting. Great job everyone! 

Our second year of the Memorial Weekend Saturday yard sale simply continued the success of its first year. We had many more items since we were more prepared. We plan to continue this sale in 2010. So as you put away the decorations and winter articles and bring out the summer wear, make sure to put the donations aside for this year’s yard sale. 

SBBCH would not be so very successful and energetic if it weren’t for the continued efforts, commitment, and support of the membership. It is you, the members, that make SBBCH a great chapter. You bring the energy, the ideas, the humor, the experience, and the commitment to the chapter. I heartily Thank You for all that you bring to and do for SBBCH. 

I thank the 2009 Leadership Team for their work in making SBBCH ‘hum’ like the well oiled machine it is in 2009. Without the fantastic leadership team, our chapter would not function in the superior manner in which it does. The President does not make the chapter work; it is the leadership team and the membership that makes the chapter the premier chapter that it is. 

Thank you Vice President Tami Buthman. I greatly appreciate all your work organizing the outreach events and graciously handling everything else I delegated to you. You were my rock and right hand gal. 

Thank you Treasurer Kay Ryan. You enabled me to focus on other things knowing our SBBCH bills and monies were in your very capable hands with your easy to read Treasurer’s report format. I greatly appreciate your knowledge and your fabulous attention to detail. 

Thank you Secretary Team Linda Hays and Linda Phillips. Without you, SBBCH could not function. I relied greatly upon both of you for the innumerable aspects of the running of the Chapter. You both proved that a team can not only share the vast Secretarial duties but that a team can enhance the capability and efficiency of the Secretary Position responsibilities. The Secretary position is a wide ranging position involving many diverse aspects. In many cases, things fall to the “Secretary’ by default. You gave SBBCH the ‘going forward’ model for the Secretarial team.  

Thank you to Project Coordinators Rob Adams and Tony Buthman. You have established critical relationships with the USFS folks. Your knowledge of our capabilities as well as your knowledge of the area needs’ resulted in an unprecedented tactical plan for the year. Our SBBCH volunteer hours in equivalent monies success is due, in big part, to the wonderful, long term relationships that you have built with the managing agencies.  

Thank you to the chapter’s various committees: the Education and Foundation committee representatives Bill Conger and Bill Holt; the Public Liaison committee members Tony Buthman, Bill Holt, Chris Holt, and Robbin Schindele; our State Directors Rob Adams, Mary Beth Conger, and Phil Ryan; the Calling Committee; the 2009 audit committee; the Chapter Display committee who created the winning display; the 2009 nominating committee; and last, but certainly not least, our Christmas Party Committee co-chairs Nancy Harper and Chris  Holt. Our annual party, once again, was a wonderful feast full of great fun. We would not have had such a party without your dedicated effort. 

The end of 2009 also brings the end of my term as President. I have been President for the last three years – the maximum term per our Constitution. Term limits are great because they force a change in leadership. This enables fresh vision and new ideas to be infused within the chapter. 

Welcome to the 2010 SBBCH Leadership Team. Thank to those folks that ran for the positions. All were unopposed and all were unanimously elected. Welcome to our new President Mary Beth Conger. She brings years of BCH knowledge and BCHI leadership experience to the office. Welcome to our new VP Shannon Schantz.

Shannon has been a member of SBBCH since nearly its inception. Welcome to our returning Treasurer Kay Ryan. Welcome to our Secretary team: returning member Linda Hays and new member Chris Holt. Welcome to our new State Director Robbin Schindele. Thank you all for joining the 2010 SBBCH Leadership Team. I will continue to serve this year as the Past President. 

2009 was yet another fabulous year in the SBBCH history. 2010 will only be better! 

See ya in the saddle in 2010 –  Ellen

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Summer Projects & Events

3. May 2009 by Ellen Knapp.

I welcome all our new SBBCH members and say welcome back to all of our returning SBBCH members. We have a full schedule of events, activities and work weekends lined up for 2009.

We need all of our members to participate so we can achieve all of our commitments. While we do have fun rides, the core purpose of our organization is service. We work to maintain access to trails and trail heads. But we are a volunteer organization; we don’t kill ourselves in pursuit of this work. And we have lots of fun and fabulous food while performing the work.

Food is a core value of our chapter and figures prominently in our work weekends. We make work a social event. Work weekends are a great way to get to know the various SBBCH folks. Our monthly meetings are filled with lots of information, but are not a great way to get to know SBBCH and its members.

So just what are the work weekends like and what are they NOT like?

Work weekends are NOT marathon work events. We hit the saddle Saturday after a very filling communal breakfast. We stop for lunch. We try to be back in camp about 4:30 in the afternoon. Sunday is usually a fun ride in the same general area.

Everyone is NOT required to have pack stock. We usually have a few tools, a couple of chainsaws, and fuel to pack along and only need a few animals to tote it. Everyone does NOT need to run the chainsaws. There is plenty to do lopping out the overgrowth, removing cut logs, and holding horses. If you have a bad back, bad hips, bad knees, or bad whatever, stay in the saddle. But do come and ride with us.

The trails are NOT for ONLY experienced horses and riders. Most trails are suitable for novice horses and riders and riding the trails with the SBBCH folks will increase you and you mount’s experience and confidence.

SBBCH folks observe trail etiquette guidelines. We ensure every one is in the saddle before moving off, we wait to make sure everyone has crossed the bridge or water, we keep tabs on the slower riders and wait for them to catch up.

SBBCH DOES try to make it easy for our members to attend the work weekends. SBBCH provides the certified hay. Trail head directions are available on our web site. Trailer sharing and trailer caravanning is available. SBBCH members are willing to help others learn to camp with their horses and often have excess equipment, like a highline, to lend. SBBCH sets up a communal kitchen, Saturday and Sunday breakfast is communal and Saturday dinner is pot luck.

I look forward to seeing familiar faces and new faces this year at our rides, events and work weekends. I look forward to getting to know each of you better.

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Diamond Basin Ride

16. September 2008 by Ellen Knapp.

Ride Date:  September 27, 2008
Ride Time: 10:30

Directions to Trail Head:
(from: Linda Forrester)

After passing Dan’s Ferry Service on the river, proceed on thru Murphy on Highway 45 to the Silver City Road. (I can’t remember for sure just how far it is from Murphy to the Silver City Road, but I think it is 5-6 miles to the south of Murphy)  Turn right on the Silver City Road and go approximately 6 miles. (Your are still on the pavement on the main road.  This turnoff is on a big  turn of the road to the left.)  Turn to the right (North) onto a dirt road that takes you back to the corrals.  We always parked at the corrals and started our circle ride from there.  Linda W. knows the ride directions for the circle better than I do.  This was one of her riding spots!

(from: Linda W.)

You start at the corrals and you can go west on the road up the hill and just stay on it clear up to the top or you can take the trail to the south that will take you out and around the road and you still end up at the same gate! it’s way more fun!

Go left at the top of the big hill and bare left. The gates are all closed up there due to the cows in the area. Go down to the first cabin. Nettleton’s have restored the cabin and there is a note on the door telling of the history. Good lunch spot!

Then you proceed to the west through the gate and turn to the north across the little creek run off. Just keep going on that trail and follow it to the second cabins. Then on up the hill still heading north west.

*There will be a road on the right before the cabins that is the short cut.  It will take you back to the main road.  Or you can keep going  about another mile and see a road to the right that will take you up and then just stay on that road it will keep going north. You will go over the big hill and head back to the east. Through milk springs and back down to the road.

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Bob Howard - Treasured Member Remembered

9. December 2007 by Ellen Knapp.

Robert ‘Bob’ Dale Howard - President, Squaw Butte BCH - 2006
Pictures of Bob

Bob passed away in December 2007 after an illness.  Bob was born in Stites, Idaho in 1928. Bob was an outfitter and guide for several decades and retired from the Idaho Highway Department. He adored his children and the outdoors, his horses and mules, hunting and riding in the wilderness. Bob was a member of Masonic Kooskia Lodge Number 87 and Past Master. Bob was President of the Boise Angus Club and  was on the board for several years. He was also President of Squaw Butte Back Country Horsemen in 2006.

******
I Remember Bob
Ellen Knapp, president, SBBCH 2007, 2008

I remember Bob as a big, burley imposing, deep voiced man;
With a HUGE, gentle, generous and giving heart;
With a warm and welcoming smile;
With a wonderful sense of humor.

I remember Bob with tremendous knowledge regarding horses and packing;
With tremendous experience regarding horses and packing;
With a great willingness to share that knowledge unconditionally;
With a great willingness to share without judgment;
With a great willingness to share with us novices;
Patiently.

I remember Bob with an un flitching seat on his horse;
And great confidence in his horse;
Despite the trail crumbling out from under him.
He continues to gives me confidence in my riding.

I remember Bob as a very fair man
He never spoke ill of anyone.

I remember Bob as a wonderful Dutch oven cook;
He fed us fabulous delights.

I remember Bob teaching me
to back splice our ropes
and critiquing, encouragingly, my novice efforts.

I remember Bob teaching me,
patiently,
to mantee a load with elegance and minimal effort;
many times, each time with equal patience.

I remember Bob,
I will never forget Bob,
Bob lives on in me,
for he imbued in me his knowledge,
and made me a better person for my knowing him.

I remember Bob
And I will miss him greatly.

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