I meet Sally and Robbin Schindele on a 4th of July pack trip that Squaw Butte was hosting in Elk Meadows of the Frank Church Wilderness. I noticed the man on the big paint horse and a woman with a big smile on a flashy mule while packing the members in. I didn’t get a chance to talk to them during the day but around the campfire found out they were from the mid-west, into sailboats and had lately moved to Idaho to start a new adventure. A history very similar to Linda’s and mine. Since that first meeting we have shared a lot of camp fires and trails together. In the years I have known Sally; we have ridden a lot of great trails, eaten some excellent meals, and skied many runs. I never heard her complain, to not step forward when something needed to be done, or not have a smile or a welcoming word. After a long hard day on the trail, she was the first to step forward wanting to help get dinner ready, or to get the cool drinks and snacks out. While Sally was not a strong rider, she was a very game one, willing to follow someone she trusted on trails that contained some real “Kodak Moments”. During Sally membership in Squaw Butte, she held a number of positions of responsibility, both elected and on committees, if she said she would do a job, it was done, and done well. I will miss my friend, her smile, her wit and her enthusiasm for the mountains and the back country.
To: “Chris Robbins” <christopher_robbins@blm.gov>
Subject : Urban Legend or Real?
Chris, I have been getting a lot of questions regarding people abandoning their horses to run with BLM horses. Is there any truth to this or is it just a rumor? If there is any basis to it these horses may not survive. The band stallion may take in some mares but surely would not allow a gelding in. They also would not be able to find food/water in the summer months since they would have no experienced herd leader to follow. Not to mention domestic horse don’t have hooves as tough as Mustangs and would stone bruise easily. You know all this already, don’t know why I had to go on about it. Just thinking how stupid that would be to do that. Any truth to it? I’m hoping not. It’s too expensive to gather the ones as is.
Joanna
Sunday May 4th
We rode the lower 5 miles of the trail today.The trail has a good surface, gravel, but is probably soft enough for non-shod with tough feet. There is a few narrow openings for people and horses to get around locked gates. 2 miles in there is a wooden bridge to cross over a cattle access to the river. A dead beaver (still pretty ripe) and a deer carcass (not ripe), lots of rock chucks, geese, goslings, ducks (no ducklings), lizards, and birds. Only snake we saw was taken directly over us by a hawk. Good thing he didn’t drop it, it would not have been a good deal. We turned around at a gate that was closed but not locked so can go through it.
Think parking will be limited if we park by the dam, maybe 6 or 7 rigs with trailers. We made arrangements with Dillon to park in the field across the road from the dam, the company he works for owns the ground on both sides of the road. There are heifers in the field so will have to be careful about the gate, but there is lots of room.
The directions on the web site say to turn right at Unity lane, but people need to continue going straight on Weiser river road, over a small bridge over the canal to get to Galloway dam.
It was a very enjoyable ride, along the river all the way.
This project will be a nice ride to the work site and back with the project work itself boots on the ground. We in concert with the Emmett ranger district and some other volunteer’s are going to re-route a section of this trail from off a very steep ridge into a series of switch backs. The problem with the current trail is erosion and currently installed water bars just made the problem worse. Plan on a few hours with shovel and pick. We will have pack horses to carry the tools, but you should bring your favorite shovel. We will be setting up high lines at the work site for the stock while we work. Directions to Peace Creek Trailhead
This project is to open four trails in the Johnson Creek and Riordan Lake areas. Assuming we have enough members to have four crews, each with a chain saws and other required equipment. All trails were impacted by last years fires, and may have their access limited by late snow and or mud. Wapiti Meadows Ranch will be providing tent camping / camper space, and areas to set up high lines or portable corrals and access to stock water. The chapter will be providing weed free hay for the weekend. Wapiti Meadows Ranch will be providing Saturday and Sunday breakfast and Saturdays dinner. Friday dinner is a chapter provided BBQ, members will provide their own lunches. To attend a “Wapiti Meadows Trip Registration Form” must be filled out and sent in no later then June 5th, 2008 This is going to be a great trip, don’t miss it! Directions to Wapati Meadows South Fork / Johnson Creek Area Map / Wapiti Meadows trip Registration / Directions to Wapati Meadows via Landmark
I am planning on driving up to Big Willow Creek to camp on Friday night, camping Friday & Saturday, doing the Saturday ride in the wild horse area, and the Sunday ride at Sheep creek. This is a very flexible trip due to it’s short distance from Emmett. Members can camp and ride, or just day ride. Members who choose to day ride on Saturday, should also plan on sharing the pot luck dinner, before heading back to the homestead. Rides on both Saturday and Sunday will start at 10:00
Information: http://www.sbbchidaho.org/pdf/0805MemorialWeekendHorseCampingTrip.pdf
Directions to Big Willow Creek: http://www.sbbchidaho.org/Directions_to_the_4_Mile_Horse_Management_Area.pdf
Directions to Sheep Creek: http://www.sbbchidaho.org/Directions_to_sheep_creek_camping.pdf
Our Saturday April 26th ride to the Wilson Creek / Hard Trigger area was one of the better I have been on in this area. The canyon that trail [w100] passes through and water crossings were a perfect spring tuneup. Great weather also. Last year the BLM did a major improvement of the parking area at Wilson Creek, including installing bathrooms, this is now first rate facility. They also added a number of trail signs so it is much easier to navigate the array of great trails in the area.
This year’s clinic went very well, but it can always be better. Please talk a few minutes and think about your experience at the clinic. Please think about each presentation you attended. Were they in the best order? If you had been scheduling the day how would you have done it? Were they the right length [time]. Most were around 30 minutes, was that enough time?
What presentations would you like to see that were not done this year?
Was there enough information on packing and back country travel and camping?
Did you feel the hands on mentoring worked, or would more structured demonstrations and maybe classes have been better?
Handouts: Have you had a chance to view the DVD? Did you feel it has value? Have you had a change to look at any of the material on the CD? Do you feel that this is a good way to provide material, or would you have preferred a notebook full of printed material?
Should we continue to have featured presenters like Dr. David Hayes? Did his “One Step Horsemanship” fit into the rest of the clinic structure, or would it have been better in a different venue?
Packing Equipment (what we take) (Bill & Marybeth)
Idaho Brand Inspector (Larry Hayhurst)
First Responders (Sally & Tammy
One Step Horsemanship (Dr. David Hayes)
Lunch (quality & quantity) (Lunch Team)
Saddles & Equipment (Mike Becker)
Trailer Safety (Mike Quality Trailer)
Trail first Aid – Stock (Joanne, Bob & Erika)
BLM Wild Horse Program (BLM)
Opportunities in Boise NF (Emmett Rangers)
Dutch oven cooking (Ralph & Trudy)
Meal Planning – Trail head & Back Country (Marybeth)
Packing Demo’s and Mentoring (Packing Team)
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.