Backcountry Musings

Riding a good mountain horse or mule is a wondrous experience. To be aboard a horse or mule working to travel on a high rocky mountain trail, completely tuned into their environment, is an experience never to be forgotten. It is about as close to the man and beast connection that one can get. In a worrisome (kind of really dicey) location the rider and ride (horse/mule), must be willing to trust the other. This kind of trust comes only from a lot of experience (wet saddle blankets) on one or both of the player’s parts. Read More

Want to pack light, leave the propane stove home, and consider using a back packers wood stove  Read More

Links to check out   Littlebug.com     Trailstoves.com       Titanium-hexagon-stove

I did an interview for Trail Blazer awhile ago and it is in this month’s issue, Nov 2012, on page 52,53,54,55.  We have permission to send out the link, which can be open by clicking on the cover. Michael K. McGlenn, Chairman BCHA, mike@mikemcglenn.com

Open letter from Dennis Dailey to BCHA leadership

This summer was the second year that the Squaw Butte Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of Idaho has partnered with the Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation on projects in the “Frank” The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in central Idaho, the largest wilderness in the lower forty eight states.

The work projects were on Pistol Creek and Marble Creek on the west side of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Both projects had volunteers form the Idaho Trail Association and Idaho Parks and Recreation along with the pack support and camp cooks from BCHI members from both the Squaw Butte and Treasure Valley chapters. Eric Melson of the SBFC (Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation) was the project organizer for both projects. Due to the devastating fires of the past twenty years the trail system in the wilderness is in very poor condition, much downfall and tread work was required to reopen the trails for public use. Pistol Creek was opened from the trail head at Snow Shoe Cabin to the middle fork of the Salmon River, some 17 miles. Marble Creek was opened from the trail head down the creek past Buck Creek, but will require one more project next summer working from the middle fork up the canyon to fully reopen the trail. This will be about 30 miles of trail.

Partnerships are a wonderful thing, BCHI members get to meet other volunteer groups all of which are doing the same thing, keeping the trail systems in our national forests and wildernesses open for the American people to use and enjoy. My question is where are the forest service trail crews? What happened to them and why? These are questions that the public needs to be asking the Forest Service.

1-17-1915 to 1-15-2012

BCHA loses one of its founding fathers with the passing of Charles Dulane Fulton, Jan 15, 2012, two days short of his 97th birthday. “Dulane was one of the four who sat around the campfire and formed the first club of BCH in Montana,” said Rod Parks, BCHI National Director.

There is a brief article on all the founding fathers on the BCHA Website at: http://www.backcountryhorse.com/Founders_Page.html .

Dulane will be missed by all who appreciate the mission and dedication of an organization he helped to form. For Dulane’s complete obituary, click here.