09. February 2015 · Comments Off on Just a Trail Horse :~) · Categories: Around The Campfire, Fun Rides

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Unconsciously my chin lowers slightly, followed by an imperceptible movement of downcast eyes in answer; “Oh, yeah – he’s just a trail horse.”

“Just a trail horse.” How many times have I been set back by that simple statement? The same statement heard time and again that sets my blood to boil. The same statement I am ashamed to admit has come from my own lips.

Read More!

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08. February 2015 · Comments Off on 10 things all gun owners should know – Alex Kincaid · Categories: Around The Campfire, Current Events

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Deadly Force: A Prosecutor’s Perspective

08. February 2015 · Comments Off on Wilderness Volunteers ORG · Categories: Around The Campfire, Current Events

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02. February 2015 · Comments Off on BCHA Leadership Team 2015 · Categories: Around The Campfire, Current Events

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BCHA Officers Contact List 2015

01. February 2015 · Comments Off on Back Country Pack Stock Use · Categories: Around The Campfire

Probert, Cheryl -FS <cprobert@fs.fed.us>
Here’s a video we did on the Bridger – Teton stock program to try to raise support for stock use internally.

pac2Horses are used all over the National Forest System, especially in the west to get work done on trails and in Wilderness areas. What’s interesting about the Blackrock Ranger Station in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming, is the way they get such specialized horses. They use wild mustangs that have been rounded up off of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and given to the Forest Service for free as weanlings or yearlings and then they train them to do work in the Wilderness.

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click on pictures to watch video’s

12. January 2015 · Comments Off on Sawyer – USFS Volunteer Certification · Categories: Around The Campfire

VC

SAWYER CERTIFICATION LEVELS

Apprentice Sawyer – “A” Sawyers have completed the nationally approved classroom and field training for general saw work (such as bucking, limbing, and the first basic steps in felling) or specialized uses. (such as construction, maintenance, and fencing) Generally they are trained at the local unit and must be supervised by a B or C level Sawyer during saw work activity, which may include slashing and felling in the least complex situations. During certification, the certifier has the authority to impose restrictions on Apprentice Sawyers as deemed necessary based on the skills demonstrated.Intermediate

Intermediate Sawyer – “B” Sawyers are skilled saw operators capable of performing saw tasks as specified on their certification card without Supervision. Intermediate Sawyers are not permitted to certify other Sawyers. The certifier has the authority to impose restrictions on Intermediate Sawyers as deemed necessary based on the skills demonstrated.

situationalAWR

Publications and training manuals

BCHO Sawyer Page    /     Squaw Butte Training      /   Test your Situational Awareness

27. December 2014 · Comments Off on Some interesting Horse Stories · Categories: Around The Campfire

HC

Suggested by Robbin Schindele

Adventures at Tölt Speed with Riding Iceland

Icland

Mustang herd seen through a Go Pro

mustangs-gopro

 

5 Things Confident Riders Avoid

23. December 2014 · Comments Off on BCHI Santa arrives in Emmett! · Categories: Around The Campfire, Current Events

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Saturday, Dec 20, 2014, the BCHI President Karen Kinball drew the calendar winners for 2014 and delivered a Christmas surprise for two Squaw Butte members. Phil Ryan and Robbin Schindele both won $1000.00 gift cards in this years raffle. So remember as you’re selling calendars to keep a couple for yourself and don’t forget to mail in your cards!

2014 Calendar Winners  (BCHI Web Site)

Jason Winters           Middleton, Id
Robin Schindele        Emmett, ID
Carol Young              Boones Mill, VA
Bonnie Stacy            Jerome, ID
Debi Riggin              Walla Walla, WA
Ray Robinette          Grangeville, ID
Les Chapman          Meridian, ID
Brenda McRoberts  Grangeville, ID
Cassidy Lindsey      Meridian, ID
Sharon Katzke        Caldwell, ID
Jo Hardy                 Grangeville, ID
Phil Ryan                Emmett, ID

19. December 2014 · Comments Off on South Dakota PBS show · Categories: Around The Campfire, Current Events

SDPTV This is the link to the SDPB program. The first 10 minutes is on the Harney Peak Tower restoration project and the next five and a half minutes is on the Black Hills Back Country Horsemen of South Dakota.

18. December 2014 · Comments Off on Horse Side Vet Guide · Categories: Around The Campfire

HVG Visit Website

13. December 2014 · Comments Off on Tom Dorrance: A Most Extraordinary Horseman · Categories: Around The Campfire

td01Tom Dorrance: A Most Extraordinary Horseman
by Jim Overstreet, copyright 1994, published by permission of the author

Thirty or more unbroke horses milled restlessly in a large corral at Cow Camp, summer headquarters on Montana’s Flying D ranch. Boots Shell, the manager, asked a small, dark-haired horseman what kind of horse he’d to like ride when he roped the broncs. “Something that’s never been handled much would be best,” he said. The other cowboys, who had only met the quiet man the night before listened incredulously. It was the summer of 1964 and Tom Dorrance was already fifty-four years old.
dorranceSome of the horses waiting to be ridden were five, six, and seven year olds that for one reason or another had never been handled. Although their breeding was a mixture of good Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse blood, they’d spent most of their lives just eating grass in the big ranch pastures. They were corralled once or twice a year with the riding horses only to be turned out again untouched. Several others had been broken “at,” that is someone had attempted to break them but hadn’t been successful.

(Read Part 1)  (Read Part 2)

11. December 2014 · Comments Off on New Bumper Sticker Available – Every Trailer Should Have One! · Categories: Around The Campfire, Current Events

BCHAAvailable Soon at the BCHA On-line Store

 

09. December 2014 · Comments Off on Next Generation of BCHA · Categories: Around The Campfire

??Tamara Applebaker, Oregon, High Desert Trail Riders BCH

Tamara has learned to love the back country on horseback and appreciate the beauty and solitude there. She has been an active participant on trail projects and with fish packing. She helps with the Kid’s Corral at the Horse Packing and Wilderness Skills Clinic and is making it her Senior project this year at Klamath Union High School. She participates with the Packing Clinic committee organizing the event as well. The Bob Marshall two week pack trip this last summer was a huge experience for Tamara after being on some shorter trips in Oregon and California.

03. December 2014 · Comments Off on 2014 Miles & Hours Total – Squaw Butte · Categories: Around The Campfire, Current Events

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2014 Presidents Report

25. November 2014 · Comments Off on Life Flight – A membership all back country travels should have! · Categories: Around The Campfire

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    More Information

    down load PDF

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25. November 2014 · Comments Off on Boise National Forest – North Zone Trail Crew Report · Categories: Around The Campfire, Current Events

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2014 trail crew report

BNFNZTC

21. November 2014 · Comments Off on Walk like a Penguin · Categories: Around The Campfire

HTWOI

Winter Video

05. November 2014 · Comments Off on SADDLE UP AMERICA! Colorado’s Hobo’s Hideout and BCHA’s Jim McGarvey · Categories: Around The Campfire, Current Events

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GARY HOLT and TINA MAE WEBER visit with JIM MCGARVEY chairman of BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN of AMERICA. What the recent agreement with BCHA and the National Park Service means to you, the Trail Rider!

Saddle Up America

From the Chairman’s Saddle

Kentucky BCH agreement with NPS

26. October 2014 · Comments Off on Wilson Corral – October 2014 · Categories: Around The Campfire, Fun Rides

DrivingWCTH-s

Wilson Corral Trail Report – Oct 2014
USFS TR 135 trail discription

Nancy & Shannon’s Adventure

Our adventure started early Saturday morning, we left Shannon’s house by 7:30 am, and thought how great we are actually leaving on time. We were so proud of ourselves. Then we get to the cutoff for Sagehen and had to decide which fork to take. That should have been the first clue that things were not gonna turn out good. From the directions posted it said take the 2nd fork. So we did, and boy howdy we had no idea what we were in for. Not only was the road skinny for a horse trailer and no pullouts,but from the rain the night before the black mud was like grease in spots. Once we almost lost traction on a very curvy hill. So needless to say we have calluses from holding the steering wheel and finger prints in the dash .. When we finally reached the expected meet up place we found lots of hunters and no place to turn around, and no Rob either.. We asked the hunters if they had seen Robs rig and they assured us they had not. So we thought well we may as well get the heck out of there, besides how many more gray hairs could Shannon sprout.. ?? The hunters moved vehicles so we could get turned around and we went back 3rd fork which was like a freeway compared to 2nd fork. We came straight back to the Eagle foot hills and rode there just to unwind a little and say we had rode this day.. So make sure you don’t take 2nd fork with a trailer and especially if it has rained.  (The route they took was the middle option, the directions suggest 3rd fork, the blue option)

17. October 2014 · Comments Off on Skydiving Beavers · Categories: Around The Campfire

Beavers

Idaho decided the best way to move beavers was to airdrop them!
Just the title – “Transplanting Beavers by Airplane and Parachute” – of this 1950 report in the Journal of Wildlife Management raises questions. Like, for goodness sake, why? And how? Did they specially make tiny beaver-sized parachutes and goggles, and push them out of the cargo hold, one by one, like a tiny dam-making army? Once on the ground, did the beavers suffer post-traumatic stress from the sudden drop? Or did they spend the rest of their days mourning in rivers, longing for another taste of the sky? Read More

Beavers, Their Dams Put to Work Restoring Streams Read More

Beavers as neighbors Read more

09. October 2014 · Comments Off on BCHA Executive Board 2014 – 2015 Initiatives · Categories: Around The Campfire

Page1Read More!

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09. October 2014 · Comments Off on Cutting Season is over – Winterizing your Saws · Categories: Around The Campfire

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Click on Pictures   Video

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27. September 2014 · Comments Off on Bucks Basin Ride – Council Mountain · Categories: Around The Campfire, Fun Rides, Horse Camping

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On September 14 a small but enthusiastic group of 4 riders set out into the Payette National Forest to clear trail and explore the Bucks Basin area. Once at the trail head, the lower trail was well defined and in good shape. There were only two areas that required some minor deadfall cleanup. Further up the trail the path became less defined as it passed through a meadow and cattle loafing area. Due to the lack of a visible trail, the group did a bit of “bush whacking” up a rocky slope in search of the trail. Once above the meadow, a few scattered cairn and trial markers guided us to the summit above Lake Basin. The views were fantastic and we spotted a small group of mule deer near the top. After a relaxing lunch in Lake Basin, the group struck back for camp. The weather was dry and pleasant and all rider and mount performed well.

MATTHEW DOPERALSKI

More Pictures

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26. September 2014 · Comments Off on Cornucopia: A Journey Through The Mountains Of Gold · Categories: Around The Campfire

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What begins as a relaxing, back to nature backpacking trip into Oregon’s rugged Eagle Cap wilderness soon evolves into a three month adventure of a lifetime for three people and a big white dog.Physically unprepared and ill equipped, the party sets out on a three day hiking trip only to discover Mother Nature is not always willing to accommodate such novice trespassers in her back yard.Forced to confront the challenges of nature’s wrath head on, each hiker learns true loss is not in the absence of material things, but rather the failure to discover the strength which is inside each of us.Follow the incredible journey as these ragtag wanna-be hikers set out to discover new trails and discover instead that sometimes it’s not always the destination, but the journey that is most remembered  See more Eagle Cap Pictures

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22. September 2014 · Comments Off on USFS Draft Report & Cover Letter · Categories: Around The Campfire

USFS-Report

Report Cover Letter

Draft Report June 2014

Enclosed is a report that summarizes the listening sessions held this spring across the Intermountain Region, including the sessions in Boise. The Regional Leadership Team has discussed the report information and there has been clear value to them to read the contents. Thank you for your participation.

David R. Olson
Public Affairs Officer
Boise National Forest
1249 S. Vinnell, Suite 200
Boise, ID 83709
208-373-4105 (w)
208-861-0768 cell

16. September 2014 · Comments Off on Chainsaw Chaps – Why wear them? · Categories: Around The Campfire, Current Events

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The story of a Chainsaw Chaps Injury (Blog Post)

Watch this Chap demonstration video

Chain Saw Safety – Training Video

Chainsaw Accident Statistic

Chainsaw Chaps Guide

12. September 2014 · Comments Off on Lou Ann’s is all ready for the morning commute! · Categories: Around The Campfire, Current Events

MomRidinginCart

12. September 2014 · Comments Off on Subscribe to BCHA E-Blast List · Categories: Around The Campfire, Current Events

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Subscribe to List

04. September 2014 · Comments Off on Trailer Maintenance – Keeping your stock safe · Categories: Around The Campfire

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When was the last time you checked your trailers tire pressure? Just a few pounds of pressure low can make a huge difference in handling and load capacity. Just a quick look before loading can prevent a picture like this somewhere along the road.  Use a tire pressure gauge on each tire & spare before using your trailer.  That few minutes can save you a lot of grief and expense later.
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Click on picture
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Learn how to read your trailer tires             Proper tire Care & Safety

Trailer Safety Check List                             Trailer Safety Inspections and Maintenance

01. September 2014 · Comments Off on Cupp Corral Cut-off Trail – August 31, 2014 · Categories: Around The Campfire

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Cupp Corral Cut-off Report    Camping area Latitude: 44.48816  Longitude: -115.71245

21. August 2014 · Comments Off on Middle Fork Payette river trail – TR033 (north end) · Categories: Around The Campfire, Work Parties and Projects

PMF01Nine members of Squaw Butte spent a great weekend at a new camp site for us, off FR 409 east of Cascade, ID on the head waters of the Middle Fork of the Payette river. The forest service map on Trail 033 indicates this is it northern termination and checking it out and doing some trail maintenance seemed like a good idea. The camp site is one of the best we have every used, the trail was a disappointment. After clearing about 3/4 of a mile the trail could not be found, it is likely it was washed out by high water over the years.
PMF02The trail head / camping site was excellent with trailer parking, water for stock and shade for setting up a great group area.
PMF03This sign indicated we were in the right place and we found a defined trail bed and logs that had been cut by prior trail maintenance efforts.
PMF04A survey on Friday night indicated that the trail had some major downfall and the best plan of action was to start the project on foot, and only get the stock on the trail after we had cleared the first 1/2 mile of trail.
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PMF06Unfortunately at the 3/4 of a mile mark the trail could no longer be located. It appears that the original trail bed has been washed away by the river and we could go no further. After a good lunch, the group did a nice afternoon ride.
PMF07While the group didn’t accomplish what they had hoped on trail 033 north, we all had a great time. SEE MORE PICTURES

18. August 2014 · Comments Off on Montana Pack Trip, Bob Marshall Wilderness 2014 · Categories: Around The Campfire, Horse Camping

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Mike McGlenn, past chairman of BCHA (2011-2013), Bill Conger and Phil Ryan spent a week in late July riding in Montana’s horseman’s paradise the Bob Marshall Wilderness.
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One of the Bob’s great trail heads – a model for how all horse trail heads should be setup!
bm4Bill and Phil in camp
bm5View’s like this make the Bob special and popular with horseman all over the west
bm6Mike, Phil and Bill
bm7Phil spending some quality time with his horse as another pack string passes.
bm8One of the many bridges in the Bob Marshall
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Back at the trail head after a great trip. To view more picture, CLICK HERE!

10. August 2014 · Comments Off on Kennally Creek Project · Categories: Around The Campfire, Horse Camping

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Susan Jenkins – McCall Trail ranger on the weekend – I felt terrible that we didn’t have a project! But it was a good weekend, nonetheless. I only learned late last week that someone else had cleared the trail. I didn’t have a backup trail that would have included a place for folks to camp with stock. You are right, though, about the time spent with Laurie, Lou Ann and Phil. We had a great time with them. Phil was gracious enough to provide the trail folks with a short packing lesson Saturday morning. It certainly raised their interest in using stock for trails work. It was all they talked about this morning at the office. (Which makes me extremely happy, given that the trail crew is comprised of a lot of kids that ride motorcycle dirt bikes on our trails.)    See Pictures of the project
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02. August 2014 · Comments Off on Sawtooth Pack Trip – July 2014 · Categories: Around The Campfire, Fun Rides, Horse Camping

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Five members of Squaw Butte spend seven day exploring the Sawtooth wilderness.  Pictures of the trip are available on the website.

Rob’s account of the trip           The Chicks Pack Trip Account

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31. July 2014 · Comments Off on DON’T TOSS OUT THAT BABY WIPE, IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE! · Categories: Around The Campfire, Tips, Tricks and Tid Bits

Link to Laurie Bryan’s blog

I feel it safe to say that most of the really cool discoveries happen quite by accident. One such discovery presented itself during a four day pack trip into the Eagle Caps.

One of the items I like to carry in my saddlebags is a packet of baby wipes. They come in handy for washing up before lunch on the trail or as a bedtime sponge bath when you can’t quite make yourself jump in that cold mountain stream for a much needed bath.

The problem I’ve found with baby wipes is they dry out between trips. You might use a dozen or so out of a pack and the rest dry up like a popcorn fart, wasting product and money. Not anymore…  Read More!

09. July 2014 · Comments Off on BCHA Summer News Letter 2014 · Categories: Around The Campfire, Current Events

bchaSN2014

24. June 2014 · Comments Off on WRC Trail Challenge · Categories: Around The Campfire, Current Events

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24. June 2014 · Comments Off on BCHA presentation to USFS FEB 2014 · Categories: Around The Campfire, Current Events

101
Introduction to the horse.
I am Mike McGlenn Chairman of BCHA and my horse “Jake”, 16-1 Quarter Horse gelding, 1200 pounds, 15 years old. Haney Meadows Washington.
A. Discuss the Horse and Rider relationship.
B. Discuss the Aging demographic of the horse rider. We are not all 18- 25 years old anymore. We are able to ride, we are able to pack in the camps for the trail workers. It is the way we can continue to enjoy the Wilderness.
C. The Horse as companion and team member.
D. Emotional bond of rider and horse.
E. The Horse is not a piece of sports equipment you pickup at the store. The horse can have a bad day just as we can.
F. Mutual trust between horse and rider.
G. Discuss the horse’s vision (what he sees and how he sees it), eyes wide set, nearly 360 degree visibility, eyes work independent of each other, the eyes of a prey animal. How the ears work and relate the horses attitude. Don’t approach if the ears are pinned back. Don’t walk up quietly behind the horse, no surprises. Talk to the horse, make some non threatening noise. The back legs can kick back up to 6 feet so stay close to the horse when going around behind them. Approach is best from a front quarter or side. We are predators, use your own body as an example, eyes close together, ears pinned back, hands carried like claws. All the things that 60 Million years of breeding have trained the horse to avoid.

 

Issues Stock users face
102

Hiker on a log across the Pacific Crest Trail, Glacier Peak Wilderness, Washington State. We have planned for weeks, driven 2-300 miles, loaded up the pack string and 5 miles in we come to this across the trail. This tree completely blocks the trail with no way to go around or over it. This is an inconvenience to the hiker. It is a total trip stopper for the pack string and rider.
103Fire and blow down damage in the Teton Wilderness, Wyoming. The pack string is stopped while two riders dismount to clear the trail. The string gets restless and gets tangled up. There are no good places to tie up any of the stock. A potentially dangerous situation for both stock and riders.

104

Fire and blow down, Wind River Mountains Wyoming. There are miles of this kind of damage. How do you clear this extent of debris off a trail efficiently? Discuss minimum tool analysis.

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Wind River Mountains, Wyoming. Fire damaged trees on a major trail. A trip stopper for a string. No room to turn around. 13 animals in this group. The Cross Cut Saw is on the Pack animal, number 13 of course, at the back of the string.

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Wind River Mountains, Wyoming. Wilderness Society on the right, USFS Wilderness Ranger on the left cutting out the log. During the time it took, the wind came up and blew down a tree behind us. Fortunately no one was injured and the tree fell beside the trail not in it. With great difficulty, we were able to turn the string around and ride out of this pile of pickup sticks.

107

Wind River Mountains, Wyoming. A good example of lack of maintenance. The tree across the trail in the top background closed the trail. So someone made a go around out into the woods. This then lengthened the trail forming a new trail where one should not be. Trees grow about 3” of growth a year in this area. So you lose 6” of trail width a year if not cut back. In 4 years the trail corridor is 2’ narrower than it was.

108
Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, Baker Lake Trail, Washington. A 160 mile round trip drive for a day ride. The trail was reported clear and open for stock. An hour from the trail head and this is across the trail. In this case the trees had come down in the week since checking with the USFS. A gamble we take. This is a 14 mile trail and we were in about 3 miles. No way around these.

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Two people working with saddle saws to clear enough to continue the ride. The trail must be cleared adequately wide enough for a loaded pack horse to clear on both sides. BCH can’t support the work crews if the tail isn’t cleared for pack stock with loads.

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Two people, two saws nearly an hour to clear the trail.

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Goat Rocks Wilderness, Pacific Crest Trail Washington State. The drive down, two rigs, 500 mile round trip for a week of riding. 3 hours up a trail that was reported clear for stock. A trip stopper. We need better information on the trails when we call the agency desk. The front desk folks need to understand the importance of good information and what it costs us if the information is bad. This trail is very narrow, very steep up and down on the sides. We had to dismount on the uphill side as there was nowhere to stand on the normal (left/downhill) side. Slide under the front legs of the horses and then get the saddle saws to cut the root off. No turn around room. Not a problem for a hiker. A dangerous trip stopper for a horse, rider and pack string.

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Same root as the one in the slide above. This is about 6000’ elevation so two more mature folks took turns cutting this out, still took about half an hour.

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Goat Rocks Wilderness, Walupt Lake Trail. A good example of a trip stopper log on this PCT access trail. It had taken 3 Cross Cut saw cuts thru this to get the hole thru the tree.
114
Pacific Crest Trail just north of Snoqualmie Pass in the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. This section of trail, note the hiker mid way up the slope, is called the Kendal Cat Walk. We are often asked to share the trail with other users. This is not an issue with the hikers. But this example clearly shows the potential safety issues when hikers and horses are asked to share with something coming down at 15 or 20 miles per hour when we do 3 or 4 miles per hour. There are some trails that clearly do not lend themselves to sharing for all users.

Some of the financial aspects of owning and operating horses. Sometimes it IS about the money.
115

Jake and the Trailer.
A. Horse, $3000 to $5000 dollars to buy a decent trail horse.
B. Yearly expense of owning one horse if all goes fairly well $4000 to 5000 dollars for feed, shoes (every 8 weeks), Vet bills and general maintenance.
C. Saddle, $500 to $3000 dollars, other tack and gear $500.
D. Trailer, $5000 to $20,000 or more.
E. Travel. We commonly drive up to 125 miles one way for a long day ride. Then get just up the trail and find a trip stopper in the trail. Turn around and go home. 250 miles of driving, an entire days time and money wasted because of either bad information or poor trail maintenance.

116

Goat Rocks Wilderness, Walupt Lake Horse Camp. A nice camp, able to get two rigs in one site. This trip was in planning for a couple of months for 5 days of riding. The agency office was contacted twice and the trails were all given a green light.
A. 2 diesel one ton pickups @ $ 50,000 to 60,000 dollars each.
B. 2 Campers @ $20,000 each.
C. 2 Three Horse Slant load trailers @ $20,000 each.
D. 500 miles round trip for two rigs.
E. Food, expensive weed free hay, 500 miles of diesel for each truck, camp ground fees, time off work for two people.
F. The riding and trip had to be cut 2 days short. The reported open trails were not open. A bridge was out on one of the trails. It had been out for quite some time. We were not informed of this even though I had called the agency twice checking stock trail conditions.

Why do we do it?
117

Mount Baker and Baker Lake, Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington State.
A. The scenery.
B. Serenity.
C. Beauty.
D. Peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of the modern world.
E. To spend quality time with our partner and companion the horse.

The horse is not a piece of sports equipment. It is a 365 days a year, 24/7 life style. You can’t take the horse off the back of the car and lean it on the garage wall when you are done for the day.

The horse and rider spend years creating a bond between two living thinking creatures who quite literally trust their lives to the partnership that has been created between them.

21. June 2014 · Comments Off on BCHA Education Foundation · Categories: Around The Campfire, BCHI /BCHA, Current Events

spa View Education Foundation Web Page
bchafb

Foundation Request for Grant or Award

20. June 2014 · Comments Off on BCHA in the News · Categories: Around The Campfire

stewact BCHA TWS AHC Trails bill RELEASE 6 18 2014

Bonanza Trail by Elaine McPherson

BCHA Chapters in the News

21. May 2014 · Comments Off on Dusty Roads and Dandelions (aka North Fork Wilderness Owyhee BLM Project Survey) · Categories: Around The Campfire, Work Parties and Projects · Tags: , , ,
Heading down a dusty road

Heading down a dusty road

If one does not count getting lost, a flat tire, broken shocks, two tipped over horses, several impalements and a flyaway awning…one might consider the SBBCHI scouting trip into the Owyhee’s a  success.

The objective: Meet with BLM staff at Current Creek to scout area for fence removal project in June. The project will involve the removal 6 miles of barbed-wire in the new wilderness area included in the Owyhee Initiative.

At least we had an objective. An accurate map would have been nice to go along with that objective.  Janine and I met at I.O.N between Homedale and Marsing. Our plan was to haul in via the Jordan Valley route. We figured if anyone was going to get lost, it was best to get lost together.  I had the GPS coordinates to the project site; however, past experience with “Dave” the GPS has left me with emotional scars likely to never heal. We were also unsure if the coordinates were to the camp spot or the actual fence. Our plan was to wing it.

Click here for the full story:Dusty Roads and Dandelions

Project survey

Click here for the full set of pictures on Picasa

21. May 2014 · Comments Off on The Hunting Horseman · Categories: Around The Campfire

THH

Read More!

10. May 2014 · Comments Off on HISTORY OF BCHA – Peg Greiwe · Categories: Around The Campfire

Revised 5/9/2014
1973 Flathead Valley, Montana
1977 Backcountry Horsemen of Washington
1979 Salmon, Idaho + Montana = BCHA
1981 California High Sierra Stock Users
1986 Constitution adopted by: California, Idaho, Montana, Washington
1996 Grown to 13 states (Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, N. Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming)
2004 Grown to 19 states (Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, S. Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia)
2005 20 states (Michigan)
2006 Added Georgia (21 states)
2007 Added Alaska and Florida (23 states)
2008 Added Alabama, Kentucky and Wisconsin (26 states)
2009 Virginia (state) + Iron Mtn VA, Ft Harrod KY, Red River KY, Big South Fork TN, Pigeon River & Beyond  MI; lost S. Carolina 

2010 Added West Virginia (state); Lost Wisconsin (25 states)
2011 Black Hills South Dakota (state) (26)  East Coast Florida BCH (affiliate)
2012 None
2013 None
2014 Arkansas (state), Florida (state), Kansas (State) 27 states

10. May 2014 · Comments Off on Time to refresh your Saw Skills · Categories: Around The Campfire

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Personal Protective Equipment (Required to work in the National Forests)
(Health and Safety Code Handbook chapter 70, section 72)

Items that must be included in the JHA:

(Chain Saw Operations)                              (Crosscut Saw Operations)
• Forest Service-approved hardhat               • Forest Service-approved hardhat
• Eye protection                                             • Eye protection
• Appropriate gloves                                      • Appropriate gloves
• Heavy-duty, cut-resistant Boots                   • Heavy-duty, cut-resistant Boots
• Hearing protection                                       • (Not required)
• Long-sleeved shirt                                       • (Optional)
• Chain saw chaps                                          • (Optional)

Job Hazard Analysis (pdf)

Chain Saw & Crosscut Training Student’s Guidebook (PDF)

Chain Saw use and Maintenance (PDF)

Chain Saw Tasks and Techniques (PDF)

Cross Cut

Crosscut Saw Tasks and Techniques (PDF)

 

 

01. May 2014 · Comments Off on Extreme-Weather Strategies · Categories: Around The Campfire

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It’s a beautiful morning, and you’re eager to get out on the trails. The weather forecast calls for a chance of moderate afternoon winds and a slight chance of rain. But you’re not worried. When you set out, the skies are clear, and you plan to be home by lunchtime. Besides, a little rain never kept you home – and you’ve packed a jacket, just in case. By midmorning, however, the weather suddenly deteriorates. You’re miles from home, and the wind is gusting up to 60 miles per hour. Dark thunderclouds boil up. Heavy rain pounds down. Then the hard rain becomes punishing hail. Your horse tries to swing his rump to the storm. As you try to keep him on track, he stumbles and falls to his knees. Visibility is almost nil. Now, you’re truly scared. What should you do? Dismount and seek shelter, or quickly head for home – if you can find your way? How could you have better prepared for such a storm? Here, we’ll tell you how you can prepare for six types of extreme weather conditions that might hit singly or together – high wind, drenching rain/thunderstorms, lightning, hail, snowstorms/blizzard, and extreme cold. Then we’ll tell you the course of action you should take in each case to help keep you and your horse safe, tell you what not to do, and provide expert tips. We’ll also give you six additional survival tactics and a list of resources for extreme-weather gear.  Read More!

27. April 2014 · Comments Off on Building a Blue Mule & Two Saw Carrier · Categories: Around The Campfire, Current Events

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In the past at pack clinics, we have used live stock or a combination of stock and a packing dummy. At this year’s clinic in May, we are focusing on 4H horse groups and with a group of kids learning to pack, live stock just adds to the confusion and may result in someone getting hurt. We have a very nice pack dummy, Woody the mule, but for this clinic having a couple more would be better. I had a couple of the blue plastic 55 gallon drums and thought they would make good pack dummies.  Read More!

25. April 2014 · Comments Off on Keeping Trails Open for You – Back Country Horsemen of America · Categories: Around The Campfire, Current Events

BCHA ensures you, your children, and future generations can enjoy the wonder, beauty, and joy of unspoiled landscapes and viewscapes. Help us stay on the job!

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Robbin Schindele produced and directed this video!

Why the Campaign?

Because our trails on public lands need you.

Like you, the men and women of Back Country Horsemen of America (BCHA) care about protecting and sustaining a safe and accessible outdoor experience for our families and future generations. But we can’t do it alone. We count on our partners and you to help us preserve access to public lands. In 2012, only 37% of the 158,000 miles of National Forest Service trails received basic maintenance. Only one-quarter of these trails meet standard regulation for public use.

Gaps of investment, oversight, and maintenance point to a future with fewer sustainable trails in our 144 National Forests.

Please take a few minutes to support and share our campaign! Trails may be owned by government entities, but volunteers are needed to keep them open and maintained.

A National Foundation has posted a Challenge Grant of $25,000 when we hit our goal! That means for every $1 you donate .50 cents will be added to your donation when we reach our goal!

The Untrammeled video .
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19. April 2014 · Comments Off on All New BCHA website – Take a few minutes to visit · Categories: Around The Campfire, Current Events

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 BCHA National Board Meeting Live Broadcast

Live Broadcast Logo
For the first time the Back Country Horsemen of America will broadcast live the National Board Meeting along with Announcing the “Keep Trails Open For You” Campaign. Please join in April 23rd to 26th.

CLICK HERE IS GO TO LIVE VIDEO FEED

Live Video Streaming Schedule

Wednesday, April 23 All Times Eastern Standard Time

  • 8:30 am – 10:15 – BCHA NBM Opening; Speaker Joe Meade Director, USFS for Recreation, Heritage and Volunteer Resources
  • 1:00 pm – 2:45 pm – Boardsmanship; Chairman’s Report; Resolutions
  • 3:15 pm – 5:00 pm – Speaker Amos Tuck Program Coordinator, Coosa River Basin Initiative

Thursday, April 24, Public Lands Day All Times Eastern Standard Time

  • 8:00 am – 9:15 am – “Opportunities to Engage Public Lands Stewards – Working Effectively with Youth”
  • 9:30 am – 11:45 am – Solutions: USFS Trail Maintenance Backlog – Panel Discussion
  • 12:45 pm – 1:30 pm – National Park Service: A Trend Toward Limiting Stock Use; Joining via Skype Bob Ratcliffe, NPS Chief, Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Program
  • 1:45 pm – 3:00 pm – Issues from States

Friday, April 25 All Times Eastern Standard Time

  • 8:00 am – 9:45 am – Movie “Untrammeled”; Strategic Plan
  • 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Nominations; Elections of Officers and EC Members; BCHA Foundation Report
  • 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Election Results; Roll Out of Initiatives
  • 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – ONLINE CROWD FUNDING START

Saturday, April 26 All Times Eastern Standard Time

  • 8:00 am – 9:40 am – Committee Reports
  • 10:15 am – 12:00 noon – Committee Actions; Resolution Reports; Executive Committee Actions
  • 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Discussion of 2015 and 2016 NBM’s; Conclusion of NBM

NOTE: Videos will also be available for later viewing

– See more at: http://www.backcountryhorse.com/blog/2014/04/16/bcha-national-board-meeting-live-broadcast/#sthash.Q9IVLWEY.dpuf

Notes from the National Board Meeting:

TO: Jim McGarvey
Subject: Four things

1. Thank you for everything you did to make it a great meeting!

2. I have asked everyone to get me numbers for monies owed by the 5th so will have it all to you by then

3. The embroidery guys contact information is Eric Craig – The Cad Company 404-392-3356 mail@cadcompanies.com He can put new logo on anything!

4. Recipe Requested after BarBQ
Recipe: Blue Cheese Cole Slaw

1 Bag of the Angel Hair Cole Slaw
¾ cup of Hellman’s Real Mayo
4 oz. block of Blue Cheese – crumble it (we used the Kroger Private Selection) Sprinkle salt, white pepper and sugar over the top.
Let sit for a couple hours before serving… may get too soupy if made the night before.

Thanks again!

Cindy Mitchell-McGarvey

16. April 2014 · Comments Off on Last of the Spanish Mustangs · Categories: Around The Campfire

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The Spanish Mustang is a horse breed of historical importance. They descend from horses introduced from Spain during the early conquest of the Americas. They are a type that today is mostly or wholly now extinct in Spain.[1] They are classified within the larger grouping of the Colonial Spanish horse.

Spanish Mustangs today are primarily domesticated horses but are sometimes confused with the feral American Mustang. The latter animals are descended from both Spanish horses and other feral horses escaped from various sources; they run wild in protected Herd Management Areas (HMAs) of the western United States, currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and to a lesser degree, in Canada. DNA studies indicate that Spanish breeding and type does still exist in some feral Mustang herds, including those on the Cerbat HMA (near Kingman, Arizona), Pryor Mountain HMA (Montana), Sulphur HMA (Utah), Kiger HMA and the Riddle Mountain HMA (Oregon). The true Spanish Mustang as a modern breed differs from the “wild” American Mustang in appearance and ancestry.

The Last of the Spanish Mustangs

This is the 1/2 hour show that aired in Phoenix and Tucson. It drew a 4.4/8 rating with no promotion, highest in its time slot in Phoenix. People are interested in wild horses. This show also won the Associated Press award for best enterprise news.

Wild Mustangs PBS Documentary Untamed Legacy

16. April 2014 · Comments Off on Agenda for the Public Lands Workshop agenda for Thursday, April 24th, in Chattanooga TN. · Categories: Around The Campfire

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