Backcountry Musings

Several ideas drifted through my mind for a Christmas letter this year, but nothing stood out as all that compelling. I considered outlining various events and achievements that have occurred throughout the year, interjected with humor and self-proclaimed wit. I thought about bragging on my kids and grandkids with sufficient sugary sweetness to leave the reader with tooth decay. A few themed ideas popped into my head from time to time, but nothing powerful enough to wrench free the confining grip of writers block; until today.

The department in which I work is putting on a “winter season holiday” party – God forbid they call it what it is – a CHRISTmas party – which, by the way, was one of the themes I considered, “A politically correct celebration of all things non-spiritual and otherwise meaningless.” I will digress a bit here and say that on my DOC provided work schedule, one of the designated paid holidays actually say’s Christmas. Personally, I feel all those who are offended by calling a duck a duck – should have to work on Christmas and be paid straight time like any other ordinary day. I also think they should have to dress up as Ebenezer Scrooge.

As part of the celebration activities, our department manager asked that we each send her an email describing our favorite winter season activity.  I thought about this request (more likely over-thought,  as I am inclined) and sent her mine as follows:

I suppose my unique Christmas tradition has changed since the kids have grown and moved away from home. On those far too many Christmas’s that I am unable to spend with the kids – I load up my dog, Shade, my horse, Jack,  and my mule Annie, and make winter camp at a favorite spot in the Owyhee’s. I ride on Christmas Eve and if I’m lucky – it snows those big fluffy snowflakes that muffle the sounds of the desert. Christmas morning the critters are presented with stockings filled with apple/oat horse treats and an extra-large dog biscuit for Shade. I saddle Jack and head for a high spot where I can usually get cell reception and call the kids. Depending on the weather, I may or may not head home later Christmas evening, all the while secretly hoping I get snowed in until New Years.

After sending this write up to my boss – I wondered what she would think of it. Would it seem sad to her? I hoped not. Sure, I would rather spend Christmas surrounded by family, who wouldn’t? Unfortunately, we cannot always have things via Norman Rockwell. The most we can do is make the best of any situation and hope we live to tell of the adventures.

The small assignment seemed to be the leverage I needed to pry loose the strangling hold of writers block. I decided instead of the typical Christmas letter, I would write a story. A story I could share with my grandkids for many years to come. This story is based in truth. Its inspiration derived from a very special Christmas spent in the desert not so long ago.

Read the story

A droplet of thin mucous hovers at the tip my nose. I swab it with the cuff of my sleeve—thirty seconds of respite from annoying dampness. Another droplet forms. I flex stiff fingers inside bulky leather gloves, willing the blood to circulate. Flexing does little to waken sluggish veins. I bang my free hand against my thigh till a small tingle teases the knuckles. I move the reins over to that hand and repeat the process with the newly freed hand. It’s hopeless. I jam the free hand under my opposite armpit and clamp my wings shut to stymie the wind.

The horse plods, his feet dragging, providing a measure of support to offset the high-heeled teeter of snow-packed hooves. Our pace is slow, unusual for this fireball of horsehair and arrogance. Looking over his shaggy shoulder, I see frosted whiskers and eyelids. With an occasional horse sneeze, he clears the sticky hairs inside his nostrils.

Read More!

By Marybeth Conger, President

It seems the unknown naked man really enjoys that trail.  A small group went back to “investigate further” and sure enough he was still out there. Now the question that comes to mind, what should that trail sign say? Now that I have your attention, let’s think about 2010.

This year was another successful year for the SBBCH chapter thanks to all of you. Our membership continues to be strong and we grew the number of family memberships. Our calendar was full of Rides, Trail projects, Broom Polo events, Back Country Skills Clinic, Packers Play Day, Trail Safety Sessions, Sawyer class, First Aide/CPR, overnight Horse camping adventures to name just a few. There is something on our Activities list to appeal to most everyone.

Even in this economy, our finances grew thanks to the annual Yard Sale, your continuing membership fees, Donations from our website advertisers, and the % the chapter gets from the BCHI Calendar sales. We even spent some of this money in 2010. The two Radios purchased will help keep us safe on upcoming Trail projects and chapter events. We can use that rather large Saw to clear trails in Wilderness areas.

There was a tremendous amount of public meeting attendance by SBBCH members traveling at times all over the state to promote the goals and objectives of our organization. The chapter was well represented at the Sportsman’s Show and Horse Expo too. So how ever you contributed to SBBCH chapter be it trails projects, rides, education, public outreach, meeting attendance please take a moment to log your hours on our website.

 I had a tremendous amount of fun sharing the trail with you in 2010 and hope to do it again in 2011, once the snow melts a bit.