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Volume 25, Issue 4 www.backcountryhorse.com Fall 2014 The Great Challenging Trail Submitted by Rick Mathies, BCH of the Flathead, Montana “I led my first pack string ever... me at 12 years old!!! Overall the trip was worth it, because I will NEVER forget it.” Left: Kobi and Rick Mathies. Right: Challenge Cabin. PREFACE NextGen BCHA Before you read the following articles I would like you, the reader, to know a few things. My name is Kobi Mathies and I am 12 years old. I am from Kansas, and had never ridden a horse until June 23rd. My first true Back Country Horseman trip was with my Grandfather on (Youth) July 11th, 2014. Next Generation (NextGen) BCHA highlights our members’ efforts The Great Challenging Trail to engage and educate younger Boy, Mule Ridge Trail was an ex- log pathways. Again, okay for people about the joys and natural treme challenge. We all woke up to a foot traffic, NOT safe for stock wonders of the back country. BCH- delicious breakfast, and a nice morn- use. The stock can’t navigate the ers are also raising awareness ing. The way up was fine, and the roundness of the logs. There are about the challenges of maintain- preparation was easy. When we finally some boggy areas in there that ing access to back country trails reached the trailhead, it looked easy, badly need proper turnpikes. and responsible stewardship of the but as soon as I turned the corner, it was The part of the trail up in the land. The legacy today’s BCHers a nightmare. The horses had to lunge burnt section didn’t have much leave to those who follow in their forward attempting to climb the slope tread. They need work done so boot steps and hoof prints is be- as the trail was covered by debris. The there is ample tread for stock use. At Overall the trip was worth it, be- ing forged through amazing and string had a small wreck, but no one about this time on our journey I led my cause I will NEVER forget it. The creative projects and programs was hurt. That’s when the clearing be- first pack string ever...me at 12 years Challenge Cabin was amazing to stay around the country. There are some gan. We most likely cut enough wood old!!! After that, there is a pass into in, and I highly recommend it to all. I mighty big boots to fill out there. It for a family for an entire winter, pos- trees, with a small creek. After about had fun, with a few good spooks, and may take the NextGen a while to sibly more. We then came to the first a half mile we ran into an area on this I was glad to get back to the cabin and get comfortable in them, but with creek of many. Foot traffic would be trail that had very little tread, this area take a nice hot shower. your help, they will. fine crossing them, but stock traffic, needs work and we marked it with our not so much. They seriously need stock GPS so that the Forest Service would [Read Kobi’s second article friendly bridges. Next we came across be able to fix it. on page 2] BCHA PO Box 1367 NON-PROFIT ORG. Inside... U.S. POSTAGE Graham WA 98338-1367 NextGen BCHA ....................................................................................... 2, 16 PAID From the Chairman’s Saddle ......................................................................... 3 PERMIT NO. 178 SALEM, OR National Reports .........................................................................................4-5 40th Anniversary ............................................................................................ 8 The Catch Pen .........................................................................................8-12 BCHA Outreach Campaign ......................................................................... 14 Back Country Horsemen of America www.backcountryhorse.com 1 The Easy Breeze Geifer Creek Trail was an easy nately, we had to call it an early day so breeze. Unlike Mule Ridge Trail, Geifer we could clean up the Challenge Cabin Creek was simple. The trail was great, for the next folks coming in tomorrow. and had plenty of tread, and it was a lot Overall, the trail was amazing, and PO Box 1367 safer. Cutting wood in there was easier I won’t forget it. We also cut a few trees Graham WA 98338-1367 too, because the sun was not beating on on Snake Creek Loop, but couldn’t go (888) 893-5161 us constantly. The ride was very relax- all the way because of time. Geifer Trail ing as well, while we could hear a faint was a regular straightforward trail, and Interested in Joining? sound of a pounding waterfall. We had we looked at Zip’s Cabin as well. We Contact BCHA or the organization nearest a bit of excitement on the way to the couldn’t go inside, and there was no you for more information. trail, because a man lost a tire on his place for stock, but it looked like a nice National: BCH of Montana trailer. place to stay in. Again, I was glad to BCH of America PO Box 4864 We cut trees on this trail with my get back to the cabin and take a nice Peg Greiwe Butte MT 59701 Great Great Grandfather’s crosscut hot shower. Executive Secretary markhimmel@bridgemail. saw and our other primitive tools. On Editor’s note: Kobi’s proud grand- Kobi Mathies PO Box 1367 com Graham WA 98338-1367 www.bchmt.org the second creek crossing, we had to father is Rick Mathies. These two ar- (888) 893-5161 re-route the trail because the old trail ticles were written after grandson Kobi Trippet on a trail-clearing project in the FAX (360) 832-1564 BCH of Nevada was in an unstable condition. Unfortu- accompanied his grandfather and Ron Great Bear Wilderness in Montana. [email protected] PO Box 19324 www.backcountryhorse.com Reno NV 89511 (775) 843-2569 State Organizations: [email protected] Flathead Chapter Youth Program – Kalispell, MT BCH of Alabama www.bchnv.com By Rick A. Mathies, Treasurer 783 County Rd 1208 Vinemont AL 35179 BCH of New Mexico Attracting and maintaining younger lot of their attention. We are starting to work on ways to (256) 339-7880 PO Box 37005 members has long been a conversation If we want BCH to continue into expose new youth or young adults to [email protected] Albuquerque NM 87176 piece for our chapter. If you looked at the next and future generations we the backcountry. We strongly believe backcountryhorsemenal.com [email protected] www.bchnm.org the general membership of the Flathead must get these age groups involved at that if they can experience what got Buffalo River BCH, Chapter five years ago, it was a group every level. This year several of the most of us hooked in the first place, we Arkansas BCH of North Carolina of aging members with probably an av- board members made it their mission will attract more who want to protect it 110 Hobbit Lane 18210 Simpson Lane erage age of 55. With this kind of mem- to get younger members involved, ask- and keep the trails open. We encourage Little Rock AR 72223 Pisgah Forest NC 28768 (501) 821-4053 (828) 577-3462 bership average many of our members ing them to go on projects with them, our members to bring their kids or their Jacque.alexander tomthomas262@gmail. just couldn’t pull a string, get up on the taking them by the hand and teaching grandkids on some of the projects, es- @arkansas.gov com saddle or were experiencing what we all them the skills of packing, and helping pecially the trailhead ones so that they www.bchofnc.org BCH of Arizona will as we get older, life’s challenges as them on their first packing trips to build start to get the idea of what BCH does. PO Box 4486 BCH of Oregon our bodies wear out. Many of the older confidence. With this foundation we can build more Chino Valley AZ 86323 37245 Wheeler Rd members have been very reluctant to The chapter also planned a lot of awareness and more understanding of Pleasant Hill OR 97455 (928) 445-3809 address the coming crisis. fun activities, beginning in Febru- the backcountry. www.bchaz.org (541) 746-4547 www.bcho.org Many of our members just wanted ary with a bonfire to kick off the New As I look around at the ages of the BCH of California to hang on to the “way it has always Year. Many of our newest and younger members who are now active in our Black Hills BCH 13061 Rosedale Highway been” and only support those members members attended. Then we had the chapter I find that our average age has Ste G Box 217 of South Dakota Bakersfield CA 93314 20112 Buckin Horse Lane who could support a large string of Meadow Creek trail clearing/campout/ started to shift, we are having some suc- www.bchcalifornia.org Whitewood SD 57793 stock. These members were given pref- clean up annual project. As the time cess in maintaining our new members. (605) 645-2296 erential treatment and in some cases neared, many of the board approached We must continue to try new things BCH of Colorado [email protected] PO Box 1524 www.bhbchsd fuel reimbursements in lieu of members our younger members to attend. We and to involve and make welcome any Elizabeth CO 80107 @blogspot.com with a single packhorse. Over the years had a great turn out. Nearly all of our younger members that come to our www.bchcolorado.org BCH of Tennessee, Inc. with this attitude many of the potential new younger members attended and chapter with the goal of handing off the Florida Forever BCH 777 Cedar Creek Cave Rd younger members simply left because brought their kids and grandkids.