Volume 29, Issue 1 www.bcha.org Winter 2018 Looking Back By Rick Adair of Shoshone Back Country Horsemen, Wyoming Top: “Looking Back” If Not Your BCHA, Then Who? is Bob Yeats, SBCH With the beckoning calls going they do not have an adequate budget in member as he summited out to help maintain our public lands, place to hire a commercial trail clean- Crow Creek Pass. The prominent peak in the the question arises, if we are not able ing team. The SNF is recognized as the background is Bill Cody to respond, will those calls go unheed- first national forest in the US and still Peak, halfway point in ed. Like the proverbial tree falling in primarily a horse and foot travel forest. the trail cleaning venture. the forest and no one is there to hear it, With this season almost over, our Inset photo is a BCHA method of taking a selfie. does it still make a noise when it falls? SBCH chapter has already cleaned Thoughts were: some- Will there be anybody there to answer over 114 miles of trail during 2017. thing old, something new, the call for help? Our BCHA is at the This is a contribution of 1,526 hours, me, just passing through, forefront of assisting in keeping the 19,046 miles on vehicles and 255 stock leaving no trace. trails open and the trailhead facilities days. In “looking back” at one of our operational. recent trail clearings that the SNF had ist/hunting lodge on the confluence of vation of 6,500 feet, following along A similar request is made yearly to asked SBCH to clean this year, the trail the Middle Fork and North Fork of the Crow Creek, climbing to the summit the Shoshone Back Country Horsemen came with an enduring history. Native Shoshone River approximately five of Crow Creek Pass at 10,500 feet. The (SBCH) here in North West Wyoming. American Indians traveled the corridor miles from the east entrance of Yellow- vista to the west is a sizeable portion of Our chapter has a long-standing agree- to their hunting grounds long before stone National Park. Yellowstone National Park with views ment to assist the Shoshone Nation- our history ever started. Renowned Crow Creek is located a mile and on a clear day extending to the Grand al Forest (SNF) management team in scout, bison hunter, and entertainer one half north of Bill Cody’s lodge at Teton mountain range. To the east is the cleaning trails that are in bad shape or Buffalo Bill Cody established his tour- Pahaska Teepee. Crow Creek Trail is Absaroka Mountains with prominent within the North Absaroka Wilderness peaks appropriately named like Silver area and is a hand tool only maintained Tip and Bill Cody. There are a number trail. The trail is approximately 11 of states smaller than the area that can NON-PROFIT ORG. Back Country Horsemen of America U.S. POSTAGE miles in length. It starts on the North be viewed from the majestic perch go- 59 Rainbow Road Fork of the Shoshone River at an ele- ing over Crow Creek Pass. East Granby, CT 06026 PAID [continued inside on page 2] PERMIT NO. 178 SALEM, OR Inside... From the Chairman’s Saddle ......................................................................... 3 National Reports .........................................................................................4-5 Catch Pen ...................................................................................................6-7 Youth ............................................................................................................. 7 Chapter Articles ........................................................................................ 8-11 Bitterroot Clan Honored ............................................................................... 12 Welcome Iowa! ............................................................................................ 12 Back Country Horsemen of America www.bcha.org 1 If Not Your BCHA, Then Who? By Rick Adair [continued from front page] 59 Rainbow Road In accepting this task, we knew still several miles from the pass into East Granby, CT 06026 Crow Creek Trail had not been cleared Yellowstone National Park. With other (888) 893-5161 of down timber for three consecu- trails on the schedule to be cleaned, our tive years. This was due in part to dedicated chapter came through once Interested in Joining? two wild fires in the previous decades again. Crews were divided and a call Contact BCHA or the organization nearest you for more information. along with significant bark beetle in- went out for all-hands-on-deck. Once festation that fell a sizeable portion of National: BCH of Minnesota again on August 10 and 11, we set out BCH of America 30490 335th Street Way mature pine and fir trees. Brewing the on our mission. With five pack animals The crew finally made it to the top. Bill Cody Erica Fearn Lake City, MN 55041 “perfect storm” scenario, the winter of in tow, five volunteers made it back into Peak is in the back ground. We had already 59 Rainbow Road [email protected] 2016-2017 brought one of the heaviest the meadow to throw down camp and cleaned this portion of trail on previous trips East Granby, CT 06026 651-345-9909 trying to get to the top. (888) 893-5161 www.bchmn.org snow packs in modern history. Conse- get on with the job of cleaning the trail. FAX (360) 832-1564 quently, the spring runoff freeing the The last several hard fought miles did BCH of Mississippi [email protected] 600 Old Hwy 51 N. high country of snow melt had the local not come easy. Now at over 9000 feet www.bcha.org Box 641 rivers and creeks running at near bank elevation, running a hand saw was very State Organizations: Nesbit, MS 38651 levels, thus delaying an early start. exhausting, so was walking from one BCH of Alabama (901) 485-2982 On June 20 and 21, SBCH mem- downed tree to another. Several times, 1404 Arkadelphia Road [email protected] Warrior, AL 35180 www.bchms.org bers set out on the mission of clearing the final switch backs left us thinking (205) 936-9043 Crow Creek Trail at least to where snow we were closer than we actually were. Show-Me Missouri BCH [email protected] 519 Good Hope Road drifting would prevent further access of Then like a light at the end of the tun- backcountryhorsemenal.com Marshfield, MO 65706 the high country. This was still weeks nel, we crested into one of the most re- BCH of Alaska (417) 425-9969 before forecasted peak of high water in warding sights and efforts that we ever PO Box 3148 www.showmebch.org creek crossings was to occur. After the put forward. The view at the top of this The weathered, downed sign indicated that Palmer AK 99645 BCH of Montana we had finally reached our goal, Crow Creek (907) 360-0480 first day, we saw that the previous goal wilderness paradise made us all quickly 2130 9th Street W. #109 Pass, entering into Yellowstone Park. The [email protected] was as lofty as the distant mountain forget our sore muscles and calloused Columbia Falls, MT 59912 journey was over. Arkansas Back Country [email protected] pass itself. It was a three-mile day that hands. The only disappointment on the Horsemen www.bchmt.org had most of us licking our wounds. On trip, we had only a few moments to en- 3566 Highway 397 S. BCH of Nevada the way back out to the trail head that joy the view before we had to depart to Harrison, AR 72601 PO Box 19324 evening, two adult grizzlies bears were make it back to camp by dark. Before (719) 337-4474 Reno NV 89511 Jacque.alexander roaming right above the trail. Ironical- this day was over, we would ride over (775) 843-2569 @arkansas.gov ly, the grizzlies were tame compared 16 miles, plus clean the final segment [email protected] BCH of Arizona www.bchnv.com to crossing the swollen creek from a of trail before getting back to our camp PO Box 4486 warm day’s hefty snow melt. White and awaiting pack stock. BCH of New Mexico Chino Valley AZ 86323 PO Box 37005 water rapids up to the belly of our stock In pulling camp and riding down (928) 445-3809 Albuquerque NM 87176 made for an interesting conclusion of the totally cleared trail on the 11th, www.bchaz.org [email protected] day one. there was plenty of time to reflect on www.bchnm.org BCH of California Day two on the 21st was less gain our achievement. Was it worth it? The stock is getting itchy feet, knowing that 13061 Rosedale Highway BCH of North Carolina the trailhead is getting close as we finalize Ste G Box 217 than day one. Not only did we not Without any doubt, yes it was. The 102 Arrowhead Lane this episode of cleaning trails in the SNF. Bakersfield CA 93314 make the snow line, we had not cleared next person to ride this trail will hope- Whittier, NC 28789 Only those that see the trail between a set of www.bchcalifornia.org (828) 577-3462 to the half way mark on the trail. In un- fully appreciate some unknown strang- mule ears can understand the significance of BCH of Colorado [email protected] spoken thoughts going back down the er’s efforts to keep this wonderful trail this pic. This pic is dedicated to all the mule 34872 Highway 184 www.bchofnc.org trail after a full day’s work, we all knew open. In conclusion, here are some of riders out there. Mancos, CO 81328 the crossing this time would be danger- the numbers for this one formidable ef- www.bchcolorado.org BCH of North Dakota 2550 Windsor Pl N ous. Sure enough, the water was up to fort. The SBCH had 17 members con- BCH of Florida Mandan, ND 58554 the flanks on our stock causing them to tribute a total of 35 men/women work PO Box 815 Brooksville FL 34605 BCH of Oregon get pushed down stream all the while days on Crow Creek Trail, in all total- (352) 796-9272 PO Box 362 struggling to maintain footing in the ing 309.5 man hours.