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If
you ride the backcountry and wilderness trails of California, you’ve
probably run into pack mule trains, looking like they just stepped out
of a painting of the 19th century Old West. Most likely,
these mule trains belonged to members of the Backcountry Horsemen of
California, and they were carrying trail maintenance tools and supplies.
This statewide organization has more than 4,000 members in 27 individual
units. Riders of all ages and all skill levels, with or without pack
stock, are invited and welcomed to join any of the regional units.
They talk in their own language of panniers and rock bars and grip
hoists and Dutch ovens as they ready their riding and pack stock to head
deep into the wilderness. They repair high mountain trails, they build
new ones, and often times they load up horses and mules just for the fun
of it, the fun of loving the demands and intrigue of packing for a week
at a time near a remote mountain meadow.
It’s a rugged side of the sport of horses that demands every bit the
precision and detail and excellence of approach as one would expect in
the dressage arena. Pull a strap too tight, miscalculate a distance,
forget to pack a tool, midjudge a horse’s attitude, and the planned
backcountry excursion turns sour and potentially life-threatening.
This is the world of packing with stock.
In 1981, the
organization coalesced around the threatened closure of backcountry
trails which had been open, always, to hikers and equestrians. Forming
with the idea of working with public land managers to take care of
trails and wilderness areas, the organization quickly morphed into a
full service group with 10 main goals in three major categories:
1,
Take care of the backcountry trails and open spaces; 2, Advocate
maintaining access to backcountry; and 3, Educate the public about
Gentle Use.
A
“typical” BCHC weekend involves at least as many pack animals as riding
animals. With their stock loaded with McLeods, axes, shovels, loppers,
and an occasional grip hoist, and their basic supplies of food and
camping equipment, BCHC members move out of camp after an early morning
cup of freshly-brewed Cowboy Coffee. They are bound for somewhere along
the trail where Mother Nature, whether in the form of cloud bursts or
fires, has made the trail dangerous or impassable. Generally, power
tools are forbidden.
“Those of us who subscribe to the wilderness philosophy believe that we
should keep things as they used to be,” explained BCHC member Bill
Carter, one of the coordinators for last summer’s repair and maintenance
work in the Inyo Forest. “No motorized vehicles, no power equipment,
only primitive tools. For most maintenance, this works well, and it
allows us to maintain this important part of our heritage.”
In
the summer of 2007, units around the state assisted the US Forest
Service, the National Park Service, the BLM, and the Pacific Crest Trail
Association with repairs in remote areas. The work they accomplished
keeps trails open and usable for all backcountry users. And they do it
all at very little cost to the government.
Besides volunteer work, BCHC members plan and coordinate educational
activities to raise awareness of the fragile environment of the
wilderness. The Redshank Riders Unit in the Anza area held a full day
of clinics and demonstrations about everything from snakes you may
encounter to Dutch oven cooking to emergency vet care on the trail. The
Mother Lode Unit staffed the Gentle Use Camp at the Western States Horse
Expo in June with help from Sutter Buttes Unit. Several Southern
California units staffed the booth at the Los Angeles County Fair
throughout most of September.
Equally important to service and education, advocacy forms the third
BCHC leg. The organization works with local, regional, state, and
federal agencies and organizations to keep the backcountry and front
country trails and forage areas open to horsemen on all public lands.
They keep current information before the membership and its local units
regarding new legislation or management plans related to government
regulations of the backcountry. They also review new proposals, plans,
and restrictions as related to the interest of horsemen and those
persons interested in recreational stock use in the backcountry.
Not
every BCHC member packs, however. Many simply camp and trail ride and
go to work on the trails when they can reach them in truck or on foot.
“Most of us who don’t pack still support the work the BCHC does to keep
the wilderness trails open,” said member Tracey Stahler-Roche of
Redlands. “We help when we can, and otherwise just have a good time
with the group.”
The
BCHC’s individual units frequently have access to areas their members
otherwise couldn’t get to. For a minimal $40 annual membership fee,
riders can join a local unit, contribute to the care of the recreational
trails, help educate the public about Gentle Use and Leave No Trace, and
otherwise ride deep into the backcountry and wilderness to escape the
chaos of civilization.
A
complete listing of BCHC units and contact information is posted on the
Web site,
www.bchcalifornia.net.
BCHC welcomes all equestrians, with or without pack stock.
Rendezvous brings the wilderness to the public in Turlock, March 21 –
23.
Since 1988, the Backcountry Horsemen of California’s Rendezvous has
evolved into California’s biggest equestrian event focusing on trails
and the backcountry. This year’s statewide event will be held at the
Stanislaus County Fairgrounds in Turlock, California on March 21, 22 and
23.
For
pack veterans or newbees and anyone curious about trail riding,
Rendezvous offers an array of activities for three full days, all in the
interest of bringing horse lovers and the wilderness together.
Two
centuries ago, mountain men gathered twice each year at a rendezvous to
swap lies and buy supplies for their treks to the backcountry. Today,
the BCHC members and horse enthusiasts all over the state meet for three
days to do almost the same things.
At
Rendezvous, you can check out the scores of horse equipment vendors,
sample fine Dutch oven cooking, learn from the top experts about Leave
No Trace and packing dos and don’ts, enjoy demonstrations and
exhibitions, and totally immerse yourself in the world of backcountry
and front country trail riding.
Even if you usually
limit your riding to the front country – established trails in regional
and state parks – you will learn something useful at Rendezvous. Joe
Peacock will present workshops on natural barefoot hoof trimming, Jim
Bell will teach about map reading for the
backcountry, Garry Stauber will do a program on long riding, and Martha
McNeil will teach about minis for kids. Jo Johnson, Carol Jo
Hargreaves, and Peter Lewis will present workshops on de-sensitizing and
preparing the pack animal. More workshops and clinics are being
planned.
Besides the clinics, Rendezvous participants can attend classes on
Gentle Use, participate in contests for awards, and enjoy catered
banquets in the evening.
They also can shop for all their horse-related needs, from top-quality
hats to endurance equipment to trail guide books. This year’s
Rendezvous features a new enlarged show of art works about the West.
And
on Sunday morning, participants can attend a special Cowboy Church for
Easter morning.
Whether towing a string of pack stock, or riding alone on a sweet
single-track trail, riding the backcountry and front country beckons.
Come to Rendezvous ~ You’ll get hooked.
For
information and reservations, contact JB @ (209) 537-1516 or Chip @
(951) 769-3781. And check out the Web site,
www.bchcalifornia.net. |
