Awesome Riding
The riding at Argenta was awesome. You'd never need to use your trailer to go to trailheads, but you'll probably want to, and I did. There's such a variety of riding terrain. You can ride the old Bannack stage road (which is right behind the cabins), you can ride in timber, or you can ride to the top of Long John Mountain. I never trailered farther than nine miles, and the only reason I did that was to allow more time to ride deeper into that area.
My favorite ride was through a canyon that contained four lakes. The second of the four is known to be excellent fishing for rainbow trout. This lake is a two-hour ride from where I parked the trailer and an increase in elevation from 6,000 feet to about 8,500 feet. It's a drop-dead gorgeous lake with views of snow-capped peaks in any direction.
I caught 27 rainbows in less than three hours. Then the challenge was how to get the fish back to my cabin for dinner without them spoiling. The solution: Put the fish in my insulated saddlebags, and pack them in snow! Yes, it was late June, but there were still ample-sized snowdrifts in the shady areas below the dam.
Lessons Learned
I learned a lot from my first Western trip with a horse. Maybe I wasn't looking for help in the right places, but frankly, I had to figure most things out on my own. Following are some of the things that I learned. If you have a similar dream, maybe these things will help you ride your dream and avoid a nightmare:
- Your horse must be fit! If you're coming from low elevations, you can't prepare for that ahead of time, but you can avoid a double whammy by taking a fit horse.
- Choose your location with care. You probably don't want to trailer to every ride. This was my biggest mistake!
- Be willing to guide yourself. The country can be intimidating, but you can do it.
- Wear a gun in case of a bear confrontation. This was hard for me. I never saw a bear, but did see signs. If you're not comfortable carrying a gun, you can purchase pepper spray. I also put a bell on my saddle.
- Get a global positioning system, and learn to use it. I used a Garmin Etrex, and it was great.
- Carry extra batteries!
- Plan the things you'd like to do on days that you rest your horse.
- Realize that it's a big country and that you cannot ride it all.
- Be prepared for all types of weather.
- Don't leave your common sense at home.
- Be sure someone knows the area where you plan to ride. I always left a note on the kitchen cabinet.
- Know the health requirements for each state you plan to visit.
- Requirements vary; ask your veterinarian for suggested vaccinations. Montana also requires an import number that can be obtained by your vet.
- Make horse motel reservations in advance.
Riding the Dream
In conclusion, I rode my dream. It had a rocky beginning, but the finish was awesome! I wrote this story to, I hope, help others realize their dreams. As I said before, I couldn't find many helpful sources. I'd be happy to answer additional questions. My e-mail address is tiggertivio2001@yahoo.com. I encourage you to contact me!
For more information on Torrey Mountain Log Cabin Rentals, call (406) 683-4706, or visit http://goldwest.visitmt.com/listings/12544.htm. For more information on Mill Creek Lodging, call (406) 560-7666 or (406) 560-7676, or visit www.millcreeklodging.com
