On To Wyoming
After a week in the Black Hills, we hauled to the Bighorn National Forest west of Buffalo, Wyoming. Our horses had no problem adjusting to the high altitude (7,000 to 10,600 feet).
Our day rides consisted of long loops through the mountains. We rode south about a half-mile on Forest Rd. #24 from Battle Park Trailhead to the first all-terrain-vehicle trailhead going east toward Misty Moon Lake. Near Misty Moon Lake, we connected with the Solitude Lake Trail to loop back to Battle Park Trailhead (a nine-hour loop). We saw glacial lakes, stunning waterfalls, and patches of snow on the mountaintops. Wildlife included elk, deer, moose, and an owl.
Our longest day started at 6:20 a.m. from Hunter Trailhead. We headed up the trail to Florence Pass at 11:00 a.m. Our easy trail became dangerous, with 10-inch talus (broken rock) and big boulders. Time constraints made us backtrack towards camp. We took an hour-long side trip up Trail #24 to view Seven Brothers (a chain of seven glacial lakes) and returned to camp at 4:45 p.m., just ahead of the outfitter strings.
Sage Advice
This is magnificent country, but plan ahead. Call ranger districts and camps for more information. Know your and your horse's abilities and needs. Higgins wore front shoes only. Charlie wore four shoes, but nearly wore out his front ones. Next time, I'll take a spare pair of front shoes with borium for each animal. Carry emergency supplies, and get contact information in advance for area veterinarians and farriers.
On the way back to Wisconsin, I turned 50 years old. On my mind were more riding adventures. Seize the opportunity to live life to the fullest!
For more information on Broken Arrow Campground, call (605) 673-4471, or visit www.brokenarrowcampground.com. For more on the Black Hills National Forest, call (605) 673-9200, or visit www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills. For more on the Bighorn Mountains, call (307) 674-2600, or visit www.fs.fed.us/r2/bighorn.
