A Slight Change of Plans
I usually travel alone. I've found that I get along with myself better than anyone else, except Buddy! I'd planned to make his trip alone. The only exception was that my wife and granddaughter were flying out near the end of my stay so that we could take Meagan, our 10-year-old granddaughter, to see Yellowstone National Park. They'd then make the trip home with Buddy and me in the truck.
My mother is 78 years young. The Sunday before I was to leave, my wife, Nancy, mentioned that I was staying in large place and suggested that my mother ride out with me. At first, my mother protested, saying she was too old for such a trip, even though she's healthy and extremely active. I finally talked her into it.
As I look back on the trip, having my mother along for the ride was one of the highlights. Mom and I had 1,460 miles to talk and visit. She had a great time, and I know she treasures the memories of her adventure.
Endless Riding
I think a vacation with your horse is a lot like a recipe. There are many ingredients that come together to make it delicious. A pinch of this or a pinch of that can be left out or changed and there's no noticeable difference. However, there are certain ingredients that if omitted the whole flavor falls flat. I rate safety as the number-one ingredient!
Other important ingredients are the places you choose for layovers, the people you meet along the way or at your destination, and the riding territory. After all, riding is the purpose of the trip. I had only one layover, in Lexington, Nebraska.
The people, well, I think of ranch managers Tom and Ruth. I also think of Johnny Lyle. Johnny is the ranch wrangler. He's retired after more than 30 years with the U.S. Forest Service. One of his jobs with the forest service required packing into this region and estimating wildlife populations. What a resource about the places to ride in the valley!
I like to day ride from my cabin, always ending my rides back "home" for the night. I'm willing to trailer some, but I don't want to have to trailer long distances or every time I ride. There is absolutely endless riding straight out from the ranch. I never once trailered Buddy to a trailhead.
One of my favorite rides started along Sheridan Creek. I discovered this trail quite by accident one day. I was riding along a forest road and noticed a place that had been used for camping. Through the campsite were trails. I started on one and within minutes I was hundreds of feet above Sheridan Creek. I hadn't ridden far when a ruckus developed below me, and out of a willow break charged a cow elk!
It was late in the evening when I found this trail, so I couldn't complete it, but was certain to be back. When back in camp, I was telling Johnny about the trail I'd discovered. He told me that if I'd continued, I'd find the headwaters of the creek and would cross the Continental Divide. Now, how cool is that?
Another ride that I enjoyed was to the top of Elk Ridge. Elk Ridge is across the valley from the ranch and, once on the top, you have a beautiful panorama of the valley. One caution, getting to the top of Elk Ridge requires a fit, surefooted mount. I have to admit that there were a couple of places that I chose to focus on Buddy's ears.
There are three trailheads within five miles of the ranch. One is the Pinnacles Trail, and the other two will take you to mountain lakes. I wasn't able to ride these trails, but maybe next year.
As to wildlife, twice I saw elk. The one I saw along Sheridan Creek and several in a mountain meadow that I rode through. I also found grizzly bear tracks. Wolves have been reintroduced in Elk Ridge. Locals told me they haven't seen or heard the wolves, but they know they're there.
Sharing Stories
Traveling with your horse to faraway places is an awesome experience, if you love riding like I do. One reason I'm writing another story is because of the countless e-mails I received regarding my previous story on Montana. Some were complimentary. One was about how I'd broken Montana's fishing regulations when I told about my experience catching rainbow trout. FYI, I didn't fish in Wyoming, and, as far as I know, there aren't any outstanding warrants on me in Montana. That's not why I chose to go to Wyoming instead!
However, most correspondence was from those asking questions about how to take such a trip. This told me that there are a lot of fellow riders with the same dream. They just need a little push to go and do it.
In Wyoming, a couple from Missouri was also doing some mountain riding. One day, while Buddy and I were out on the trail, they asked my mother if I might be the guy that had written a story about riding in Montana. When mom acknowledged that I was that guy, they said we just knew it when they heard him call his horse "Buddy."
Now I know that Kent Krone also rides a buckskin named Buddy. So this puts me and my Buddy in real good company.
