May 22, the trailer was loaded with horses and a mule in the pouring rain and the adventure began. Mary-Ann, Kelly, Bre and Megan went off west to the Manitoba Mountains, for three days of riding and camping fun. After a four hour drive we made it to the campsite (not a soul in sight), set up the tents, got the horses settled in for the night, started a camp fire and sat around talking about the next days adventure late into the night.
Saturday morning came very early for those who thought every noise was a bear coming into the camp, for the rest of us, it was a lazy morning waking up, having the morning coffee and again sitting around the camp fire ( trying to get warm after freezing our butts off in the over night -3 temps). As the morning wore on the horses where fed, groomed and tacked up to the long day ahead.
As the sun crept higher in the sky the horses were fresh and ready to go, and so was the trail guide (patiently waiting...). We hacked out of camp and down to Lake Audy bridge, to Grasshopper valley, to main the junction back along Bison lane to Lake Audy campground and back to camp. The first ride out: 5 hours and a ton of laughs.
Sunday morning started out a lot warmer and after a full night sleep, everyone woke with the birds chirping and the sun shining. What a beautiful morning to be in the mountains with great company and your horse or mule. After getting everything ready and the horses tacked we where off again to see what the next trail would bring.
I think every kind of animal was out on Saturday night partying up and down the trails. When we traveled back up Bison lane, we caught sight of the tracks of those night time partiers. Wolf, bear, elk, deer, and moose tracks where on the trail that we came back to camp on the night before (our only sign of wild life, except maybe a far off sighting of elk). The horses had a little bit of an issue going forward down the trail but after doing the slowest walk they could manage with the drunken sailors weave tossed in to make the look complete, we finally made it to the main trail and over to Grasshopper camp for lunch.
We now have confirmation that not all horses have a sense of direction, Smurfi was clearly lost and kept looking and trying to go back to camp the wrong direction. Poor girl, she would still be out there wondering around. Happy - the mule, decided bicyclist are from Mars and are not human hence should be watched until out of view.
What a great weekend - I can't wait to do it again. Watch for the next camp out posting and sign up, it's the best experience for you and your horse or mule.
Sunday , May 31 is the next outing. We are heading over to Shilo for the poker derby and trail trials. Trailer leaving at 9: 30
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