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I have been able to get maintenance accomplished on three trails by using Dedi-
cated Hunters. So far six Dedicated Hunters have cut-out most of the Mill Fork trail
and installed sixteen water control structures on the Candland Mtn. trail. The use of
Dedicated Hunters is a win for all trail users. Email me for more information.
The Forest Service has asked us to pack in (and out) tools , kitchen and food for the
eight member trail crew where they are
working on the Second Water Trail. The
packing-in is scheduled July 17, with
packing out the following week.
Hopefully you have all heard about the
Wagon Trek commemorating the 40th an-
niversary of Back Country Horsemen of
America, July 27th through August 4th.
Check out the BCHU.com website for all
the details.
A second commemoration of the 40th anniversary is a work project in partnership
with the Wasatch-Cache NF improving a popular high-use trail near Notch Moun-
tain off the Mirror Lake Highway in the High Uintas’. Work will take place during
August. Both weekday and weekend opportunities to participate in this project are
available and we are all encouraged to join in as our schedules allow. Materials and
tools will be packed in. The trail is 4.5 miles long long, including over 1.5 miles of
new trail construction and clearing. Three sections will be rerouted to change the
grade from 30% to a gradual 5-8%. Ten climbing turns, 2 crib walls, 64 rock steps,
4 rock causeways, 13 water-bars, 15 corduroy bridges will be constructed and in-
stalled. I plan on spending several days helping. Contact BCH President Terry
Morrison for more information at [email protected]
A Word from the President, Rod Player
July 13, Trail work in Black Canyon
July 17, Pack in trail crew Sawmill Cyn to 2nd Water.
July 22-24, Pack out trail crew.
July 27—Aug 3, 40th Anniversary Trek. In the Manti La Sal. Details at www.BCHU.com
Aug 8, SRBCH meeting in CASTLE DALE 7:30 pm at the Courthouse, come at 6:00 pm to hear Rep. Rob Bishop speak on public lands issues.
2nd week in Aug., date TBA. Pack in and install timbers on Mill Fork Trail (camp overnight)
Sept. 5, Construct V gates in Gordon Creek. Follow up on Sept 12.
Sept 12, 6:30 pm. meeting held at V gates in Gordon Creek.
Oct 10, 6:30 pm SRBCH meeting @ Carbon Events Center
San Rafael Back Country Horsemen
A Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of Utah Quarterly Newsletter
Summer 2013
Editor: Priscilla Burton
Inside this issue:
Horse Cyn Trail Work
2
Gordon Creek Man-agement Area
2
National Trails Day Left Fork Project
3
From the Ground Up
3
No Grave Goes Unadorned
4
SRBCH Calendar: Please note the change of meeting time and place next month.
Rod working on Candland Trail
2
On June 15th the San
Rafael Back Country
Horsemen worked on
clearing logs from
HORSE CANYON which
is our ADOPTED TRAIL.
Four members, with 4 rid-
ing horses and 2 pack ani-
mals, cut fallen trees and
observed the condition of
the Horse Canyon Trail.
Earlier that week Wayne
Ludington had cleared
the trail from Huntington
canyon highway almost
to the top. On Saturday
the four of us finished the
trail to the top and then
went on to clear trail to-
ward Blind canyon, and
had a lunch break at the
top of Blind Canyon. At
one point we encountered
a large 24 inch dead fall
which completely blocked
the trail, after some work
by the crew, we made the
trail clear for all to use.
There was one exciting
incident, where one of our
crew was tangled up with
his pack horse, but after a
minute of excitement (no
injuries) we got right back
to work. We all had a
good day of sweat equity
with good company and
returned to the trailers worn
out but satisfied. As you
can see from the pictures we
had great day in the moun-
tains.
steel pipe in a “ V “ gate
design following that
used by the Ashley Na-
tional Forest and the
Lolo National Forest.
The gate will accommo-
date pack animals and
horse riders and pedes-
trian access while re-
stricting motorized ac-
cess into the Wildlife
Management Area, in
accordance with the
management plan. The
The San Rafael Back
Country Horsemen re-
ceived a $1000.00 grant
from Back Country
Horsemen of America
(BCHA) education fund
to construct access into
the Gordon Creek Wild-
life Management Area
(public land managed by
the Division of Wildlife
Resources for large
game habitat). The gates
will be constructed of
grant funds will be used
for purchasing pipe,
welding supplies, and
cement. To make the
grant go further, we
would welcome a dona-
tion of drill pipe! If
anyone has a surplus of
drill pipe, they want re-
moved from a job site,
please let us know. We
will complete the work
this fall.
Horse Canyon Trail, map and article by Ken Snook, photos by Priscilla Burton
UPCOMING Gordon Creek Wildlife Management Area Project,
article by Dale Wharram
Page 2 San Rafael Back Country Horsemen
Map of the trails cleared on
June 15, 2013.
3
Our National
Trails Day (NTD)
project was work
on the National
Recreation Trail in
the Left Fork of
Huntington Can-
yon. Flooding
events after the
Seeley Fire had damaged
the trail. There
were two main
types of damage;
log jams that cov-
ered the flood plain
along the stream
and side canyons
that crossed the
trail that had been
cut down to bed-
rock. The primary
focus on NTD was to
deal with the logjams.
In some cases we con-
structed short re-routes
around the log jams and
in other instances we cut
through the log jams.
We had five members of
the San Rafael Chapter
and five Forest Service
employees working on
NTD. A few days after
NTD the Forest Service
had an eight person trail
crew work through the
entire trail working on
areas were the tread had
been damaged. The
following week Wayne
Ludington and myself
along with three Forest
employees packed in a
rock saw, gas powered
hammer drill and micro-
blaster to work on the
crossings that were cut
to bedrock. We were
able to cut steps and /or
flat areas at the cross-
ings. Several of these
crossings are still quite
dangerous for horses.
We discussed the possi-
bility of re-routing the
trail for a mile or so
around the bad spots.
However, if this is hap-
pens it will not be until
next year at the soonest.
Hopefully, by the time
you are reading this, the
trail will be open to the
public at least for hiking.
much pressure to use
and WHEN to release.
Horses can feel a mos-
quito land on their
back…it doesn’t take
very much pressure to
get your point across.
Horses can be difficult at
times, but if you know
how to help them under-
stand what you want
them to do, the process
of teaching a horse
something new is a
novel concept. The age
of a horse doesn’t mat-
ter. Young and older
horses respond in the
same way. It’s all about
pressure and release.
The trick is to know how
Like any other animal,
horses work best on a
pressure-reward system.
For example, you ask
them to flex their head
by pulling their nose
around. As soon as they
flex around you instantly
release the pressure as
their reward. Your horse
will quickly figure out
how to “give” to pres-
sure and have the release
as their reward.
National Trails Day, Left Fork Work Project, article and photos by Rod Player
From the Ground Up, article and photo by Sara LeCrone
Page 3 Newsletter Title San Rafael Back Country Horsemen
Log jams on the trail
If your horse
says no, you
either asked the
wrong question,
or asked the
question
wrong. ~Pat
Parelli
4
In the last week of May,
SRBCH served the community
in an unusual way, by paying our
respects at forgotten gravesites,
on horseback, of course! We
chose three isolated gravesites to
decorate. The first was an 1889
baby’s grave in Hambrick Bot-
toms on the San Rafael River,
Emery Co. Our second ride was
to the gravesite of an unknown
man who was found in Deadman
Canyon in 1884.
No Grave Goes Unadorned, article and photos by Priscilla Burton
Page 3
San Rafael Back Country Horsemen (SRBCH)
Rod Player, President
Email: [email protected]
Wayne Ludington, Vice President
Email: [email protected]
A chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of Utah, with mem-
bers from Carbon and Emery Counties. Founded in 2005.
BCH of Utah serves the common interest of its members by
providing them an opportunity to influence laws, regulations,
and attitudes regarding the use of pack and saddle stock on
all public lands.
Welcome to our newest
members:
Dave and Lenore
Cunningham
Thanks for rejoining!
On the web at www.bchu.com (San Rafael chapter]
On facebook under San Rafael Back Country Horsemen
The third was the grave of Anna-
belle Marsing, who was buried in
1919 on a knoll overlooking the
Price River, with cliff’s towering
above. It was an all day adven-
ture into the Marsing Ranch
(about 8 miles NW of Woodside,
Emery Co.). We approached
from the SE. We crossed the
Price River at the beginning of
the ride, rode over an escarpment
and through sage brush flats. We
found the ranch situated along a
bend in the Price River, with
cliffs towering above. About 100
years have gone by since the
ranch was occupied. The struc-
tures and corrals are still standing
and give a glimpse of the
Marsings’ self-sufficient lifestyle.
Hambrick gravesite
Deadman Cyn gravesite
Marsing gravesite
