Menu

Stay in Touch
Sign up for ENews
Subscribe Now

Unlimited access >

Menu

Gearing up for pack trip into Yellowstone in a month.!!!1

Endurance and Trail Riding
#21

Not to hijack this post but these pictures look like you are crossing the Fall River headed towards the Loon Lake trail head. Looks like part of the Union Falls ride. If you haven’t done Union Falls and the swimming hole you are missing out. In late July until the snow flies that is one of our favorite rides.

http://www.themountaingoat.net/?p=17

Good times at that pool. We call the rock where you sit and let the water pound on you Buddha Rock.

Cartfall call PM me and I will give you my number. When you are in town give me a call and we can go to lunch. If it is a Wednesday evening you can be our guest at the 4-H driving group. LF

#22

It’s the Bechler River a few miles in from the Bechler ranger station. And yes this trial does lead into Union Falls. We usually do this ride once every other year.
And I do enjoy swiming in the Scout Pool. It washes off all the trail dust. Which this trail has a lot off if it hasn’t rained in a few days.

I also try to make a trip every couple of years up to Granite Basin and Green lakes east of Tetonia. Wonderful ride and neat area, But there are just too many new places to explore.

#23

My address is actually Tetonia and I have been into Granite basin on occasion. Green Lakes and Liegh Lakes are fun as well. You can also drop off the backside of Targhee into some pretty interesting country. To be honest we tend to stay out of the park just because of the permits and paperwork required. There is so much area to cover and things to see that we typically try to hit a new place. That said the Union Falls and Scout pool in late August or early September is tough to beat. If you want another wild ride do Bechler in late September through mid October. That area is crawling with elk. I love to listen and watch in that area, then fish on the Fall river about a mile upstream of the crossing coming from Fish Lake. Beulah Lake is also fun in that area and is looking better now. The Beulah area burned in the 1988 fires and is still not back to what it was.

I am taking a group next week on the west side of Driggs in the Big Hole mountains. When I am independently wealthy and don’t need to work I will get on a horse and circle Teton Valley one summer. Until then it will be a weekend at a time. LF

#24

Lost Farmer,

Always great to see yo on the this board. I would absolutely love to stop in and say hello.

It depends on a lot of things–we are really on a tight tight schedule–flying in on Sunday, riding out on Monday, returning to civiliation on Friday and flying out on Saturday. When you have to accomodate 6 folks and whatever schedule the company has to meet, this is what resulted. Transportation at this point is up in the air (long story that) and I am not sure we will have our own wheels.

I have been out riding my own horses and camping here in Florida, so that is why I have not responded.

Am going to PM now.

oh and yes we are doing the Belcher/Yellowstone 5 day trip-

And lordy, what a small world it is!!

#25

I’m usually ek hunting somewhere in Utah in Sept. But once or twice over the years, I’ve been with out a tag and have made the ride into Bechler Meadows during that time frame. And that trip is mostly to listen to the elk bugel. Same thing with riding Hariman ranch in Last Chance in late september.

#26

I highly suggest jeans. Tights and sticker bushes just won’t work. Jeans
protect legs better. Also instead of water proofing your hat get a cowboy
hat rain cover they work great and when not raining you can fold up and put it in the pocket of your rain slicker. You may also want to consider a very
light weight pair of leather gloves too. Xtra socks is a must have and
you also need to remember that most of the time the higher you go in
elavation the cooler the temps.

You mentioned having problems getting off the ground. You MUST NOT
forget pain meds or IBU profin or any medication you are on. I would put
in one of thoose week long pill box’s and put the pill box in a zip-lock baggy.
If you take your cell phone with you make sure it has a full charge on it
keep it turned off to save the battery and only use it when you absolutely
have to as you won’t have any electric out on the trail.

LIsten to your guides and when in doubt don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Most guides know their jobs and do them well and will be glad to answer questions. When crossing the rivers look straight ahead at the bank do not look down at the water or the currant as doing this can tend to make people dizzy. Make sure to take hand sanatizer as it can be used for bug bites, and to clean out scratches. Hand sanatizer is alchohol based so it does sting a bit when put on a cut but it stops bug bites from itching.
I would also suggest a few nights before going to throw a sleeping bag on your floor and sleep on your floor as when you sleep in a tent it is just like
sleeping on a floor. IF you have problems sleeping on the floor you will probably have problems sleeping in a tent so if you can you may want to
try some Tylonal pm. Also fold your shirt, underwear, socks and bra into your jeans this saves room you can even roll your jeans up and put hair bands around them to save on room.

#27

Check with your guide, But I suspect there will be no cell phone signals in the area you are packing into. If you really need to stay in touch with the world, better bring a Sat Phone. Keave the cell phones in the truck and you won’t have to worry about it getting wet crossing the rivers.

#28

I took my nephew the last half of August and the 1st week of September car camping on a big circle from Denver, up through Wyoming to Montana to Crow Fair (fantastic!) and over to Great Falls to meet the guide and then on a 4 day pack trip into the Lewis and Clark National Forest. Unbelievable trip!!! Then up through Browning to Glacier, which was closed with 24 inches of snow towards the end of August with 18 more expected that night. The road gates back to Browning were closed due to very dangerous conditions so we had to stay in the campground at Babb an extra night. Bring warm clothes in layers!!! Babb was after the horseback trip and we had mailed our boots and gloves back home and had to use socks for mittens to break camp and take down the tent. :D:lol::winkgrin:

Don’t wear a baseball cap on the trip!!! Why? I hear you ask??? Talk about sunburned ears. Ay chihuahua!!! Definitely wear something with a brim, even if it’s not a cowboy hat.

Coming down off the mountains at the end of the trip it was 45 degrees and misting and drizzling and it was still spectacular. All the animals were out and as long as you stay quiet, they don’t mind the horses and will stay out so you can see them.

The rest of our trip we camped through all the national parks all the way back down to northern New Mexico to stay with friends I used to be stationed with on Navajo Reservation, camped out in Monument Valley and back up to Denver to take the train home.

I do dressage, but we rode very comfortably in jeans in the western saddles. Very different from a dressage saddle. Bring sheepskin seat savers - we were the envy of the trip, and we carried the fake leather wine bottle type of water bottle which we could sling over the saddle horn and drink from without spilling a drop - as opposed to canteens. Again, we were the envy of the trip for those 2 additions.

I would LOVE to go back again on one of those trips. Our horses were Tennessee Walkers. We very seldom got out of a walk, but those TW’s have a huge walk, and if you do have to play catchup they do it at a running walk. My nephew had only ridden a couple of times and neither of us ever got sore after hours and hours a day in the saddle on those guys. We had the padded cordura western saddles, but the seat savers still helped.

#29

On most of the roads you can’t get cell reception let alone in the mountains. :smiley:

#30

I don’t have cell reception at my HOUSE!

A lot of guides carry a satellite phone for emergencies. Or know a rocky knob on a hill near camp where if you stand by the white pine tree and face southwest on a clear day you can get a cell signal. :smiley:

Tiki do you mean a bota bag for a water bottle? That’s a good idea too-they are easy to find. They’re in the camping section of the sporting good stores here.

#31

Yup, that’s what I mean, a bota bag. They have a narrow opening, just hold it up and squeeze. No lost water, don’t even have to stop to take a drink. Very, very handy on horseback, and they are soft and pliable in case they bounce around on the horse’s shoulder, unlike a metal or plastic canteen.

#32

Nothing to add, except that I am so jealous. I’ve visited Yellowstone a few times, and I’ve always dreamed of going back there with horses. Have fun!

#33

My seat saver arrived today. Gives me a month to ride it here in Florida before trying it out west.

The problem I have with my western saddle is it torques my knee into a position that almost cripples me. Have considered the ez ride hinge things that allow the stirrups to rotate a bit more freely. Has anyone used them?

I rode 3 hours today in my dressage saddle (ahh, great releif) and had no problem with my knee. Almost am considering sending out my saddle—stress on almost.

The cowboy rainhat sounds like a great idea. Thanks.

This is such a trip of a lifetime for us. I did the wagon train a couple of years ago and loved it. This is something I have wanted to do since.

#34

OMG. How Cool. I’m so jealous. However, with my impending move to the Boulder area in the next few months, I fully intend on horsepacking next summer and I am really excited.

I am an east coast backpacker and I would think that most of my backpacking gear would suffice nicely on a horse trip seeing that my pack is 30ish lbs including food and water. Take out the unnessaries like lunch/dinner, fuel, stove, etc and my pack just got roomier and lighter!

I will most definitely be utilizing an Outfitter. As I said, I am an east coaster and Black Bears are one thing… Grizzlies are another. :wink: Not to mention that while my mare may rock the trails of NC, she is not a Rocky Mountain pony.

Have fun and take lots of drool worthy pics. I am about to move to the area otherwise known as my idea of heaven and this is top on my list… after the winter skiing is over, of course.

#35

A small headlamp is great to have. I use mine around the farm. Used it first in Yellowstone:yes:

#36

If you are developing a serious blister, the best thing I have found is… duct tape! It makes the area friction-less. I’ve never had a blister from riding but got some mean ones backcountry skiing (back in the leather boot era).

#37

Update

I talked to cartfall about noon today. They were in Denver waiting for a flight for the next leg of their trip.

They are having entirely too much fun. There are 6 of them and
people keep asking where they are going.

She doesn’t have jetlag because she is still high on adrenalin.
:winkgrin:

Get your Digital Subscription here - only $29.99 / year

Subscribe here
See gift options

Sign up to our monthly newsletter!

By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.

Copyright © 2023 The Chronicle of the Horse