Hauled 36 poles into Forest Service work site
PAST EVENTS
Lovell Canyon Trail Ride & Pot Luck BBQ
Saturday, May 6, 2023
It was a beautiful warm and partly cloudy day for 16 trail riders plus many more back at camp. The scenery was perfect and the hikers were few. Ryder Flood, not yet 1 year old, made his Back Country trail riding debut with parents Mike & Katelynn. Members thought we should do this again soon.
Where: Lovell Canyon, 36.1657624 -115.5775062
What: Morning Ride at 10 am, BBQ Lunch at 2 pm
Cost: Free. Cowboy Trail Rides is supplying the Pulled Pork & Chicken. Bring a potluck dish to share.
How To Get There: Take 160 west through Mountain Springs plus 3.3 miles to Lovell Canyon Road.
Turn right (north) and go 13 miles up Lovell Canyon Road.
Bryce Canyon Utah Trail Week
June 7th - June 14th, 2022
All three state chapters got together for a full week of horse camping and trail riding in the unique Bryce Canyon, UT area. Camp was pitched at the scenic and extremely comfortable Bryce Valley Ranch RV & Horse Camp in Cannonville UT.
Over thirty Backcountry Horsemen enjoyed stunningly scenic trails and comradery with friends from all over Nevada. The event began with a pre-planned potluck dinner gathering in the horse park "Grove" and the trail riding began the following morning. The group had reserved times and spots on five days to ride the famous Peek A Boo Canyon Trail. Horsemen also trailered out of camp daily to ride other well known trails such as Willis Creek, Thunder Mountain and the Losee Casto Trail which partially overlays the "Butch Cassidy Trail". Right out of camp trails included "the Ponds", "Cool Canyon" and others. The park is newly developed, owned and managed by Pete and Sherri Jensen both longtime Backcountry Horsemen. Pete & Sherri provided valuable local expertise to assist the group in maximizing our Utah experience.
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The formal wrap up for the event was a gathering at Ebenezer's Barn & Grill for a hardy dinner and live country music show on Sunday night. We will be going back there for sure. Members drifted from camp back to their daily lives on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday all vowing to "Do this again next year".
Bryce Valley Ranch RV & Horse Park info: https://www.brycervandhorsepark.com/
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Saturday & Sunday March 26-27, 2022
Pahrump Campout and Trail Rides
Bristlecone BCH rolled into Happy Hoofbeats in Pahrump on Saturday morning. Members spent the afternoon challenging their horses on the dozens of obstacles set up in the arena and on the Extreme Mountain Trail Course. Aly Schmalz gave her mount some face to face coaching on the course as you can see from the picture above.
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Saturday evening was time to have fun with friends to the live bluegrass music of the Frequent Flyers. They played many fan favorites and the crowd seemed to really enjoy their style. Saturday catered dinner, BBQ Brisket & wings, Apple salad, baked beans, cornbread, strawberry shortcake and fresh strawberry lemonade were enjoyed by all. The only complaint heard was due to being "overserved" by the great chefs from Meats & Treats mobile food truck. Saturday night was topped off with an extremely awesome raffle. All kinds of stuff was on the table and the winners were very happy. We can't wait to see Beckie in her new chaps and Aly in her new hats.
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On Sunday morning members attended cowboy church led by "the reverend John Allen". The group then mounted up and hit the trail in search of hidden desert treasure. A series of six GPS coordinates was given to the riders to lead them on their search through the Pahrump desert. At the final location each rider acquired their own folding limb saw to be used on future trail endeavors.
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Late Sunday afternoon horsemen cleaned up, said their goodbyes and pulled out.
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Gold Butte Horse Camp & Trail Rides
Friday February 4 - Sunday February 6, 2022
Bristlecone BCH rolled into Gold Butte horse camp on Friday February 4, 2022. Members rode all three days in perfect weather and covered many miles of the beautiful National Monument. A late Friday afternoon ride explored around the camp and was used to give newcomers a sense of how Gold Butte is laid out.
Saturday was the big ride covering 13 plus miles of sometimes challenging but always stunning terrain. We encountered geological formations and many areas of unmolested petroglyphs. The ride was led, narrated and photographed by the legendary Don Davis who knows the area and its secrets well. We were joined by members Cindy M and Kathy M from southern Utah
Sunday's ride was shorter and very much "off the trail". Mike Flood led the group on an "exploratory ride" into canyons with few signs of any recent human activity. The highlights of the day were twofold. First, watching Mike ride his horse up and down places you wouldn't think possible was a lot of fun. Second was the reminiscing's of Big Jim Sage who spent 10 of his younger years wrangling in this very area. Jim told us stories about cowboys, wild cattle, native americans and much, much more. Jim really added perspective and depth to the ride giving us all a feel for what it was like to manage cattle in this rugged area.
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All riders and all three dogs had a safe trip.
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Gold Butte National Monument Info:
https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/nevada/gold-butte
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Annual Membership Meeting
& Potluck Dinner
5pm Monday, December 6, 2021
At Cowboy Trail Rides
What: Annual Meeting to Elect Directors and Potluck Dinner.
Who: All members and prospective members.
Where: Cowboy trail Rides, 4053 Fossil Ridge Road, Las Vegas, 89161
When: Monday, December 6.
Schedule: Arrive at 5pm, Dinner at 6pm, Annual Meeting and Campfire at 6:30pm.
How Much: Free pulled pork entree provided by Cowboy Trail Rides. Please bring a potluck dish to share with your fellow horsemen.
Please RSVP by November 30th to bristleconebchnv@gmail.com to reserve your spot and pulled pork dinner.
If you have any questions or are interested in joining the board, please call Sheryl Schmalz at 702/278-8433.
2021 Fishlake UT Horsecamping
Bristlecone BCH reserved the large group site and all available individual horsecamp sites Sunday July 25 to midday Wednesday July 28, 2021. Members rode three days and covered many a mile of beautiful alpine trail but there are still many more miles to be explored on a future trip. Riders got to introduce their mounts to some new conditions such as riding in a large string while experiencing a variety of terrain from mountain meadows to challenging slopes. Although we lost a few horseshoes all riders returned intact.
Dinners were cooked and served by the awesome "Chuckmaster" Mike Flood who also kept us all safe on the rugged mountain trails. The group gathered around for dinner and fellowship every night. Each member brought a side dish for the group to enjoy. Some in the group even tried their hand at fishing and we'll not forget Maria treating all of us to ice cream at the local general store.
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Everyone enjoyed the 70 degree days as a welcome break from the southern Nevada summer.
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A really fine time was had by all.
Shilo Ranch Easter Campout & Trail Rides
Bristlecone BCH hosted a 2 day campout and trail rides at the historic Shilo Ranch in Sandy Valley, CA Friday & Saturday, April 2&3, 2021. The ranch, formerly owned by movie star Tony Curtis, was the home for a horse rescue run by Tony's wife for many years. Bristlecone BCH members set out on two trail rides with 40 participants on Saturday and 24 participants on Sunday. The group shared prepared meals, cowboy poetry, music and swapped stories during the event. Cowboy church was held on Easter morning and it was great.
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Member Consensus-Let's do this again!
J&M 2-day Foundation Horse Clinic
Who: Presented by Mike Flood
Where: Maverick Ranch, Mountain Springs, Nevada (On the hump on the way to Pahrump)
When: May 1st and 2nd
How Much: $45
This clinic is full, but you can contact Sheryl via bristleconebchnv@gmail.com to be placed on the waitlist or to request information on future clinics.
If you have any questions, please call Sheryl Schmalz at 702/278-8433.
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The Clinic was an Awesome Success!
NEVADA DISCOVERY RIDE
The BCHN-BC has agreed to help support rider Samantha in her May 2021 long-ride from Las Vegas to Carson City exploring the State of Nevada, and to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Wild Horse and Burro Act.
Our group will be helping Samantha with water and feed drops along her route. The event will include media coverage before her ride begins.
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She made It!