HotShots and Partners Work Hard to Open Trails
By Jason Ridlon
With the Fourth of July behind us, one might wonder what members of the Back Country Horsemen of Washington did over the holiday.
A crew of BCHW HotShots gathered at the Andrews Creek Trail Head in the Pasayten Wilderness. They assembled crews that performed trail work on the #504 Andrews Creek Trail, #525 Peepsight Trail, and #505 Ram Creek Trail. These crews spent five days logging trail out of a remote wilderness camp and packing supplies into these camps. Some of these packers did three 20 mile-a-day trips to provide feed for stock and supplies to BCHW and its trail partners.
On this project BCHW worked with partners Washington Trails Association (WTA), Pacific Northwest Trails Association (PNTA), Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA), the U.S. Forest Service, and Cascade Wilderness Outfitters to complete the work.
What was accomplished? You can now take your equine friend to Meadow Lake on the #505 Ram Creek Trail or #525 Peepsight Creek Trail to Peepsight Lake. These trails have been impassable to stock for over 10 years but are now clear of a heavy log load. And you can now safely ride to Spanish Camp on the #504 Andrews Creek Trail. Members replaced a damaged puncheon from last year’s Diamond Creek Fire and did brushing and turnpike work.
Meanwhile, in the central part of the state, other Back Country Horsemen members spent their 4th of July working on area trails around the Ken Wilcox Horse Camp. They logged out the loop trails and repaired the camp itself by installing new highline poles and doing general cleanup. These projects were conducted by multiple Back Country Horsemen Chapters and trail partners.
This is what we do fight to preserve our right to ride our equine friends on our public properties. We perform volunteer work and partner with other trail users.
The Back Country Horsemen of Washington also waged a large-scale effort to clear the multiple trails leading out of Black Pine Horse Camp in Leavenworth in mid-July—what we call our Statewide Work Party. Members from across the state and from many chapters conducted multiple projects throughout the wilderness, opening more trails to equine users. Look for the report in an upcoming issue of the Northwest Horse Source.
What can you do to help keep trails in Washington open? Every little bit counts, and you can help just by joining our organization. Membership numbers count so much when we talk to our elected officials about trail funding and with public land managers when we ask to keep trails, parking and camping facilities open for saddle and pack stock.
Back Country Horsemen of Washington is a 501c3 organization with 32 chapters across the state. They are dedicated to keeping trails open for all users, educating stock users in Leave-No-Trace practices, and providing volunteer service to resource agencies. To find out more about BCHW go to www.bchw.org Keep up with BCHW and issues and events on our state Facebook page www.facebook.com/public.bchw/
Upcoming BCHW Activities and Events
Most BCHW Chapters have Fun Rides and other events scheduled throughout the year. Go to www.BCHW.org and click on Upcoming Activities.
- October 27, 2018 – 17th Annual Winery Ride and Halloween Costume & Prize Ride – Zillah
- 2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS – Kittitas Valley Event Center – Ellensburg. All members are welcome to sit in: September 15, December 1
Published September 2018 Issue
Back Country Horsemen of Washington (BCHW), is a 501 (c) (3) organization with 32 chapters across the state dedicated to: keeping trails open for all users; educating horse users in Leave-No-Trace practices; and providing volunteer service to resource agencies.
