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Pack Trips into Wilderness Let Us Experience Dark Night Skies Early August, 2:30 a.m. – Darn, what am I doing wrong? I muttered to myself. Camera controls glowed as I struggled to adjust the settings to capture the view in front of me. The cold made my fingers stiff, and … Read More
Trail Access for Equestrians Depends on the Stewardship of Horse People Flying from clinic to clinic, I spend more time in the air than I’d like to admit. This past weekend, as I settled into my seat and watched the pre-flight safety briefing, a particular phrase caught my attention: “The shared … Read More
An Education in Packing and Precision Ed Haefliger called me in 2009, shortly after I started writing a column on trail riding and camping with horses. I was still finding my footing as a writer and, if I’m honest, I felt a mix of excitement and imposter syndrome—I didn’t even … Read More
Lessons from Hardwoods and Horses Few things ground me like the smell of freshly planed wood or a sun-warmed saddle. Both promise hard work and quiet satisfaction. Each time I smooth a piece of Osage orange or saddle up Ruger for a ride into the high country, I’m reminded about … Read More
Helmet Use Reduces Likelihood of Severe Injury I respect that everyone has their own comfort level and makes their own choices. In many ways, safety is like climbing a ladder—we all choose the rung we’re most comfortable with. For some, that might mean wearing a helmet every time they ride. … Read More
The Logical Next Step from Trail Riding Want to escape civilization but find the idea of venturing into the wilderness with a pack mule too complex? Do tales of horses, high lines, rocky trails, and making a diamond hitch seem anything but your best friend? Are stories of spectacular wrecks … Read More
Trail Horses Need Training for Control and Safety I recently read one of Ty Evans’ reflections on training and the standards we should aim for with our animals. A sentiment he often hears is, “I don’t need any of that fancy stuff; I just want to go down the trail.” … Read More
Slow Down and Breathe for Effective Training Mr. Thomas, my high school band director, was notorious for his temper. He’d hurl his baton at students when they didn’t follow his instructions. I was terrified of him. Despite our rocky relationship, he instilled a few lessons in me that have stuck … Read More
Greetings on the Trail Make the World a Friendlier Place There’s a French saying: simple comme bonjour, which means “as simple as hello.” It’s a perfect reminder of how much a friendly greeting does, especially when you’re on the trail. Whether we’re riding horses, hiking, or biking, tossing out a … Read More
A Guide for Equine Adventurers A few years ago, along the Canadian border in the Pasayten Wilderness, we noticed a thick smoke plume rising in the distance. Haze began to fill the basin where we camped. The plume was ominously between us and the direction of our route back to … Read More
