Why Should You Rendezvous?

Annual Rendezvous March 15-17 in Ellensburg
By Lori Lennox

Why should you attend BCHW’s Rendezvous?

To learn something new, like how to start packing, run a crosscut saw, or stay safe while riding

To hear speakers on a variety of subjects

To find that piece of tack you need at the big used tack sale

To sell that piece of tack you no longer use at the big used tack sale

To visit the vendors to buy something you don’t know you need until you see it

To test your Dutch oven cooking or cross-cut saw skills in the contests

To hear what’s happening on our public lands at the Public Lands Day meeting

To find more information about the popular and rewarding Statewide Work Party

To get energized for the upcoming riding and packing season

To get a new Back Country Horsemen shirt or hat at the BCHW Store

And best of all: To see old friends and make new ones!

 

All the details are at www.bchw.org

The 14^th Annual Great Gravel Pack-in will be held March 23^rd in the Capitol State Forest south of Olympia. This is a fun day; consider attending to see how this popular and well-run multiuser event works. Pack stock must be pre-approved to be used, but gravel shovelers don’t! Find all the information on the flier at www.bchw.org.

BCHW held their annual Legislative Day February 25^th at the Capitol in Olympia. Members from all over the state came dressed in cowboy hats and boots and met with their elected officials. Legislative Day is one of the ways we help keep trails open by reminding lawmakers that horse and mule riders are concerned about funding trails and recreation in Washington — and that equestrians need, use, and volunteer on public trails and facilities too.

July 1^st – 4^th the Back Country Horsemen of Washington will be holding their annual Statewide Work Party (SWWP). This year’s big trail clearing and maintenance project (with over a year of planning) will be held in the Umatilla National Forest. This event speaks directly to the Back Country Horseman’s mission statement of keeping trails open for pack and saddle stock. This work party will bring together members from several BCHW chapters across the state, from other trail maintenance organizations, as well as our southern members and friends from the BCH of Oregon. They are all gathering together to conduct much needed trail work in this beautiful forest: clearing blowdowns, rebuilding trails, and constructing trail structures. The SWWPs have been successful in regaining equine access to our many Washington wilderness and non-wilderness trail systems that would not have otherwise been open to stock users due to a large backlog of trail maintenance.

Also, the BCHW HotShot crew will be conducting another mission into the Pasayten Wilderness this coming summer. The HotShot crew has been successful in opening wilderness system trails in that area that have been closed to stock for 10+ years. This year will see BCHW HotShots again partnering with other trail organizations to continue this work. More information can be found at www.bchw.org or by emailing Jason Ridlon at [email protected]

Upcoming BCHW Activities and Events

Most of the BCHW chapters host events where the public is invited throughout the year. Go to www.BCHW.org and click on Upcoming Activities and scroll down for the list. Information on how to join BCHW can also be found there.

Upcoming 2019 Board of Directors Meetings—Kittitas Valley Event Center in Ellensburg. All members are welcome to sit in: March at Rendezvous, June 15, September 14, December 7^th.

• March 15 -17 2019 Rendezvous & General Meeting at Kittitas Valley Event Center in Ellensburg
• May 18 Joe Watt Canyon Prize Ride in Thorp, WA
• July 1–4 Statewide Work Party; Umatilla National Forest
• October 26 18^th Annual Winery Ride & Costume Prize Ride in Zillah, WA

Back Country Horsemen of Washington is dedicated to keeping trails open for all users, educating stock users in Leave-No-Trace practices, and providing volunteer service to resource agencies. To learn more about BCHW go to www.bchw.org Keep up with BCHW and issues and events we are following on our state Facebook page www.facebook.com/public.bchw/

Published in March 2019 Issue