It was my first overnight horseback trip with lightweight gear. Dawn and her dog joined my dog, Baloo and me for a three day alpine mountain ride near Smithers, BC. We loaded horses, gear, and dogs and wondered if our food and camp gear would fit. This was the dry run we had planned in order to sort and pack our gear but that never materialized. Near the end of our drive the rain started. Plan B quickly developed which entailed riding a shorter distance to set up camp so we could pack the gear in two trips.

Despite the rain we enjoyed the ride in although we were happy when it stopped. Our campsite had grass and water nearby with small but amazingly sturdy alpine trees for shelter and high lines. Beautiful snow covered peaks could be seen from camp in the distance. A little closer, rolling alpine hills were dotted with clumps of trees, meadows and rocks. With high lines and the tent up we headed back to the truck for the last of our gear.

A half-mile from the truck, a lone wolf joined us on the road. Denali, Dawn's horse, was the first to alert us of his presence. My first thought was to keep moving so my Newfie cross would not spot the wolf. He is extremely dominant and I figured after a fight I would be suturing for a while. The wolf melted in and out of the trees, trailed alongside us or followed on the road until we got close to the vehicle. We led the horses a short way to a small alpine lake to let them graze and looked around for our visitor. He didn't disappoint us. He came out of the trees on the opposite side of the lake, lay down and watched us.

After picking up the rest of our stuff we headed out, watching for the wolf as we rode. Baloo spotted him following on the far side of a meadow and took off after him. I sat on my horse hoping Baloo wasn't going to be shredded as he disappeared behind some trees hot on the wolf's heels. No sounds, then Baloo appeared strutting with his tail in the air. Obviously words had been said but they were all non-verbal. Little did I know that we would be a surrogate wolf pack for the next three days and I would get to watch canine behaviour in its most subtle form. The wolf showed in very clear terms that Baloo was boss and he just wanted to join us, even though he was actually taller than Baloo.

In camp that first night, Baloo took off barking into the darkness presumably the wolf had tried to wander in. We looked for him the next morning and spotted him above our camp curled up by a patch of trees. As we headed out for our ride, he trailed behind, curling up when we stopped to enjoy the views. At one point my horse, Siobhan stood grazing while the wolf came to within 5 or 6 feet of her.

At lunch time, Dawn got some great snaps as he sauntered about 20 feet from Siobhan to curl up near a rock. Siobhan was lying down. I watched her as she watched the wolf. Her ears pricked forward but made no move to get up. She then went back to munching on grass while we took pictures of the two horses with the wolf in the background.

The wolf was incredibly respectful in all his dealings with us, although I suspect he didn't think much of our hunting skills since he went off to hunt marmots by himself. The second morning we crawled out of the tent only to watch the dogs comb the ground with their noses around our tent, pots and camp area. We obviously had a visitor overnight, without the dogs noticing and with nary a whinny from the horses on their high lines. We were joined once again on our morning ride. He followed us back towards our truck but disappeared close to our truck and the humming hydro station next to it.

Our surroundings were incredible. Under blue skies, beautiful alpine flowers and meadows with even higher rugged peaks in the distance. For many people it would be a trip of a lifetime, even without the wolf. For us it was a normal jaunt into the alpine, except for the wolf. Because of him, it was truly a magical trip, to be trusted and accepted by a magnificent wild animal. To watch him in the wild for days was a rare privilege, one I will forever treasure.

By Susan Shumey
Camping and high lining under the pines with those famous old and well used out houses; the ones that greet you with a fragrance that you probably wouldn't want to escort your sweetie to, along with the heat that allows dust to creep into every nostril and land on every hair, was not the case for RV 2010!

When we entered into the Kettle River Valley, and the small community of Rock Creek, we were home! Back home to celebrate Rendezvous 2010 for Back Country Horsemen. Unlike 2009, we had liquid sunshine on and off over our time there, but that did not deter how I felt when I arrived. When you travel from the coast, and drop down in to the valley, the warm arms of the mountains, river and the beauty of the trees and pastures welcomes you, as much as the helping hands of the community.

Back Country Horsemen's AGM has developed into an educational weekend, socializing with a coming together of members, and communities wherever we have held it. I am proud to be a member of this heartwarming, up to your elbows group in giving back to our land, our equines, and enjoying what beautiful B.C. has to offer.

With any big event there is a lot of preparation. It took many members, and Chapters to organize and run events. Some to cook up a great Dutch Oven meal, with others rising and shining early Sunday morning to cook up a mean pancake breakfast, (with a song on their lips). From rides on a buck board, (thanks to Jonathan and Peter), presentation on weeds, saddle fitting, and you have never seen a Pack Competition, (the reaction of horses and a mule, and the hope to ride handlers), when Mountain Man Jack with his "Tall spin of yarn", and his co-heart the one in "Pink" enter into the arena to be distractions and judges. To kid's events, trail challenges, solving issues with your equine with Daryl, to the many helping hands with promotions, registration, tabulation, and everyone who helped, and lent a hand when someone needed it, you were not maybe recognized, but you should feel proud of contributing to the success of RV 2010.

In between RVs all Chapters, and the Provincial Board, are working hard on the society, and reaching out to each member to educate them, and their community on what this organization is trying to accomplish! Find a Chapter near you, come and join, or develop a new Chapter this is a place for you to invest in. A society that works towards great vacation places for you, or for, you and your horse.

Be ready for RV 2011! Educate yourself on what you could accomplish as a member. If you have been dreaming of riding on trails in your local area, and always wanted to take in a breath taking view from the floor of a valley or the top of a mountain, join us, and expose your equine to rides on different trails, with different groups. Learn how to high line and take them out for an overnight, and expand on how long you stay, and on how many people and equines in a given camp. You will meet people from all over B.C., and have a whole lot of great fun doing it.

Each year that I have been a part of this society I have grown, grown as a rider, also as a person. Dr. Martin Luther King said, "Everyone has the power of greatness; not for fame, but greatness. Because greatness is determined by service."

There is not one living soul, two legged or four who is not rewarded by the beauty of our parks and trails. We may have had liquid sunshine till the day we were leaving, but that didn't dampen the spirit and success of RV 2010.

by Sarah Casley

I am fortunate enough to live in one of the prettiest outlying areas of Port Alberni. Our property backs up to the Beaufort Mountains and the Log Train Trail. Riding out from the pasture - I literally have an entire playground at my back door. How lucky is that? For years, however, I've made the mistake of listening to others about why it's "not a good idea" to ride horses up there. Everything from ravines, to gates, to rocky footing is touted as an excuse. So ... on Sept. 13, I decided to take a hike up the Beauforts - a kind of scouting trip - to see for myself.

Armed with my day pack, I set out from my back porch at 11 a.m. Several years ago, our neighbouring farmer, Todd Thompson, built a logging road that switchbacks up the mountain, to remove trees from his woodlots. This was the route I took. The climb was gradual, and I was surprised to find it pretty easy going. But then, I consider myself to be in good shape from both riding...and my riding-driven obsession...trail-building! Every so often I stopped for water or snack, or to just take in the incredible views. At one point I looked down below me and thought "Cool... that's my house down there!" It was neat looking down on my roof from that height, and I thought how cool it'd be on a future ride, to get my husband, Mike, to stand on the porch with his spotting scope and wave at me!

It was a bluebird day, and I found myself taking one photo after another. My goal was not so much to find the top, as it was to find a safe, accessible trail to take horses on an uphill route, level out, then descend on the same side of the mountain - eventually dropping down to the Log Train Trail behind McLean's Mill, where many of our local trails connect, and then head home from that point. I made it in six hours - no ravines, no gates, and no major obstacles that would endanger a horse - just a fairly rough area on my summit-push, with a lot of log debris and loose rocks - but nothing my tough little Arab couldn't handle! As I descended from unfamiliar territory to recognizable trail...I was elated! But thank god for cellphones ... I called Mike, and asked him to pick me up in the mill parking lot. Suddenly I was exhausted, my legs ached and I felt unable to walk another step! But, what a high! I couldn't wait to do the same trip on my horse!

The following Wednesday dawned with a deluge. However, it cleared by afternoon - so out I dashed and saddled Sadhaka. By 2:30 p.m. we were climbing. It was dank and misty, but I was ecstatic to be out and "doing it." Occasionally the mist cleared and, although not the perfect views of the previous Sunday, I could still see the world laid out below me. True to his spirit, Sads bounded up those zigzagging turns with seemingly limitless energy.

Close to the top, we startled a flock of about 30 ravens. They flew cawing from a cluster of trees, on a hill below us - a somewhat different perspective, where I was looking down on their backs. After initial fright at these scary black monsters, Sads ignored them and carried on! Apart from the views, the other aspect I considered important was the ample water available, in drainages emptying down the mountain. No scarcity of drinking water for thirsty horses climbing to the top on hot, dusty summer days! The ascent is exposed, so access to water is crucial. Once up top, however, trees started to close in, offering shade.

Being a deactivated road, there were spots where Todd had excavated swales, to prevent truck traffic. But these dips had been made more passable by ATV-traffic that regularly uses the mountain, and I found myself silently thanking these guys for creating access points where my horse might not otherwise make it through. Discovering that last passage to the summit was a high and I whooped until my horse thought I was nuts! Once I'd reached the top, I knew the rest would be plain sailing. The entire ride took a mere four hours. "We did it Sads!" I yelled. "We rode the Beauforts!" Albeit only ONE side ... I still felt it was an achievement.

My horse pals, Erica and Carolyn, couldn't wait to enjoy the same experience. So, the following Sunday we all made the trip under brilliant blue skies. Perfect weather - but without the intensity of summer heat. Instead, one of those cool fall days, where you can smell and feel the season's change.

We snapped photos and stopped for lunch in the shade up top, and to let the horses graze. Then we found a spur veering upward - green, lush ...and extremely tantalizing! So we ascended...and found a stretch of road which I promptly dubbed "The Ledge." The whole of the Alberni Valley lay at our feet! What a feeling! We figured we were up 2,500 feet and had fun pointing out familiar landmarks spread out like Toyland way below us!

The remaining trip home found us pretty punchy, and the day couldn't end without an alcoholic celebration! So, after seeing to the horses, we sat beside my lily pond, to share the afterglow of a fabulous day, with a bottle of wine!

Our toast to one another? "We're Serious Back Country Horsemen ...AND OUR HORSES RULE!!"

Beaufort Range Ride

Est. ride time: 4-5 hours

Terrain: Some steep sections, easy water crossings, rocky - boots recommended (or shod horses)

Time of year to ride: May through September or early October

What to bring? A camera! Depending on time of year - bug repellant/sunscreen.

Want to start a new BCHBC chapter in your area? Or improve the way your chapter works now?

Then you need to DOWNLOAD our new Organizational Handbook!