8. May 2011 by Janine Townsend.

Saturday May 7th turned out to be an awesome day for our possible-First Annual AQHA/SBBCH Joint Ride at Wilson Creek in Owyhee County.  Temperature was perfect– in the high 50s or low 60s—overcast, but nary a drop of rain.  Sandwiched in between a down pour Friday night and Saturday night, and high winds on Sunday, we couldn’t have asked for better weather.

We had eleven riders participating, and five or so cooks and organizers holding down camp, making sure all was ready for the riders upon our return.  Two AQHA members attended, Margaret Berggren and Robbin Schindele, and two guests, Rebecca McClellan and Lynda Clark.

We took two groups on the ride, so riders could pick between a longer, more technical trek through Hard Trigger Canyon, or a shorter, more gentle ride along Wilson Creek.  Both rides offered plenty of creek (pronounced ‘crik’ in Owyhee County) crossings, and by the time we were done with the ride I think most horses were well versed in water crossings.  The scenery on the Hard Trigger ride was pure Owyhee County splendor; grassy lowlands along the creek bottoms, steep climbs up rocky side hills, high mesas with snowy mountains in the distance, and the chance of seeing wild horses roaming free (we had to settle for black cows and red cows, and their little calves peering at us from their hillside perches.  My horse wondered where are the black and white cows he was used to seeing??).  Hard Trigger Canyon was amazing.  It’s a short canyon whittled out of lava rock by a rushing creek just big enough that the horses don’t know whether to wade it or jump it.  The more athletic (translated flighty) horses insisted on jumping at every opportunity.  The canyon walls offer an array of sights and oddities to behold,  such as spires and interesting rock formations, as well as ‘caves’ that are actually lava bubbles formed however many  thousands of years ago.

Then we were out of the canyon and began our ascent back up to the plateaus and were lunchward bound.  Cheeseburgers and Brats were starting to sound pretty darned good, and I wished we would hurry up a bit so we wouldn’t be late for lunch!  But we were not a hurrying group, and we ambled along in the general direction I thought we should be going.  Everybody I talk to says “There’s so many trails out there, you can’t get lost!”  Well, I was.  If it hadn’t been for our illustrious ride leaders, I’d still be roaming around out there looking for burgers and brats!

Lunch was a splendid affair!  Barbequed burgers, chicken burgers, brats hot off the grill,  with all the fixings; salads, chips, cookies, muffins, whatever you wanted to drink, and a nice lady in a bikini (translated Wranglers, Carharts and a big floppy cowboy hat) to serve the cookies.  Definitely worth getting almost lost for! And of course stories to tell of our ride, tall tales from the other group about their ride, new people to meet and acquaintances to renew.

It was a great ride, a great day, and a great way to kick off the long summer riding season stretching out before us.  If you missed it, you missed a good time, but we hope to see you next time!

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7. May 2011 by Linda Paul.

What’s that all about? Hard Trigger? I saw a sign for Wilson Creek. I don’t get the Hard Trigger business. But then, the problem is that I only show up to skim the cream off the top of the jar. My friend Janine supplies the horses, the tack, the trailer, the gas, the feed, and the 24/365 care. I show up to sit on the horse for a while. Pretty cool gig, eh?

Janine, recently retired yet full of youthful exuberance, is a model member of Squaw Butte Back Country Horsemen. Not only did she sign herself up and take on some administrative duties, but she got me—an anti-social, non-joiner—to sign up. So, I still don’t go to meetings and I don’t participate in anything but the fun stuff; i.e., the RIDES. But I’m a dues-paying member and I got some calendars sold. Apparently that gets my boot in the door without being stomped on.

So there I was, early the Saturday morning before Mother’s Day, at Janine’s place just in time to slam the trailer door shut behind the caballo’s arses. Off we went for the Owyhee foothills. The journey thus far was uneventful. But in short order a mini-hell broke loose behind our parked trailer where my head-in-the-clouds mount stood impatiently awaiting the ride. While I was gagging over fistfuls of winter fur that blew off the curry comb, a rider from the trailer beside us mounted up and raced his steed up the hill igniting One Shot’s excitable nature. He pranced and he danced while I struggled to aim the saddle at the appropriate spot on his moving backside.

Meanwhile, Janine was busily engaged with mule-tack lessons. Proud new owner of two mules, she’s eager to glean wise bits of advice from other mule owners. I was about to attempt the bridling process with Mr. One Shot when a beautiful, saddled but unbridled, buckskin quarter horse darted past the back of our trailer, hotly pursued by a phalanx of mounted and non-mounted cowboys. This put Mr. One Shot beside himself. The runaway bronc was not one of Squaw Butte’s horses, nor, by the way, was the thoughtless rider from the trailer beside us. But it was a busy day there in the parking lot with two independent horse groups assembled for excitement.

Unsure of just how wild Mr. One Shot’s behavior might become, I began walking him about, hoping to settle his nerves and avoid a breakaway experience like that of the buckskin bronc. In short order, I decided I’d have a better chance of survival from atop this kegged dynamite. That was premature, as my saddle was still loose. Rob Adams came to my rescue, gentleman that he is. At last we were off.

SBBCH split into two groups of five riders. I have no idea where group A went. But they sure looked good as they rode off into the sagebrush. Ours was a lovely ride through BLM land where wild horses are often seen, but on this day we saw only doe-eyed beef. We scaled the side of a steep hill under ominous, but fortunately unproductive clouds. Cresting the top of a broad plateau we ambled about long enough for me to get slightly disoriented. When we reached Wilson Creek we passed through a gate and headed back toward the parking lot through a short but fascinating canyon of lava hoodoos. Caves dotted the rock formations where eons ago, large air bubbles had sponged the hardening rock.

I’m just returning to the horse world after nearly a 40-year hiatus, so there’s much for me to learn.  Of course, as we left the trail head, my hot-headed mount was prancing and dancing like a three-year old. Aside from the fact that I must constantly check him with the reins to keep his nose out of the rear of the horse in front, my girlhood romanticism revels in his high-stepping enthusiasm. But when Phil Ryan grumbled that he needed to rid his cowpony of its steady-all-day-jog, I listened and thought about what he said. It’s true. A mincing, prancing horse is nothing but trouble on a trail ride, where careful hoof placement reigns supreme.

Then there were the innumerable stream crossings as we rode through the canyon. Again, the schoolgirl in me thrilled to the unexpected leaps, dashes, and gyrations that took One Shot over each water crossing. But this, too, is detrimental behavior on the trail. If I needed proof, there is the black and blue mark above my groin where I lost a stirrup when One Shot lost his footing during one of his airborne leaps. I was utterly embarrassed to have lost my seat so easily. But the point holds. A trail horse needs some common sense. So does a trail rider. These trail rides are an awesome opportunity to glean wisdom from knowledgeable horsemen in the group.

And then, back at the trail head, there’s hot food, and wild stories to share. Even an old recluse like me enjoys the camaraderie.

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12. October 2010 by Lou Ann Gaskell.

Directions to Sage Hen Meadows  trailer parking area: For riding TR-131 South (Tripod Peak Trail to lookout)
From Horseshoe Bend, travel 33 miles North on Hwy 55.
Turn left toward Sage Hen Reservoir at Cougar Mountain Lodge (SF Road 644 to 626).
Stay on 626 (not 626H and not 626P).
Travel approx. 7 miles on the windy dirt road until you reach a small meadow on the right for horse trailer parking.
The trail head is about ½ mile East of the trailer parking area.
The trail is fairly easy with nice soil footing (not rocky). It is a worthwhile, scenic ride through the trees and meadows to the lookout.
From Meridian, plan on 1:45 to 2 hours travel time.

Thanks, Lou Ann

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16. August 2010 by Rob Adams.

Kennally Creek Campground

Travel 10 miles south of McCall on Hwy 55 then 19 miles east on Paddy Flat Road (#388). There are eleven units/nine trailer units with drinking water from one centrally located hand pump, tables, fire pits, charcoal grills, handicapped accessible toilet, hitching rails and unloading ramp, pack in/pack out. Good trail access with no trailhead fee. There is a host at Paddy Flat Guard Station. Contact the McCall Ranger District at (208) 634-0400 for the most current information. There is a designated horse camping area, and a great overflow (no fee) area about 300 yards up the road from the campground.  Three trails are available from this trailhead.  Kennally Creek trail is a mostly level ride through big trees with a number of creek crossing that takes you to some small lakes if your willing to ride nine miles one way.  The needles trail is a pretty steady climb with some loose rocky sections but is rewarded with some great views at the summit.  The Black Mare trail starts with a short climb, followed by a very nice ride through big trees to Bill’s Lake.  From the lake the trail climbs quickly up the end of the canyon to a saddle.  The trail head is at 5600 feet, the saddle is at 7,900 feet and the last 1,500 is in less than a mile.  The view when you get to the top is of the South Fork of the salmon river canyon, and it is spectacular. This is an end of the road trail head and camp ground, with very little traffic and very nice facilities.  Loop pack trips are possible from this trail head, with a number of lakes and creeks to camp by.  We saw very little sign of game, it had rained a couple of days before we started riding and the only tracks we saw on the trails were our horses.

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24. May 2009 by Rob Adams.

Bull Trout Lake, Stanley Basin
Latitude: 44.2988 Longitude: -115.2532
Elevation: 6955 ft (2120 m)

Squaw Butte and High Desert chapters of Backcountry Horseman of Idaho will be spending the 4th of July weekend in the Stanley basin camping at the trail head near the Bull Trout Lake camp ground. Directions from Emmett are posted on the SBBCH website or at http://www.sbbchidaho.org/Directions_toBull_Trout_Lake.pdf. Pictures from previous trips are at http://picasaweb.google.com/sbbchidaho2007/BullTroutLake#

The chapters will be camping in the meadow near the trail heads on the south side of the access road. Horse water is near, and it is a short walk to the FS bathroom and a fresh water hand pump. This is a no fee area of the campground. Members will start arriving either Thursday night or Friday morning. Friday is get your camp set up and fun ride or fishing day. There are a number of trails that are available from Bull Trout Lake. On Saturday for those members interested a work party will be formed to work on removing down fall from the Gates Creek Trail [148]. For members not interested in the work party, a ride on the Pass Creek trail [148] towards the Cats lakes by Red Mountain or Dead Man Creek [147] is an option.

Map of Bull Trout Lake trails:  http://sbbchidaho.org/pdf/bull_trout_lake_trails.jpg

Meals:Breakfasts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be communal with members providing fixing like eggs, juice, melon etc. Dinners will be pot luck on Friday and Saturday night. Members should plan on providing one dish for one of the two dinners. Lunches are up to the members to provide for themselves.

Stock: There are good locations for setting up portable corrals as well as high lines. There is good access to water for you stock on the north side of the meadow. The trails in this area have some small bridge crossing. It is a good place to do bridge 101 if your stock has little experience with bridges.

On Sunday for members interested and assuming the trails are open for use (snow above 8,000 feet) an optional ride out of the Iron Creek Trail head to Sawtooth Lake is possible before making the drive home. http://sbbchidaho.org/pdf/Iron Creek Area.pdf  The trail to Sawtooth Lake is full of spectacular mountain scenery and is one of the most popular in the SRA. Bring your camera.

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17. April 2009 by Rob Adams.

Canyon County’s newest park is located at the west terminus of Missouri Avenue.  Bring your horse and ride “Jubilee Park”
http://sbbchidaho.org/pdf/jubilee_park.pdf

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16. September 2008 by Ellen Knapp.

Ride Date:  September 27, 2008
Ride Time: 10:30

Directions to Trail Head:
(from: Linda Forrester)

After passing Dan’s Ferry Service on the river, proceed on thru Murphy on Highway 45 to the Silver City Road. (I can’t remember for sure just how far it is from Murphy to the Silver City Road, but I think it is 5-6 miles to the south of Murphy)  Turn right on the Silver City Road and go approximately 6 miles. (Your are still on the pavement on the main road.  This turnoff is on a big  turn of the road to the left.)  Turn to the right (North) onto a dirt road that takes you back to the corrals.  We always parked at the corrals and started our circle ride from there.  Linda W. knows the ride directions for the circle better than I do.  This was one of her riding spots!

(from: Linda W.)

You start at the corrals and you can go west on the road up the hill and just stay on it clear up to the top or you can take the trail to the south that will take you out and around the road and you still end up at the same gate! it’s way more fun!

Go left at the top of the big hill and bare left. The gates are all closed up there due to the cows in the area. Go down to the first cabin. Nettleton’s have restored the cabin and there is a note on the door telling of the history. Good lunch spot!

Then you proceed to the west through the gate and turn to the north across the little creek run off. Just keep going on that trail and follow it to the second cabins. Then on up the hill still heading north west.

*There will be a road on the right before the cabins that is the short cut.  It will take you back to the main road.  Or you can keep going  about another mile and see a road to the right that will take you up and then just stay on that road it will keep going north. You will go over the big hill and head back to the east. Through milk springs and back down to the road.

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12. August 2008 by Rob Adams.

If your interested in a nice ride up West mountain with interesting trails and nice views I can recommend that you make a loop ride out of the Wilson Corral trail [TR135] and the Gabes Peak trail [TR136]. Truck / Trailer parking can be either at the Wilson Corral trail head or Rammage Meadows camp ground where the Gabes Peak trail head is located. I recommend you ride up [TR135] and down [TR136] but either way works nicely.   The Gabes Peak trail has some climbs that make it slow going up.

Wilson Corral trail follows a creek in tall timber for the first couple of miles and then crosses a string of meadows ending up north west of the Radar Dome on Snow Bank mountain. In the meadows the trail gets quite indistinct, as cattle summers graze this area. You will see trees marked, and rock carrions. Continue up the meadows until you can not go any higher without dropping down into a small valley, around 7400 feet.

Look to your right and you will see a small meadow down through the trees and a rocky hillside between you and the radar dome. The trail heads down the hill through the trees into the north end of this meadow. You really don’t want to cross the rocky slope as the going is dangerous on very loose rocks. A nice place to give your horses a drink is located in this meadow.

From here the trail heads south and is easy to follow. You continue south along this grassy valley until you come to a line shack. At this shack, the Gabe’s Peak trail branches off to the right. The trail go left of some large rocks and works it’s way along a south facing slope into a series of meadows along a ridge. Stay in these meadows and on the crest of the ridge and you will have little trouble following the trail. The trail leaves this ridge on the north side and works its way through some large timber coming out on an old logging road. Follow this road to Rammage Meadows. Robbin, his grandson Al, and I rode this loop trail easily on a Saturday leaving the trail head around 10:00 and being back at camp in time for cocktails. This assumes that trail maintenance has been performed prior to making this ride, else it will take a bit longer.

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25. July 2008 by Rob Adams.

The Lightning Ridge trail is a 13.5 mile ride between Deadwood Reservoir and Forest Service road NF-611 (Lightning ridge road) in Garden valley.  Linda Hays and I rode some of this trail from the west, Garden Valley end.  The one lane road to the trail head is in very good shape, and the parking for trailers is limited, so this is not a good chapter ride.  But for small groups, of not more then maybe 4 trailers this trail offers one of Idaho’s best ridge rides.  This is not a ride for people or horses that don’t like to climb and are not comfortable riding on a hill side, as this trail has both.  It also has some wonderful granite rock formations and great views of Scott Mountain, Onion Valley, Garden Valley and the surrounding mountains.  During our ride the wild flowers were doing their best to cover the hillsides.  The west end of this trail is dry, not crossing any streams and the section we rode did not have a lot of shade.  On our trail scale of 1 to 5 with one being a flat dirt road and 5 being OMG, this is a 3.5

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6. May 2008 by Tony & Tami Buthman.

Sunday May 4th

We rode the lower 5 miles of the trail today.The trail has a good surface, gravel, but is probably soft enough for non-shod with tough feet. There is a few narrow openings for people and horses to get around locked gates. 2 miles in there is a wooden bridge to cross over a cattle access to the river. A dead beaver (still pretty ripe) and a deer carcass (not ripe), lots of rock chucks, geese, goslings, ducks (no ducklings), lizards, and birds. Only snake we saw was taken directly over us by a hawk. Good thing he didn’t drop it, it would not have been a good deal. We turned around at a gate that was closed but not locked so can go through it.

Think parking will be limited if we park by the dam, maybe 6 or 7 rigs with trailers. We made arrangements with Dillon to park in the field across the road from the dam, the company he works for owns the ground on both sides of the road. There are heifers in the field so will have to be careful about the gate, but there is lots of room.

The directions on the web site say to turn right at Unity lane, but people need to continue going straight on Weiser river road, over a small bridge over the canal to get to Galloway dam.

It was a very enjoyable ride, along the river all the way.

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2. May 2008 by Rob Adams.

I am planning on driving up to Big Willow Creek to camp on Friday night, camping Friday & Saturday, doing the Saturday ride in the wild horse area, and the Sunday ride at Sheep creek. This is a very flexible trip due to it’s short distance from Emmett. Members can camp and ride, or just day ride. Members who choose to day ride on Saturday, should also plan on sharing the pot luck dinner,  before heading back to the homestead. Rides on both Saturday and Sunday will start at 10:00

Information: http://www.sbbchidaho.org/pdf/0805MemorialWeekendHorseCampingTrip.pdf

Directions to Big Willow Creek: http://www.sbbchidaho.org/Directions_to_the_4_Mile_Horse_Management_Area.pdf

Directions to Sheep Creek: http://www.sbbchidaho.org/Directions_to_sheep_creek_camping.pdf

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1. May 2008 by Rob Adams.

Our Saturday April 26th ride to the Wilson Creek / Hard Trigger area was one of the better I have been on in this area. The canyon that trail [w100] passes through and water crossings were a perfect spring tuneup. Great weather also.  Last year the BLM did a major improvement of the parking area at Wilson Creek, including installing bathrooms, this is now first rate facility.  They also added a number of trail signs so it is much easier to navigate the array of great trails in the area.

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