Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Wyoming: Back Country Horsemen fight conditions to add convenience to Sunlight campgrounds

PowellTribune.com - Full Article

Posted Tuesday, May 26, 2020 8:20 am
By Mark Davis

Just after lunch, dark clouds moved in overhead and a cold rain began to fall. The storm was expected, but the crew couldn’t see it approaching at Dead Indian Campground — far below the surrounding peaks. It wasn’t welcome, but the crew was undeterred.

The work marked the beginning of a new season of hard labor, mixed with laughs, for the Shoshone Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of America. Members from across the Big Horn Basin and southern Montana come together several times a year to maintain trails and trailheads in the Shoshone National Forest. It’s an endless, all-volunteer effort to keep trails open and provide comfort and convenience to those who frequent facilities in northwest Wyoming’s mountains...

Read more here:
https://www.powelltribune.com/stories/back-country-horsemen-fight-conditions-to-add-convenience-to-sunlight-campgrounds,25526

Monday, May 18, 2020

Alabama: Local Back Country Horsemen clean up Wind Creek

GadsdenMessenger.com - Full Article

May 15, 2020

By Katie Bohannon, Staff Writer/Photographer and Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor

Following the April 19 tornado that hit Wind Creek State Park in Alexander City, fallen trees clogged the facility’s horse trails prohibiting people or animals from crossing. Inspired by his organization’s mission, Duck Springs resident and Back Country Horsemen of America member Chad Jones committed himself to ensuring the trails were cleared and open for all.

Jones contacted BCHA McClellan chapter president Jerry Roach to organize a voluntary work session at Wind Creek State Park. Together, the two sent out emails to each BCHA chapter explaining the situation and asking for help. Jones and Roach were not disappointed with the response they received.

From April 30 through May 3, 25 members from four BCHA chapters met at the park to help clear debris from the horse trails. Over the course of four days, the group cleared approximately 20 miles of equestrian trails. Beginning at the equestrian campground and working outward, the group used chainsaws, ATVs and pack horses to remove all debris. Although the blue trail, one of the longest and most scenic of the rising trails, was too heavily damaged for the chapter members to clear, their combined efforts opened three trails in one weekend alone...

Read more here:
https://gadsdenmessenger.com/2020/05/15/local-back-country-horsemen-clean-up-wind-creek/