Utah Trail Ride

[Beverley]

Went for a lovely trail ride in the San Rafael Swell on Friday. Pictures at

http://s222.photobucket.com/albums/dd89/BevHeff/San%20Rafael%20Swell%20Apr09/

[saddleup]

Great scenery. Was it cold? It looked like there had been recent rain. Did you camp there or just go for the day?

We need details to go with the great photos, please.

[Painted Horse]

Who did you do the ride with? They held the annual Green River Trail Ride this weekend. It's always in the San Rafael. I just wondered if you had joined them for the ride. What part of the swell did you ride?


I have always enjoyed riding in the Swell. Absolutely stunning scenery.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/Painted-Horse/San-Rafael-big-open.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/Painted-Horse/San-Rafel-ledges.jpg

[Beverley]

This was a Back Country Horsemen of Utah ride- we had our board meeting in Price today and so trailered down yesterday to ride. This was a day ride, about 4.5 hours to allow those of us from farther away to get there. But it is a great place to camp too, and there are corrals in a few spots, available first come first served. It was cool...cloudy but no rain and not uncomfortable, really, warm enough to not need my longjohns. But the wind did come up after lunch!

We were east of Buckhorn Draw, further north than the Green River ride.

[Painted Horse]

If you were just taking a short break from the meetings in Price, you woud have to stay in the North end of the Swell. I've spent more time in the South Swell. Mainly because I had a Bighorn sheep tag a couple of years ago and explored all the canyons looking for sheep. And I have done the Green River ride a few times.

Glad you had a good ride and glade you got down and participated in the State meetings for BCH.

[Beverley]

Correct, north end of the swell, trailhead was about an hour and 15 minutes from Price. One of my colleagues at work got a bighorn tag in the south end a couple of years ago and graciously shared the meet at our Xmas party- delicious!

[magnolia73]

Oh- so envious of you! I have ridden around Capitol Reef a few times- on the Boulder Mail Trail, Calf Creek, Pleasant Creek,Sheet's Gulch. The scenery is amazing..... and the footing awfully scary to a rider used to things like groomed footing and grassy trails. Scrambling up and down rocks takes getting used to. But gosh, I love the vistas and scenery and the rocks. The beauty is amazing.

Thanks for posting the photos. Money is a bit scarce to go west this year, so at least I can live vicariously!

[SarahR]

Great pictures Beverly! My husband and I have ridden in the Northern Swell a few times, mostly we ride down by Blanding or Moab.

Magnolia, do you have photos somewhere of your Capital Reef rides? We have been wanting to ride there for a few years, but would love to here from someone who has ridden there first. We've ridden in that area, and in Cathedral Valley. There is a corral in the southern part of the park where they allow overnights with horses in the park. The main trail from there is Hall's Creek.

Sarah
www.fourcornerstrails.com

[magnolia73]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25160020@N02/sets/72157617053710042/

Sarah- we went with the people from Hondoo Trails on a trip. I can't really give you guidance on the trails, we rode down pleasant creek and all these canyons.... LOL, without a guide we would have been lost. They take small trips around the area- not a head to butt operation. The scenery was lovely and we did not see anyone for 5 days. The campsite was primative- no corrals -needed a tieline. Crazy - CRAZY for me to see horses on a tieline!

[SarahR]

Really? I guess to me it's normal to use a highline. The horses seem to be just fine with it. I guess if I try I can see how it would look like tying them to a clothesline, tho :)

Your photos are great! The two pics of people leading horses down gnarly parts of the trail really show what it's like. Do you remember which trail the petroglyphs were one?

Sarah
www.fourcornerstrails.com

[magnolia73]

That panel was along Pleasant Creek. The trail just follows the creek. Very pretty! And fairly straight forward riding.

Yeah- as a hunter princess, navigating steep rock ledges and tying horses up for the night is very foreign. Until you realize that the horses are trained for this stuff and just fabulous! The outfitters I have ridden with in your state are not shy about going down steep drop offs or whatever...."Oh yeah- we can just slide down there- the sand will stop us...." "But it's like 90 degrees" "Oh, they'll just slide, steer if the horse in front of you goes down". We bushwhacked through willows, up and down slick rock banks- whatever- they went, we followed. That little black mare was so antsy- but when the terrain got serious, she focused.....

Yeah, riding back home is generally boring for a few months after that....

[SarahR]

Thanks for all the info!

They sound like fun to ride with :) Our terrain out West can be so incredibly rough that riding like that is often unavoidable, if you want to ride further. Funny thing is "slickrock" is actually quite grippy, like coarse sandpaper. My little mare can climb all over it, a friend once told me she's like a spider :)

I can't help myself, that photo of the horse being led down that crack needs a "Your Horse on Crack" caption :)

Sarah
www.fourcornerstrails.com