Preserving the backcountry
Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 11:21 am
Preserving the backcountry
A shared love of riding and the outdoors brings a group of area horsemen together to restore trails and keep them open
TAMMY KRIKORIAN
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Posted: 2/5/2008
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A local group of horsemen and women don't just get together to ride, they also volunteer their efforts to help keep trails open and intact.
The Back Country Horsemen of America was founded in 1973, and the High Sierra Chapter was founded in 1991, according to newly elected secretary Sabine McCowen.
"What we try to do is keep the backcountry open for equestrian use," McCowen said.
As areas develop, she said, "more and more trails get closed."
The High Sierra Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of America clears downed trees
and branches from biking, hiking and equestrian trails every spring.
After winter storms, the group goes out in the spring to clear downed trees or branches from biking, hiking and equestrian trails.
"We restore those so all those groups can use those again," she said.
The group also educates the equestrian community on how to "leave no trace" when they travel in the backcountry. Lessons include tips on not harming a tree's bark when tying up a horse, not letting a horse overgraze and not camping too closely to water sources.
"So, when a horse has traveled on a trail, it doesn't leave any damage or anything unwanted -- even smells -- that wouldn't be appreciated by other travelers," said McCowen, who lives in Spanish Springs.
The group works closely with the National Forest Service and annually does repairs on a historic cabin in the Markleeville, Calif., area.
"We pack materials in on horseback because there is no other way to get equipment there," McCowen said. "For example, this year we planned two overnight trips to the area -- first to assess the damage that occurred over winter, (and a) subsequent trip to repair damage."
The Back Country Horsemen group also plans events just for fun, such as a weeklong pack trip to the Sequoia and King Canyon National Forest and a horse camping trip to the Euer Valley near Truckee planned for later this year.
The group's biggest event is a trail clinic held each April at the Lemon Valley Horse Arena. Participants bring their horses, McCowen said, and the group builds trail obstacles with a variety of things that could potentially scare a horse, such as bridges, tarps, flags, balloons and other animals.
"One of our members will bring her llamas to get the horses exposed to llamas, another member will bring a four-hitch mule team," she said. "Whoever joins the clinic can expose their horse to these scary things."
McCowen said a horse's instinct is to "run first and think second," which is counterproductive to what a rider wants them to do.
"By exposing them to all of these things, we teach them to gain confidence when they are exposed to something they aren't familiar with," she said. "(The horse also) gains confidence in the handler -- the horse will learn, 'You're not going to get me hurt.'"
The High Sierra Chapter of the Back Country Horsemen meets on the third Wednesday of each month. The next meeting on Feb. 20 will be held at the Great Basin Brewery in Sparks.
For more information on the group and how to join, visit http://www.bchnv.com
