52 Miles in 2 days!
First, I must say what a great time we all had! This was our first time using pack horses and camping out on the trail! Not to mention in the middle of November! Our original plan was to go to the Smoky Mountains and ride. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans and we ended up at Big South Fork. I think everyone will agree, it was one of the most beautiful places we have ever rode.
The first night we stayed at Bear Creek Campground sleeping under the stars! The next morning Scott and Mike went on a wild goose chase to find a map of the park. They had talked to some rangers and found out that there were large bear tracks very very close to where we camped the night before! I'm glad I didn't know that at the time!
We had 2 pack horses that carried our sleeping bags, Coleman burner, feed, hay, clothes, ect. The first day we rode 27 miles to Station Creek Horse Camp. With some great map reading by Rod and Mike we managed to find the right trails. Some of the new trails weren't marked! Luckily we met a man named Dave and he directed us to a local short cut which cut off about 6 miles of our trip. Good thing because we would have never made it to camp before dark if we didn't go that way! If we would have been able to leave earlier, we could have made it to Chariot Creek Lodge which was another 6 miles away. Once we got to camp we had one of the best Ham sandwiches that Scott brought. I don't know if we were just starved, or they really were that good! After a bowl of hot soup and a shot of whiskey we all were sound asleep by 9:00.
The next morning we got up, took care of the horses and headed back to Bear Creek. Both days we saw some amazing things! Gorges, creeks, rock formations, rolling hills, to much to mention. The one thing we didn't see much of was wildlife. Not one squirrel, not many birds, no deer and no bears!
We rode 52 1/2 miles in 2 days. People might brag about their endurance breed horse, but our good old fashion Quarter Horses did great! They kept a good pace, never gave up and got us there safe and sound!
The last night we were there we went to town to eat at Huddle House, like a Waffle House. It felt good to sit on a chair, not a saddle! The food was great, but then we probably would have ate anything that night!
I'm just glad we didn't end up on 60 Minutes or the local news! You know, as one of those stories the people got lost for days with no food wandering around the woods and ate by a bear! We had a great time, I can't wait to do it again! Enjoy the pictures!
I'm sure I'm forgetting some of the funny parts of the trip, there is just to much to tell! Thanks Rod, Mike & Scott, I had a great time! Thanks Mike B. for doing all the chores here at the farm so we could go! I'm sure you all did too! Thank God for our wonderful horses, NuCents, JR, Jake, Jay, Rowdy & Moose.
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