June 28 Trail Ride- lower intermediate

   The ride was on Wheeler road about four or so miles east of the 160. A slightly later start was allowed due to a misprint in the paper. There was a small mishap while one of the trailers was unloading causing them to withdraw from the ride. I believe one of the horses caused slight injury to themselves getting out of the trailer.

  So we started out with 8 riders ( ending the ride with the same number as well...) following the road down towards the canyon floor. At this point we left the road and followed along the canyon wall which allowed us some shade during the ride. Some riders opted to follow the road nearby ( a smoother path ).. For the most part the going was fairly easy as there were no major inclines or drops to worry about, although there were two foot or so wash trails and such, but they were a few feet wide so no hardship. The trail was pretty well your basic desert terrain except that we were riding along a canyon, allowing some great views, and rock walls not always seen on some rides. Without really realizing it the ride out was an almost steady but gradual climb that at times allowed you to see back over the Pahrump valley.

   The horses did not seem to mind or even notice the climb as the pace was not too great. As it was we kind of kept to an informal format allowing various riders to form groups while chatting and watching the scenery. At most times there were three groups spread out while keeping an eye on the other groups. The front and middle groups stopped periodically, to wait for the last group and to lead off again as a single group.

   Some Riders just followed the trail while others would veer a short distance this way or that to check something out or to challenge their horse with a more varied path.

   About two thirds of way out we came to a pass through a part of the mountain that was somewhat like a winding tunnel being about 4 or so feet wide and 30 feet long. Some of the horses were a bit wary but we had no issue with any of them going through. ( With some, we had the buddy system where the horses were familiar with each other, and others the fact that they didn't want to be left behind.) We got through without any panic or banged knees.

  On the other side of the tunnel the canyon had been about a 1/4 of a mile across but on this side narrowed down to areas varying between 20 or so feet to somewhere under a hundred. We rested at the halfway spot that formed a kind of open well with lots of shade  and being open on both ends. After resting about 20 mins or so we as a group decided that even with the altitude it was getting a little warm and that we should head back before it got too hot.

  We returned along the way we had come basically, in two groups as one of the ride organizers was showing a less than accustomed rider some pointers of gaited horses and trail riding. While nearing the end of the trail a couple of us broke off to await the other two ( not wanting to have too large a gap between us.) allowing the rest to ride on. We all returned to the starting point within a few minutes of each other and without incident.

The Whole Ride was about 7.5 miles uphill out and downhill in, with 6 experienced horses and riders one experienced rider with a somewhat trail-green horse and another rider with limited riding experience but a proven trail horse. We also had a mixture of gaited (paso/peruvian) and non gaited horses. Although I may be wrong I believe the ride was about two and a half hours long.

   The ride was moderate, the speed comfortable, and the heat not too bad. A more than pleasant way to spend a morning.