HORSE DRIVE DAY 2

II was consistently amazed throughout our trip, how well organized Frontier Pack Train kept everything and how early the cooks and ranch hands were up and at work. At dawn, the cooks got coffee and hot water for tea started and laid out a continental breakfast. By 7 or 7:30am, full breakfast was ready each morning. The ranch hands got a nice big campfire going to warm the waking participants (and themselves), attended to the horses, took down the tents after we vacated them and helped anyone that wanted help loading their gear back in the horse trailer.

I won't lie. I had definite misgivings about getting back up on that horse the second day! I'd discovered muscles that I'd forgotten about and there are no adequate words for describing how my butt felt. I think Deanna was in much better shape. We'd given this trip to Deanna as her Christmas present and it was all about her having a great time and connecting with her Mom, so that is what I focused on. The good news is, as Day 2 progressed, the scenery became amazing, my butt went numb, my stirrups got lengthened (relieving some knee issues) and Opie and I came to an understanding. Every bend in our journey revealed a view that amazed me even more. I feel certain that Deanna and I saw some of the most beautiful countryside in the U.S. - views never seen from any road. Seeing them on horseback is unbelievable! Unfortunately, we took very few pictures while on horseback...but we do have our memories.

Our route took us over the pass referred to as Deadman's Pass (elevation 8,036 ft.), through the Owens Valley region (roughly following Owens River Rd.)

Our campsite for the night was next to Crowley Lake, where a temporary corral was set up for the horses.

There were significant areas on this second day where the ground was soft and the amount of trail dust kicked up by all the animals was incredible! Filthy but in great spirits was the proper description for Deanna and I at the end of our second day - after a total of 7 hours of riding (4 in the morning and 3 after lunch)! Dinner for Deanna was tri-tip steak and I had a nice piece of salmon cooked just for me (since I don't eat meat). The temperature in our camp bordered on freezing once the sun went down, the wind-chill factor was tremendous, but it felt like a hellofa good day!

Click HERE to continue the tale to our third day on the horse drive.