the first experience for men and horses
but only Blackjack did a little rodeoina,
She started bucking as soon as they put
the pack saddle on her and took off
across the yard buckina. She finally
settled down but we decided not to pack
panniers on her that day in case she
smashed them so just packed her with the
tents and duffle baqs and left 2 panniers
behind as they only contained feed for the
horses.

Half way through the packing it start-:
ed to rain aqain so everyone tried out
their new rain gear. Mike had an extra
coat, a lonq black slicker that came
down to his ankles with a slit up the
back, and he put that on instead of his
rain jacket. After the horses were packed
we were going to mount our horses when Mike
went flapping across the yard, spooked
Thunder and off she went, pulling the tree
she was tied to out of the around and
draagina it after her. Bill finally caught
her and calmed her down, At first we
couldn't understand what had upset the
horse but came to the conclusion that it
was the flapping rain coat, so Mike changed
and was warned not to wear it aaain,

The rain finally ceased and we set off
about noon. Bill was lead man, leading
Spud and Apollo, next in line was Tracy,
myself, Rick leading Paleface, Mike lead-
ing Chestnut and Tony leading Blackjack,
The first hill we came to Spud slipped
pulling Bill out of the saddle and causing
quite a comotion. We had only been travell-
ing a few hours when the packs started to
slip, due to too many top packs, and as
we knew we would never make it over the
slide area on account of the slippery trail
from the recent rain, we made camp at
Mud Creek at 4 in the afternoon. By that
time the sun was shining and it was a
lovely afternoon so we set up camp and
dried out all our camp equipment. \le camp-
ed riaht beside the creek as we knew the
horses would try and ao back to the Lava
Beds. their home ranae, during the night.
\le were quite riaht, Bill and Tony were
up half the niaht stopping horses from
crossing the Creek. They even stopped a
few that didn't belona to us.

\le aot up early the next morning and
were hopina again for an early start but
being inexnerienced at packina it was
2 pm before we were on the trail. While
Bill, myself, Tracy and Rick broke camp,
Mike and Tony rode back to the Lava Beds

was back, and again, empty handed.
sae r2 StS SEG a . P a.

9

takina Paleface to pick up the 2 panniers
and feed we had left behind as we thought
we might need it. They came back just as
they left. Paleface took a dislike to the
packs and took off breakina one pannier to
splinters. Also before we left Mike stach-
ed his slicker in a safe spot. Just before
we qot to the slide area Mike's packhorse
Chestnut, slipped off the trail and luck-
ily aot hung up on some trees. \le managed
to aet her up and no damage was done.When
we aot to the slide it was like riding
across the desert, sand dunes, hot and dry.
Lobo got the notion to have a roll in the
nice warm sand, Rick, saddle and all! Rick
bailed off and ended up walking her across.
At one spot the trail is very narrow and
there is a shear drop off to the Tabltan
River below so we had to walk each horse
over this Area. '!e repacked Blackjack five
times and straightened packs on all the
others but had a aqood day enjoying the
beautiful scenery followina the Tahltan
River. Camp was made at Hartz Creek that
day, with everyone pretty tired.

July 19th, we awoke at 7:30 am to
another nice day. Had breakfast and
while we broke camp Mike rode back to the
slide area to try and find a small duffle
we lost the day before while repacking
which contained spare shoes, bridles, etc.
for the horses,

By then we found we were carryina too
much aear and our panniers were too heavy
so we went through everything and left
tied in a tree, our Coleman camp stove,
white qas, extra rope, flour, sunar,
cheese, turnips and other odds and ends,
By the time we were ready to leave Mike

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Junqle cortina to Middle Creek,