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Regional,
Monthly All-Breed Horse Magazine • Since 1993 |
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Copyright 2011 Rocky Mountain Rider. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Reproduction of any editorial material, artwork and photos is strictly forbidden without express written permission of the publisher. For information about reprint rights, please contact the editor; editor@rockymountainrider.com.
Members of the Priest River Valley Chapter
of the Back Country Horsemen of Idaho spent 3 days this past summer volunteering
their time, skill and labor to renovate the Trail Creek Trailhead (Trail #53),
seven miles east of
Construction
of the horse corrals included cutting and welding pipe, mixing and hauling
cement, and clearing the site of trees, stumps and debris.
From June 24–26, 2011, the members constructed a series of metal horse
corrals, steel high lines, a hitching rail, building tent pads, and clearing a
nearby trail.
This project had been in the works for just over three years in
cooperation with the Bonners Ferry Ranger District, which is on the Idaho
Panhandle National Forests. During this three-year period, the Forest Service
rebuilt the trail from the trailhead to the creek crossing as well as
overhauling the crossing itself. This crossing had been one of the most
difficult in the local trail system and more than one rider had gone into the
drink before the reconstruction.
Also at the trailhead had been an old, overgrown landing which had caused
numerous problems, including making it difficult for those backing trailers.
Upon removal of the landing, the parking area more than tripled.
During the winter of 2010-2011, members of the Priest River Valley BCH
started making contact with potential supply donors and the result was
fantastic.
Business Donations (Supplies, Materials and food) were received from the
following businesses: Minden Well Drilling, Bonners Ferry, ID; Liberty Pipe (now
Bison Pipe), Jerome, ID; Clint Kimball Company,
Individual donations (cash) was donated in the amount of $631. The Priest
River Valley BCH chapter donation (cash) in the amount of $500. Total donations
were $5,489.
On June 18, 2011, the Bonners Ferry Ranger District installed a vault
toilet at the trailhead, paid for by grant money. It came in handy during
construction. The Bonners Ferry Ranger District also planned on installing two
steel fire rings and picnic tables over the summer.
The volunteer workers started arriving at the trailhead on Thursday, June
23, and continued to arrive and depart and return to the work site as their
personal schedule would allow over the next three days. There were a few who had
been involved during the planning and organizing over the past year who
couldn’t be there during the construction phase, but whose presence was felt
due to their dedication and hard work already performed.
Four
newly finished steel pipe corrals try out horses.
This hard-working crew cut, welded and ground pipe, mixed and hauled
cement, cleared trail and camp sites, drove tractors, piled stumps and slash,
operated chain saws, shoveled gravel, cooked meals, moved boulders, lugged
timbers, laughed a lot and had a real good time resulting in the following
achievements: A
64-foot x 16-foot corral system
with three dividers and four gates, all welded steel and cemented into the
ground. Three
steel, highline posts with welded rope
loops, cemented into the ground. One
14-foot, all-steel, hitching rail welded
and cemented into the ground. Roughly
1/8 mile of trail leading to three 14
foot x 14 foot tent pads that are boarded
with treated timbers and filled with sand and gravel.
The Trail Creek Trailhead is used by multiple user groups and accesses
miles of trails in the
The Priest River Valley BCH put in a total of 323 skilled-labor volunteer
hours; 97 hours power equipment; and 98 hours on heavy equipment; plus 1,573
personal vehicle miles.
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Rocky
Mountain Rider Magazine • Montana Owned & Operated |
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