Mark Bedor - Great Rides of Todays Wild West: A Horsemans Photographic Journey Across the American West

Copyright 2015 by Mark Bedor

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

ISBN: 978-1-63450-634-2

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-63450-635-9

Printed in China

Art Director, Layout: Robin Ireland, Ireland Graphic Design

Copy & Photo Editor: Marilyn Bedor

Lets Ride!

I grew up watching Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and The Rifleman . When How the West Was Won came out, I envied the kids whod seen that buffalo herd in the Black Hills. Its still my favorite movie. I can almost recite it.

Out West was the only place I ever wanted to go. And Ill never forget the first time I saw those Rocky Mountains looming in the distance. Looking out the car window, I wondered what itd be like to ride a horse in that awesome country.

Over the past fifteen years or so, Ive had the great privilege of doing just that, experiencing many of the great and beautiful places of the American West horseback, riding in country most people will never see. But they could if they wanted to.

This book is a window into that magnificent world of the remote horse trails of Death Valley, the High Sierra, Billy the Kid, Custer, and Yellowstone. And chasing those buffalo in the Black Hills.

We also ride the trails of some of Americas great Dude Ranches, experts in making even rookies safe, comfortable, and confident in the saddle. There you can see for yourselftheres no better view of this world than from the back of a horse.

Theres lots of things to do in this life. I want to spend as much of mine as I can horseback, experiencing the Great Rides of Todays Wild West .

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Great American Horse Drive
Craig, Colorado

R IDE T HE W INDS

B RIDGER W ILDERNESS , W YOMING

A ugust 15th. Not exactly the date youd expect to wake up to a fresh blanket of snow. But thats exactly what I discover as I poke my head out the door of my tent on this frosty summer morning. Im waking up in the high country of Wyomings Rocky Mountains. And the unexpected snowfall is just one more adventure in a week that has been full of them. Its the last day of a week-long horseback ride known as the Ride the Winds pack trip, in a spectacular range of the Rockies known as the Wind River Mountains.

The snow is a bit of a surprise. After all, the walls of my nylon tent spent the night getting blown about by howling wind and driving rain. But we are camped at an elevation of more than 10,000 feet. And there are still places up here with big patches of snow on the ground left over from last winter.

But the new inch or two on the ground is not too big a deal. With down coat, warm gloves, and waterproof galoshes over my cowboy boots, I am prepared for the weather. And as I step outside into the chilly, early morning light, the dusting of white provides yet another shade of beauty to this awesome unspoiled wilderness.

Hey Mark! Is this a Rocky Mountain high or what?! exclaims fellow guest Mike Johnson, here from South Carolina with his wife Jean. Camp cook Alex Estes already has the wood burning and the coffee brewing, as I tramp through the snow to join them all around the campfire.

This white Christmas scene in summer is simply gorgeous. And the nearby mountain stream running through the snow-covered meadows and pines makes for one more Kodak moment I have to have. Ive already shot well over a thousand pictures by this last morning of our journey. But I could have taken 10,000.

Ill shoot a few more as Jean and Mike pose in the snow around the fire with Alex, guide Dave Bash and wrangler Lee Smollin. Dave and Lee will soon be loading up our six-pack mules one last time. And its another great picture as my five fellow riders and our string of mules make fresh tracks through the snow as we hit the trail, with the newly dusted peaks of the Winds looming in the distance. As the trail drops in elevation, well be out of the snow in a couple hours, as we ride out of the Bridger Wilderness here in the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

Seven full days horseback is the longest pack trip Ive ever taken. But the days have flown by. And as we get closer to the trailhead, theres lots of joking about turning around and retracing our route. Were not really kidding. Given the chancewe all would!

This epic adventure began a week before, as we rendezvoused at the historic DC Bar Guest Ranch outside Pinedale, Wyoming. Owner Tim Singewald left the Denver banking business 25 years ago to buy the ranch and its sister operation, Bridger Wilderness Outfitters. Today the DC Bar operates a family-style dude ranch, offers guided fall hunting, winter snowmobiling, a professional guide school, and a variety of summer pack trips.

Dave and Alex are the two primary instructors of the guide school. Lee graduated from the rigorous course earlier this summer. Dave and Alex possess a friendly competence and professionalism that inspires confidence. Out here in the wilderness, I know Im in good hands.

The West is still wild here in Americas least populated state. And while it doesnt have many people, Wyoming has lots of wildlife. Even the 90-minute drive from the DC Bar to the trailhead where this horse trip began was memorable. I saw plenty of pronghorn antelope out the window, including some big bucks just off the side of the road. Watching North Americas fastest animal turn on the afterburners is a sight to see.

Our horses wont do any running on this pack trip. The rugged and often rocky terrain of the Winds simply doesnt allow it. And you cant hardly lope leading a string of pack mules anyway. But with the incredible views that will surround us all day every day, this ride will never be boring.