Back to the Bighorn

Last week we once again headed west to the Yaha Tinda ranch. Unlike last time when we stayed at the Eagle Creek Campground this time we went right into the ranch and joined our friends, Ken and Verna Pohl, at the Bighorn Campground. It is situated alongside Bighorn Creek and the effects of last June's flooding were still evident, but still a beautiful spot.

The view from our campsite

The picture above not withstanding the first three days of our stay the weather was spectacular with warm temperatures and hardly a cloud in the sky. We got on the road early the first day so once we set up camp, said our hello's, we saddled up and headed across the Red Deer River and up to Hidden Falls. This is one of our favourite spots here in the valley and always a nice ride.

Always nice to have Big Ben along to scout the river crossings

For those who know Ken and Verna's ponies, Beauty didn't shrink, she is on vacation and Seeker is filling in.

Willow is thinking "Nope, not me, no way"

This is a good trail to remember your rubber soled boots on

Hidden Falls

Tomorrow's Ride

Wednesday we enjoyed a nice breakfast and a great campfire and then got ready to head up to the Sheep Cliffs. All the years we have been riding here we have never made the turn up towards the Cliffs. It is a long climb and the trail although not rocky has a fair amount of exposed roots that your mount has to negotiate.

Lots of up and lots of roots

Some of the rest stops come with spectacular views

Along this trail you climb out above tree line

And the views get better and better

And once you get to the top it is time to rest up for the ride down.

More and more beautiful views as we dropped back down the 3400 feet to our camp in the valley.

Fall is definitely in the air up here in the high country.

Day 3 we saved for one of my favourites rides on the ranch, the rest of the world call it Poplar Bluff, but we just call it the High Trail. It is not as high as Sheep Cliffs but it sure has some nice views along the way.

Beautiful ladies, fast horses and spectacular scenery

Brenda just had to let her go for bit!

Ken, Verna, and Penny enjoying the view from our lunchspot

The Pohl Gang

The next day a little rain came into the valley and the Pohl's headed for home. Later in the evening, well a lot later, actually early in the morning we got new neighbours, Mike and Shauuna Lewis. They, their horses and three dogs arrived in the wee hours and we spent the next day getting to know them and their dogs, Night, Ruger and Watson.

Mikes Yukon Candle

Here is a look at our rides on the ranch this year from Google

A couple of posts back I wrote about saying goodbye to our motorhome, well the deal went through and with a little horse trading our travelling style is changing but we are still travelling even though I think we need a little bigger turn around at both Dogpounds. We still have lots of room but with this rig we can take along a bunch of our four legged friends.