SAN RAFAEL CHAPTER BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN Sept 2012 Welcome to our Newest Member An organization of men and women concerned about sustained equestrian access and proper use on our public lands President Rod Player 435-653-2440 Vice President Wayne Ludington 435-472- 8249 Secretary/Treasurer Priscilla Burton, From the President s Desk: Man this summer has really gotten away from me. I have an update on the trails impacted by the Seeley Fire. All of this is subject to change but, it appears that most of the area between North Hughes and Pole Canyons will be closed to public access throughout the fall. This includes Nuckwoodward. I have photos that show the damage caused by the fire and rain events. For example the wooden bridge in Pole Canyon that we worked on a few years ago was burned by the fire and completely destroyed by the following flood event (this is the same event that has closed the Highway). The fire completely burned the decking. While the three stringers were still there after the fire they were greatly weakened. When the flood came (remember this bridge is over a side canyon of Pole Canyon) it took out the entire bridge including the abutments and cut the streambed down to bedrock. If there is no more flooding the Forest Service hopes to have Horse Canyon, Top of Candland Mtn., and Mill Fork Trails open within a couple of weeks. Also, there will be no camping within the fire area at least for this fall. On the good side the restriction on campfires has been rescinded for all National Forests in Utah. Also, we were able to switch the grant funding for the trail crew with fire rehab funding so we will have the trail crew to work on Huntington Canyon trails next year. Hope you all are able to get out and enjoy your horses this fall. I sure hope to be able to get out more over the next two or three months.
Volunteer Hours Report Every year the State and National collect our volunteer hours and total them. It has resulted in determining that BCHA members have volunteered over 5 million dollars to public land management agencies. 2011 was a very successful year. Our Chapter recorded 562 work hours with an additional 405 Community Service hours. We traveled over 6,000 miles to volunteer these hours and rode horses for 71 days and over 249 miles. Please take sometime and record your volunteer hours for 2012. These hours are important in explaining to the land managers the importance of equestrian use on public lands. State Meeting The State Meeting was in Liberty, Utah on August 25. Wayne Ludington represented the SRBCH. The main things decided there was that the General Membership meeting would again be held in Spanish Fork on or near Jan 19 th. This year there will be two activities at the meeting such as a packing clinic, horsemanship, or trail obstacles. At the meeting we will be electing new officers for the state organization; this will include Chair, Vice Chair, and Treasure. Scott LeRoy, Jeff Nichols, and Betty Stokes volunteered to be on the nominating committee. Everyone who attends the general membership meeting can vote on the officers. This is different than the regular state meetings where only your chapter representative can vote. vault toilet. (who wants to go looking for a place to tie up your horse when nature calls.) We will be providing some of the funding to rent a portable welder and other assorted items with our grant money. We will be working with them to set up another work day on November 10. We will post the work day on the face book page (Back Country Horsemen- San Rafael Chapter). See photos on the San Rafael Back Country Horsemen Facebook page. Sept Meeting It is the year for meeting in Carbon County. We met at the Carbon County Event Center on the Fairgrounds at 6:30 on August 13th. We discussed holding a local trails extravaganza next year in Price. The event could include a packing clinic, government agency speakers, chain saw training, horse first aid on trail rides training, demonstration of horse shoeing, and trail maintenance techniques. We also discussed a project to finish the San Rafael Campground and tentatively set a date of Nov. 10 for this project. Huntington Canyon was closed again on Saturday, Sept 2 because of flooding. Mill Canyon flooded and carried boulders and debris into Huntington Creek. The boulders blocked the stream so bad that the river was diverted to running down the highway. Seeley Fire Rehab San Rafael Equestrian Campground BLM has ordered the panels needed to finish the corrals in the San Rafael campground, but they have not arrived yet. They still need to add table, fire rings and weld up the corral panels. We also have some hitching rails to be installed, particularly at the
The Manti-La Sal National Forest contacted the San Rafael Back Country Horsemen about packing in wood and roof bolts to be used to prevent erosion on the nonmotorized trails affected by the Seeley Fire. A trail crew was coming in to do the actual work and needed the materials packed in. Rod and Wayne volunteered to do the packing. They had been looking for a chance to use some of the training they got earlier this year. To date they have packed in more than 3000 pounds of four foot 6 X6 s and 1200 pounds of roof bolts. The material has been packed in for the Mill Canyon trail, Candland Mt Trail, and Little Park Trail. They have learned a lot and had a few wrecks. I am sure they will be very willing to discuss things they have learned to do or not to do. They also have learned a new packer s tie for hauling lumber. On the whole, the animals have done well and are getting into shape. Rod and Wayne have learned a lot more about packing. (I wish I could talk with the instructor again to remember that darn knot he used). There are number of photos on facebook from this work project. Wayne was contacted by the Central Utah Chapter about a possible loop ride around Mexican Mountain. They would like to set it up for a Saturday, either Oct 20 or 27. I suggested Oct 27 to avoid conflict with the people who want to go deer hunting. The ride as proposed would start at the gate on the Mexican Mt road. It would go around Mexican Mt until reaching the trail we ride in on. It crosses the San Rafael River two times and has one steep climb out of the river just above Swasey s Leap. The ride back parallels the Upper Black Box. I have seen a number of burro tracks in the area; just have not seen any burros. You get to this trail head by driving to the San Rafael Campground, turning east (left) just after you cross the cattle guard. This road is the one that goes to the new equestrian campground. Only you continue on east on this road. The last fifteen miles of this drive is on a rough road. Those who want to could camp out at the San Rafael Campground on Friday night. The Forest Service has indicated that they will be asking us to do this again next year for other trails. Facebook page For those who have not noticed, Priscilla set up a Facebook page for SRBCH. This page has information on our rides, pictures of our past rides and even some information on work projects. If you have not visited this page you are missing out on a lot of good information and some beautiful pictures. Check out the page today and check Like. Mexican Mt Loop Ride
UPCOMING EVENTS Sept 13- SRBCH meeting, 6:30 in Carbon County Event Center, County Fairgrounds Sept 15 SRBCH trail clearing project up Huntington Canyon. (Opening day for the trophy elk hunt) Oct 11 -- SRBCH meeting, 6:30 in Carbon County Event Center, County Fairgrounds Oct 20 or 27 Mexican Mountain Loop ride. Details will follow. Nov. 8 - SRBCH meeting, 6:00 in Carbon County Event Center, County Fairgrounds Nov 10 Finish work on the San Rafael Campground. Nov 17- Ride to be determined.
SAN RAFAEL BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN P.O. Box 132, Cleveland, Utah 84518 (435) 653-2440 SAN RAFAEL BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION New Membership Renewal NAME/S * Please list names for family membership. Children over 18 may be included in family membership or join as individual members. ADDRESS Street City State Zip PHONE NUMBERS Home Work Fax OTHER HORSE/MULE ASSOCIATIONS YOU BELONG TO EMAIL ADDRESS: Liability Release: MUST BE SIGNED Recognizing the fact that there is a potential for an accident wherever horse/mule use is involved, which can cause injuries to horses/mules, riders, and spectators and also recognizing the fact that Back Country Horsemen of Utah, including units, officers, directors, or members cannot always know the condition of trails or the experience of riders or horses/mules taking part in trail rides or other BCHU functions, I do hereby release the above named from any claim or right for damages which might occur to me, my minor children or horses/mules. By signing this release, I/WE recognize the following Utah State Law, UCA 78-27b Limitations on liability for Equine and Livestock Activities. It shall be presumed that participants in equine or livestock activities are aware of and understand that there are inherent risks associated with these activities. Inherent risk with regard to equine or livestock activities means those dangers or conditions, which are an integral part of equine or livestock activities. The equine activity sponsor is not liable for those inherent risks. If you are unwilling to assume these risks for yourself or for those under your supervision, you should not participate in these activities. Signed: Date: Signed: Date: MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO THE SAN RAFAEL BACK COUNTRY HORSEMAN Individual $30.00 Family $35.00 Patron $100.00 to $299.00 Benefactor $300.00+ Mail to P.O. Box 153, Cleveland Utah 84518