Reports From the Trail

photos of the group of riders and horses on the September 2020 ride at Overland Pass/Diamonds.

FROM: Wendy Cobb
October 15th, 2020 PST

2020 Re-Ride cancelled and letter information

FROM: Melva Sanner, National Pony Express President
July 14th, 2020 PST

With much thought, deliberation and concern for the safety of our members and public supporters, a consensus decision to cancel the 2020 Re-ride and Convention was reached at the virtual ZOOM meeting on July 14, 2020 by the officers and State Division representatives of the National Pony Express Association. The 2020 Annual Directors Meeting will be via ZOOM meeting in September to address the business needs of the organization (date TBA). The Re-Ride will resume in June of 2021, starting out in Sacramento California and traveling to St. Joseph Missouri., Continue Reading

Trail markers on the Utah/Nevada XP trail

FROM: Dean Atkins
June 16th, 2020 PST

California Division Christmas Card Ride

FROM: Larry Carpenter
December 31st, 2019 PST

The 2019 Christmas Card Ride was held Saturday, December 7th. Riders in Relay transported two mochilas from the Folsom History Museum, along the American River Parkway to the Old Sacramento History Museum. The five-and-a-half-hour ride began with a beautiful clear morning but as time went on the riders hit rain. Ride Captain Rich Tatman stamped last minute cards from Collection Box inside the Folsom History Museum. Riders talking about the Pony Express.

Pony Express: Special Delivery Letters & Kisses for our Veterans

FROM: Petra Keller & Siena 
November 4th, 2019 PST

Woof! My name is Siena and I am a spunky 2-year-old heeler mix. Oh myyyy, the adventures I have had with my mom Petra! I enjoy going on trails rides where I get to run alongside and this past summer, I even got to come along on the Pony Express Re-ride! I sure loved helping “Uncle Red” (mom’s horse) who was carrying the Mochila (the special leather saddle pouch) which had lots of letters in it. Thankfully I didn’t have to carry it – it was heavier than I am., Continue Reading

Our Adventure Accompanying and Photographing the 2019 Pony Express Re-Ride from St. Joseph to Sacramento

FROM: Sally and David Gray
July 22nd, 2019 PST

Many of you will remember David hanging out our car’s passenger window with a camera while Sally drove alongside the riders.  Our adventure had its beginnings in 2009 when Sally had a particularly troublesome cancer. She read about a geocaching challenge to find certain Pony Express related geocaches in each of the states through which the original riders carried the mail.  She read several books from our library detailing the history and locations of the trail and the stations. She could not rise to the challenge then, but she followed, Continue Reading

Stephanie Buranzon heading across the flats toward Ft Churchill.

FROM: Diane Garland
July 16th, 2019 PST

Stephanie takes a short leg across the flats toward Ft Churchill, NV.

Jim Phelan at Buckland Station

FROM: Diane Garland
July 14th, 2019 PST

Jim Phelan riding past Bucklands Station on the home stretch to Ft Churchill for the exchange after crossing the Carson River Bridge. It was a beautiful Nevada Morning. Jim’s horse Mia was steady as the Nevada Highway Patrol escorted him across the bridge safely.

Top Gun to Ft Churchill - Making up lost time

FROM: Diane Garland
July 14th, 2019 PST

We arrived at the entrance to Top Gun Raceway on Schurz highway at around 2 AM the morning of June 19, 2019. I had met Alina and her mom Mary Alice at their home in Washoe Valley at 12:15 to drive out to Top Gun together.  We loaded up Belle and headed out.   Cassidy and Logan drove out from Silver Springs with TomTom and Costa and met us there.  We saddled up and watched the horizon for the bouncing twinkling light that meant the rider was coming.  Mary Alice stayed, Continue Reading

Up Old Meyers Grade and Over Echo Summit

FROM: Petra Keller
July 9th, 2019 PST

After a short night and a day working, I leave to head to my last ride section for the 2019 Re-Ride. This leg was in Meyers! Thankfully Jan & Chris were able to come help and be ride support for me to shuttle my rig to my end point. We had scouted a couple of weeks before to figure out where to stage the trailer and discovered that HWY 50 & 89 was a construction zone! Caltrans is putting in a round-a-bout! Yikes lots of heavy equipment, cones, erosion tarps, Continue Reading