FROM: Carol Hunt, Schellbourne Re-riders, White Pine
PST
I have really enjoyed the posts and riders experiences for the 2014 Pony! God Bless all of you for your efforts in recreating history! Sorry Utah had some “issues,” but that’s what makes a story. The adversity is what is remembered and talked about. We had our turn a couple of years ago, so now it was Utah’s turn. It’ll be better! Eva Jensen and I picked up prepared food from the Hotel Nevada for our dinner Friday night at Huntington. It was our ride Captain’s birthday, and she was excited about the ten Paso Fino’s and their riders from Pahrump, so it was nice she was freed up a little to socialize instead of being completely involved in cooking. We got the report that the mail was two hours early, which added to our excitement. Our rider headed out to go up to Overland Pass and be ready.
Eva and Tom Love and I loaded Eva’s truck with gas cans to refill several rigs. There isn’t any gas station along our 144 miles of trail. In fact, our stretch of trail is 99.9% actual pristine trail just as the pony riders found it 154 years ago. It’s not quite so “hostile” as back in the old days. The convenience of vehicles following along is a great reassurance of safety, although our new Pahrump folks had to wait a few times to get directions through Long Valley and Butte Valley, and Egan. Maps just don’t give all the information a person needs in unfamiliar territory. We joined the riders at Schellbourne. Joyce Christensen brought gas and diesel, and good sandwich makings and fruit and all the goodies for a good lunch.
The mail finally arrived, and Tom Love jumped aboard my good, level headed Missouri Fox Trotter, Eagle, to head on east. Eagle didn’t like the trailer going away without him and his stable mates, so Tom got several good bucks, but he hung on, and finally got leveled out! He passed off to Eva, and away she went, passing off to Marilyn Linares, a resident of Ibapah, who has ridden with us several years. She got the steepest part of climbing the Schellbourne Pass. After that, it was all downhill, sort of. Steve Campbell and Claude Mulnack took that section.
We had to take a “truck” route to the south and through Antelope Valley to get up to the area called “Tippets.” There we had to head back up the hill to the west to get our horses to where Wendy Anderson would be coming off of Rock Springs, said to be the highest part of the entire Pony trail at almost 8,000 feet.
We got the mail, and headed back down the hill past a scary BLM sign, a brown rectangular sign with the BLM triangle on it, that made it “kinda” look like a calf, or some scary creature, at least my “good sensible” Eagle thought. I survived his silliness.
On down to Tippets, and pass off to N.G. “Chris” Christensen and their group to take it across the flats toward the Goshute Indian reservation.
We met up with a lot of the group, and lined out for the final ten miles into Ibapah. We had gained another hour or so, depends on who you talk to. About less than a half mile from the National Pony Express Monument at Ibapah, we waited for rigs and riders to join us and ride in together, at a stampede, I might add. It’s all in fun. No Utah riders. We hadn’t been able to get ahold of them. But Wendy took care of passing off the mail to Utah people, and we headed for the Hicks ranch and camp, and dinner!! It was truly a great day, great weather (70 degree) no violent wind (like the night before at Huntington, so see, we had a little adversity!) LOL!!
Tom and I ate, then headed back to Ely as we changed our hats to “train robbers,” to get up and out for the 9:30 Father’s Day train. That’s another story. See what you have to look forward to when you retire!! Loved the great folks from Pahrump. They were so uplifted and happy, and their Pasos did an incredible job! All the horses did. Eight young people, two girls and six fellas were sworn in and rode, and they exemplified the spirit of the ad that called for “young, wirey, skinny orphans” not like some of old-“er” re-tireds who are a little more “fluffy.” haha Wendy will have her report, with info I don’t have, so look for it. God Bless every volunteer who rode this year.
Pony Rider, Tom Love, leaves Schellbourne on Hwy 93, two hours ahead of schedule!
O.k., O.k! The mochilla was heavy with 65 pounds of mail Claude Mulnack and Steve Campbell heading down Schellbourne Pass, Nevada.
Carol Hunt and Eva Jensen waiting for mochilla just east of Rock Springs about 20 miles east of Schellbourne.
Some of Pahrump riders checking rider out on trail.
Marilyn Linares about ten miles from her home, Ibapah!
What a great shot of Eva Jensen on Sosi, taken from moving truck with iPhone!
Kyla Hannah
Johnny, a six year old Tennessee Walker, finds Heaven in Ibapah, UT.
Mail was delivered three hours early to Utah!Carol Hunt, Eva Jensen, Tom Love after a great days ride!
National Pony Express Monument , Ibapah, UT.
Ride Captain, Wendy Anderson. Puts on her “Chef’s” hat.