FROM: Patsy Lange - Utah Trail Captain team 2
PST
little did I know last winter when I expressed to Mark Jenkins one of my trail Captains that I would like to assist him as a trail captain if he needed me. About two weeks before the re- ride, Mark’s horse stumbles and he ended up breaking his pelvic bone. the other trail captain at the last minute could not get off work this year so he could not assist. Since I had volunteered, guess what, tag – I’m it – the trail Captain this year! I gladly took the challenge as this is my 26th year and I love the Pony Express. I asked my daughter, Jamie Marvidakis, Utah’s state vice president, to assist me. My team of nine riders started out across the West Desert of just a little less than 100 miles. I had called my members and ask them to bring extra horses if they could. the temperature was just right in the low sixties and high 50s during the night. We had some high clouds but the moon still shined through and most of the way was beautiful moonlight. I want to thank Stephanie Larson and the employes and family members of the Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge located along the Pony Express Trail, in the West Desert between Black Rock Station and Boyd Station for taking the time to do a photoshot. Marshall Trip was the pony rider riding into fish Springs. I want to thank all of my team for doing extra rides this year and doing whatever it takes to get the mail through! It was a fantastic experience to see many wild horses cross the road in front of Cindy’s truck right in front of us. There were still many wild horses in the distance to the left of us, there must have been a hundred of them at least! It was too dark to get pictures of them. I also want to thank my riders who have posted stories and pictures and I hope more will be coming through.