Willow Prairie Horse Camp

Remember those fun camping trips with the kids? You packed everything but the kitchen sink....no wait, you packed that too! Something for everyone and every possible eventuality. Horse camping isn't much different but instead of hot dogs you pack bales of hay, bags of bedding material, supplements, horse "cookies", saddles, bridles, pads, blankets, buckets of all sizes, rakes, grooming gear and then you start on the human amenities!

Load 'em up!

Lug 'em into the hills.

The lure of wilderness riding and camping fuels horse lovers to work tirelessly to load all possible equine accoutrements and human necessities into shiny trailers and diesel trucks and lug it all up steep gravel roads to remote places of peace, quiet and beauty not experienced in the urban or suburban settings. Even as the animals lacked for nothing, the humans packed in gourmet dining menus of lettuce wraps, watermelon-jicama salad, pit fire bbq'd marinated flank steak (rare), omelettes, "ugly" muffins, baklava, iced tea and the ubiquitous s'mores.

Lantern light dinner

Lettuce wrap happiness

The caravan began on the northern Oregon part of Interstate 5 at 5:30 a.m., joined others halfway south and ended in southern Oregon to pick up the last of the passengers, horse and human. Once we finally arrived in camp, the setting sun spurred us to get the animals settled, get camp basically set up and make dinner by lantern light. We would ride at dawn.

Self-explanatory but necessary?

Pumping water for the horses

Curious campsite deer

Simple fire

It was THIS wide!

Dusty trail ride

Horse Trough Lake

Trail order

Fish Lake

Dog butt hat thanks to Joy

Flawless, a beautiful Halflinger

Esmerelda

Leery cows

Squirrel attack

Simple lunch table

Joy in her fave rest position

Morning riders

The dark of wilderness camping eliminates so many distracting sights and sounds that the dazzling night sky becomes the theater to view. Stars and constellations not visible in the city glow show up brightly against the black sky. The rising moon then lights the ground for those who need to find their way through the shadowy forest. The faint lowing of cattle running on the range bring a gently calming ambiance. Foraging deer step lightly amid the underbrush and busy ground squirrels reconnoiter the campsite for possible attack positions.

Horse bath water warming in the sun

The taste buds are always keener in the crisp morning air, attentive to the coffee resting in the French press, omelette fixings sizzling on the grill. Squirrel bite marks in the bagged but unsecured cocoa mix are a sharp reminder to put all food items in tough plastic bins or in locked vehicles if you want to enjoy them later in the trip.

Trough resident

As the sun rises shyly through the stand of pine, Douglas fir and Hemlock we clean up the breakfast array and begin to tack up the  horses for the morning ride. Hooves stamp in impatience as hides are brushed down, morning flakes of hay are munched and saddles, bridles and saddle bags are loaded on the broad backs of our equine companions. A final snort of water and they're ready to hit the trail. Carrying a park map we head out for a looped trail to view the largest white pine tree on the continent, reputed to be over 350 years old.

The dust kicks up under foot and the horses line up, nose to butt, for a leisurely walk along a narrow, rock-strewn trail that winds through meadows of dry grasses and forests of more lush growth. There are no water-filled streams this trip, the weather being in the high 90's, so we are mindful of the thirst factor as we head for the site. The undergrowth is dry and littered with downed, dead trees, perhaps victims of a pine beetle infestation or small fires. The horses follow the trail as the riders chatter, laugh and point out sights of interest along the route. Hills wind the older horses so rest stops are provided and trail positions rotated so that the same horse is not always in the lead. This develops a more well-rounded equine character and behavior. The click of metal shoes on the rocks is a reminder that these sure-footed beasts have twice the feet to manage as their human counterparts. This provides a more secure ride as one foot slips or stumbles and three are there to catch the weight and balance the animal and rider.

As we approach camp, the pace quickens once the horses smell the familiar stalls with their water buckets hanging alluringly and fresh feed awaiting their stomachs. The scanty grazing along the trail was not sufficient to meet their constant munching requirements. As they are relieved of their tack, the horses settle into their morning snooze and the campers pick up the stalls and rustle up some easy lunch snacks. A dip in the Horse Trough Lake, a.k.a. the water trough, cools one camper after the dusty ride.

In the heat of the day riders rest, relax, read and plan the next ride. The birds are now busily searching for food bits, the squirrels and chipmonks scouring the ground for dropped morsels. The cows trample through the perimeter on their way to the meadow for afternoon cud chewing, calves in tow, bell-necked females keeping the watch. The constant  hum of flies and their occasional bites are annoying and bug spray fails to reduce their attention on us. Hummingbirds flit through the tree branches in search for constant sweetness to nourish their busy wings. Blue jays pair up for a run at the dog kibbles and the squirrels tag team the table when our backs are turned. A failed food security detail amounted to the loss of an entire box of mocha truffle cookies and a dish of fruit, the squirrel last seen dragging a whole apple into the underbrush. We were sure we heard it scream "score!" but it may have only been the cows.

Manure run

The week passed quickly in its busy routine, lazy afternoons and occasional dips in a lake or two, the food cache slowly diminishing but never completely disappearing. The evening campfires gave time for deep conversation, belly laughs and song writing. All too soon we were packing up the gear and animals, wondering aloud why we brought so much "stuff", but remembering how useful it all was. Minimalist campers we are not. The e-port on one tent gave rise to a hilarious list of electronic and electric items the dude camper might think to bring: hair dryer and curling iron, big screen TV, A/C, cell phone chargers, electric blanket. If you can pack it, you can bring it. Nonetheless, next year we are sworn to lug less into the forest as we hone our wilderness women image. Single bucket gourmet meals are the goal! Peace and quiet for the soul. It all works to make us whole. Get out and experience the backcountry for a change of pace and perspective!

Shadowy wilderness woman a.k.a. dudette