Blue Sky Sage Late Fall 2009, Newsletter

Highlights include:
*HUGE SAVINGS when you make early horseback riding vacation reservations for 2010
*New "SPECIALS" rides at REDUCED RATES
*Photos from the 2009 Horse Vacation season

Taking Time Off Isn't Lazy

I just read this enlightening article in my November/December issue of "Via": AAA Traveler's Companion magazine, which I receive as a benefit of AAA Membership. Titled "One nation in need of a vacation: Taking Time Off Isn't Lazy. It's Essential" by Steve Rushin. He almost scolds us as Americans to not feel guilty about taking time off from anything and everything; in fact he emphasizes that we need to become "duty-free."

One of the more funny (but true) fact that Rushin brings to light is that "In England . . . leisure and pleasure rhyme. In the United States, leisure rhymes with seizure."

A light, quick read that reaffirms our belief that what we offer to our guests here in Wyoming is very valuable.

Autumn Colors, Wyoming-Style

Fall is almost behind us; there is a big snowstorm across much of Wyoming as I write this entry. Here at the ranch on the Green River, it is very cold and windy, which makes me long for those beautiful days of September color and warm sunshine.

This photo was from the last ride of the season, heading up toward the forest. It was a little chilly that day but no one was deterred, as the aspens were beautiful and the sky was Wyoming blue.

Camp Cuisine . . .

Food is a big part of the Blue Sky Sage horseback experience and I just had to show you this fabulous photo of daughter Emily, who was our hors de'ouevres and dinner chef this season, with the lovely meal she prepared for the "Wild Wyoming Women" group of ladies. This is typical of the evening dinner; marinated buffalo kabobs, fresh vegetable salad, olive oil seasoned potatoes, french baguette bread and though it's not in the photo, a dutch oven baked dessert of apple crisp. Mmmmmm . . .

The Wild Wyoming Women was the very first all-women group of gals that we hosted, and were the inspiration for the most popular rides we conduct each year, the Girls Ride Out! All Women Horseback Vacations. Four of the original eight of us are still riding together and though some haven't been able to come every year, we have a new gal who comes regularly now and we are always inviting someone new to join us as people rotate through. This year there were five of us and as always it was good therapy for all.

From left: Emily, Phyllis, Ellen, Joanne; standing are Bobbi and Nancy

Summer is Riding by us fast!

Being out on the fringes of wilderness, the connectivity to the internet is hit and miss at best, so I pen this as I wash a last load of clothes at the Clean Wash in Pinedale, Wyoming. The accountant's office and the grocery store are ahead of me yet. It's always a relief to get the prep work for the next ride completed and get back to camp!

Mike and Outlaw in a patch of Sego lilies, which have been very abundant this year; it's rare to see such a huge field of blooms in one place like this.

The summer has been absolutely beautiful, much cooler and wetter than we've had in many, many years in Wyoming. Word is that our 8-year drought is finally broken, which is welcome news for everyone, in spite of the challenges that the rains and winds brought to everyone who works outdoors for a living here. Hay is being baled all around the Green River valley now and our suppliers have another beautiful crop of native grass bales for our horses. It seems that we feed hay most of the year, starting with the winter feeding about mid-December through mid-April and then at camp from mid-June through September. There are always a few horses out on pasture on "r&r" during the summer and there is good grass at the home ranch year 'round that they can get to, but we spend a lot of time and money on "packaged product!" At any rate, the horses look wonderful, slick, shiny, fit and hardened by the good work they are doing for our guests every week. Mike keeps their feet in shape with natural balance "wild horse" hoof trimming and a few get shoes; a little honey to treat the horse bites and little wounds, days off for mental and physical rest, quality feed and good horsemanship practices keep the cavvy in top condition.

So far we have conducted five week-long rides and one weekend trip since starting with guests on June 22. There are four scheduled rides left and a few openings available on all. I hope we can get a couple more folks to join Mike's horsemanship clinic week August 26-September 1, as it is a unique opportunity for people who want to be better students of the horse to get actual hands-on experience with our good horses under Mike's tutelage. It's better than sitting in the audience at an arena and watching the clinician have all the fun!

Our long time friends and guests Leonard and Alyce Peterson of California joined us again in July for their sixth trip. Leonard is usually behind the camera, but I was able to get this great shot of him on Buckwheat as we rode near the Sweetwater Gap area.

We continue with rides starting again on Sunday, August 16, with seven ladies who all sound ready to ride and see some country. The saddle horses are fit, the cook is practiced and we are rested up for another active week. More later from the Little Sandy River, Sublette County, Wyoming!

Wildflowers and Wild Horses

The end of June marked to completion of the first ride of the season, which we dubbed the "Wyoming Wildflower Ride", as the blossoms of the many high desert and mountain wildflowers finally had a chance to open up to the sunshine that seemed to take forever to get here this spring. The colors were beautiful and the contrasts were vivid against the grass-green of the meadows and the sage-green of the brush country.



Our riders on this trip were several gals who have a Blue Sky Sage addiction to the horses, the open range and the whole Wyoming experience; some were on their fourth consecutive ride, one on her third and we had two new gals. The three "addicts" have already booked into the 2010 Fall Color Ride, so they can say they've been here every month of the season at least once. These women are all great riders and the two newbies fit in very well. This photo was taken on the day we went up the many "loping roads" to the Bridger-Teton National Forest boundary near Dutch Joe Creek in the Wind River range.


This week is the first Mustang Horse Adventure; horses were spotted and Mike led the group to within 200 yards of one band that had many foals. There is water in scattered ponds where there usually isn't out in the area we go into, so the bands seem to be very scattered this year. The riders are back on the trail out there today, hopefully they were able to get farther out with the trailer load of saddle horses to a better jumping-off spot, as the rains had made the road very muddy and rutted the last trek out there. Will let you know how it all turns out during my next writing. For now, it's back to camp to tend saddle horses and do morning chores, since my "hilltop internet session" is about done for this week.

Here comes the sun . . .

At least I hope so. While we really appreciate rain here in the high, dry "Equality State", it takes sunshine to finish off the growing and blooming part of the cycle. We made it in to the Little Sandy camp with the last load of horses and a trailer load of assorted gear and the saddles. It's been dicey getting to this point, with the challenges of the weather and muddy roads, but we're here and can get the horses ridden and the camp finalized.

It's so beautiful and peaceful out here, with only the occasional vehicle traveling down the gravel road that parallels the Lander Cut-off of the Oregon Trail on a private trek to somewhere. Some mountain men pulled in and took a break down the river a couple days ago, on their way to a rendevous up north; we anticipate that we'll have many a bicyclist again this year from the Continental Divide bike race and regular bike tourists whom we welcome with a warm cup of coffee and maybe a bite to eat. They are always grateful and we've met a wonderful variety of people and personalities. It seems that it's what we're supposed to do, be a haven for people, in many ways.

The camp calls and the work is still waiting (I'm parked up on top of a hill above the river where I can get the broadband to work so I can check email, catch up on correspondence and write a bit for those who are tracking Blue Sky Sage on our trails). Keep checking, I'll write more later this week, as I will get home to check the remaining horses, pack the groceries and do the laundry up one more time before our first guests show up a week from today. We are so ready to get in the saddle every day!

Camp Setup is Underway

I have to say that at this time of year, we get very tired of "getting ready to go to camp" and just want to be there and do it! The preparations seem endless, but by doing every possible thing we can before the field season starts, we can devote the most and the best of our time to our guests once the rides start.

Mike has started hauling equipment and the cookhouse over to camp, with two more loads going tomorrow. We'll get the cookhouse in order first, so we can at least get a pot of coffee going whenever we need it! Next, we'll set up the wall tent and fly, which serve as the gathering places for meals, cocktails and shade. The sleeping tipis will be next, along the banks of the Little Sandy River, with cool running water just a step away from the tent flap, natural "white noise" for sleeping.

Once the core of the human facilities is completed, he really big job of assembling the corral and horse support system will start. Our corral is made up of portable panels that we use at our home place, so those all have to be loaded and trailered to camp, along with all the saddles and other tack, hoof care and vet supplies, water tanks and pumps, hay and finally, two loads of horses. Depending on the size of the ride group on any given week, we'll have 14-16 head in camp with a few left at the ranch for spares or those who may need some R&R.

Hopefully, we'll have everything set up and ready to go by June 10, and then we'll be living at our "summer home." On the agenda for that 10 days or so before guests arrive, we'll be doing a lot of riding to get all the horses legged up and their minds back on business. There are always many little projects to work on, such as making sure we can get the broadband to work onsite for internet access and for Emily's online school. We do have phone reception so that's a plus, if we are in the cookhouse anyway:) The last big push will be Emily and her sled dog team . . .

Welcome to Wyoming!

My inaugural post, as I enter the cyber-world of social media! "Social media" used to mean a party-line telephone didn't it? Though this is all new to me, I'm fairly cyber-savvy so I'll pick it up in good time.

The creation of this blog is in conjunction with the launch of our company's new name and website, Blue Sky Sage Horseback Adventures at www.blueskysage.com My husband Mike and I have worked in the horseback riding vacation industry for over 30 years in Wyoming. Our endeavor for the past ten years has been the active horseback adventure company we started as High Wild & Lonesome Horseback Adventures. As we've grown and our customers have reflected on their experiences, the new name seemed to better capture what the horse and wilderness experience with us is all about.

Our daughters Amanda and Emily have grown up in the business and have taken the skills and work ethic the gained from those years into their own endeavors. Amanda is in college, will be getting married in July, and has started her own small company featuring her handmade, beaded jewelry, Accessories by Amanda. Emily is passionate about sled dog racing and maintains her own racing kennel, Powderhounds Sled Dog Racing, which is no small feat for a 15-year old. She still works for Blue Sky Sage full-time as a camp cook and wrangler, in addition to going to high school online year 'round.

This is the time of year when things start getting busy for us, riding horses to get their minds back on the business of carrying people on their backs all day long as we hit a lope across the sagebrush; stocking the cookhouse with all the supplies to prepare wonderful meals over the campfire in a Dutch oven; and of course, booking new and returning guests for a unique week of horseback riding with a handful of other enthusiastic horsewomen who come to the West to leave their day-to-day life behind and focus on themselves and a good horse.

I may be a bit erratic in keeping the blog updated, but will try to get to it at least once a week during the season and more often if I can. Thanks for joining us and "hoka hey." (This is a Lakota phrase, loosely translated it means to "be in the moment", which is what you always have to be when you are around horses in any manner).