Paso at 12,800 feet!

[SarahR]

Inspired by CarulU's wonderful post and photos from her mountain ride, I am getting off my behind to post about my high altitude ride and camping trip last week. My husband and I went on our first ever solo pack trip without our experienced pack trip buddies. We were out for 3 nights and four days. Our 15 hand 2 year old TWH colt was a packhorse for the first time, carrying a light load of very pared down camping supplies:

http://www.rosehorse.com/PacMan.jpg


We set up camp 7 1/2 miles up the trail at 11,700 feet:


http://www.rosehorse.com/Camp.jpg


Day 2's riding was in the timber:

http://www.rosehorse.com/trail.jpg


Day 3 was above treeline for an incredible view of the Needle Mountains. The mountain to my right is over 14,000 feet! We were at 12,500 for this photo:

http://www.rosehorse.com/MVC.jpg

I've posted this pic before, it's the worst part of this trail:

http://www.rosehorse.com/Jypsi_rockthing.jpg


It was a wonderful trip and we were so proud of ourselves for taking the plunge and going off by ourselves with our greenie colt. He did so good, I think he'll be a breeze to ride after all this. Nothing phases him.


The weekend previous we did a spectacular ride out of Silverton, Colorado. The weather wasn't as cooperative, but we still had a nice, but shorter than planned, ride:

http://www.rosehorse.com/Silverton.jpg

These photos were taken at 12,800 feet:

http://www.rosehorse.com/HML.jpg

http://www.rosehorse.com/Grens.jpg



We are going on another shorter pack trip with our packing buddies this weekend, but nowhere near the altitude of this last trip. They prefer the bigger rivers to the small alpine creeks for fishing, so lower we will go.


Sarah in Durango

[Pasogirlz]

:jawdrop Those pix are breath taking. 8-)

[Kerry W]

http://www.rosehorse.com/HML.jpg

All of the photos are so incredible, but this is my favorite...it has all four elements. Air, earth, water and fire (Paso Fino!). ;-)

And...I can see the dorsal stripe..always a plus! :lol:

[lisa l aka marci]

http://www.rosehorse.com/HML.jpg

All of the photos are so incredible, but this is my favorite...it has all four elements. Air, earth, water and fire (Paso Fino!). ;-)

And...I can see the dorsal stripe..always a plus! :lol:

Can you say...Picture postcard perfect?????

Awesome pictures.....

[pnalley]

Stunning! Truly Gods country.

How did you contain your horses for overnight? Did you hobble, picket line?

What an awesome adventure. I would love to be able to ride in area like that.

[CarolU]

Sarah...great shots and looks like a great ride! I'm just super happy for you!

[SarahR]

We put them on a highline at night. It works great as long as you are in an area with big sturdy trees.

[pasohappy]

:jawdrop :jawdrop those are truly beautiful, you are sooo lucky.

[dana]

Wonderful! thanks for taking the time to share with us!

[Barbwire]

I want to ride that country before I die. It's almost fake looking it's so perfect.

[ErinC]

ya no thank you!
I would be dead, that would be the ride that did me in.
me and hights , nope, no way!
nope!

[appyday]

Don't tell Carol U but those are as good as her trails....da bomb diggity

[Rusel]

awesome beautiful... and the colt doesn't even look like he's on a lead line in the second photo.... !!

[Jasfino]

Now thats a trail ride! :shock: Just a little taste of heaven here on earth!! Your a lucky girl!

[Jane Hurl]

Fabulous photography! Fabulous countryside! Fabulous horses!

Just fabulous.

[SarahR]

awesome beautiful... and the colt doesn't even look like he's on a lead line in the second photo.... !!

He wasn't :) On his 'days off' we loose ponied him and would get a hold if him if we encountered other trail users. He does really well, and can get his head down to look over stuff and figure out how to step through and over stuff without being dragged along by the pony horse. We don't do that if we are riding with other people, though.

I have to giggle sometimes as a friend of mine, when told we were moving from the Denver area to the southwest part of Colorado, said "Why would you want to live there, it looks like New Mexico". I think it looks like the place where Colorado postcard pics are taken.


Sarah

[SarahR]

Don't tell Carol U but those are as good as her trails....da bomb diggity

Ah, but Utah does have my favorite trails EVER.......red rock canyon country! LOVE that stuff.

[CarolU]

Don't tell Carol U but those are as good as her trails....da bomb diggity

:hitting

Utah has nothing to compete with Colorado's 14,000 foot peaks. But our 11,000 foot peaks are pretty nice too. :razz:

But Sarah is absolutely right...there is no where on earth that compares to Utah's red rock country. From Monument Valley, to Arches, to Canyonlands, to Zions and Bryce, it is all incredible. I think Clinton should have just declared the whole bottom third of Utah a National Park and saved it all. It's so spectacular.

[CarolU]

PS Sarah, that is such a great way to raise a baby. When he finally is under saddle trail riding will be 'old hat' to him. Great job. He sure is growing into an outstanding horse.

[SarahR]

Here's a reminder pic for those who don't know what we are talking about Carol:


http://www.rosehorse.com/NevilArch.jpg

[Jane Hurl]

My God, that last photo is spectacular!

Wow!

[TrueStepPaso]

http://www.rosehorse.com/HML.jpg

I loved this SO much, that I saved it to my pictures. It is just amazing.

Barb & Jane said it all for me...I want to ride there before I die, and these horses, pics are just fabulous. Thank you so very much for sharing. I really enjoyed your post, and I like your horsemanship (loose ponying).... :D

[PASOFAN]

I agree, breathtaking! So enjoyed your pics and adventure! Very happy your greeny did so good to!!