I never get any movie/TV references, so Taylor was understandably shocked when the above quote came out of my mouth after I saw that lake picture for the first time. Nobody needs to know that I had a huge crush on Captain Kirk as a kid.
Also, I’d like to be teleported back into those mountains please, thank you very much.
Tay Martin and I went leaf watching a couple of weeks ago, in the best way we know how.
We packed up A LOT of stuff, a big bag of good snacks and most importantly milk for our morning coffee, loaded up 3 Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustangs, namely Lacy, Rock and Tiny, as well as German Shepherds Denali and Ranger, and headed into the wilderness.
It was epic.
2 mountain passes, 2 subalpine lakes, 1 bull moose in camp, lots of riding, ALL the incredible colors and gorgeous scenery. The weather was glorious after a stormy first night.
Reintegration into society has been slow and incomplete. You’re never the same after a trip like that. I think pack trips make us a little more feral each time.
For the first several days after the trip, I’d get a daily text from Taylor, something along the lines of “I think the mountains broke me. It was too pretty. And too short. I want to go back.” Same, Taylor, same. Every. Single. Time.
5 plus days out there is the goal next year, exploring some new country and enjoying familiar territory. Here’s to good goals, great horses, happy dogs and passing the backcountry horse packing bug to friends!
