Monday

We woke up before the crack of dawn on Monday and went down to feed the horses. We then went up, had an early breakfast and went back down to the stables.  

Josh getting to know his horse

The morning was spent learning some new knots, getting our helmets and *finally* meeting our horses.

Cory on Dillon

The camp spent a lot of time assigning horses to riders, based on their level of experience.

Kyle on Millie

Thomas and Mesquite

Chris with Rehab

Cole and Shadow

Me with Rooster

Unfortunately, they did not spend as much time assigning  horses by size. Our tallest boys were assigned some of the shortest horses and our shortest boys the tallest. Oh well!

We learned how to pick out the horse hooves. This is probably the hardest task of the whole week. In order to make sure the horses don't have rocks in their hooves, you have to clean out all of the dirt between their hooves and shoe. So, you had to pick up each hoof, and hold it while you used a small pick to clean out the dirt. Needless to say, most of the horses did NOT like having their feet picked up.This task frequently required the boys to work together, as it was too difficult to accomplish alone.

Cole and Mike picking out hooves

Of all the horses, Grant's horse Pumpkin was definitely the hardest to pick!

We also learned to saddle our horses, bridle them and put on the saddle bags and bedrolls.

After we had them all loaded up, we went up to the mess hall to grab an early lunch, and then headed back for our first trail ride.  

Leaving base camp and heading up the mountain!

The first afternoon, we rode to Whiskey Bottle - about a mile straight up the mountain to the top of the Canyon. 

It took us about two hours, though some of that time was us adjusting and learning how to get our horses to move.  

Grant, Chris, Josh and our wrangler Donald heading up the mountain!

They day was cloudy and cool, with growing clouds overhead ... 

Just as we reached the campsite, the clouds opened up, and we got poured on.  We hopped off our horses, and hustled into our rain gear.  We then sloshed through the rain to unsaddle our horses. 

It was cold and wet, but the sun soon came out, and we saw the most beautiful rainbow!

As we set up camp, the wranglers made dinner - a combination of rice, canned chicken and picante sauce.  it is a true indicator of how hungry and happy the boys were, as a few claimed it to be the "best meal they'd ever had". :o)

Thomas at the overlook

Whiskey Bottle had an overlook at the edge of the canyon that looked down over base camp. Many of the boys spent time just enjoying the view

The overlook at Whiskey Bottle, with a small glimpse of base camp below

The rain continued off and on throughout the day and night.  

Our shelter for the night was a tent with walls on two sides. Those on the edge soon learned to wrap themselves in their tarp in order to keep dry. Grant, Cole, and Mike set up hammocks outside.  They wrapped themselves in their tarps to keep dry.

It was a pretty cold, sleepless night for most.