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[RC] Found In Woods? and Name That Camp - Tina Rushing

This is a great thread, sorry I'm late!

In Stanislaus National Forest (California) we were climbing a narrow, steep
ravine trail in a rugged granite-strewn forest.  We began to hear a bell in
the distance.  The bell was attached to a Longhorn which was followed by
another Longhorn.  Yeah, Longhorns.  Huge Texas-style cattle with Horns Out
To There, the kind they put on BBQ sauce labels.   Imagine our surprise.

We wondered what would happen next as the Longhorns were rapidly descending
and there was no trail left to share.  Our horses held held their ground.
The Longhorns leaped off the trail and plowed down through the ravine.  I
couldn't believe they were able to get through the rough country with those
horns sticking out so far.  We had been squeezing through boulders.  The
sound of the bell became fainter as we rode on, stunned, comparing notes to
be sure we weren't hallucinating.

Within a couple of miles we came upon the Cowboys, also rapidly descending.
Real cowboys, not those dudes who drive half-ton pickups with Cowboy Up
stickers.  These guys rode right out of the history books and they looked
like they'd been in the mountains for months.  They wore long, dusty coats
and were packing rifles, lariats, and other cowboy gear.   I looked for a
film crew but there didn't seem to be one.  We were able to yield trail to
the Cowboys.  Naturally, the Cowboys were tracking the Longhorns.

We never saw the Cowboys or the Longhorns again so the story would end there
but I seek to recall the name of the Camp we rode out of.  This was a great
place for technical training rides.  We rode out of a civilized trailhead in
a horse camp with hitch racks, water, and potties.  It was off Hwy 108
between Strawberry and Pinecrest.  We saw signs for Dodge Ridge but we did
not actually see the ski area.  There is a pack station within a mile (or
few?) of the horse camp.  I recall a ridge trail high over a valley that we
had identified as Bell Meadow which may have been as close as 5 miles from
the trailhead.   If someone knows the name of the Camp or the Station, I'd
be grateful.

Tina Rushing
El Granada, CA


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