Some weeks ago Patti asked for people?s thoughts regarding the Big Horn
100 and here are some of mine.The
BH 100 is a different ride and it is not a ride for everyone.No 100 is easy, but the Big Horn has its
own challenges.The Big Horn trail
can never be made to be easy and some may be unhappy with the difficulty of the
trail, but ?If the trail was easier, it wouldn?t be the Big Horn
100.?
I agree that Tevis has the cachet just as the Western States 100 has the
name among the running 100s.Western States and Tevis are special races, but there are other
100s.I know the course of
Leadville and Wasatch and I?m quite familiar with the terrain of the Hardrock
100 in SW Colorado.Wyoming is
still the west and the Big Horn is still wild and tough.
Big Horn is put on by a small group of very dedicated volunteers.Wyoming is one of the least populated
states in the union and North Central Wyoming is sparsely populated even by
Wyoming standards.Those volunteers
love the BH 100.They take the
motto ?To finish is to win? to heart and they host the ride
accordingly.
The BH 100 takes dedication and a solid mountain horse
just to start.The Big Horn
Mountains are still wild and the trails are still tough.Even on good days, there is the very
real possibility that you might become confused or even lost on the Big Horn
trails.You may see moose and
perhaps even glimpse a wolf.You
can ride miles on the Big Horn trails alone, but most of the BH 100 riders are
very generous and they?ll go out of their way to help you on the trail.
If you expect groomed trails and expect ribbons to always be visible,
then the BH 100 may not be for you.But, if you want a true adventure with rough riders, tough horses, and
wilderness trails, if you want to start and finish at a real western ranch, if
you want to climb through the canyons to the Big Horn plateau, if you want to
see the tiny blue alpine forget-me-nots in the alpine tundra in July, if you
want to look across miles of Wyoming mountains and basins from nearly 10,000
feet, if you want to come down on the Black Mountain trails in the dark after a
hard day and many miles on the trail trusting your horse to carry you safely
through the moonlight, if you have true wilderness trail savvy, then Big Horn
might be your kind of ride.
Only a few people and a few horses travel the Big Horn
trails every year.Next spring when
you go to the AERC convention you?ll see quite a few Tevis belt buckles and
those Tevis riders are rightfully proud, but you might only see two or three Big
Horn 100 buckles.
The Big Horn 100 is a special ride and it is open to everyone.Next July I hope to see some of you at
Shell, Wyoming under the northern stars for the 4:00 AM start of the 2005 Big
Horn 100.
