Walking On Volume 2, Issue 4, April 2015 | Page 11
Industry Info
Back Country Horsemen of America
Works to Benefit All Trail Users
Back Country Horsemen of America protects our right to
ride horses on public lands in a wide variety of ways across the
country. They believe in putting a priority on the things that
really matter, such as making our beautiful landscape accessible to all users and developing partnerships that help us accomplish that. BCH folks know there’s value in lending a hand,
even on projects that don’t directly benefit horse users.
Building Relationships
Sometimes building relationships means pitching in even if
you have to leave your horses at home. The Uinta Basin Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of Utah have been looking
for ways to get involved with trail work in Dinosaur National
Monument. This National Park Service property along the
Colorado and Utah border consists of 210,000 acres of river
canyons, mountains, and basins that support over a thousand
different native species of plants and animals. The Utah side
also boasts dinosaur fossils and the world renowned Carnegie
Fossil Quarry.
Although horseback riding is not yet allowed in Dinosaur
National Monument, the Uinta Basin Chapter BCH contacted
the land managers to offer their assistance with trail maintenance. Because of Back Country Horsemen of America’s reputation, they were told a face-to-face meeting was not necessary
and were asked to help with work on a hiking trail. Uinta
Chapter Back Country Horsemen members met with hikers,
youth volunteers, and NPS em loyees to build rock cairns and
p
a rock stair step on the busy Sound of Silence hiking trail.
After a long work day, BCH members discussed with the
land managers the possibility of a horse trail in Dinosaur
National Monument and were invited to meet formally for further discussion. Lending a hand where it’s needed, regardless
of personal interests, builds a rapport that benefits everyone.
The Uinta Basin Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of Utah
will continue nurturing this relationship, making a way for us
to enjoy this stunning landscape by horseback.
Preserving History
Back Country Horsemen of America values our country’s
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