Back Country Horsemen of Iowa
Western Chapter
By Dorrine Norby
& Brian Pierick
In January of 2016 Back Country Horsemen of Iowa was formed. After two years of expanding, getting more folks involved, and helping to get a name and reputation established for Back Country within Iowa we were able to add three additional chapters in
I
composed of loesss oil (Loess rhymes with fuss) some fifty to three hundred feet deep parallel to the Missouri River and flood plain. The Loess Hills were formed by wind blown silt created after the last glacial age fifteen to twenty thousand years ago and have since been shaped by rainfall. Loess is highly erodible soil and deep gullies are easily formed. The National Park Service identified the Loess Hills Land form as a nationally significant resource. These Loess Hills have approximately twenty thousand acres of remnant prairie, representing approximately 75%of Iowa’s remaining prairie heritage.
Until last year the trails have been closed to Equine use for many, many years. Our chapter met with the land manager in the spring and we were allowed to have work days in each of the four units of the park (Little Sioux, Pisgah, Mondamin and Preparation Canyon units). We worked on clearing the multi-use trails in these areas that in some cases had not been trimmed or worked on for a number of years due to limited staff and resources. This partnership resulted in the Western chapter being permitted to host one public ride per month in each of the four units after obtaining a special use permit. Prior to our public organized trail ride we completed a total of four work days with many volunteer hours dedicated to improving these trails for all users.
Due to paper work, timing, weather and working with a nearby saddle club, we were able to schedule this first public ride in the Loess Hills State Forestat the Little Sioux unit in mid-September. After months of planning and organizing, the big day was upon us! We had a great turnout (66 riders), even though the weather was in the mid-nineties. We were even allowed one night of primitive camping in a hay field adjacent to the park for BCHIA members only after this organized public ride.
three or more hours. We ended 2018 with these six chapters in place for the state of Iowa and are continuing our efforts for expansion with the goal being to gain more chapters in 2019.
In 2018 the Western chapter worked diligently to establish a partnership with the Loess Hills State Forest, a series of hills
strategic locations across the state to our original three chapters. This was a great step for us to start limiting the amount of travel around the state required to help with park trails, sometimes driving
In 2018 the Western chapter worked diligently to establish a partnership with the Loess Hills State Forest, a series of hills composed of loesss oil (Loess rhymes with fuss) some fifty to three hundred feet deep parallel to the Missouri River and flood plain. The Loess Hills were formed by wind blown silt created after the last glacial age fifteen to twenty thousand years ago and have since been shaped by rainfall. Loess is highly erodible soil and deep gullies are easily formed. The National Park Service identified the Loess Hills Land form as a nationally significant resource. These Loess Hills have approximately twenty thousand acres of remnant prairie, representing approximately 75%of Iowa’s remaining prairie heritage.
Until last year the trails have been closed to Equine use for many, many years. Our chapter met with the land manager in the spring and we were allowed to have work days in each of the four units of the park (Little Sioux, Pisgah, Mondamin and Preparation Canyon units). We worked on clearing the multi-use trails in these areas that in some cases had not been trimmed or worked on for a number of years due to limited staff and resources. This partnership resulted in the Western chapter being permitted to host one public ride per month in each of the four units after obtaining a special use permit. Prior to our public organized trail ride we completed a total of four work days with many volunteer hours dedicated to improving these trails for all users.
34 / Sport and Trail Magazine
Loess Hills State Forest Public Ride 2018
Loess Hills State Forest Work Day after Public Ride