Last year's Great Cariboo Ride was another success, with 60 people participating in the horseback camping trip July 25-31.
Established in 1983 by Marshall and Ruby Christianson, last year's ride followed a two-year break due to a lack of volunteers, with the main camp once again back on Lyle James' ranch at Vert Lake.
Margret Findlay, who is one of the organizers, says about 50 people brought their horses for the daily rides with trail boss Gerry Barrett, and the rest tagged along to enjoy the other activities and help at the camp.
She adds there were plenty of local folks on the trip, plus many more from around British Columbia, Alberta, and the United States.
"There's nothing like seeing a beautiful country from the back of a horse, especially British Columbia with the lakes, hills, mountains, trees, rocks and the rolling effects of the land."
The 2010 ride was one of the best, she notes, mostly because of the weather, great wranglers, first-aid people and a great, social group of happy participants.
As usual, riders had options for longer or shorter trips, ranging from two to six hours.
The longer route involved endurance riding up mountains and manoeuvring down steep inclines, she says, adding all the horses were well conditioned and well behaved.
"One of the things the Cariboo ride stresses is safety, and we instruct our guests and members on the importance of their horse being well-adjusted and trained."
The nine-day event always includes seven at camp and two travelling there and back, usually returning on the long weekend in August.
Last year's ride had a great a variety of fun activities, and Margret says folks especially enjoyed the social aspect with a lot of singing, stories and laughter.
Right from the "get-go," teams were formed and identified by colourful scarves for a scavenger hunt over the course of the five day's of riding, she says, adding items sought on the trail included coyote or other skulls, old horns, rare plants, rusty barb wire, an old tin can, a horseshoe and moose droppings.
She notes the riders proudly displayed their finds on the last night, each regaling the group with tales of how they found the items along the trails.
Entertainment included square dancing with local caller Dave Abbs, and Margret adds they all had a good laugh when the beginners got mixed up.
There was impromptu comedic skit by professional actress and singer Doreen Menu of Vanderhoof who played the role of Minnie, an 83-year-old woman talking about the men in her life.
"John was the one she went to see each morning down the hall - 'down to the John'," explains Margret.
"There was Charlie Horse, and there was Arthur Itis who took her from joint to joint. It was hilarious; everyone was just in stitches."
The wonderful meals kept everyone well nourished, she says, adding riders head out each morning with a bag lunch in their saddlebags.
On this ride, camp dinners included steak, lasagna, chicken, roast beef, ham and schnitzel, that Margret explains were prepared by "top-notch cook" Ulli Vogler.
"And don't forget the delicious desserts, oh, ho, ho!" exclaims Findlay. "We had cheesecake, bumble-berry squares, cookies and chocolate cake."
Most of those not riding were wranglers' wives and camp hands who, she adds, always get a real kick out of the camping.
"They just love the atmosphere, and to go for walks or lay in the sun. We did have a massuese and a facial beauty expert on hand."
The youngest rider was Dayton Sullivan, 13, who Margret describes as "a hard working lad" from Williams Lake who helped a lot, including digging all the toilet holes.
At 80, Margret says she was the oldest person on the ride, but has done a lot of riding in her life and has helped organize the annual backcountry ride for years.
Meals were a challenge due to extremely dry conditions, she says, but since they couldn't have an open flame they had a rigged-up cook stove.
"We did see some forest fires; the long ride was right up near one of the biggest forest fires. We were close enough to see the flames, but this all happened on the last day."
The fire never reached the camp; however, when the RCMP arrived at 11 p.m. on the final Friday and suggested they leave, she notes everyone was finished and ready to go home anyway.
"I just feel that we were truly blessed, as we all got out safe and we had beautiful weather."
