Arrowhead Ranch: Spruce Spring Haul-In BCHM Work Project

Last month Apache and participated in a Haul-Out project with the Back Country Horsemen in the Manzano Mountains. Ten days prior, our group had went up and hauled in supplies, like food, camping gear and tools, for the Southwest Conservation Corps’ Work Trail Clearing Project up on Manzano Crest above 9,000 ft elevation.
On this trip we were riding up and hauling down most of their supplies because they would be ending their project and heading down over the next couple days.
There were 4 of us BCHM members, and the Team Leader from the National Forest Service. She’s the gal riding the donkey, who belongs to Sandy, riding the pinto gaited horse.

The guy on the right is a new BCHM member who had never ponied pack animals before, so Richard, our group’s president, and the owner of all the pack animals, was giving him some pointers for ponying his pack mule.

We would be riding up Spruce Spring Trail today. A trail that Apache and I have ridden twice before.

Right away the trail is rocky and narrow as it climbs higher. And there are several Alligator Junipers that line the trail…one of my favorite New Mexico trees!

I love trails like this…..they are interesting for both equine and rider.

Apache is always surefooted……and barefoot. She loves riding mountain trails as much as I do.

We both enjoy the sections of trail that open up and show beautiful views.

Apache and I were in the back of the line of equines…but we weren’t the very last.

Apache always seems to enjoy hanging back so we feel like we have the trail to ourselves.

Those mules and the pack team sure do move fast. But every so often we’d catch up with them when they took a little rest.

Officially entering the Manzano Mountain Wilderness!

There are several rocky boulder steps to ride up and down on Spruce Spring Trail. Apache just motors right on over them, no problem.

Donkeys are very sure-footed and careful.

At times the trail twists and turns so you get to see the front of the pack string.

And I can turn around and see the back of the string too! (See those logs down there? Our BCHM group cut and cleared them off the trail just 2 weeks prior)

About 3/4 of the way up Spruce Spring is a detour to a maintained spring. It’s a pretty steep descent down to the spring…300 feet switch-backing down.

Everyone seemed to appreciate having a rest.

Even my Apache mare.

We all took turns letting the equines take drinks from the tank filled with spring water.

Then we helped Richard get all his pack animals lined up and ready to head back up to the trail. Then I took Apache down for a drink and they waited for us.

This pack mule was telling Apache “Stay back, lady!”

When we finally arrived on the Manzano Crest Trail, we tied up our equines and they enjoyed a nice nap and few bites of grass.

Zzzzzzzzzz….

Then we humans enjoyed some lunch and……long ear snuggles.

And we posed for a photo with the Southwest Conservation Crew.

And then it was time to work together loading all the supplies into panniers on the pack animals.

Each load must always be weighed!

After saying goodbye to the SWCC crew, we headed back down the mountain with the loaded pack animals.

Back into the beautiful forest………..

Richard and his pack team are tough and hard working. I’m honored to be included on the BCHM work projects and be able to contribute and give back for the privilege of being able to have access to the beautiful trails we have all around us in New Mexico.

Rufous the donkey…always calm, laid back……just moseying down the trail.

The pack string left the two of us in the dust. At first Apache tried to keep up and we did some trotting down the trail, but we finally just decided to relax and enjoy the ride and beauty of the mountains.