Pecos Pack-In to Beatty's Cabin ~ The Ride Out

After breakfast and clean-up, we pulled our saddles out of the tack shed and got our horses and mules ready to leave Beatty's Cabin and ride back to our trailers.

Apache, waiting patiently to get going.

 

The pack mules were loaded up with all our leftover food and supplies that we had used over the weekend.

 

All tacked up and packed up, ready to ride.

Everyone stopped and let their equines drink when we rode through the water crossings.

The horses and mules seemed to enjoy the fresh, cool spring water.

 

We stopped for a few minutes for a tack adjustment and Apache and I took the opportunity to peek over the edge of the cliff, hoping for a peek of the Pecos River far below.

Then we continued on down the trail through the lush green aspen forest.

The trail was very rocky and muddy in places, but the lush green vegetation was beautiful to ride through.

There were also green grassy meadows filled with wildflowers. So pretty!

And more water crossings.

This water crossing had a small waterfall beside it and the sound of the water gurgling over the rocks was magical!

I could have hung out here all day!

But we'd already been in the mountains for four days and it was time to head back to civilization.

The wide open mountain views were just breathtakingly beautiful!

Even Apache asked to stop a few times so she could take it all in.

Our awesome BCHM members, both human and equine.

With Apache and I bringing up the rear and just enjoying ourselves. The wildflowers were especially beautiful.

A herd of cows blocked our path, so we just rode right through the middle of them.

The day was absolutely gorgeous...blue skies, sunshine and warm.

Apache and I were slowpokes, but I like to think it's because we were both enjoying ourselves too much to hurry.

Farewell Pecos Wilderness!

We'll be back again soon!

Pecos Pack-In to Beatty's Cabin Dinner and the Final Day

On our last full day of work projects at Beatty's Cabin in the Pecos Wilderness, we finished up on earlier projects and started a couple new projects.

We built a ditch behind the cabin to divert water runoff from flowing underneath the cabin during heavy rainstorms.

We also completed the plumbing repairs on the pipes that supply spring water to the inside of the cabin.

And our BCHM vice president completed the repairs to the spring box up above the cabin. His waders showed the results of his hard work!

We also completed maintenance and repairs to some of the old cabin windows.

One window was cracked and we had hauled up a brand new custom made window on a pack mule, to replace the broken one.

There was also some maintenance and repairs done of the plumbing of the Game and Fish Cabin.

My son, in the green shirt, was a huge help on these types of projects.

We were also kept busy chasing away pesky cattle because they are not permitted around or near the cabins.

Apparently, the cattle have not read that memo.

The cows were crafty and sneaky.

They were also very persistent.

All the grass in the Pecos Wilderness, and those cows insisted on hanging out with us instead.

The cows seemed to provide entertainment for our horses.

In the meantime, the diversion project behind the cabin was completed.

It should do a nice job at preventing water from flowing underneath the cabin.

After lunch, there was even some time to go on a trail ride.

A nice BCHM family all ready to head out.

This nice BCHM couple, too.

I stayed behind to work on my own project inside the cabin, cleaning all the window sills, and windows. 

While I was working, two visitors rode up to the cabin, one was CeCe from Horse Around New Mexico. She had arrived to do a story on our work projects on Beatty's Cabin.

After everyone returned from their trail ride, CeCe got her interviews and tour completed and she and her friend continued on their way.
The rest of us enjoyed a few snacks, while waiting for dinner to be served.




I sat on the front porch with a friend.



And then we all piled into the kitchen to eat dinner.


Lots of silliness ensued. My son served himself some food........



It was a delicious and satisfying dinner, especially after all the work everyone had done all day.
I truly enjoyed it.



To be continued. The next up: The Ride Out

Pecos Pack-In to Beatty's Cabin Day Three ~ Work Projects

On day three, I woke up and checked on my horse and she seemed happy to see me.

After feeding her some hay pellets in a feed bag, I strapped on a pair of hobbles and let her out into the high mountain meadow to graze on the tall, green grass.

All of us staying at Beatty's Cabin that weekend did the same thing. There were horses and mules grazing everywhere.

Everyone got along wonderfully and were totally focused on eating the delicious green grass.

It was entertaining at times watching the horses and their unique and silly stances and movements they made as they tried to move around with hobbles.

I checked on Apache once again after breakfast, and she seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself.

Then it was time to get to work, starting with painting the cabin with linseed oil to protect and preserve the wood.

We all worked together and sprayed.........

and painted.

Yep, this is how I celebrated my birthday...haha!

It was a huge job.

But we worked hard all weekend and we got 'er done!

My son worked hard too, and he and his ditch digging partner got the spring's flow diverted away from the corrals.

And our BCHM vice president worked hard repairing the spring box....which was one very messy job!

I checked on Apache just before lunch and she was having a grand ol time.

Sometimes she would stop eating seemingly to just enjoy the amazing scenery.

She also seemed to like hanging out in a loose herd out on the high mountain meadow.

She got pretty cozy with Shorty, the Icelandic gelding, even sharing the water bucket with him without squealing or pinning her ears.

After lunch, most of us brought in our horses and tied them back up to their highlines.

And we had to deal with a marauding herd of cattle.

The horses seemed offended that the cattle were hanging out in their meadow, eating their grass.

The cattle are not allowed in and around the Beatty's Cabin site, so we finally got them chased off.

It sure was gorgeous up there in that high meadow.

The views in every direction were just spectacular!

We could also see the Pecos River far below, and one of the bridges that our BCHM Chapter regularly maintains.

While there was a lot of work to do all weekend, and it kept us all very busy, I still made sure to stop and enjoy the flowers.

 There were many wondrous things to see and appreciate all weekend.