A Trail To Empowerment – Overcoming Natures Challenges

This summer was a busy summer and we overcame many challenges. Riding through rain, snow, heavy winds or bushwhacking off trail all these experiences were uncomfortable. But they facilitated a deep nature connection. The challenges helped me to become more connected to nature as they made me more conscious and aware. I felt connected to nature and my environment as I had become more aware of the lay of the land and how to read it. On one side it was to recognize trails, grizzly rub trees and landmarks. On the other side it was to identify south slopes, how to move around big spring snow patches and to navigate off trail. By being able to read the lay of the land, I was also able to understand the seasonal changes and wildlife patterns. This awareness and understanding allowed me to overcome natures challenges.

One trip this season relates especially to it. It was in June during spring time in the mountains. Though the weather was cold and rainy throughout the trip, we all had a great time. The guests were contributing to every activity and enjoyed every second of it, despite the weather. However on the last day we had to ride back to the Ranch and it had been raining all morning already. It seemed the rain was getting heavier by the minute. But there was no choice of staying back or only riding for a short amount of time. Once on the trail we had to keep going.

So we got camp all cleaned and packed our horses. Once all was done we started our journey back to the trail head. It was about a 6 hour ride, but it seemed with the rain we moved slower. We rode a trail next to a creek, the ground was muddy and the horses were tripping. It was the beginning of the ride, so everybody was still in good spirits. We had to cross a deep creek, since it rained all week it had risen. Our trusted horses carried us through it no problem. After the creek we rode up the mountain. The trail was along the side hills. It was an old deer trail that pioneers started using.

That trail was slim with steep drop offs on one side. The rain had made the dirt on the trail all greasy and slippery. I was riding in the back to give the other guide in training the opportunity to lead. However, we both had not expected such trail conditions. The horse in front of me was carrying a beginner rider. I could see the horses back feet slip off the greasy trail, holding my breath each time. Each time the horse would catch itself and keep going, despite the rider being unbalanced. My appreciation for the horses and their abilities grew immensely. They were the ones bringing us home safely.

The other guide had good judgment of her abilities and called me when the trail went down hill and was just slippery. I watched her ride down. The horses back feet came close together and her horse slid down, almost sitting on its bump, but the horse was coordinated. As soon as the trail was flat again the horse went back to walking like nothing happened. At those short down hill spots, we rode the horses. But I knew we would face a long downhill stretch that we could not ride down. But we could also not walk the horses down as they would start slipping and run us over. When we arrived at the spot we took a moment to regroup. We thought we would send Pearson, an experienced Lead Mare down by herself. But Pearson did not agree with this plan and turned around and ran into the bush. We did not expect that. The other guide ran after her. So we tried Fortress, another Lead Mare. She went down the trail. As soon as she was at the bottom she turned around and run up to us again. After that she wouldn’t go down anymore. We tried Pika, an independent and capable Mare. This time one of the guests went down first. Once she was down, we sent Pika down. As soon as Pika was at the bottom, the guest grabbed her and went to tie her up. We now at a routine that seemed to work. The other guide returned with Pearson and she went down and I sent Pearson after her. Then we had our pack horses who were still learning and had the weight of the pack on top. But they made it no problem. After this, we all were high on adrenaline. But that is what kept us going. It almost seemed like the harder the rain, the harder I thought of my end goal and how preserving will bring me closer to it.

Eventually we mad it to the trail head, where we were greeted by some of the crew who had come to pick us up. The guests got a shuttle in truck back to the Ranch. The other guide would keep riding and leading another horse while I would follow behind, chasing the horses after her. We got the job done and made it back to Ranch where a a fire and hot meal waited for us.

Though on this trip nature challenged us all, we all learned valuable lessons. Not only did we connect by nature by feeling the rain and coldness on us, we learned to read the lay of the land and understand the capabilities and mindset of our horses in relation to it. This nature connection also allowed us to connect to ourselves. We learned that we could do the impossible, riding this trail in theses conditions and not ever thinking about quitting, but only how to overcome the challenge.

This is just one example of the challenges nature presented to us this summer. But all the all of natures challenges contributed to deepening my nature connection and connecting with myself. All these challenges also increased my awareness and ability to connect to nature in a way that allowed me to live alongside with it instead of imposing myself on it and forcing a way that is not possible. I got to feel and experience the power of nature, its unpredictability and it taught me valuable lessons on how to persevere, find solutions and take responsibility. Feeling the power of nature also made me feel alive, it almost felt like I was absorbing the power nature put out there.

Lea, 26, Germany