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When Len did anything he studied it and the history of what he was about to do. Growing up in the
country he was also an Eagle scout, hunter and fisherman. A craftsman since grade school, Len did hand work and mechanics
that people couldn't believe. He was a Jet Engine Mechanic in depot level Overhaul in the Navy. He spent 2.5yrs. as an
Apprentice Mortician while in high school on a special state occupation training program. Many interest's, many talents, 2.5
years of college with no major, Len had never found any one thing to challenge all his talents and to keep his intrest focused.
Never did he dream it would be the horse and Saddling. HE WAS FACINATED WITH THIS YOUNG LADY AND STARTING A LIFE THAT WAS
MORE REWARDING.
SO LEN SOLD EVERYTHING HE COULD, PAID ALL HE COULD AND HE AND LISA LEFT ON
HORSEBACK FOR ALASKA. NO SET CONTACTS, NO ITINERARY, JUST GETTING "THE HELL OUT OF DODGE" !
| Crusing down a New Mexico Rd headed for Colorado |
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| There will be a lot of pictures coming later that tell more of a weekly story. |
| Tres Piedres, Our first vist to civilization in NM |
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| Sonny Elan and 3 ROCKS OUTFITTERS, BEAR HUNTING AND A HOT TUB! |
| THE W. DELORES RIVER IN SPRING RUNOFF. ICY COLD! |
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| ONE SLIP IN THIS AND YOU CAN BE HISTORY. LIZARD HEAD PEAK RUNOFF! |
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO RIDE AND PACK 5 HORSES FOR 3,000 MILES.
In preparation for this adventure, I made my own Bowie Knife, Saddle, Osage Orange
Indian bow & arrows, and a 52 Caliber 6 shooter Colt Walker pistol (for the Grizzly Bears). Our leather clothes and Indian
"muk-luk" Boots were also handmade. Every morning we'd be up before dawn; that is if the horses didn't all thunder off
at 2AM in a snowstorm. Lisa, my partner on this trip would cook breakfast and break camp while I tracked our horses from the
night before. Whenever I returned bareback with 4 horse's, tied head to tail behind me, she would help me with their feed
sacks. I then had to check every foot, and replace any bad nails or shoes worn in-two at the front. Shoes only
lasted, on average, one week before they wore in two. I'd take each side off, shape another shoe on a rock, Nail
back in every hole. After while I'd have to drive above the previous exit of the nail. I never lost a shoe and 6
nailed , not eight. (Never had a lame step either.)
Lisa would cook breakfast and start breaking camp as I was tracking
the horses. After a quick breakfast for the horses and ourselves, I started weighing packs with a scale in order
to balance the loads side to side, and to balance the packs for the horse's to even out the load per horse. Feeding out 30
lbs. of grain was done daily. Packing 575 lbs. of gear (including our riding saddles) was done next. The average time allotted
each morning was 5 hours of work....... I wouldn't stop riding until we put 8
hours in the saddle. A 30 minute stop for lunch was done for lunch. Often a batch of cake batter mixed with eggs, eaten
raw & off we'd go. Then we would ride until we found water and grass. (I lost from 225# down to 170# in 2
months eating all I wanted.)
An 8 hr ride often turned into 10
or 12 hours and then a midnight flashlight task of un-packing, feeding, setting up camp & stake out or
hobble the horses.
A shot of Whiskey every night in the tent was
our necessity before passing out from the 18 or 20 hour day. Every week the same: another 5 days of riding
and 2 days of rest. We never did less than 32 miles per day, and often over 50. It was like a brutal boot camp.
My tough horse, " Run-away Charlie,
did a 4.25 mph walk uphill or down. Many friends were made. We had many experiences unknown in today's world. No radio,
no phone: we could tell you where we rode, who we met, what eventful happened for every day at the end of the first six
months. In order, or by event, or place; we could tell you 6 months one day at a time. Ever wonder why your Grandpa or Grandma
could tell you so much detail about the old days? Life was slower and the little things became bigger. Or you could
just say; "Low entertainment threshold!" I'll add more to the trip part of the site a little at a time. Len
| GRITS, FRESH TROUT, HAM A GREAT LATE BREAKFAST! |
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| 5 DAYS RIDING, 2 DAYS REST, WE ATE WELL ON THE REST. |
| S.W. WY. CEDAR MOUNTAIN PLATEAU, RED DESERT AHEAD |
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| THE DESERT AND HI PLAINS ARE THE BEST RIDING, MORE PICTURES FOLOW. |
| COMING TO WHAT LOOKS LIKE > FLAT DESERT AHEAD |
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| THIS DESCENT WAS NOT AS STEEP AS MANY WE RODE THRU IN THE DESERT. |
| NEAR THE BOTTOM, YOU GET LOST IN THE DESERT |
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| YOU CAN WANDER A MILE UP & DOWN A GULLY FINDING A WAY OUT! |
| WE'RE NORTH OF FT. BRIDGER NOW, HEADED SAWTOOTHS. |
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| AN EVENING CAMP, WATER & GRASS, RIDE TILL YOU FINED THEM . |
| FLYING A & MT. MAN RECLUSE > BRAIN, SMOKE TAN DEER |
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| LEN JUST MADE THE OSAGE BOWS, 50# & 60 # & ARROWS, CARRIED & WOOD STAVES ON HORSES. |
| WIND RIVERS PEAKS IN B/G, WE CAMP THE NIGHT. |
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| NEXT DAY WE CROSS BEND OF THE GREEN RIVER BEHIND US TO CLIMB TO 11000 FEET TO CAMP. |
| MT. MAN BILL GUIDED US TO HERE FROM FLYING RANCH |
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| CROSSING THE BEND OF THE GREEN, A MOMENTUS 1ST TIME WE HEAD SOUTH. TAKE A 2 WEEK BREAK AT 11000 FT. |
| WE START THE CLIMB INTO THE WIND RIVER RANGE. |
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| OUR GOAL WAS TO RECOUP & VACATION FOR 2 WEEKS HERE. |
| JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE CLOSE TO THE TOP? |
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| A LONG CLIMB AND WE FIND WE AREN'T EVEN 1/2 WAY THERE. |
| SOME HORSE'S DON'T WANT TO FOLLOW THE LEADER ? |
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| THE SADDLEBRED EVERY TIME. LEN & LUCKY HAVE AN ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT SESSION |
| AN EASY TRAIL BUT GREAT BACKGROUND OF THE MORNING |
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| IN CO. WE RODE TRAILS MUCH WORSE, NOT BAD H ERE. |
| A LITTLE MOONSCAPE WITH SNOW. TIE A HORSE TO WHAT? |
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| LATE AUGUST, DESERT BEHIND US, IT'S ANOTHER WORLD HERE. |
| WE CAMP JUST OVER THE HILL FROM HERE ON CLEAR LAKE |
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| NEVER LOST A SHOE OR HAD A LAME STEP. NEXT YOU SEE SHOEING UP HERE. |
| ANVILS COME IN ALL SIZES, CARPENTERS AXE ON SHOES. |
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| LEN SHAPED TILL ALL HOLES LINED UP. NEW NAILS> OLD HOLES. NO CHIOCE, EVERY WEEK SHOES CHANGED |
| HORSE'S HOME FOR 2 WKS. WE CAMPED HERE. |
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| A 2 DAY HAIL STORM CAUGHT US HERE, MET SOME NEW FRIENDS THOUGH. |
| 2 COWGIRLS; SADDLE & RUTH ANN FROM COLORADO, |
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| THEY'RE PACKING THE NAT. FORREST FROM CA. TO CO. PLAYED POKER DURING HAIL STORM IN OUR TENT. |
| LEN RE-SHAPED, PUT LEATHER SKIRTS ON PACK SADDLES. |
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| 500 MILES INTO TRIP THE PACK SADDLES WERE REBUILT BY LEN. |
| MANY MILES SOUTH OF WINDRIVERS AT BOARS TUSK |
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| A WEEKS TRIP ACROSS DESERT TO SUPERIOR WY. WE DID IN 3 DAYS RIDING |
| APPRECIATIVE AS HELL, WE'VE MADE IT TO WESTERN KAN |
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| LISA WILL DO SILLY THINGS IF THERE'S SOMEONE TO TAKE HER PICTURE. |
| FLINT HILLS, NOV. 15 DEGREES & 30 MPH HEAD WIND. |
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| LISA'S GLAD SHE HAND SEWED THE CLOTHES WE WORE NOW ! |
| 19 MI & HOME, NOV 21ST 1982 RIDING 10 DAY SOLID |
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| 2 DAYS BEFORE THE WORST ICE STORM OF THE CENTURY. |
THANK YOU FOR VISITING THE TRIP PAGE. I'VE
MANY MORE PICTURES AND WILL START TEXT SOON. I'M FINISHING A NEW SADDLE RIGHT NOW WHICH YOU CAN VIEW ONSITE IN A FEW WEEKS.
REGARDS, LEN BROWN
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