Horseback Trek on Grand River 28th of August

[KHickam]

I just got back from a scout/trek on the Grand River.  We covered about 40 miles over the two days.  I set up a base camp and scouted from horseback up the Grand River and numerous feeder creeks and draws.

I found out a couple things - One I need to get in better shape

That 5 quarts of water is not enough in 80F weather.

That Horseback Trekking is way more fun and greater distances can be traveled than on foot.

My gear is good - a sling on a gun is helpful when getting on and off the horse - but would be better to have a slightly shorter gun.

Horses can loose lots of weight (even though he is in great shape) over two days of hard riding/climbing - abundant graze was available at night but - even though every time we forded the river (about 20 times I guess) he took big drinks of water - he still lost weight.

Game doesn't seem as spooky on horseback as when on foot.

Now the fun part

The premise of the scout was an advance scout ahead of a party looking for more ground to trap.  Although, there are indians in the area they are not overtly hostile.  My job was to scout out a base camp, check for type and abundance of game and beaver,

It is a beautiful area on the prairie and is the same drainage that Hugh Glass and others followed.  Other than the presence of angus instead of buffler - it is likely very similiar to the country the mountain men went through on the way to the Three Forks or Upper Missouri Drainage

There was abundant beaver sign - cottonwoods fallen all over, as well as food storage - a couple dams on the feeder creeks and at least one lodge.  I saw abundant whitetail and mule deer as well as tracks and sightings from lots of different critters, raccoon, possum, beaver, muskrat, antelope,  turkey, deer, cougar and bobcat too.













Dan'l Hickham

[Red Badger]

Welcome back we have missed you!   Great scenerary and story -

[battman1]

Thats pretty cool especially with the history of the territory.

[Watauga]

Awesome adventure KHickam 
And Lucky  you avoided what happened to Hugh Glass!

[William]

I envy you quite a bit!  There isn't anywhere here in Texas that you can ride for two days and not encounter a high game fence or worse, a highway.  What I wouldn't do for an 80 degree day here either!

Pics were great though, thank you for posting them.

[Bulldog lady]

Dan- glad to have ya back, what a trip, scenery and critters on horseback, can't get any better.  Thanks for sharing story and pic.  Agree with Wm- 110-115 here for past month and half.  80 sounds like weather to dig the long johns out!!  Again welcome back. 

[KHickam]

Oh I will be spinning a tale on this sometime soon

[Red Badger]

Oh I will be spinning a tale on this sometime soon

I know i can't wait to read it! 

[crazell]

It looks like you travelled beautiful country.. Thanks for sharing your trek..

[texasranger]

never seen such great looking country to ride in, and beaver to boot. thanks for sharing the photos.

[Mcleanwelsh]

Wow that sounds like and awesome trip, I went on a similar one for two weeks a few years back with my father and a friend of his. We were packing modern rifles though. Next time ill bring along my flinter instead and wear all my mountain man gear :D

McLean