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Late snow is also a major dilemma. Crossing snow fields is dangerous
because of the melting process. Small caverns form under the snow, as
the water flows and melts underneath. These hidden caverns are disastrous.
Experience, listening to the horses and common sense help traveling over
deep snow. A horse could fall through the thin crust of snow over a cavern
and break a leg or become stranded. Buried trees often form a hollow pocket
that can swallow a horse and rider. A horse easily slips on icy snow fields
and can slide to severe injury or death. Losing the buried trail is common
and it may be necessary to use an altimeter, map and compass to navigate.
Melting snow and glaciers make challenging creek crossings in the spring.
A horse may lose its footing and be washed downstream. This is especially
dangerous for the foals. Dry summers cause springs and creeks to shrivel
up. We have seen creeks dry up overnight and often have approached a spring
desperately needing water only to find sand and dirt. Water can be elusive.
Bogs are also a threat. We watched our fully-packed Clydesdale become
stuck to her belly in mud. We managed to unload her and placed logs down
for her to step up on, while I yanked her out with the Quarter horse.
Water is life and water can also be the biggest danger we face.
Wild animals, both two-legged and four can pose a threat. Hungry bears
could decimate a food supply and equipment. Since it would be too difficult
to hang all our gear out of the reach of bears, we have to guard the food
by sleeping close by with hopes of scaring them away. This is one of the
reasons we avoid heavily populated areas where bears become used to backpackers'
food. Mice invade our camps looking for food and a convenient place to
build nests. Mice spread all kinds of lethal diseases. Rabid animals are
rare but still a possibility. Bees have been a surprising problem: at
times stinging the horses every day. I remember looking back at Gretchen
when her horse was hopping all over a ledge after being stung. Horses
are terrified of llamas and you may meet one in a treacherous area where
panic cannot be easily controlled.
Mother Nature can be forceful and unpredictable. It may snow anytime
in the high country, especially when traveling early or late in the year.
Thunderstorms can be vicious in the mountains. Lightning and hail are
a threat to us and our grazing horses. You must think of your horses as
yourself when preparing for lightning strikes. Lightning can also cause
forest fires and a quick escape is necessary. A scanner and ham radio
are very useful to track storms, fires or other problems that may occur.
In many mountain areas, it is possible to receive weather channels with
such radios.
Many times I wake in the morning
with the thought: "What's going to go
wrong today!" We remind ourselves to keep calm and react to the best
to our ability. Human error and Murphy's law seem to be a major contributor
to unforeseen occurrences. Horses also have a habit of getting in trouble.
Unfortunately we do not have pictures of the crises we have faced. Time
is crucial and a taking a picture never comes to mind. It was suggested
that we carry a small camera around our neck for such photos.
The intent of this chapter is not to scare future packers but to help
prepare for some of the situations that may be encountered in high mountain
travel.
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