Gracie's First Conrad Campout

This is the story of Gracie's first campout at Conrad Meadows.

It was a beautiful weekend in August when Gracie and Nana pulled the camp trailer
into the White Pass horse camp known as Conrad Meadows.
Cousin Cherie would arrive later that day
and Jaclyn would drive in the next morning with our 2 ponies.

Gracie's Nana has been coming to Conrad since she was just a little bit older than Gracie is now.

My Dad started bringing our family there before there was a road to the Meadows.
The road stopped at Grey Creek back then and that is where we unloaded the ponies for the ride that led us to the foot of the hill leading to Surprise Lake.
Sometimes we camped there and then rode to Surprise Lake to do some fishing.

My brothers and i were ages 5 - 9 when we first rode those trails.
We each rode our own pony with our sleeping bags tied behind our saddles.

My Mom rode her trusty pony, Dekker, in the lead.
Dad bought Dekker as a 3 year old to train for my Mom, who was a novice rider.
Dekker was by a fairly well-known stud named Mickey Dexter and out of a grade mare.
Dekker was a sweetheart; we kids could catch him anywhere, anytime;
anyone who could sit up, could ride him;
and the three of us climbed all over him and under him,
and hung from his neck and tail.

Scott was usually next in line on the trail, riding a half Arab mare named Gypsy.
She may have been half Quarterhorse as well, because she was not a "typy" Arab,
but stockier. She was grey in color and gentle to handle.

I came next on my pride and joy: a short, stocky buckskin named Bucky.
Some people thought we called him Bucky because of his color.
But the fact is that Bucky was once a bucking horse who was "on the wagon to be destroyed",
because sometimes he would buck and sometimes he wouldn't.
Dad bought him as a pony for Scott and a couple years later i was old enough for him
and that's when Scott got Gypsy.
I thought Bucky was the most beautiful pony in the world.

Next in line was 5 year old Kirk on Sunny, a dun gelding who had raised the 3 of us kids.
Sunny was a retired State Champion in pole-bending,
who was given to Dad with the condition that no one would ever compete on him.
He must have been 15 or 18 years old when we got him.
We had him until he was 25.

Dad brought up the rear leading the packhorse.
At that time, Dad rode a big, black gelding named Pete.
Pete was a powerful looking horse, who must have stood 16 hands.
He was not a pony to put a kid on and turn him loose,
but Scott and i taken turns riding him on the trail to Conrad a few times.

The packhorse was a gentle black that my Dad got from a sheepherder on a trade.
The black loved to wander loose around camp
looking for left-over pancakes and potato peelings.
When i rode the black around our neighborhood,
I imagined that i was riding the "Black Stallion" that i had read about in books.

Our family rode other mountain trails besides Conrad,
but the Meadows were always my favorite.

I spent a lot of time at Conrad Meadows throughout my youth and into my adulthood.
When i was in my 20s and Dad had retired, we brought our young ponies and mules
to the Meadows to train them for trail riding and packing.

But as my husband and i started our family, we didnt get to Conrad for some time to come.

But now, this August, my daughter and i decided it was time for us to get our 2 ponies
some trail riding experience there and
it was time for Gracie to go to the Meadows.

Gracie filled her bota bag with apple juice for her first trail ride.

Gracie helped with the care of her ponies,
making sure that they had plenty to eat.

The call to "Boots and Saddles" was made and the ponies were curried and prepped.


It was a treat to have Cousin Cherie with us at Conrad and it was her job
to work with the "Golden Boy," Skyler, to get him "trail savvy."

After a hearty breakfast, Jaclyn and Cherie start out on the first rail ride.

When they got back, Gracie welcomed them with a special dance.


The next day, it was Gracie's turn to ride Skyler.
Gracie decided that, first, she needed to give Skyler kisses.


Then Mommy wanted to show Gracie how to sit on Skyler.


We asked Gracie if it was okay for Mommy to ride with her on Skyler
and Gracie said, "Yah."
So away they went.



After that, it was time for Cousin Cherie and Cousin Karen
to ride up the hill and across the creeks to the big meadow.
The ponies were tired after their 2 long trail rides,
so we didnt ride far.

Cherie rode the Oklahoma horse.

And i rode Skyler.
The meadows were as fabulous as i remembered them
and we had a wonderful short ride.

Cousin Cherie commented that, after having ridden her black Arab for these last couple years,
it was good to wrap her legs around the big solid body of these quarterhorses.
She was very impressed with both of the boys, but Skyler was her favorite.
Knowing all about the horse stealing nature of our family, we will keep an eye
on Cousin Cherie, to see that she doesnt get too attached to our "Golden Boy."
(After all, i did steal a dandy QH mare from Cherie's Dad years ago.)

Cherie and i shared a lot of childhood memories at Conrad.
It was a celebration of returning for both of us.

She and i have made plans to return next summer for a longer stay.

We are pretty sure that Gracie and her Mommy will want to be there also.
And we wouldnt have it any other way.


Happy Trails!