[RC] Michaux Madness Extreme Endurance Ride - Mont Alto, PA - May 29th - Flora Hillman
Title: Clear Stationery
WOW! No, make that a double WOW!!
What a *fabulous* ride!! Kudos
to ride managers Skip and Barb Kemerer for putting on what has all the
potential to become one of the top 25/50 mile rides on the east coast.
Skip's dream for the last 6 years was
to have an endurance ride in the Michaux State Forest of Mont Alto,
PA so other riders could enjoy the beauty of the
area. Skip chose the name Michaux Madness *Extreme* Endurance -
and it was! This was one VERY tough, technical ride -- like a cross
between Biltmore and the OD -- a great test for the horse and
rider. While billed as a prep for the OD, in many ways I think it
was more difficult and far more technical than the OD's 50. There were no
"giveaways" on any of the two 25 mile or three 50 mile loops -- all
had several mountain climbs, steep rocky trails, gorgeous flat woodland
trails, looooong ascents and descents on wide gravel roads (with virtually no
cars or bears, but lots of deer and grouse), natural creeks, streams and
ground spring water everywhere, more rocky trails, high meadow
clearings, a sandy mountain ridge, climbs and even more climbs -- all
extremely well marked and ribboned. The trails offered plenty of chances to
get off your horse and tail up the steep slopes and run down on foot
leading.
The ride management had planned for the
typical late May 80+ degree heat and suffocating humidity,
so virtually all of the ride was under the deep trees in
the cool Michaux State forests. But someone must have been praying
extra special hard to Ma Nature because she blessed us with breathtaking weather
in the low 70's, crystal clear with no humidity, and faultless skies. All
which made the absolutely incredible views from the mountain tops just stunning
to behold. Awesome!!
Staff was fabulous and very abundant, ready
to help with any and everything. The ride camp, set right at the border of
the state forest, was in a huge, lush clover/grass field that had "horse
smorgasbord" written all over it. Awards were terrific and the
dinner afterward the ride was not to be missed -- especially the dessert
table hosted by the local ride club which had a rule that anyone that "came off"
their horse during one of the club's regular rides had to bring a dessert to the
next meeting. Knowing the endurance ride was coming up, the
club decided to "pay up" the desserts owed at the ride dinner. It was too
funny to see each dessert arriving festooned with decorations depicting
how that particular rider had "parted company" with their
horse!
Here's hoping Skip and Barb make this endurance ride an annual event -- it
is definitely one that should NOT be missed!
