I was so sorry to hear about the tragic accident during the WS 50. I
just wanted to make a few comments on that stretch of the trail. This
accident happened on the same trail as the Tevis, but NOT on the Tevis
ride. There is a big difference. This is a difficult technical
stretch of trail with a very long steep drop off. When I do the Tevis I
usually get off my horse there and run with him to give him a break.
I have also ridden it and know that it requires extreme caution and a trail wise
horse. In the Tevis the horses have already travelled 50 miles at this
point and are settled down and quite spread out so only a few horses
travel this section together at any one time. This ride, the WS 50 starts
at Devil's Thumb which is only a couple miles from the beginning of the steep
downhill with switchbacks. 100 hot horses, some out of control, at the
very beginning of a ride doing this stretch of trail is very very
dangerous. The first time I rode this part of the trail was in 1988 in the
Capitol to Capitol multiday ride. It was the third day of the ride.
A friend of mine rode a fresh horse that day and it was very scary for
him. The other horses were on their third day and were fine to ride that
part of the trail.
Our sport is dangerous. Many of our trails can be dangerous.
The Tevis trail committee does all that is humanly possible to work on the
trails to make them as safe as possible, but it is not possible to make narrow
trails in very remote country with very long steep drop offs safe for everyone
at all times. Anyone who rides these trails needs to make a decision on
whether they are willing to take the risk involved. If you are not willing
to take this kind of risk, do not ride the trail. There is also the risk
from other riders and horses. I personally was seriously injured on a
relatively safe part of the Tevis trail largely due to the actions of another
rider and his horse. I chose to take that risk and I continue to choose to
do so.
This is a very beautiful and very special trail. It is not for
everyone. Let's keep it so that each of us can make the choice whether or
not to ride it.
