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[RC] Big Horn 100 saga - PAULA BROWN

Steph - Congrats to you on your finish at the Big Horn with Pal !!! 
I loved reading all the stories of what was on the other side of the mountain down to Jack Creek after I reached the top of the mtn about 9:45pm, dropped and broke my flashlight (small one that was a spare as I planned to pick up the headlight and glow sticks at Jack Creek-bad planning and one very, very long leg of the trail), then finally decided that I just couldn't see enough to proceed safely and stay on trail down to the VC. Now that I've read Tom's accounting, I would have been off trail and who knows where in the woods - skewered by a branch too :)  I had a great time, but maybe it was meant to be that I was there with Lucky. I couldn't believe it when she popped out of the woods thinking she was at Jack Creek VC and said that her horse had coliced and gone down 4 times.   She was also trying to deal with her heart condition, and had dropped her saddle, first aid kit, all fluids, etc. at Adelaide Lake and proceeded to walk to the VC which she thought was not too far away. I had to give her the bad news that I had been to the top of the mountain and still didn't reach the VC, running out of light and opting to come back down for shelter from the elements, and most importantly grass and water for the horse till moonlight or daylight. I knew my crew, my parents, and my lovely mare's owner (Mary Burgess) would be frantic and thinking the worst. If only I could have gotten them a message that all was ok...
We proceeded further down the mountain together, crossed the steams, let the horses eat and drink more, then worked our way to a meadow area at the looped end of the only road beyond Adelaide Lake. Good place to stop, get one hour sleep 4-5am and either meet the 4-wheelers at that point or walk out. Lucky's lovely stallion (though you would never know it) Romeo was doing much better - eating, peeing and pooping!!! Great signs which allowed us a short nap. I always loved my skito pad - but now I REALLY love it!  Taken apart, the foam inserts made a great pad to lay on to keep me off the ground and the fleece cover made a wonderful toasty blanket.  At daylight, no signs of rescue, so we started walking back to the campground I had seen at the lake. The wonderful people camping at the lake agreed to take Lucky to Shell or Jack Creek and another jumped on his ATV and headed to a point to call on his cell to notify someone of our status. I walked the horses out until we met up with our VERY elated crews and the wonderful young vet that stayed at the Jack Creek VC all night in preparation to treat anything she had to deal with.  Quick check on the status of the horses and we received the go-ahead to walk on down to an area where we could get the trailer in.  We loaded up the stallion and my mare and headed for home!  Things were very frantic on our return as everyone had already had breakfast, done the awards program, and were hurriedly packing to leave camp for cooler climes. I never got to say much to anyone with all the packing, loading, finding my gear, etc. and have really just gotten caught up with all the stories by reading accounts since I got back home to WV.
Lots of stories to tell about this incredibly hard ride and I keep mulling the whole thing over in my mind over and over again. My parents can't understand why I would want to do anything like that ever again..... but we know why.  I'll do it again some day with my horse and the next time I won't underestimate the Big Horn 100 trail. It truly demands utmost respect.
Congrats to you again on your finish and thanks for printing all the stories,
Paula Brown 


Paula Brown
Old Spruce Realty
304-645-3200 Office
304-667-0448 Cell#
304-497-2206 Home
304-645-4499 Fax


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