Rocky’s Web

Archive for January, 2008

Maps and GPS

Jan 23rd, 2008

Well….I’ve spent the last few weeks trying to trace my route from New Mexico to Canada. I started with a recreational map of New Mexico and found it had the Continental Divide Trail indicated on the map. I then took the overlay that Johnathan Ley did for the Google Earth and traced his overlay route onto the New Mexico recreational map I had (1:160,000). It was not an easy chore, and I found that I could follow quite a few roads in New Mexico, but had about 4 areas that I really was going to need some detail maps to navigate. I did the same thing with the Colorado Recreational Map (which also had not only the CDT trail but the Colorado Trail on it). Most of the Colorado trail (CT) is the same as the CDT and I had a separate book on the CT trail that was much more user friendly and describe most all aspects of the trail. There were about another 3-4 areas that I was really going to need a more detailed map. This was where (I thought) my Magellan GPS and TOPO 3D software was going to come in handy. I had an older Magellan GPS, but had ordered (last year), the Magellan Explorist 600 (color). Now, I was in the process of uploading regional maps from my laptop into the GPS. Boy!!! What an adventure that turned out to be. I guess I didn’t do my homework very well, because the Magellan maps were proprietary and did not give the detail I really wanted. After more research…..low and behold I get an email from DeLorme for a special deal on the GPS NP-20. I researched their GPS and (also proprietary) TOPO USA mapping software. I found that I could also download other NSGS, satellite, and forestry service maps into the NP-20. The bundled package from DeLorme was $299 and it came with the newest TPOP USA 7.0 software (a $99 value), the NP-20, a 1GB SD card and reader, plus $100 worth of additional downloadable maps. It seemed like a deal to me so…….it should be here soon. I can get detail maps (1:24,000) and satellite imagry (in color) down to 7.5 meters. I think that’s probably the best detail there is out there and I can download all of my routes directly onto my DeLorme GPS. Not only that, but I can pre load an actual route into the GPS and and overlay it on several different maps. This ought to be interesting. The other thing I like about the DeLorme is that it can use conventional batteries (2AA), where my Magellan Explorist….can’t and that could be very detrimental in the field (no way to charge the battery)!! I guess that’s where I currently stand in my mapping research. I’ll now see how it actually will work. Johnathan Ley has developed a new CD and I am on his list to have one sent to me. I’ll also see how his updated trail information is going to effect my currently planned route.

Further Farrier Update

Jan 10th, 2008

This last week, I was finally able to saddle up “Pepe” (the name for my new gelding). I rode him for over an hour on all kinds of terrain. He didn’t seem to favor his feet, at all. The only issue with him, now, is his weight. I am free feeding him on alfalfa, and he is certainly storing the “fat”. I’m letting him do this, now, because it is winter and he is staying outside all of the time. I think he will be O.K. for the upcoming ride in San Antonio. Starting January 25th, we will ride from Corpus to San Antonio, to start the Livestock Show. I’ve been doing this ride for over 10 years. Last year, I won “Rider of the Year” for the South Texas Trail Rider club (the group I ride with).

Farrier Update

Dec 31st, 2007

On December 17th, I got an appointment with Gene Ovnicek, founder of the natural balance hoof care for horses, to see my new gelding and try to find out what the problem might be with his feet.  Gene lives in Penrose, Colorado, which was only about 45 miles from when I live (Pueblo).  Gene said that If I would leave him over night, he would take some xrays and let me know.  I went back on Monday to pick up my horse and visit Gene.  Gene first complimented me on having such a gentle and well mannered horse, as well as commenting on his looks and configuration.  Gene said that after viewing all the xrays and examining his feet, there doesn’t seem to be any indication of arthritis, or hoof structure abnormalities.  He went ahead and put aluminum shoes on his front feet and suggested that I don’t try to correct anything with his foot, keep it as is and just maintain it.  Gene said that he should be O.K. and good luck on my furture rides.  I thanked him and took my gelding home.  I called Mark and informed him of Gene’s findings.  Mark was relieved that it was none of his doings.  Actually, Gene complimented Mark on his trimming job.  Now, I’m waiting for the San Antonio ride (Corpus Cristi to San Antonio) at the end of January.  It will be a good time to be able to work with my gelding with so many possible distractions, etc.  I suppose that will be my next report.

Update

Dec 11th, 2007

Time for another update.  About mid October, I obtained another horse.  There was a “dude” ranch, here in Colorado, that was culling their stock and by the time I got to see the horses, there was 3 left.  The stock was all well pedigreed, with Doc O’Lena on most of their registries.  This one was no different.  The only thing is that the Dam wasn’t registered.  Anyway, he was a beautiful Bay, with good conformation and color.  The only problem with this 6 yr old was his right hoof was turned-in “pegion toed”.  The owners didn’t want to take a chance on any liability issues, just in case he were to stumble with a rider, so they were giving him up.  Actually…..he was “free”.  I couldn’t beat that deal and my farrier (Mark) indicated it shouldn’t be any future problem.  About 2 weeks later, Mark trimmed his feet and they looked much better (no shoes at this time and he hadn’t had shoes for quite some time).  That next weekend, I saddled him up and worked him in the pasture area.  I could tell he hadn’t had very much training, but he was willing and a quick learner.  He couldn’t neck rein, and his trot was short and quick, which made it a little rough.  When he ran, he was constantly looking from side to side, instead of straight ahead.  I figured that was because he didn’t quite know what to do.  The next day, I decided to take him out of the pasture and ride him on some trails and roads.  Again, even as he walked, he kept looking from side to side, still wondering what to do.  I tried to guide him and could tell he would eventually come around.  The trail was good, but when I turned onto some blacktop road, he started to stumble and wanted off the road.  It seemed he was “soft footed” in regards to the loose gravel on the blacktop.  I put him back into the pasture and noticed a few days later that he was really limping and favoring his right foot.  Then a few days later, he was barely walking and diligently stepping on both front feet.  I could figure it out, nor could Mark.  It is now mid December, and he is getting around a little better.  He was even jumping and running in the snow this past weekend.  I guess time will tell.  If he gets well, he will still make a good pack horse and Zena (my black quarter horse mare) will make a good riding horse.  I’m still on the lookout for a 3rd horse as a backup. 

As for equipment……..I added another 2 cases of MRE’s and purchased a wider pad for the sleeping bag.  The one I had was too narrow and when I would roll or turn, I would go off of it.  Hopefully, this one will work a little better.  I  purchased cotton girths and was given a gel pad that I might try, also. 

I’ve been working on the mapping of the ride, starting in New Mexico.  I’m using Google Earth, with the overlay of The Continental Divide Trail and the Continental Divide, itself.  I pretty well have the first week completed, but it’s hard to tell how many miles I may cover per day.  I’m estimating around 20 plus miles and see how that works out.  Some days, I cover 25-28 miles.  Even though Google Earth provides a good map, I’m still getting the forrestry maps from National Forest Service and BLM.

Anyway, that a “catch up”.  More……..later.

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Wild West Church Ride (Ride for Life)

Sep 19th, 2007

I guess it’s time for another update. In further preparation for my Confinental Divide Ride, I participated in a 200 mile ride from Westcliff, Colorado to Taos, New Mexico. It isn’t actually 200 miles between the two (by road), but the route we took riding horses was equivilant to about 200 miles.

We left on Saturday, September 1st from Westcliff after participating in their parade. I brought 2 horses. One was my black quarterhorse mare (Zena) and the other was a black grade gelding that I borrowed from my son-in-law (Mark Reust). I was going to ride one and “pack” the other one. For a pack, I had purchased a saddle pack and 2 paniers. The pack works good because you can use your saddle to tie and sturdy the pack and the paniers (plastic inserts) are added protection against anything you might put in them. Along with the saddle packs, I added an “H” pack that also fits on top of the saddle and atop the paniers/bags on each side of the saddle. It adds additional storage and can easily be attached to the packs and the saddle. Since the “H” pack was on top, I put my immediate use items in it. That included my tent, bedroll, clothes, shaving kit, light jacket, and mattress. They all fit fairly well. In the paniers, I put my other supplies that were: MREs (food), ropes, first-aid kit, horse medical, additional horse halter, butane lighter, propane stove and 2 propane bottles, flashlight, axe, knife, eating utensils, extra towels, etc. I had saved room for water storage and (if needed) any food for my dogs (which I didn’t take). On the horse I was riding, I had a Pommel bag that included 2 bottles of water on one side and on the other side had some snacks, hand towel, flashlight, knife, camera, and gps. I had saddle bags and cantel bag behind the saddle. In one saddle bag, I carried a collapsible water bucket for the horses, and some small tack items for the horse. On the other saddle bag, I carred a few more snacks, an additional bottle of water and some other misc items. In my cantel bag, I carried my raincoat, towel, and radios.

Well, the first day (after the parade), I rode my gelding and packed my mare. I spent most of the day trying to hold my mare back from outwalking my gelding and in the meantime, trying to have my gelding speed up. We ended up at one of the rancher’s houses, but still have to put up our tents to spend the night in. The horses were all put in a large corral that had water and plenty of grass for them to feed on that night. We were threatened by rain, but didn’t receive any.

The next day (and all following) we were all up at about 6:00 at which time we stowed our sleeping/tent items, rounded up the horses, saddled and packed them. Then, we ate breakfast and was ready to go at about 8:30-9:00. That day, I, again, rode my gelding and packed my mare, but at about halfway through the ride, I could see I was still having problems with each of their paces, so I switched and rode the mare and packed the gelding. This was when I found the mare didn’t act very well with the bit I had in the bridle. She kept trying to throw it and would react too quickly to any type of pressure put on it. This combination on the horses seemed to work a little better and the mare ended up “pulling” my gelding the rest of the day.

On the 3rd day, I found out we had a chase truck that was going to be with us most of the way, so I put my paniers and “H” pack in the truck. One of the riders needed another horse to ride because his was already “scaleded” from just the past 2 days, so I let him ride my mare, and I went back to the gelding. Besides, my mare had an easy walk. I didn’t have 2 bridles, so I put the bridle on my gelding and just the halter and lead rope on my mare. The mare did real well without a bridle and we rode her the rest of the week just that way.

We ended our ride on September 8th at the pregnancy clinic in Taos and the end was well welcomed. During the ride, I found that my gelding has rubbed a deep gash into his left upper leg, where the gerth set. I doctored the gash on the gelding the rest of the week and replaced my eurethane girt with a wool-stranded gerth and kept it away from his front leg. It worked well the rest of the ride. My mare had started to show rubbed marks underneath her front leg, so I adjust the girth on her, also. It worked O.K.

Lessons learned were: to carry a good first-aid cream for the horses; change gerths to mohair or wool (which I should have had in the first place because they breath, expand, and don’t irritate the skin); get a wider air mattress; have a spare bridle; get 2 new saddle pads that were also wool; and you can’t be prepared for everything, but do the best you can.

Rocky

Update - July 07

Aug 1st, 2007

I guess it’s about time to update the information on my site. I’m still going strong about doing my ride. I just hope my health holds out. I lost my horse (Reno) 2 months ago. I was riding with a church group in the Colorado Mountains, when, just 45 minutes into the ride, my horse went down with me. After a few convultions and my trying cardiac compressions, he just “passed away”. It was quick and (hopefully) not very painful. The owner of the property said he would take care of him for me and I went back home. It was quite a “jolt”.

I did finally decide on a saddle. I got a Circle Y. A new “Flex 2″, with a 5″ cantle and padded seat, stirrups, and pad. I’ve yet to try it, but will, as soon as I find a good replacement horse.

I’ll be doing a good “warm up” ride September 1st to the 8th, going from Westcliff, Colorado to Taos, New Mexico. It is also with a church group, but they will be camping out the whole week, along the way. It is about 180 miles.

I’ve gotten a few more supplies. A new Tenaga tent (3 man), cooking supplies and sleeping equipment. I also got some packing supplies. A saddle pack and pannier inserts for the pack. I’ve ordered MRE Rations and some dried meals to take. I’ll be testing them out on the September ride. I’ve also purchased other misc supplies to take. I’ll list all of them when the time comes and I pack them for the ride.

Well, I’ll keep all informed. “Happy Trails”

Rocky