advanced
duration: 4-8h
costs: $380
Experienced, keen riders discovering the dramatic nature of our forest and high desert .
This is our longest ride. Riders should be fit and in good shape. The trail offers it’s challenges. It takes us trough some rough and remote backdrops with some few technical difficulties. Our surefooted endurance horses are experts, and comfort our riding guest with their calm attitude, handling this beautiful trail.
Not seldom- riders celebrate their accomplishment finishing this world class trail!
A experienced guide will take you out on this ride, but you still ride your own ride. We absolutely cater to your abilities, as this is your ride!
Scenery is breathtaking, the path is most likely only single foot track, with some exceptions to move over to the fire road, if at some sections the trail is not passable.
Take off from the ranch in an old forest, and we end up in a scenic desert. Often we get followed by a lovely breathe of wind. Since we incline and following the next 20 km the spine of the mountain, a layer of clothes can keep you comfortable.
Included in this ride is one night accommodation prior your ride in our living quarter horse trailer. For your dinner arrangements we recommend the Rock Inn in Lake Hughes.
Weight limit: 80 kg or 170 lb please include your clothes! We also require you to tack and untack your horse.
Ride from tall pines to the exotic desert, by wonderful views
First Day
Arrival
Meet your horse in the arena. A guide will demonstrate at first in our arena a detailed riding demonstration. If you have no questions, you can swing yourself up in the saddle and check your horse in the ring. Go forward at a walk and trot, go back, bend him around barrels and work on some rein cues. This first introduction ride at the ring, will help to connect and bond with the horses, so riders feel safer to go on this ride the next day.
Second Day
White Mountain Sky Tour
We head out early during the morning, beginning with a long climb up to the trail head of the epic Pacific Crest Trail. From here we go towards Mexico heading south. This 7 miles shaded section of this constantly gently bending trail guides us through a ancient pine forest, and black oak trees paired by stunning views across the desert. We switching from trot and walk, depending on the footing, trot when we can, but walking if we must- to cover some miles.
Soon we arrive in Upper Shake Campground and stop for a break.
This upcoming following section of the landscape turns in to desert. The PCT now will take us on a roller coaster ride, with wild bends, turns and twist, up and downs. Additional obstacles are ditches to overcome and plants hanging over the trail. However since there are no steep cliffs or ledges to worry about, this fun three mile trail section challenges riders to practice on their balanced seat position. Some riders going for some slow trotting, while others enjoy a relaxing walk. We leave this up to you.
Our last section we says goodby from our breathy high elevation, and we incline gently for four miles from 5000 feet to 3000 feet, until we reach Lake Hughes Road by impeccable vistas.
After reaching the horse trailer we untack the horses, load them up and head back to the ranch.
