8 / Sport and Trail Magazine
W
"Always respect Mother Nature.
Especially when she weighs
400 pounds and is guarding her
baby," James Rolling
Story and Photos by
Ozana Sturgeon
sight and out of mind. Spring, summer and fall are excellent times to trail ride the wide open spaces and deep forests of our national parks, and enjoy the wildlife from the back of a horse.
Recently we had the chance to ride in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Area. In a park that sees more than four million visitors a year, the best way to see some of Yellowstone's 2.2 million acres without the crowds is from the back of the horse. Yellowstone’s abundant and diverse wildlife are as famous as its geysers. There are nearly 300 species of birds, 16 species of fish, five species of amphibians and 67 species of mammals, including seven native ungulate species and two bear species. Sharing the trails with wildlife and getting to watch thousands of wild bison nearby and elk herds, pronghorns and bighorn sheep is really an amazing site. While we rejoice at finding clues and signs of our favorite wildlife while out and about.
When trail riding the backcountry, with every new trail we enter, we enter into Bear Country! How often do people really see bears when out on the trails? Is it really that big of a deal? That of course depends of in what part of the country you ride in. But in the three days of riding around Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons National Park we saw five bears. That serves as a powerful reminder of how wild Yellowstone truly is, and why it’s so important to go prepared......
ords can’t describe what it’s like to
ride into the backcountry and
embrace the ultimate calm and
pristine beauty of the wilderness as
you let all of the hustle, bustle, worries
and problems of your world fall out of