Wild Mustangs Legacy

Introduction
California USA
The hills north of Boundary Peak look far too barren to support any animals larger than a chipmunk. Yet, ride deep into this high desert along the Nevada/California border, and you'll find cool springs, a few emerald meadows--and the wildest mustang herd in North America

Track wild horses and relive the old west in the seldom visited Pizona area of the lnyo National Forest. From a central meadow camp, riders will track the mustangs in their natural pinyon forest habitat. Observe and photograph present day herds and wildflowers. Enjoy spectacular sunsets of the Sierra and White Mountains while the cook prepares dinner over an open fire. Later, around the campfire, our experienced tracker guides will, share their knowledge of the wild horses and other wildlife. Learn about the social behavior of the horses and their current struggle.
This is a trip for those who would like to experience the life of a cowboy out on the range. An active, riding trip for people of all ages and riding levels. The group will operate from base camp and will ride out each day to the open range by high mountains. Don't miss four days of hospitality, home cooking and the thrill of Western life.

The scenery is spectacular and if you haven't experienced camping in this part of California, you will be pleasantly surprised. The vistas of the Sierra from Yosemite to Mt. Whitney to the west and of Boundary Peak and the White.

Accomodation


Accommodation
This is a pack trip so most nights are spent camping.

Description
Depending on the program you chose, you will sleep at different locations.

During the Pizona Springs ride, we will be camping at a stationary 'tent city' and doing day trips out from this location. We have a wide variety of tents available (single, double, or family), so please let us know what type you prefer. There is a solar shower and privy with toilet seat and tent at the campsite. There is no generator on our trips -- no electrical source is available.
We do not provide ground mats or sleeping bags, so you must bring your own! 

During the Benton Springs ride, guests can spend the 2 first nights in a room at the Old House Bed & Breakfast or camp in a tent at Benton. The last two nights we’ll all camp in tents at our wilderness style camp in Pizona.
At the Old House B&B, rooms are available for singles, couples or families. Each room is equipped with running water, toilet and a TV. Those wanting to camp will have tents near the Old House.



Meals
All meals are included.
For the Pizona Springs trip, meals are included from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on the last day.
For the Benton Springs trip, meals are included from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on the last day.

Food is typically sourced from local establishments. We strive to provide a deluxe dining experience and tailor our menus to reflect the tastes of our guests. We prepare breakfast and dinner.

A hot breakfast is prepared fresh each morning. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and salads are available at lunch and dinner each day.
Lunch is a build-your-own affair, typically completed before breakfast is served. Sandwich makings, fruits, and snacks are available for you to create your own take-along meal.
Each dinner has a different entrée (beef, chicken, pork, etc). 

Alcohol is not included in this trip, but guests are free to bring their own.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to vegetarians with prior notice.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


Pace
Riding experience is considered when fitting you for a mount. There are plenty of horses and mules to choose from to fit your expertise. All trips go at a walk. Our crew will help you get comfortable before we leave the pack station. We ride as few as 2 hours or as many as 6 hours in a day.

Horses
Approximately 130 horses and mules are the backbone of the operation. Pack mules carry the provisions for trail riders, hikers, and those wishing to have their gear packed to a wilderness campsite. Mules typically carry 150-240 pounds of equipment, food and dunnage and work from June through September. During the off season, livestock graze fields in the Owens Valley.
Horses and mules come to the pack station as four to five year old green broke. After a couple of years of training they spend up to another twenty to twenty-five years working in the Sierra.

Tack
You are encouraged to bring your own saddle if you have one. However, if your tack doesn't fit our stock, or we deem is unsafe, you will not be able to use it.

Guides
Each year young men and women bring youth and enthusiasm to a crew of senior packers and cooks. Most of the crew come from ranch backgrounds and once they start packing with us, they have a hard time ever leaving. Every member of the crew carries on the traditions of the talented men and women who started the business in the 1940s. New employees learn the trails, traditions, and develop skills to serve another generation of guests. Only the most able, hard working and those with exceptional people skills succeed as staff. We typically have two guides for each 10 riders.  Sometimes we break trips up into smaller groups.

Itinerary



Sample Itinerary: Pizona Springs - subject to changes

Track wild horses and relive the Old West in the seldom-visited Pizona area of the lnyo National Forest. From a central meadow camp, riders will track the mustangs in their natural pinyon forest habitat. Observe and photograph herds of horses and wildflowers. Enjoy spectacular sunsets over the Sierra and White Mountains while the cook prepares dinner over an open fire. Later, around the campfire, our experienced tracker guides will share their knowledge of the wild horses and other wildlife. Learn about the social behavior of the horses and their current struggle.

We recommend that you spend the night before the ride in Lee Vining, Bishop or Benton Hot Springs.

Day 1: Arrival
We will meet at River Springs at 8:00am. You will be greeted by your guides, paired with your horse and ride into the Pizona Springs camp. Seminars include map orientation and history of the wild horse.
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner
Camping at Pizona Springs

Day 2 & 3: Pizona
Full day in the field, riding out to track and observe horses on open range and watering sites. Periodic stops for viewing, informal discussion and rest. Seminars include social structure and behavior of wild horses, seasonal range ecology and current issues affecting maintenance of free-roaming wild horses.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camping at Pizona Springs

Day 4: Departure
Take a ride to the western range with lunch before returning to vans at River Springs Roadhead. Seminars today include obtaining, training and using wild horses. The last meal served will be lunch. Expect to arrive at your cars by 4:00pm.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

----------------------------------------------

Sample Itinerary: Benton Hot Springs - subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival
We start with dinner at 6:30 PM. Camp will be being set-up that afternoon and there will be plenty of time to walk around, check out the horses and relax. If people can’t get there for dinner, they can arrive late or come out to camp the following morning.
Meals included: Dinner
Camping at Benton Hot Springs

Day 2: First Ride
Breakfast at 7AM and we meet the horses and explain safety rules. We’ll take a sack lunch and ride out for the day to explore the hills around Old Benton.
Afternoon is for soaking in the hot springs and getting ready for a fun filled evening with music and stories of the gold rush era.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camping at Benton Hot Springs

Day 3: Ride to Pizona Camp
Breakfast at 6:30 AM and dunnage needs to be ready for the crew by 7:15 AM. We will be on the trail by 8:30AM and head north over the Benton Range on the power line road until we cut off to our camp in Lower Pizona (riding about 15 to 17 miles). We take a pack mule for water a lunch buffet and camera equipment. Camp is set up with showers available.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camping at Pizona Camp

Day 4: Mustangs
Breakfast at 7:00 AM and the first group heads out to explore Upper Pizona, McNamara Lake, McBride Springs and the rolling mountainsides of Pizona to see the Mustangs. Those seeking a more leisurely ride, leave later and head out for a shorter loop that includes visiting the petroglyphs. We try and break up groups to meet various guests’ desires for length of ride.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camping at Pizona Camp

Day 5: Last Day
Breakfast at 7:30 AM and we head back to River Springs via the Adobe Lake trail. We’ll cut tracks and look for bands of horses that are working between Adobe and River Springs. We arrive at River Springs by 2PM and will transport guests to Benton to pickup cars by 3PM.
Meals included: Breakfast

----------------------------------------------

Sample Itinerary: Photography Special - subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival, photography session on foot
3:00pm: Meeting at River Springs - We arrive at a beautiful desert oasis surrounded by wild horse herds, unpacking to already prearranged tents, getting acquainted with our camp and our stunning surroundings.
3:30 – 4:30pm: Presentation #1 – Intro to Wildlife photography and its 3 main components, with farther orientation specific to artistic wildlife imagery.
4:30 – 6:30pm: Photography session with wild horses (on foot) - We go roam between the many herds, viewing rearing stallions at battle, mares and newborn foals, playful bachelor bands engaged in mock battles and galloping bands.
6:30: Dinner at River Springs - After a safari-like dinner setting we enjoy watching the incredible display of stars and Milky Way above the towering snowy White Mountains, and at night we listen to the sounds of wild horses, who come truly alive in the dark.
Meals included: Dinner
Camping at River Springs

Day 2: First ride, photography session on horseback
8:00am: Breakfast at River Springs
9:30 – 10:30am: Photography session with wild horses (on horseback) - It is a truly incredible experience to ride atop your horse amongst the many herds of wild mustangs, while there is a curious interaction between your mount and the wild horses. The resulting images seem very alive with a lot of interesting action, set against those amazing snowy mountains looming above us (no riding experience necessary to comfortably control your steed!)
10:30 – 2:30pm: Ride to Pizona camp - We enjoy a pleasant lunch in the shade of a pinyon pines (sometimes with fresh nuts!) with a great view overlooking the mustang herds below us. We ride through the gently rolling sagebrush hills and pinyon pine forest until we arrive in another desert oasis, our new camp higher up. We unpack to our new tents and enjoy lovely hors d'oeuvres and hot showers in our high safari camp.
4:00 – 6:00pm: Photography session with desert flora, historical 1800s stone-cabin and optional hike to wild horse skeleton (on foot) - A great chance to spend more time exploring our little desert oasis, with many wild irises in bloom and a bit of history, since our camp is set upon the old stagecoach road to Bodie.
6:00: Dinner at Pizona
6:30 – 7:30pm: Presentation #2 – Anticipation of action specific to wild mustangs’ social structure and its application to camera settings prior to shooting - This is a unique lecture combining the deeper understanding of the subject with photography skills, a true jewel to enhance your wild horse imagery. After dark we get a chance to watch the stunning display of stars and Milky Way, even brighter from our high camp.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camping at Pizona Camp

Day 3: Ride to high desert country, track wild mustang herds
8:00am: Breakfast at Pizona
8:30 – 11:30am: Ride to high desert country - With the first sun rays shining over our little oasis we ride through a lovely lush canyon to the truly high country. There is wild desert apricot in bloom amongst many other flowers, and the sagebrush forms tunnels over 20 feet tall. We arrive at 8,000 ft near Red Mtn. Pass.
11:30 – 1:30pm: Photography session with spectacular views of snowy High Sierra and White Mountains - It is stunning to be this very high up with the entire two mountain ranges spread below us, while we track the wild mustang herds on top of our high desert. To view the wild horses set against the towering snowy peaks is truly spectacular! We enjoy our outdoor lunch here, feeling like on the roof of the world
1:30 – 3:30pm: Ride back to Pizona
6:00pm: Dinner at Pizona
6:30 – 7:30pm: Presentation #3 – Digital photography pre-print enhancement with Lightroom - We discuss Lightroom editing customized from any beginner level to more advanced specific tidbits related to outdoor, wildlife and equine photography, including conversion to B&W. Another night we can be falling asleep looking for shooting stars in the high desert.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Camping at Pizona Camp

Day 4: Ride to River Springs, photography session on horseback. Departure.
8:00am: Breakfast at Pizona
9:30 – 11:00am: Ride to River Springs - We start slowly descending back across the high desert to River Springs. We stop for lunch in the pinyon pines while we enjoy our views of the Adobe valley, and pinpoint the location of the wild herds
11:00 – 12:00pm: Photography session with wild horses (on horseback) - Once again we going to meander amongst the wild horses, observing and photographing the many stallions, mares and foals, with our deeper understanding of their intricate social structure and practicing different angles and settings
12:00pm: Farewells at River Springs
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch


Note: This tour is operating under permit with the USDA Forest Service through Special Use Permit on the Inyo National Forest.

Rates and Dates for Wild Mustangs Legacy

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: River Springs
Airport: Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH)
Transfer: --

Climate:
                                                Bishop area