In which I organize the Cross-State Ride info in a useful way

 Cross-State Ride COMPLETED*

*we did the trail all the way to Tekoa, but had to miss the last day-trip (6 miles?) to the
Idaho border

I kept folx updated on our progress and adventures via Facebook while we were on the trail, but I was having too-much-fun with not-enough-wifi to share stuff here on the blog as it happened. 

So now, there's room for me to archive Useful Information in an organized way here.  Isn't it cool how that worked out?

For this post, I'll do my own version of the FAQs, based on questions I get a lot.

*  How far is it?

We travel from Easton (in Snoqualmie Pass) to Tekoa (on the Idaho border), a trail distance of around 200-225 miles, depending on trail availability.

Camp in Easton

*  How long does it take?

The trip is usually around 18 days.  There are some rest days, which vary each year depending on trail conditions ("Which parts of the trail burned last year?  Which new sections can be added because they got fixed?") and social obligations (the pandemic kiboshed some of the routine events like the parade in Rosalia).

The Renslow Trestle is newly-opened this year--we were the first group to cross it!
photo by Marilyn Hedges

*  Do you have to ride the whole way?

To earn a White Scarf you need to do all the trail miles, but your manner of travel can vary.  You can ride your horse, drive in a buggy, ride in somebody else's wagon, or ride a bike (or an e-bike).  One participant (in past years) is well-known for walking the whole thing.

Clarence's rig can carry two passengers in addition to the driver and assistant

You don't actually have to do all the miles if you don't want to.  There's no shame in skipping a day, or many days.  We do this for fun.

*  Doesn't your butt get sore?

I am perfectly comfortable riding my horse at a trot for long distances and many hours.  Riding at a walk is harder on my body, but because my horse and I weren't as fit as we have been in past years, we mostly walked the first week before adding more trotting miles in week 2.

We parade through Ellensburg en masse, which makes it seem like a long distance.
It's really only a couple of miles.

*  What is the weather like?

The weather on this trip can (and does) include rain, sun, wind, cold, hot, mud, and dust.  Pack everything.  

Blue sky above, rain and hail ahead of Tumbleweed Alley

*  The trail is straight and mostly flat.  Isn't that boring?

The trail is uncomplicated, but the terrain we pass through is endlessly fascinating.  Riders report wildlife and flora sightings at the camp meetings each night, which include everything from yellow-headed blackbirds to rattlesnakes, wild roses and asparagus.

The people on this trip are always interesting, and swapping stories about horses (and mules) and trails is always a good way to pass the time.

joan and her mule Buckshot are excellent company

* Do you have to have a driver to move your rig forward each day?

Some people have an extra person (usually a spouse or other family member) to move vehicles forward, but many of us travel solo and use the group transport.  

The SS Reindeer is ready to move forward!

*How does the bus transportation work?

Each morning we get up early (usually around 5am), feed animals and ourselves, tack up equines and pack the rigs to move forward.  At a pre-set time, leaving horses tied securely (usually) the whole camp caravans forward to the next campsite.  Then, we ride the bus back to where the horses are (hopefully) still tied securely and ride them forward to where we parked.

On the bus

*  What about food?

Ride fees now include food truck catering most nights!  

(and a few mornings, too!)

This serves multiple purposes:  it simplifies planning for participants, and gives us an easy way to share food and companionship each day.  Hiring food trucks and community groups to feed us also stimulates local economies in the small rural communities we visit.  

Taco truck happiness!

Riders generally provide their own breakfast and lunch foods.  I eat a lot of peanut butter on the trail.

*  What if I can't take that much time off?

The ride offers packages for  weekends and a "half-trip" in addition to the whole journey.  

*  How much does it cost?

This ride has been an incredibly cheap adventure for many years.  Prices have gone up recently to reach a much more "market-fair" level, covering the club's cost for trail permits, food, maintenance on the rolling stock (the bus and the "Coyote Lounge" aka the porta-potty trailer/truck) and trail improvements such as hitching rails and informational kiosks.  There is a small budget for political lobbying, which has had a powerful impact over the years, including the building and repair of major facilities such as the Renslow Trestle and the (soon-to-open) Beverly Bridge across the Columbia River.

The club bought a new-to-us school bus in 2020, but didn't get to use it until 2021.

Prices in 2021:

**Two nights or less:  $119 per person

**Half-trip, 7 nights or less:  $299 per person

**Full-trip, 8 nights or more: $549

You can spend a bit of money along the way, usually for trail food and fuel for your rig, plus incidentals like sunscreen.  There is limited shopping availability on this trip, as many of the places we stay have little, if any, retail opportunities.  

You definitely want to buy ice cream at the hardware store in St. John.  Best. Ever!

*  Where do we stay at night?  How are horses contained?

I sleep in the back of my truck, with a home-built sleeping platform that provides plenty of under-bed storage and a comfortable foam mattress for my sleeping bag.  Some folks have ultra-posh motor homes, campers, or living-quarters trailers.  Others pitch tents, sleep in the horse-section of their horse trailers, or stretch out in the back seat of a truck.

Gail and Walt's motorhome is a comfy spot to gather in bad weather--and there's always
a welcome smile at their door.

Horses are tied to trailers, clipped to high-lines, or kept in portable corrals.

lightweight portable corrals are my person fave

In one camp (Renslow) we are required to double-restrain our animals, which may include two lead ropes, a corral + hobbles, or any other combination of methods.

*  What skills should my horse and I have for this trip?

This trip is an ideal way to introduce a young or inexperienced animal to trail and travel.

Your horse should be comfortable moving down an uncomplicated trail at a reasonable speed--most people walk and trot.  Horse manners should be acceptable for living in close quarters with other animals and people.  He should accept being tied to a trailer, hitching post, tree, or sometimes a sage bush or something even weirder.  Consider teaching your horse to pony or be ponied--this skill may come in handy.  Stallions are not permitted.  

Many horses are trepidatious about wagons and flags at the beginning of the trip, but quickly learn to accept these contraptions on the trail.  They say a horse who has done the whole trip can add $1,000 to his value due to the exposure to a wide variety of weird stuff along the way.

Llamas (alpacas?) along the trail near Thorp

You should be comfortable caring for your horse away from home, and tending to his (and your own) needs along the way.  It's okay to ask for help; it's not okay to expect somebody else to do all the work.  Be sure to carry some basic first-aid supplies (vet wrap, bute) and know how to use them.  We hope to have a vet (and a farrier) on every stage of the ride in future years, but currently do not have that.

*  What about hoof protection?

This trail is absolutely not suitable for barefoot horses.  

You may choose to use glue-on or buckle-on boots, or composite horse shoes to protect your equine's feet, but steel shoes + plastic sole pads are the gold standard and are recommended.  

After 100 miles--with more than 100 more miles to go--Fiddle needed her front shoes replaced

I also bring an extra set of shoes and pads for my horse, as the rocky trail surface wear down the toes of her front shoes after about 100 miles.

*  What about water?

Water is a valuable resource while travelling.  I added a 25-gallon bench tank (in addition to the 25-gallon standing tank) to my trailer for this trip, and filled up both at every opportunity to provide water for a single horse.   Some camps have access to plenty of water, thanks to a network of hoses we contribute to bring it snaking across to each rig, but some locations have no water available at all.

Cooperation in action:  we all bring hoses, and we hook them all together

 If I could figure out where to keep another 20 gallons on my rig, I'd do it.

*  Does anybody do this trip more than once?

Some participants have done this ride annually for 20 or 30 years.  Some younger riders have literally grown up doing it.  I've done the Summer Ride twice now, and the Fall Ride once, and I look forward to doing it many more times in the future.

White scarf denotes a rider (or wagoneer) who did every mile of the trail. 
 I earned my scarf in 2019.

Do you have more questions I should add to my FAQ?  The comment box is open!