Day 9, K Bar Z

Day 9

Today was our first full day at K Bar Z ranch.  We both slept well in a very comfortable log cabin and arrived at the main house for breakfast.  I had mentioned to Mary Ann that someone had praised  her French toast in an Internet posting, so that’s what she prepared this morning and it was wonderful.  Meals are held family style in the dining room, guests and staff together.  Gloria and I were the only guests at breakfast.  This weekend is the beginning of the high season here and the place will probably be booked full, clear through to the Fall.  It was just good luck that we came through this early. 

Gloria and I took a walk back to the main road, all the while talking and keeping an eye open for bears which we were informed is a wise thing to do.  We saw some mule deer and lots of little critters that look like a prairie dog.  Owner Eliot, age 81, met us at the end of our walk and offered a driving tour of the surrounding ranches and homes.  We spent a pleasant couple of hours looking at some of the prettiest creeks, meadows and mountains imaginable, and a dozen or so beautiful cabins.  How he came to own K Bar Z ranch and his and Marry Ann’s story is a pretty remarkable one.

The agenda for the afternoon was our first horseback ride.  Mary Ann made us a bag lunch and Gloria and I, David (guide, son and co-owner) and a young helper, Emily, set off.  To say I was tense would be an understatement.  However, I either fooled the horse or he just didn’t care.   Only once did I confuse the animal into a short gallop. We climbed what felt like at times a steep trail up the mountains finally ending up in a high meadow (6,000 feet plus) for lunch.  I don’t know if my rubbery knees were the ride or the altitude.   We watched a small heard of mule deer feeding nearby.  The sun came out and the mist stopped.  The view was outstanding.  Several more deer crossed our path on the way back but fortunately, we didn’t see any bears.  I recognized the trail we were on as one where we were told bears are regularly sighted.



Gloria riding on a high mountain meadow



I followed Gloria most of the way and she looked like a pro on a beautiful black horse.  She even looked great the time it shied and reared a little.  Of course her expression gave away her alarm but she got him straightened out and all ended well.  The ride which we had planned for an hour lasted about two.  Despite warnings to the contrary, we're not sore.  I resisted the urge to kiss the earth upon returning. It would have been ungrateful to the horse and our wonderful guide.  Will I try this again?  We'll be here one more day so stay tuned.

For those of you trying to call me, I don’t have cellular service out here.  Try email. Unless it is personal, post a comment on the blog.

At the end of the ride. How do you get off these things?



The people here, Elliot, Maryann, Dawna, David, &  Emily are so nice.  Although they are our hosts, you get the feeling that if our car had died on Chief Joseph Highway and they were just helping out they would be as nice.