Chief Joseph Trail Ride

 The Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) has been hosting the Chief Joseph Trail Ride since 1965 making it one of the nation's longest running historic trail rides. Chief Joseph Trail Ride, Inc is a non-profit dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of the Appaloosa horse and deep connections to the Nez Perce tribe. The trail ride is in memory to Chief Joseph trying to save his people from relocation to Indian reservations. It retraces the route Chief Joseph took in 1877 as they fled capture by the U.S. Calvary. This progressive ride  covers approximately 100 miles each year and begins the next year's ride near the previous year's final destination. Riders are led through the back country trying to follow the original route as closely as possible. It takes 13 years for the Chief Joseph Trail Ride to travel the 1300 mile journey from Joseph, OR to Bear Paw Battlefield in Montana. This years trail ride, July 20-26, included 90 horse riders and 180 total campers. It began in Jackson, MT and traveled past Horse Prairie, Bannock Pass, Birch Creek and over the Continental Divide to Leadeore, ID.

Andy Shaw is the president of Chief Joseph Trail Ride, Inc, a 503c, and also Trail Ride Director. He said Don Johnson, Walla Walla, was one of the original founders of the trail ride. “During the 1990's the Chief Joseph Trail Ride included 200 riders,” said Shaw. Shaw contacts landowners and rides the trail prior to determine if there are down trees and other impediments that need to be handled before the ride. “We camped at Lemhi Pass, 7500 ft elevation, adjacent to the Continental Divide,. This is where Sacajawea took Lewis and Clark looking for a path to the the ocean. You can view beautiful Idaho and Montana mountain peaks from here. Lewis and Clark noted, in their journal, that they viewed water flowing through a stone nearby where you can straddle the beginning of the Missouri River,” added Shaw. Shaw had the opportunity to hear the story of Chief Joseph's band from the owner of the Bar TT Ranch, Dillion, MT. The ranch was homesteaded in 1863 and they had a large work crew cutting hay in August 1877 when they saw a band of Chief Joseph's scouts on horseback. Their cook was scared and shot an Indian, and the hay crew was frightened and left the ranch. The Indians had just fought their bloodiest battle, at Big Hole battlefield, against the U.S. Calvary. The Nez Perce members were headed east to Yellowstone Park and progressed north to Canada. Andy Alexander, Walla Walla, has been a camp volunteer for the past nine years and shared his experiences. He is part of the work crew that makes coffee, delicious meals, and sets up the dance floor. Then he takes down equipment the next morning, loads up trailers and drives to the next night's destination. The Chief Joseph Trail Ride support and logistics crew totals 20 volunteers. Breakfast is served in the morning and a sack lunch is handed out to riders.”The chuck wagon meals are catered and served as they get off their horses at night. The destination camp is reached after 20 miles and riders anticipate a great dinner” said Alexander. During evening campfire historical presentations, sharing colorful folklore of the region or about the Conflict of 1877 are shared by volunteers.. The Nez Perce members are often in attendance to share stories about their culture including children and horses dressed up in full regalia. After dinner a band or DJ plays music and people enjoy dancing on the portable dance floor. A Declaration of Fitness application form to verify horse's health, must be presented prior to the ride. Although organized by the Appaloosa Horse Club, other horse breeds are eligible to participate. All attendees, however, must be members of ApHC. Next year's Chief Joseph Trail Ride begins at Spencer, ID, featuring the Camas Creek Battle site, then ending the journey at West Yellowstone. The trail ride provides an opportunity to meet new friends, experience beautiful scenery, and return home with memories to last a lifetime. For more information about the Chief Joseph Trail Ride go to appaloosa.com/chief joseph-trail-ride. The Chief Joseph Trail Ride information site shows the dates and site locations of future trail rides. You can sign up for next years ride or contact by Email: trail rides@appaloosa.com for more information.