Wasteland

I took out a staff ride today, and we did one of my favorite trails. We went up to Chi road (walked it since it's way too rocky to fly up that), and then did the horseshoe run, which is one of my favorites on our property.

After that we headed to top of the world (well, as close to the top as you can get at Sundance), and we had to head through this plethora of burnt and shriveled tree stumps to get there.

We had a big forest fire about 10 years ago, and it was bad enough to the point that we were sleeping in the clothes we'd leave the house in, and we'd packed away all our valuables at our friend's house in town. After it was finally put out, we never imagined it'd happen again. But it did this year.

In early May, a small fire started down by the river. About a week later, the smoke was burning out throats and stinging our eyes, we ponied over 100 horses down to our neighbour's ranch, and by about 5:00, most of the staff were piling into cars after getting an evacuation notice.

I remember taking one last look around the ranch before getting into my car and heading to Kamloops. I knew the ranch would be okay, because it had to be. I couldn't imagine what I would do if the place that has made me who I am was taken away, so I pushed away the possibility and just went through the next day in silent numbness, waiting for the call that we could come back home.

It was only my second time taking this trail since the fire, and it's still weird to look at it. I don't see it as ugly though. I love it, because I'm still able to ride through it on my horse. The ranch isn't gone, and while a lot of our trails may be, what really matters is still standing. We were so lucky to get through this relatively unscathed, and this are to me now represents how lucky we are. It's an idea of how bad it could have been, but thankfully never did come.

Plus, it looks kinda cool - like a post-apocalyptic barren wasteland. :)