Tag Archives: trail

Searching The Shadows

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Caution is the best word to describe how to travel through hostile country. Any hasty wrong move on your part could be your last so the old adage “Hurry ahead slowly.” comes into play as you round every corner or crest every rise.

Having a traveling companion that was sure footed, intelligent, and aware of the dangers of the trail was paramount if you wanted to avoid trouble, or at least be ready for it if it was unavoidable. Here Pete the mule spotted something in the shadows down below that didn’t feel right or smell right and he’s alerted his rider with pitched forward ears and a steady stare. Always ready to err on the side of caution this mule and its rider won’t be moving until they’re sure it’s safe.

Ridge Riders

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The sun is brutally hot without a hint of a breeze to break the heat rising from the baked earth. The riders ride single file, both man and beast constantly watching for danger. The only sounds to be heard are the occasional hoof hitting a rock and the creak of saddle leather as the riders weight shifts forward from climbing up the ridge. This is dangerous country. Everybody in the party but especially the lead rider is constantly on the alert for the slightest sign that something might not be right. A broken branch on a rabbit bush, a rock laying wrong on the trail, a ravens alarm call plus a 6th sense that something’s not right, any or all of these things could spell disaster for the troop if not observed and taken into account. These are old hands in this country and not likely to be caught unaware. This isn’t the first ridge they’ve ridden and if they’re careful it won’t be their last.