by Candy Moulton
Encampment, Wyo.
April 1, 2008

I’ve been informed that there are still openings on the 2008 Ride the Outlaw Trail — which takes you into Hole-in-the-Wall Country where Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid and their cohorts often hid out from the law.

This year marks the 17th annual trail ride through northern Wyoming outlaw country. The ride takes place Aug. 2-9. It begins in Thermopolis, Wyo., and will head into Hole-in-the Wall and outlaw country of the southern Big Horn mountains — elevations of 4,200 to 9,000 feet — along mountain trails, across streams, and past unique rock formations and scenic canyons.

On each of the seven days of the ride, a distance of 12 to 23 miles will be covered, meaning you’ll be in the saddle anywhere from six to nine hours a day, so this is for people who really enjoy time in the back country with their horse. There will be five different campsites. Each evening will feature campfire entertainment including storytelling, history, and music. Anyone interested in participating as a musician, poet, or storytelling voice is encouraged to plan accordingly. One night there will even be a dance. All food is catered and the camp has a “Hole-in-the-Wall” saloon so you won’t go thirsty on the trail.

The fees include horse accommodations at the fairgrounds in Thermopolis before and after the ride, transportation to the trailhead, plus meals, water, hay and grain, and entertainment.

The Outlaw Trail is a nonprofit organization and all proceeds from the ride go to charitable causes in Thermopolis and surrounding communities including a scholarship program. Committee members are all volunteers from Thermopolis and the surrounding communities.

For more information about the Outlaw Trail Ride visit their Web site at www.rideoutlawtrail.com; call (888) 362-RIDE or (307) 864-2287, or e-mail outlaw@tribcsp.com.

For those who prefer a wagon train adventure, consider hitching a ride (or taking your own wagon) with the Oregon-California Trails Association, which will have a wagon train running from Montpelier, Idaho, to Nampa, Idaho, as part of the pre-convention activities in July and early August.

Del Magnum, wagon master for this OCTA wagon Train says it will travel portions of the Oregon-California Trail, the Jeffery/Goodale Cutoff, the Kelton Road, and stage route trails. Nearly all of the proposed route will be on state, county, BLM or Forest Service roads, however in many places these roads cover, cross or parallel the ruts left by emigrants more than one hundred years ago. “We hope to bring to the public’s attention that places like this still exist and should be preserved for the future generations to view,” Magnum said.

The wagon train organizes in Montpelier in early July and will travel through Georgetown to Soda Springs, Chesterfield and across the Fort Hall Reservation on Ross Fork Creek. After leaving Fort Hall, it will cross the Snake River at Ferry Butte and travel to Blackfoot before turning west to the Big Southern Butte and Arco winding across central Idaho to arrive in Nampa the first week in August for the OCTA Convention.

This 500-mile trip will cross through eight Idaho counties. Anyone is welcome to come join this wagon train for an hour, a day, a week or the entire trip. Wagons do not need to be authentic to the old days and horses, mules, oxen or even a donkey cart can join in if they can manage to travel approximately three and a half miles per hour and average 18 miles per day. Alfalfa hay cubes or pellets will be available to meet weed-free regulations at cost plus delivery. For more details about the route and costs, contact Magnum by e-mail at target@cbyteusa.net.