Fishing Trip Fiasco, Fun and Friends

What could be better than a fishing trip with grandson and grandpa horse packing in the beautiful Sierra National Forest? Nothing . . . except when something goes wrong.

Fishing Trip Fiasco, Fun and Friends | The Story of Ranching at Grieb Ranch

Carl leading pack horses across the creek, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra National Forest, on the west side of the Sierra Nevada, California.

Last Fall Daniel and Papa and friends packed in with their horses in the Sierra National Forest to get away and enjoy some freshwater fishing. They packed into John Muir Wilderness in the Sierra National Forest and set up base camp. Daniel and Papa Carl (Carl 89 riding his trusty 23 old horse, Reese) took their own horses and rode out of the base camp to fishing spots.

As they were passing through a rocky granite crevice on the granite western slopes of the Sierra Nevada  two accidents occurred, one involved Papa.  Carl and Reese negotiated through a crevice in the rocks involving jumping up a two-foot ledge. As Reese tackled this challenge his back feet slipped  . . . down went the rider and the horse.  All Carl could think of in that split second was, “I’ve GOT TO GET my feet and legs clear”, BUT HE COULD NOT.  One of Carl’s feet ended up wedged between the horse and crevice wall. The thousand pound horse laid nearly motionless in one place.

Kevin and Daniel came to the rescue and lifted Papa off, unsaddled the horse, then rolled the horse backward. Reese, the horse, landed upside down and they had to roll him again.  Reese just lay there lifeless as though dead.  The men rolled him over one more time before he had room to stand up safely.  Finally, after a period of time he stood up.  What a relief!

Papa’s foot really hurt at first, but as he has always said, ”it is a long way from my heart”.  So he began walking the mile back down the mountain to base camp holding onto Joey’s backpack for balance. When Papa was a few hundred yards from camp they got a horse to take him the rest of the way. Reese gimped his way back to camp using only three legs.  Fortunately Reese improved and in a few days was able to carry Papa out to the trail head. The rest of the adventure went well and everyone had a GREAT TRIP after all.

Fishing Trip Fiasco, Fun and Friends | The Story of Ranching at Grieb Ranch

Carl at the campfire, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra National Forest, on the west side of the Sierra Nevada, California.

Fishing Trip Fiasco, Fun and Friends | The Story of Ranching at Grieb Ranch

Daniel with his morning catch at Post Corral Creek, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra National Forest, on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, California.

Photos: Londie G. Padelsky

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