Wenaha east trail questions

[transam]

I have drawn a wenaha east archery tag....need info on trails...what are the safest trails for horses.  I have ridden a lot on Pacific Crest Trail but never in the Wenaha.  Went there last weekend and checked from Tee Pee Trailhead but did not get to the part where you start down.  This country looks rough.  I have read some of your stories on how tough it is.  My biggest concern is for the safety of the horses...please help me out.   

[Daytonite]

mtncook would be your best bet for information.  Congrats and good luck

[nwhunter]

Ya its rough country for sure. The trails are pretty good but they all have spots that are down right steep and rocky. If you had hiked a few hundred yards down the trail from the parking lot towards butte creek you would see what you are in for. The trail past Oregon Butte has a well known spot called danger point on the map and its a spooky spot if a horse goes off its all but over!. The easiest safest trail I think is the misery trail from teepee to mt misery which borders the east wenaha and tucannon. The trail down into three forks is good with lots of elevation drop but nice switchbacks so I guess it depends on where you plan to go. My hunt in there is on the Extreme Bulls 5 video and there are a few shots of the horse packing and the trails. Congrats on the tag you will have fun as long as yo are in top shape. nwhunter

[mtncook]

Like nwhunter said the trails from the east are more horse friendly,  mostly because they are better maintained.  The Three Forks Trail gives great access to the eastern part of the unit.  I know of 2 dead horses from last season,  not mine but did belong to new people to the area.  The west side of Wenaha East has some places that the brush covers some holes that I have never seen the bottoms of.  When the frost takes the leaves off in the fall you still cannot see the bottom. My hunters that follow me through that area get real quiet for awhile until that area is passed then they talk about it all the way out until we get by there again.  Some have admitted to closing their eyes for the worst places.    If your animals are experienced and pay attention it should not be a problem.  Again the eastern trails are a dream in comparison.

mtncook

[HoofsandWings]

If you come in from the WA border, be aware of the snakes.

[mtncook]

That is about 35 minutes of trail on a horse.  Surely you come up for air in that amount of time.  That is part of the area I was referring to.  There are some holes under the alders that would swallow a few horses and mules.  Then the rock slides and gravely areas add their own excitement.   Before my time in there about 25 hunters were coming out at the same time and had to shovel their way from Danger Point to Short Grizzly Bear.  They took turns and kept the shovels working, seems like it took 9 hours to make the 45 minute ride from McBain to The Lookout.

mtncook

[BLUEBULLS]

I close my eyes from Oregon Butte to just past danger point. 

think happy thoughts. I prefer trails like that in the dark. A lot of the stuff I'verode in Oregon makes that look like a sidewalk. My crazy wife doesn't mind those trails a bit... women

oops, almost thread jacked.

[westernarcher]

Will there still be to much snow the weekend after the 4th? Was planning on doing a cpl days of scouting in there.

[nwhunter]

Heres a pic I found following mtcook out of a hole with a bull we got in 09 in the east wenaha. That part of the trail is pretty good but there were some spots that made me pucker a bit. If I hadnt been so tired I would have walked! nwhunter

[nwhunter]

Woops didnt mean to put that first pic in there.nwhunter

[mtncook]

Hey Scott,,,   Aren't you in the trail in the first pic?   Some of the gravely, loose rock, sloping tread areas can get exciting.  The toughest part is when I meet someone  that has maybe 2 animals and does not think they can possibly get off the trail.   We usually have at least 10 horses and mules and had as many as 18 in a string.  Wished I had a pic of that bunch as I had 2 spikes on plus alot of camp gear.

mtncook

[mtncook]

I might have a pic or 2 but mine need resizing,  I'll look around.