Words can not express the sense of relief and happiness that my wife and I are feeling right now. After a very long night of driving over 11 hours we are all home safe. We were at a friend's house with their family and friends Saturday night for a B-day dinner when the call we had been waiting and hoping for finally came. I had spent most of the evening answering questions of about the situation since everyone there knew my horses were still missing and that I had been up numerous times searching for them.
My wife's cell rang about 7:40 PM and when I took it out of my pocket I noticed a 360 area code and our hearts jumped, as soon as I went to answer the call I realized I had just missed it and it had gone to voice mail. I only know a few 360'ers and did not recognize the number. I knew it had to be a hunter. The caller was Darcey and Larry Mitchum. They were in the exact same drainage I had been in last week and they found them right where I had been! They were found about 14 miles from our original camp site.
I have not gotten the whole story from them yet. But it sounds like they found the tracks and tracked to them. They fed them a few peanuts and the horses followed them right out. They made some halters out of scrap rope and tied them to the hitching post at the trail head.
Larry and Darcey had to pick up camp...camper and truck, and drive all the way back to Tonasket to get cell service to call us. Then turn around and head back up. Way too cool! I can't say enough about that.
Anyway...we dropped everything, hooked up the trailer and we were on the road by 8. We finally arrived at the trail head at 0130 and were headed back by 0145 hrs. We arrived back home around 0715 this morning and we were in bed by 0730, exhausted.
We only were able to speak to Darcey briefly when stuck her head out the door of the camper when she heard us pull in. She told us they were doing OK. We only got to say thank you and she went back to bed. We will be giving them another call when they get out of the hills.
The horses are in great shape just a few minor scratches but covered in soot from the burn areas. They will be getting a bath tomorrow. They have a nice start on their winter hair already. They are not getting much of a break because we are leaving for Idaho on Friday!
Besides they have been on holiday for the past month.........my wife Laurie heard them whinnying to the neighbor's horse this morning and she swears she heard a Canadian accent. (haha)
Thank you to all of you who followed my thread. My wife is positive the extra prayers and good thoughts are the reason they made it back home safe. We were both trying to avoid the possible thought that they were gone for good. I can tell you that the past month has been hard for both of us but am so thankful for the happy outcome.
As promised. I will soon post a few stories of our hunts, this year and last, later.
