b'Bucket List Riding in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming and the Black Hills of South DakotaWritten and Photos By Kelly McGinleyThis quote really resonates with me as I reflect on our horseback riding vacations from this summer. In July, we packed up our Fjord mares, Nellie and Astra Bodil, and headed off on a trip we had been planning for two years and it was worth every minute of that planning. The Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming are absolutely amazing.WecampedatBattlePark,whichis nestledremotelyalongthemountainside. The trails offer a variety of diverse terrainHorses lend that immerse you in the backcountry of Wyoming. The captivating views andus the wings breathtaking scenery allow visitors toexperiencetheWestasitwaswe lack."intended to be seen. Our Fjord mares, Nellie and Astra, were~Pam Brownstellarmountsanddefinitelygaveusthe wings we lacked to explore the mountains. We saw everything from wildflower-strewn meadows to snow covered mountain peaks. We rode to many beautiful clear lakes and enjoyed some time fishing at Lily Lake. We also rode to see some old bear traps from whatisguessedtobetheearly1900s. Anothergreatridewastheonetothe Lost Cabin. This little cabin, discovered manyyearsago,istuckedsodeepin the mountains that it is very hard to find without a guide that knows the way. The very best, and most challenging ride we have ever experienced was the ride to LakeSolitude.Thiswasan18-mileride throughavarietyofstrenuousterrain. 24 Fjord Herald Issue #149Winter 2023'