Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from Happy Trails by Les Sellnow. 

Once you have committed to a pack trip, the preparation begins, even though it might be a year away. First of all, you must decide where you are going and obtain all possible information about the area.

A letter or phone call to the regional forestry headquarters where you plan to ride will either result in information about the trails and any available maps, or in your being directed to a district office. I have found that dealing directly with a district office is much better. I also like to talk to a forester or trail supervisor by phone because they often are the ones who are out on the trails.

I tell the park official how many will be in our group, discuss the experience level of horses and riders, and ask about a route that will bring us back to the trailhead without retracing our steps, if possible. With that as a base, I then ask the person what trails he or she would recommend for our group. I also inquire about potential campsites at various intervals along the trail