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Horseback Trip:
The following is taken from one of Loren's journal entries, addressed to his young
grand daughter, Kandi Lee Upton:
"Way back when I was still a wet behind the ears, green horn kid, December 1st, 1957
to be exact, I had the good (and bad) fortune to lead a somewhat "stillborn"
horseback expedition. This fateful expedition had all the good intentions of going from
the lowest to the highest point in the Western Hemisphere - Bad Water, Death Valley,
California to Mount Aconcagua, Argentina. Well, that was the plan, we did not even come
close to making it! We started out with four men and eight horses. The horses were OK,
well suited for the undertaking. The men, on the other hand, were about as well matched as
a pack of rabid starving dogs penned up with a wormy turpentined alley cat. As a result,
as I'm sure you can well imagine, it all came unglued and started falling apart soon after
leaving Death Valley, with the final straw coming some ten months into the ride. But
still, Kandi Lee, it was to be a great learning process for your thick headed, wind blown,
spavined legged old grandfather. Yes, it was to be the beginning, even though it all went
sour-south way before its targeted destination. Possibly one or two of the more important
things your grandfather learned from that somewhat ill fated endeavour was: next time
choose more wisely your partners, and be better prepared. Yes, consider it with a bit more
care! I then was young and somewhat self-centered, headstrong, a polite way of saying -
stupid! I did not really look into the real qualifications of each team member - this too
included your grandfather's qualifications, or lack there of. O'well, that's life! Another
thing your grandfather was to become aware of was.....never, never let setbacks or
failures break your spirit - stop you! Always, there is another day, another expedition,
another chance, if one will but stay the course, keep on keeping on over the long haul.
Kandi Lee, never, never give up hope - have faith! I did then and I still do have - hope
and faith!!"
For More Information Contact:
Outback of Beyond Adventures
P.O. Box 803
Salmon, ID 83467
Internet: patricia@outbackofbeyond.com |
