2014 Back Country Horsemen Day

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee Declares March 15, 2014 to be Back Country Horsemen Day

As stated in the proclamation (see below), Back Country Horsemen of Washington (BCHW) is a statewide non-profit organization with chapters in communities throughout Washington that provide volunteer services to federal, state and local government agencies in the common effort to maintain recreational trails, trail heads, campgrounds, and other facilities on public lands.

The Methow Valley is home to one of the 35 chapters of BCHW. The Methow Valley Back Country Horsemen (MVBCH) has been in existence for 29 years. Over that time members have accrued numerous volunteer hours working with public land managers and other trail-user organizations to build, clear and maintain trails, to develop and maintain campgrounds, and to assist in constructing bridges and other trail structures. MVBCH also seeks grant funding and donations to help pay directly for certain projects. 

The volunteer trail work provided by BCHW and other trail-user organizations is becoming increasingly important for the Forest Service, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Parks and the Department of Natural Resources, and other public lands agencies as their budgets continue to decline. 

On April 26, 2014 MVBCH holds its 30th annual fund raising Spring Ride. Members are currently seeking donations from the community for the Spring Ride auction. In the past, in addition to members of BCH, local businesses and individuals (particularly artisans and crafts people) have been generous in their support of the auction. We very much hope that all trail users, and those who benefit from visitors who come to enjoy the wonderful array of trails in the Methow Valley, will feel able to contribute items for the auction when our collectors call by in the next few weeks. (Text contributed by MVBCH member Jan Ford)

The proclamation as presented to BCHW...