Lolo Ride 2008
Labor Day weekend we rode the old Lolo Trail with the Nez Perce, Indian decendenets of the 1877 War. Wow. It was awesome. Its been a dream of mine to get the Nez Perce youth back on their old trail; an anchent trail as old as time. This is our second ride of about 20 riders and 40 campers on the old Nez Perce Trail; 2006 was our first Nez Perce Appaloosa Horse Club trail ride here. We visited old Nez Perce sacred sites, prayed for peace and healing of wounded hearts, and found unity among mankind from different races and heritage, and background. It is always awesome to ride with the Nez Perce people.
General Sherman said of this trail, “Its the worst trail in America, for any man or beast. ” Harpers Weekly called it the “Dead Mule Trail” as General Howard left cannons, bacon ,and mules behind as he stumbled and fell along the Lolo Divide in the vast Bitterroot Mountains of central Idaho and Montana. The Nez Perce people seeking freedom and peace began their great march to northern Montana, where some made it to Canada. Some were taken captive to Okalahoma, and a few made it back to the homeland in Idaho. The land taken from Chief Joseph’s people in Oregon is still held by the whites. The 1877 War is studied in the history books and war tactics manual at the US. military acadamy in Colorado Springs. The Chief Joseph Appaloosa Ride follows the corridor of the old war trail traveling from Joseph Oregon to Bear Paw Mountans, in a 13 year cycle, covering about 100 miles a year the third week of July each year.
The Landmark Lolo Trail is part of the Nez Perce National Historic Trail from Lolo Montana to Kamiah, and Orofino Idaho. This 150 mile segment of the Nez Perce National Historic Trail is on the old Nez Perce Reservation, the first reservation before their land was reduced. The current treaty rights allow the Nez Perce people to hunt fish, travel and camp on their old hunting grounds. We traveled the old trail used in the 1877 war that few will ever see. Its an awesome place, and not for the faint of heart.