Robin White awaits the start on the second day of the Death Valley Warmup ride. It's as if there weren't many horses milling about behind them, such a nice private moment.

Distance riding can be so very social or not at all: Mary Anne Turner heads to the finish line at the Death Valley Warmup.

Riders flanked by the Eastern Sierras as they ride along a natural gas pipeline project at the Death Valley Warmup 50.

Riders begin the first day at the Cuyama Oaks XP, a three day Central California ride on private land that fills up every year.

Nannette Young and Wizard stroll the rim side trail on Bryce/Paunsagaunt 2011's first day of 5. Riders can opt to do any or all days, or ride for "Duck miles" which count for club awards only. Details at http://www.xprides.com.

Many forms of containment are in use at rides, and many still tie to the trailer. Castac Lake in the background at the first Tejon Ranch ride.

Multi day rides have many of the large living quarters goosenecks pulled by diesel pickups or even Freightliners. Most riders began with a two horse and a tent, and leveraged their way up as the addiction took hold.

Tactical parking, blocking the western sun. In the dry west, we aren't usually parked on a pasture!

Posing for a photo--top of the world, Ma! Lost Padres 2 day ride, morning of the first day.

If you enjoy going further, faster--distance rides are probably for you. Participants have horses of all breeds, though there's a preponderance of Arabians and crosses. This is John Parke and his Icelandic Skoldjur. His Remington is the record holder for gaited breeds, at over 11,000 miles.

Mustang Lee and owner Rebecca Florio school in dressage when not on trail. Lee has finished the Tevis ride. Rebecca's other endurance horse is an Arabian mare, who has also finished Tevis. Both do multi day rides as well. This shot is from the Tejon Thanksgiving ride, with Castac Lake in the background.

Susan Garlinghouse and grade TWH John Henry have been successful at the multi day rides, and recently won over all BC and fastest time at the 2012 Cuyama Oaks XP. They're at the finish line of the first day, a 55.

Erin Strand and her mule tough it out at the Montaña de Oro 50, which was cancelled due to hazardous trail conditions within the hour after this photo was taken. Morro Bay would have been visible in the background without the rain and fog.

Magali Bastin and her Friesian, Harley, on the inaugural Mendocino Magic 25. My choice for EN cover models from this ride. Harley won the "Horse Excellence" award for best-conditioned horse.

Melissa Margetts and her Paso Fino Cabo take a break in Pescadero Creek during the Swanton Pacific ride. Cabo has finished Tevis at least twice, and is the only Paso Fino to have done so.

Becky Lange and her phenomenal Kentucky Mountain Horse Mocha Jack, on the second day of the Cuyama Oaks XP in 2010. I believe he's finished Tevis twice, once just out of the top 10. Lots of multi day wins and BCs. Becky is wearing tights by http://www.thetightslady.com.

Michele Roush DVM and her accomplished Standardbred-Arab cross PR Tallymark take a break in Pescadero Creek during the Swanton Pacific 100. Tally has over 3,000 miles and 11/11 100 mile completions.

Carlos Siderman and his American Saddlebred at the 2012 Death Valley Warmup. Carlos and Lisa Siderman have several ASBs, and it's fun to watch their various gaits.

A good looking gaited beast at the inaugural Mendocino Magic ride.

Distance riding is a family sport: Bryan Gran made sure everyone knew it was Sydney's first ride, even if the printer did misspell her name. Sydney is now a high school junior, time has surely flown!

Comes every year with her mom and another kidlet, and they do the 25 miler. Pony power! DVE Warmup 2012.

The Fisher-Bischoff clan, at the Bar H ride. They came from Colorado to ride and visit Disneyland!

The Low family at the Crazy Coyote high desert ride, their son's first.

Barack rides the Tevis! They finished although he had to switch sponsors because his mom's horse was pulled.

Kadee Felton at the Cuyama Oaks XP.

Brandon Reed and Hawk vet in for Tevis, and finished the ride.

Carolyn Tett's daughter warms up before Mendo. I think that's her dad on the mountain bike.

Having fun in the apple orchard at Mendo Magic.

Les Carr and 20,000+ mile Morab Tulip on the first day of Cuyama in the shooting stars.

Hall of Fame rider Dave Rabe has over 50,000 miles. A memorable day for him at the Bar H ride.

Karen Frederickson and "Murphy" (MMR Pyro), 2011 winners of the Pardners award. Murphy has also earned the "Perfect 10" award sponsored by Joe Long: 10 firsts, BCs, 10,000 miles, at least 10 years in the sport (check). They're also a Decade Team (10 years of competitions together).

High mileage rider Karen Chaton and Pro Bono on the third day at the Death Valley ride. She has over 30,000 miles, and did 3600 miles in 2011 to win the national mileage championship with Bo and her decade horse Granite Chief.

Suzy Kelly at the Bar H ride in 2012, she has more wins than anyone except for Christoph Schork.

Cheri Briscoe and 3000+ mile stallion Thunder's Echo, son of the Hall of Fame horse DR Thunder Bask. They finished third in the Jim Jones stallion mileage championship in 2011. DVE Warmup 2012. Jim Jones winner for 2012!

Christoph Shork has won more first places than any other rider. Here he's nearly to High Camp at Squaw Valley ski resort during Tevis.

Hall of Fame rider Crockett Dumas on one of his great mares.

Lari Shea hosted us at her ranch for the inaugural Mendo Magic ride. I think she's on Indy. Lari owns the well-known Ricochet Ranch riding vacation outfit. She has lots of endurance accomplishments plus taught seminars with Kerry Ridgway DVM on the Tevis Trail for years. I never got to do that trip and always wanted to! She's also organized riding trips to Africa, South America and India.

I believe Seiichi Hasumi did his first ride at 60ish years old--the 2004 Tevis, with the original goal of 10 finishes which he related as we sat next to each other at the awards banquet. He's finished 7 now, and I think he's also got top ten aspirations.

Eloise did her first endurance ride at over 60 years of age--as a Grand Prix dressage and jumper rider, you'll note her use of the double bridle. Taken at the 2012 Bar H ride, with Lake Mathews in the background.

Susan Friedman is a retired teacher, and was also late to the sport--she mostly top tens and has made up for lost time! This was taken at the last Malibu ride.

Dan Schafer and Ray of Hope pause on the way to exit from vetting in.

Barbara White has earned 31 Tevis buckles, the record holder by a wide margin. She's riding Dayna Weary's Cricket on this one.

Barbara has a dunk in the American River under the Swinging Bridge, as Cricket takes a long draught.

Barbara rides in the lupines during the second day of the Lost Padres ride.

Barbara leading Canadian Brooke after the Lost Padres ride.

Lots of couples do endurance: Les and Jill Carr. Yes, Les has headphones on (books on tape). He's on his Hall of Fame horse Tulip. Jill is on Walker the Mule.

Rick and Suzanne King ride through the western town at Paramount Ranch during the Malibu ride. He's on Rebecca Florio's mare Kay (Ready Set Go). Suzanne is on Cynthia Binder's QH-Arab Orion. Orion has 500 LD miles and has been the first mount for many. Orion's other job is as a upper level dressage horse!

Rene and Gene Norris at the Swanton Pacific ride, as Diva and Skylar look suspiciously at the water.

Barry and Jennifer Waitte at Cuyama.

Barry and Jennifer Waitte in the nearly-ghost town of Randsberg, first day of the Death Valley ride.

Lauren and Allan Horn on the bridle path portion of the Bar H ride.

Cynthia Ariosta and Forrest Tancer at the Lost Padres ride.

Pacific South regional director Lisa and Shel Schneider in Cottonwood Canyon at the Cuyama Oaks XP.

Often the non rider will crew for his SO. I think this was at Malibu.

Sponsoring juniors is really fun. That's Isabel Du in the lead at the Bar H ride, day 2, her sponsor Gina Rice behind.

Can't have these rides without a lot of volunteers: Chris Herron checks the markings ahead of the riders on the second day of the Bar H ride. He's on CR Impriss Splash, his >5,000 mare.

Renee Norris on the Main Divide Ride 100, I just like the way Diva's backlit. They have finished Tevis too.

Renee years earlier on Skylar, going through the burnt forest on the Californios Lite ride. I'm a sucker for pigtails, like the movement in the pix with them.

Surveyor and self-professed GPS geek Don Huston on Datez at the inaugural Bucksnort Challenge ride.

You can ride or you can race: Charisse Glenn crosses the finish line at the Californios Lite 50 in 2005, perhaps. The photo was a Trail Blazer cover.

Jeremy Reynolds and Marvel (Riverwatch) enroute to the win of both the Tevis Cup and Haggin Cup (best condition) in 2011.

Andre Ruggiero races to the win at Wind Wolves. He was an EN cover boy.

Mock race during the DVE Warmup, Bernie Weiss on his Foxtrotter on the left. I know Bernie finished first on the LD in 2011, in 2012 he might have been second. He rides in a ReactorPanel saddle.

Carey Brock, Laura Retoske, and Marci Cunningham on the DVE Warmup.

Moon setting over Castac Lake at the last Tejon ride.

Creek crossing during the Old Warriors Water Hunt ride.

Tracy Sahagun navigates the "little Cougar Rock" during the Old Warriors Water Hunt ride.

A misty start at the first day of Cuyama one year--Julie Herrera on the left NOT on her War Mare winner, Shereen (CV Sweet Dal), but rather doing a first 50 on her other grey mare, Mystic. Behind her is Carolyn Hock, next to her is Carolyn Stark, behind Carolyn is Shelley Hitchcock. She's followed by Chris Hock. A SoCal Inland Empire contingent, for sure.

My favorite Cuyama landscape with riders.

My favorite Cuyama landscape sans riders. This is Cottonwood Canyon on a bountiful flower year.

On a great flower year, Cuyama makes my head spin--most years we're lucky and have them for the ride. Even without them, spring is lovely there, and I treasure the access to the privately owned course.

Stacy James-Ryan and I'm not sure who else at Cuyama on the second day.

This area is part of the Carrizo Plain, over that set of hills in the background.

Veteran rider Anne Sands and Belesemo Natasha.

Dave Braithwaite, Don Huston and Sandy Peterson, I think--obviously a huge flower year at Cuyama.

Closing the gate after going under the highway on the North Fork Cattle Company's grounds during a misty Cuyama morning.

Could be anywhere, right? 3rd day at Cuyama in 2011.

It snowed on the mountains behind, and a bit later at this level too. I couldn't believe this rider didn't have more gear on, because I was freezing.

Cuyama's Schoolhouse Canyon road during a light flower year.

The Lost Padres ride is held on the Santa Margarita Ranch, home of the Ancient Peaks vineyards and they still run cattle.

A view to the east from the top of the oak-studded hill behind Lost Padre's ride camp, first year it was held at the Santa Margarita Ranch. From the next year on, it's been held one month earlier when everything is green.

Cynthia Ariosta near "John's Rock" on Lost Padres' first day.

Forrest Tancer. It feels so park-like in this section. I learned never to wear flared jeans nor to forget knee high boots here, no, not for snakes. For wet grasses on a cool morning, before the horses have made a trail.

Lost Padres beauty. A quick jog to the top of the hill from my shoot spot to catch this sight.

Mari Anderson in midday--the ride has since been moved to a month earlier for cooler weather, unrelieved greenery and no foxtails.

June Scales. See the difference in terrain a month can make? This is 40 yards from the previous photo.

Miriam Rezine was going the wrong way, and I got my shots before yelling at her to turn around. The direction the riders were to go wasn't nearly as nice light. In 2013, I'm gonna make sure the trail gets marked on this path!

Carolyn Stark on the hot first day before the ride was moved to April from May.

Lynn Leonard and friends.

I'm going to guess that is Helen Eustice with her back to me.

Larry Romine up on the hill behind ride camp.

Lynette Hulbert and Debra Brashears in the mist on 2011's Sunday.

Blue Fly trail at Bryce/Paunsagaunt. Best pay attention here. Day 2.

Last day at Bryce 2011 below the rim.

Becky Lange vets in for her first Tevis with Kentucky Mountain horse Mocha Jack.

DeWayne Brown heads drop off tack for weighing.

The Mansfield Arena within Robie Park, Bay Laurel rider had a stud chain on for a reason, this guy put on a show when he got back to the vets.

Pillars of the sport! Southeast regional director Susan Kasemayer, Jim Baldwin, Jim Edwards--I think Jim Edwards had vetted Tevis 30 times as of 2004!

K-Zar waits calmly to exit the vetting arena after being numbered. He won the ride that year.

Jim Baldwin DVM pauses during vet-in at Robie Park.

Greg Fellers, Mike Tomlinson, Jamie Kerr--longtime head vets Jamie and Greg, Mike travels the world vetting FEI rides. Shot at the fairgrounds during 2011's alt-Tevis check-in.

Leaving the lower Quarry during the 2011 alt-route Tevis.

Riders come in clumps, it's a challenge to pick them off one at a time. Here they're almost to High Camp at the top of Squaw Valley ski resort in 2012.

John Crandell and the great Heraldic enroute to a 2010 Tevis win.

Bruce Weary and John Henry on Bruce's 7th (?) Tevis attempt. They finished in good form.

Australian riders were easy to spot with their gold shirts.

Tevis Sweep rider Judith Pacini.

Kristine Hartman of Meadow Vista CA on Klassy Sam heading to their 16th place finish at Tevis 2010.

The meadow at High Camp in 2007 was simply marvelous.

The High Camp volunteers headed by Marc Van Zuuk. We do a shot here every year once the cleanup is done before the precipitous ride down.

This shot cracks Barbara up, below the Swinging Bridge.

The Swinging Bridge--the 50 mile marker. The climb up out of here to Devil's Thumb is difficult, endless switchbacks and if you don't move fast enough, mosquitoes too. Ask me how I know.

Bay Laurel Arabians rider.

Rusty Toth and "Stoner" enter Michigan Bluff, on the way to winning the 2012 Haggin Cup.

Welcome to Michigan Bluff, 60 miles done.

A well coordinated crew cares for their top ten team on Bath Road in Foresthill.

Initial crewing done, heading for their rig at the Foresthill Mill site.

Riding through the town of Foresthill, Barbara White and Cricket in the background, and Dana Tryde in the foreground--her horse has one functional eye and they were headed out to the California Loop, the tricky trail.

Kevin Meyers and Faramir.

Christina Kramlich-Bowie

"No Hands" bridge at dusk.

View from the bridge to the west.

Sarah and K-Zar enter the stadium, amazing impulsion at the end of the 100 mile effort.

Sarah and K-Zar cross the finish line in 2009.

Marcia Smith finishes second.

Garrett and Lisa Ford's triumph at the 2012 finish line.

Garrett Ford trots out The Fury for the 2010 Haggin Cup examination, which they won.

Julie Suhr, the Grande Dame of endurance, presented all the buckles that year--here she presents daughter Barbara White with hers. 29th?

Top ten horses at the 2010 awards.

The grandeur of the redwoods at the Swanton Pacific ride.

My favorite Swanton moment-Sandy Holder and Judith Ogus in Pescadero Creek. Judith's horse Maggie won the 75.

Mindy Wolfe and Splash at the Bar H ride--Splash was the 2011 AHA Half Arab national endurance champion.

Unknown riders at the Santa Ho Ho Whoa ride.

Mishael Tarbell at the Crazy Coyote ride.

Valerie Jaques at the 2012 Big Bear ride on her mustang. She's a shoer. Evelyn's tights again!

Heidi Helly at the Big Bear ride, near the Coon Creek Jump Off. She mentors riders and trains horses in Valley Center, San Diego County. She fits Specialized Saddles too. She's wearing Evelyn's gear as well.

Lenticular clouds over camp at the Wind Wolves ride.

Joanne Huttenhof at the first vet check during the very windy Wind Wolves ride.

Mishaell Tarbell at the DVE Warmup.

Even a power line trail can be pretty when the Eastern Sierras have a fresh dump of snow!

No whining shirts come from San Diego's Terry Woolley Howe's rides.

View towards ride camp at the ghost town of Ballarat at the Death Valley ride.

Chris Herron on Ambersun (Hawk) in Randsberg, first day of Death Valley. In 2011 Hawk finished a very close second in national stallion mileage.

Death Valley, day 2

Malia checks out the horse water in Ballarat.

Lauren Horn and Red Hot Rosie on the third day, headed back from the Indian Springs Ranch. Rosie has over 3,000 miles.

High desert, high mileage (nearly 30,000) rider and trainer Jackie Bumgardner on the last day of Death Valley.

Friends who insisted they wanted a photo with the moon, after vetting in for the next day's ride.

April Moore's pink helmet, pigtails and a great grey, always a standout.

Don't move...please? Below the Swinging Bridge in the American River, halfway through the Tevis ride.

Got Trot? Lost Padres.

Darrell Jett will tell you that baseball pants have no inner seams to chafe! Bucksnort 2011.

Gotta have a sense of humor--though booting has tremendously evolved since this photo of Lucy Trumbull was taken in 2007 at the Tejon Fandango.

Let's have a look at these gums, shall we? Brooke Schicke's mare gets vetted at lunchtime on the Tejon ride.

Vetting in on a windy afternoon at Mendocino Magic.

Aurora Grohman enjoys riding into lunch during the rainy 3rd day of the 2012 Cuyama Oaks XP.

Marci Cunningham made me come take this photo in the rain at the end of the first day of the DVE Warmup. That's Laurie Birch on the left, not sure of the middle person.

In fog, rain and snow during DVE Warmup, Jeff Olesh is headed back to base camp.

Distance riding--there's competitive trail, too. Here's multi-champion rider Carrie Garufis.

The Schmidts enjoy the RAHA Rally ride near Elfin Forest, managed by distance rider Nancy Reed.

More distance? Try Ride and Tie! Two people, one horse. Here's Jeanne Sesky and Fehran at the Bar H Boogie RAT. Jeanne and Fehran do endurance as well, including multi day rides. Jeanne uses a ReactorPanel saddle, hard to tell under all that fleece! For ride and tie, fleece goes a long way if you're wearing running shorts.

Susie Niebergall does both endurance and NATRC. Here she is at the first Bar H Bonanza NATRC ride.

Such beautiful places we get to explore, this is a lovely November view of the south end of California's Central Valley. Our host was the Wildlands Conservancy's Wind Wolves Preserve, just west of I-5 on the north side of the Tejon Pass. Check out the Wildlands Conservancy, worthy of your support: http://www.wildlandsconservancy.org/

Thanks to the intrepid ride managers who do it mostly to share their trails, the land managers and owners they work with to make it possible, and of course the volunteers.