It is debatable which are the most beautiful mountains in the world. Certainly the Rocky Mountains are very high on the list. Riding your horse in these mountains gives you an understanding of the grandeur and beauty of nature that most of us have never experienced before with such intensity.

We’ll trailer our horses into these mountains sometime during the summer, when the snow is only present on the high peaks, the world is as deep a green as you’ve ever seen, and you’re surrounded by icy running streams and babbling brooks.

Base camp is set up around 9,000 feet. We need no hay for the horses. They are hobbled and then let to graze freely on the richest grass in the world. If there were a horse heaven, they are surely in it. We set up our tents since you can’t take a chance to sleep under the stars. Showers and thunderstorms can occur anytime in these mountains and usually will at least once a day.

You awake when daylight breaks. Leaving your tent, there may still be a touch of frost on the ground. But the temperature quickly warms when the sun rises over the mountains. While some of us start breakfast, the rest will round up the horses. It’s saddle-up time after breakfast.

The only decision is which mountain to climb, which stream to follow, which meadow to explore and which forest of aspen to ride through. The mountains go on forever and you can easily lose your sense of direction. But the horse never does, whether you ride for two hours or eight. He’ll find his way back if you let him decide what fork in the road to follow when you are ready to return to camp.

After dinner, you may walk a bit away from the fire and suddenly the heavens explode with more stars than you have ever seen in your lifetime. The sky is alive with a universe you never thought was out there. You are breathless with the mystery and grandeur of it all – and know that you will never forget this moment.