- THE PONY EXPRESS "PX" TRAIL RIDE - by Paul K Edmunds

Hello All,

"No, there was only one PX rider killer during the eighteen months they were in business." "He was a fourteen year old boy who was shot full of arrows by the Indians." "They didn't get his mochila with the mail--they never lost one of them." And so it went with Professor Ronald M. Stokes giving historical accounts and minute details of events at each and every station on the PX Trail.

Sixteen riders met June 16th at Carson, Nevada for the PX Ride from there to Lehi, Utah. Wednesday afternoon after introductions, riders were transported in vehicles to Tahoe for a look at Harrah's life-sized monument dedicated to the PX Riders. And the tour included Friday Station located on the Park Land and Cattle Company property just a stone's throw from Harrah's Casino.

The 1999 ride started Thursday morning with a famous Stokes 06:00 wakeup call which put us on the trail at 07:20 with our backpacks. First stop was Dayton where we visited a PX site and gassed up the bikes. We were soon on a gravelled road which led us to a significant landmark established in the 1860's, Ft. Churchill, where we spent some serious time learning about its historical significance.

We stopped at each and every station known to mankind as Professor Stokes had done his homework in preparation for this trip. We didn't miss a stop which included a group picture at Wildcat Freight Station.

Not included on the tour was a stop at Misty's Hideaway for a couple of riders. Yep, right out there in the middle of Nevada operating 24 hours a day. Misty obliged the two and posed for a picture, only a picture mind you.

A late afternoon stop at Middlegate found riders eating delicious jumbo hamburgers with frys and consuming large amounts of liquids of choice. It was another hot day and everyone needed to keep the hydration going the entire trip.

Because of an unexpected flat for the Trail Boss and problems with the same, the day's ride was held to just over 200 miles. Stokes likes to keep things moving and not miss anything out there as long as there's any daylight remaining. All finally ended up in Austin just at dusk for the first night's lodging on the trail. A great meal was enjoyed at the only local restaurant which stayed open after hours to serve the entire group.

Early Friday morning, ate breakfast at the same restaurant and on the trail by 07:00 with our Trail Boss in the lead. Before long we were stopped along side a white, 4x4 pickup driven by Wes Parson's. Stokes had made arrangements to cross through his ranch. The only caveat was that the trail had not been used since 1861--or at least it seemed like it. We traversed single track and willowed water crossings. The irony in all of this was that we ended up at a place called Dry Creek. Here, as with other stops Professor Ron had a story to tell complete with historical notes.

This day's ride was again very scenic and included the sighting of a band of wild horses. We even visited the grave site of John Applegate and Ralph Lozier, station masters, who were killed in 1861. This one took some doing as we weaved in and out of sagebrush until finding the same. No one else had been there since Stokes found it several years ago.

Eureka was a special kind of place--not many folks live there. It is considered one of the loneliest places in the West. Our group almost doubled the population that afternoon upon our arrival. Dinner was enjoyed at the Owl Club across the street from our motel. Riders were entertained at dinner by Bob with his famous three-glass up-down trick. Yours truely finally figured it out after a surge of brain power which was hampered by the day's hot and dusty ride.

By Saturday morning everyone was having fun which included Judd's wife, Jan, who was following us in the motorhome. Some riders had elected to let the motorhome carry unnecessary weight from packpacks. After a meal of biscuits and gravey at the Owl Club everyone was fired up to hit the trail. Got to the trailhead by 07:30 and picked up Wyatt who was camping out.

Lunch at Spring Valley wasn't all that special. But things were rockin' and rollin' with Bob's jokes. Peterson was still complaining about toting the video camera and having to pull it out at each PX station stop for raw footage. Rainer is convinced his new cycle seat was worth the investment. Don likes his modified XR300. The two Ken's and three Allen's were trying figure out how to tell an 1860 tin can from a newer one via Stokes' prior demonstration while Bill and Mike didn't really care. And there just wasn't much else going on at Spring Valley!

Now Cherry Creek was special. We met a couple of gals at the bar while taking in liquid refreshments who really took to our riding outfits. One of the riders, we won't mention names, got his picture taken with the two. Without provocation during the Kodak moment one of the beauties let out with a terse verbal statement that brought a lot of laughs from the other 15 dirt rats.

The steak that evening at Shellbourne was something to behold. It was a whopping two inch thick steak that had a full compliment of filet mignon and ribeye on both sides of the T-bone.

During the evening meal to celebrate his birthday today, Steve received a special birthday gift from the group--fifteen, autographed one dollar bills made up into a riding vest. Senior Stokes presented the same.

Oh, yes, Dave found out that someone out there really knows how to ride, fast. It was the vet doctor from Kanab, Utah--there for assistance with the Annual PX Pony Rider re-enactment. He was not astride a horse but mounted on a full-blown ATK. Dave finally received permission to return home to the group after a white knuckle foray up into the distant mountains caped with snow.

Sunday morning's breakfast served buffet style was hosted by Bob. Thank's Bob! Don't know how anyone could have eaten breakfast after last night's meal.

What Stoke's had in mind this day was over 200 miles of fast riding through sagebrush, dirt roads and some blacktop. It included several stations and a gas stop at Cecil Garland's Rafter Lazy C Ranch in Caleo. The place was so inviting we decided to take lunch on the front lawn even though it wasn't noontime.

Places with names like Boyd's, Fish Srings, Black Rock, Riverbed Station, Simpson Springs, Government Creek, Lookout Pass, Faust, Rush Valley, etc. were visited. We ended up at Camp Floyd which was headquarters for over 7,000 Federal troops from Johnson's Army stationed there during the "Mormon Uprising." Goodbyes were given here and in Lehi as the group split up. We had logged over 650 miles in four days on the bikes. Certificates of completion for survivors were handed out by the professor Trail Boss.

This ride is a must for those who demand a bikepacking adventure complete with historical narrative, thirst, dust, cramps, sore butts, extreme temperatures, and obnoxious trail buddies.

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