From Deseret News archives:
Riders are proud to re-create history
They adapt to new challenges on the Pony Express Trail
Today, they're watching out for crazy drivers, semis and potholes in the road. They're being tracked by GPS units and watched from above by satellite.
Nevertheless, it's still a thrill to ride horseback on the historic 1,966-mile stretch from San Francisco to St. Joseph, Mo., carrying a leather pouch full of letters.
"It's fun," said 18-year-old Adriaan Riet from Fairfield, as he dismounted from his 2-mile stretch in the western desert flat. "Although I had to dodge a couple of bushes back there."
In his red shirt, bright yellow scarf and cowboy hat, Riet looks every inch the pony express rider of old (except for the braces on his teeth) and he says he would have been one if he'd been born a few years earlier.
Riet loves the re-ride and has been participating since he was 14. Sunday, he rode under blue skies, hot sun and in 80-degree weather, but he's ridden in snow and rain.
"One time, I had to ride downhill on I-80 when it was raining hard!" he said.
"Idiots and cars, that's our biggest concern," said Eric Arnesen of West Valley. Arnesen, his daughter and son-in-law, Kyle and Racheal Arnesen from Lindon and his grandson, Jeremy B. Arnesen, are all riding in the 148th annual re-ride.
"Potholes? There were some beauties this morning on my ride from Simpson Springs," Arnesen said.
It takes more than 500 riders and horses to recreate the ride, which was run for 19 months from April 1860 to November 1861 by boys and men who were willing to take risks working for the Central Overland and California Pikes Peak Express Company for $24 a week.
Want ads at the time called for "young, skinny guys not over 18. Experienced riders. Orphans preferred."
The goal was to prove that the route through Salt Lake City was passable year round and it was, though it was dangerous and difficult as well. Despite the hazards, the 182 young riders some as young as 15-year-old William F. (Buffalo Bill) Cody logged 650,000 miles carrying more than 34,000 pieces of mail in the short time the freight company stayed in business.
Comments
- NBC sale to Comcast cleared 11:14 a.m.
- Palin book goes platinum 11:12 a.m.
- 2 arrested in Roy double slaying 11:09 a.m.
- Women's insurance to get first vote 10:52 a.m.
- Vandeweghe to coach Nets 10:51 a.m.
- Woods' wife asked neighbors to call 10:50 a.m.
- No fractures on Emery's foot 10:07 a.m.
- Reports: Modest but steady growth 10:02 a.m.
- Stocks hold gains after econ reports 9:59 a.m.
- Ontario Mormons' nativity scenes 9:41 a.m.
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- Utes won't respond to Hall
- Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling
- Daughter: Mitchell fed me my pet
- BYU says Hall incident resolved
- Cougs begin bowl preparations
- Max Hall: a fixture in rivalry lore
- Y. student vanished in China
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
900 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
481 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
390 - Max Hall issues apology
384 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
327 - Utes won't respond to Hall
264 - BYU is champion of the state
140 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
133 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
123 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
120
My husband was teaching his 6th-grade class in Salt Lake last year when...
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
Max Hall has a lot of growing up still to do. I hope for his sake he works...
Fans are always going to treat you poorly when you are supporting their...
He's so cute. I want to hug him.
This is a geologic wonder. Bulldozing the opening should not be allowed. I...
Great article. My parents also raised 6 sons (no girls) and all of us were...
Sorry to hear about Hoover. Turbin had the camera on him toward the end of...
Here I thought I was the only one with that attitude. I worked for a company...
how easily Americans forget the last time we turned a blind eye to...
Max Hall - 2, University of Utah - 1 Bronco Mendenhall - 3, Kyle...
Too bad the far-right-wingnut-cakes here never appreciated what a great...



You can be the first to comment on this story.