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It was a time for relaxing, riding, eating and sharing the common bond of our love for horses. For 3 days, in mid July 2003, that’s just what the Blue Mountain Riders (an all female riding group from Walla Walla, WA) did on their annual trail ride/camping trip to Wallowa County in northeast Oregon. Our "wagons" (aka trucks, campers and horse trailers) made camp on the site of an old logging town named Maxville. All that remains of this once thriving village is a large, very comfortable (in a rustic sense) cabin originally owned by the company supervisor. Established in the early 1920’s, this was a town that boasted of a mercantile, church, schools (the first recorded segregated school system in Oregon provided the three R’s to all of the town’s children), blacksmith and of course, the logging facility. With the completion of the rail line from Wallowa, Oregon, to Maxville, in 1926, the means to transport logs from, as well as building materials and houses, (built to fit on a railroad car) to Maxville, the town blossomed. Within 6 years of its beginning, however, due to the effects of the Depression, Maxville, Oregon folded. At $50 each, the town's buildings were auctioned and shipped to Wallowa, Oregon for use as outbuildings. Today, all that remains of Maxville, Oregon, is the once grand logging supervisor’s cabin, and the beautiful surrounding countryside. After many hours of planning and week-ends of exploring/trail blazing our "trail boss", Cindy Harris (with the help of a local cowgirl) provided the Blue Mountain Riders with 2 days of delightful riding in the hills and meadows of this region. With meals (huge and scrumptious!!) provided by Kessler’s Katering Service, campers were able to just relax, tell "horse stories", tend to their horses, swim, read and just "hang out" with friends. For everyone involved, the 3-day Blue Mountain Rider’s weekend is a much enjoyed time of making new memories, reminiscing about old ones and just plain, having "a grand old adventure". This year was no exception. Submitted by Janice Klumpp
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