Dear Bob and Sue: A National Parks Podcast

#29: Horse Pack Trip into the Wilderness


Listen Later

Saddle up, partner! Apologies for the corny opening, but—spoiler alert—more horse-related puns are awaiting you in this episode. We’ve taken many treks into wilderness areas in the past ten years, yet most of them have been of the two-legged variety. On this adventure, we let our four-legged friends do the hard part, carrying us (and our stuff) deep into the Pasayten Wilderness of north-central Washington state. As it seems with most of our exploits, there were a few bumps in the trail that we didn’t anticipate. But by the time we ended our four-day, three-night trip, we were ready to do it all over again. We just needed a few days for our butts to stop aching.


Some of the topics we discuss in this episode:

  • What it was like to ride a horse for the first time in 25 years
  • The curious suggestions we got from friends as we were preparing
  • The unique characteristics about each of our horses
  • The magnificent setting of our camp and the details of camp life
  • Why our horses deserted us and how we got them back
  • How it felt to wake up in a frozen tent in August
  • Our amazing daytrips 
  • And, it wouldn’t be a Matt and Karen adventure without a guest appearance from an oh-too-familiar slithery companion

  • Links to more information:

    • To see photos from our travels, visit our
    • Instagram account, or
    • TikTok account
    • Where to learn more about our books and travels
    • Join the conversation on Facebook
    • Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store

      Dear Bob and Sue: A National Parks PodcastBy Matt and Karen Smith

      • 4.9
      • 4.9
      • 4.9
      • 4.9
      • 4.9

      4.9

      1,234 ratings


      More shows like Dear Bob and Sue: A National Parks Podcast

      View all
      Travel with Rick Steves by Rick Steves

      Travel with Rick Steves

      180 Listeners

      Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast by Chris Christensen

      Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast

      1,070 Listeners

      Zero To Travel Podcast by Jason Moore

      Zero To Travel Podcast

      826 Listeners

      The RV Atlas Podcast by RVFTA Podcast Network

      The RV Atlas Podcast

      576 Listeners

      RV Lifestyle RV Podcast by Mike Wendland

      RV Lifestyle RV Podcast

      637 Listeners

      The Frommer's Travel Show by Pauline Frommer

      The Frommer's Travel Show

      146 Listeners

      RV Miles Podcast by RV Miles Network

      RV Miles Podcast

      1,341 Listeners

      Backpacker Radio by The Trek

      Backpacker Radio

      1,675 Listeners

      Parkography by RV Miles Network

      Parkography

      909 Listeners

      Gaze At the National Parks by Dustin Ballard and Michael Ryan

      Gaze At the National Parks

      211 Listeners

      Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast by A Travel Podcast

      Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast

      334 Listeners

      National Parks Traveler Podcast by Kurt Repanshek

      National Parks Traveler Podcast

      122 Listeners

      Travel Squad Podcast by Travel Squad Podcast

      Travel Squad Podcast

      235 Listeners

      National Park After Dark by Audioboom Studios

      National Park After Dark

      5,361 Listeners

      Exploring the National Parks by Dirt In My Shoes

      Exploring the National Parks

      500 Listeners