XP 2011

December 31, 2009

For quite some time we talked and dreamed about doing the MexiCan Ride, a ride from Mexico to Canada similar to the XP2001 and XP2004 rides. After several years of preliminary work we were finally forced to give up on the idea for many reasons, not the least of which is the increasingly difficult permitting process on public lands. In lieu of the MexiCan Ride we announced that we would do one more ride on the Pony Express Trail before we got too old and tired. Much has happened since making that decision. Obviously the collapse of the world economic system plays a gigantic role in all of our plans. Not only are all of our finances in jeopardy, according to some of the prophets of doom, the world is going to end in December of 2012, Obviously we will be unable to do the ride if the world comes to an end. That being said, we are committed to going ahead with the XP2011 on the Pony Express Trail. We have made some important changes in the terms of engagement, especially the financial terms.

The event will consist of eight weeks of five-day rides, starting on Tuesday, May 24^th in St. Joseph Missouri. Each ride will be 50 miles and will be conducted as all of our XP point-to-point rides have been in the past. We will ride five days and rest on Sundays and Mondays. In previous years we started in June and suffered more from the heat later in the ride. The early pioneers left Missouri in April but they were traveling much slower and needed more time to get to through the western mountains by snowfall. Since we are traveling at a faster pace we will be able to enjoy the best of weather throughout our trip. We have notified AERC of our plans and have requested time to meet with the AERC BOD in Reno to advise them of our plans and to request sanctioning as we did in 2001 and 2004. Although the ride will follow the original Pony Express Trail, as close as possible, we will be making some detours that provide a better horse/rider experience. Our general route will take us through Elwood, Ks>Marysville, Ks>Rock Creek, Ne>Kearney, Ne>North Platte, Ne, Rush Creek, Ne>Scottsbluff, Ne>Fort Laramie, Wy>Esterbrook, Wy>Marshall, Wy>Devils Gate, Wy>Sweetwater Crossing, Wy>Farson, Wy>Fort Bridger, Wy>Echo Canyon, Ut>Fairfield, UT>Calleo, Ut>Schellbourne, Nv>South of Ruby Lakes, Nv>North of Austin, Nv>Cold Springs, Nv>Fort Churchill, Nv>Virginia City, Nv. While this is a tentative schedule that we intend to follow as close as possible but we hold out the option to make whatever changes are necessary to have a two month vacation with our horses and friends. This ride will be a very low-key event designed to enhance personal relationships between riders and horses in addition to reliving a significant part of the equine related history of the American West. This will not be an extravaganza. Our mission has always been to do it first and brag about it later. We expect to continue with that tradition. Exact stops and rest day locations will be revealed, modified and refined in the days and months to come. Above all, flexibility and the ability to adjust to changing circumstances are and always have been required of XP Riders. Perhaps the most outstanding characteristic of an XP Rider is their friendliness and willingness to share with others. I highly recommend that newcomers contact some of the riders who have participated in these long distance rides in the past.

Entries and Finances

The original planning of this ride occurred prior to the economic downturn, therefore we thought it prudent to let some time pass before making any financial decisions. Everyone should be well aware that an event of this kind couldn’t be made on the speculation that enough riders will show up. The only way we can afford to take the time and resources to conduct the ride is to do as we have in the past, which is to require that we have enough financial support before we go forward.

The ride is an XP2011 Riding Club Event. Entries into individual rides are limited to club members and their guests. Membership in the club entitles you to participate in all of the club events along the trail, including the daily rides. During previous events there were a number of members who chose to ride partial distances or just hang out and share in the evening festivities. Members should think of this event as a historic camping adventure with their horses. Members are free to use any number of horses in any combination they choose, although anyone desiring to receive AERC credit will need to comply with AERC ride rules. XP Rider miles and awards will be computed and based upon what individual horses and riders have actually done without regard to the AERC rules however. This means that a rider who rode every day on two different horses might never receive any AERC credit but would receive XP Rider mileage points and the horses would receive XP Horse Mileage points based upon the actual miles ridden. We have every intention of sanctioning all of the rides with the AERC, but we will go forward with our plans with or without the AERC blessing. I have no reason to expect anything but a favorable relationship with AERC but the question always arises. Once again, this event is about riding historic trails and sharing a unique experience with friends of a similar mindset, not racing across the country for fame and glory.

The deadline for membership at the $5000.00 rate has been extended to April 1, 2010. Membership will be limited to fifty riders. Once that number is reached we will no longer accept entries into the club and the only way to join will be to buy a membership from someone willing to sell theirs. Memberships will be nonrefundable after April 1,2010, but will be transferable to others. Members will be allowed to trade or sell their daily rights to ride any particular ride for any price they choose to anyone who meets the approval of the XP Ride Committee. We have determined that it will take a minimum of 35 members to successfully make the project go forward. Membership in the club, including all those who will be sharing an entry, will be limited to reasonable people who are approved by the XP Ride Committee. The operative word here is “reasonable”. The XP Ride Committee reserves the right in their sole discretion to reject any prospective rider for any reason or no reason. We are selective about who we associate with. Troublemakers, discontents and persons of dubious character are unwelcome. Membership may be obtained by sending two checks made out to XP2011, one dated with the current date in the amount of $500.00 and one dated January 15, 2011 in the amount of $4500.00. The $500.00 check will be cashed immediately but the $4500.00 check will be not be cashed until at least January 15, 2011. After June 1, 2010 the cost of membership will raise in the amount of $100.00 per month. When we are ready to cash the $4500.00 check we will give you notice so you can make sure it will be good. We do need a commitment from you and you should not send a check thinking that you can back out until 2011. Please understand that you have till April 1, 2010 to back out; after that you will be considered a pariah should you weasel out. All of my friends with some degree of financial success in life have advised all kinds of contracts and legal commitments that should be executed. I considered their advice and it was appreciated, however I am an old man who has dealt with people on a handshake and our word and this has served me well over the years. I really don’t want to deal with anyone who is uncomfortable with standing behind his or her verbal commitments. In the event that the event is canceled we will destroy your check and ask for donations to help with any expenses incurred in the project. In previous years we cashed the checks as they came in but we no longer trust the crooked banks to keep our deposits safe, so we will just hold the checks in the drawer next to my gun until it is time to cash them.

Hopefully this answers the majority of your questions. There is a wealth of additional information on the XP website near the bottom of the page under the XP2001 and XP2004 link.