Man Can Move Mountains
Page" 2"
If we could make it to Tri Corner Knob we
would have shelter for the night against
the storm. The rain was blinding and my mind
simply couldn't go on. Exhausted, overwhelmed
with fear my husband finally got me to stop
screaming by rebuking me for scarring the
horse. He got me quieted down and we began
to literally traverse the side of the mountain.
Each time we would think the worst behind
us and each time the task became larger bringing
us deeper and deeper into trouble. Stoney
went places even today I would swear impossible,
pulling himself , my husband ,the weight
of his gear and leading the way for R/C.
and myself. He was our hope to get through.
I followed as if a machine , numb without
emotion left in me. It took us 9 hours to
go 3 miles. Stoney scrambled to keep his
footing with Al talking to him, ?You just
got to buddy? and the horse as if on a mission
kept going.
Stoney and my horse R/C were
raised together, if Stoney says you can do
it my horse will follow. We staggered into
the 3 sided shelter at night fall. We would
rest ,eat, build a fire to try to keep warm
and things would look better in the morning.
We did not know we were getting the tail
end of the hurricane hitting Georgia.
It
rained all night and was still raining the
next morning. Exhausted and cold we headed
out again. I left a message in the shelter
log incase we didn't make it to let people
know what had happened. Al kept trying to
reassure me. Each obstacle, each traverse ,
each climb the horse took that day is the
story of an animal doing the impossible simply
because he is asked. In my opinion we asked
more from our horses than was physically
possible, and each time my husband said to
Stoney ,"We have to " each time the horse
did the job making it possible for us to
get through. Stoney stepped forward onto
a narrow portion of the trail and it gave
way. We watched in horror as he fought violently
to get back up onto the trail. He struggled
,fell, and rose again. Struggling to gain
a foothold he fought desperately as the rock
gave way beneath him. He got almost to the
top where shear rock had to be scaled, he
tried and fell again. Then as if mustering
all his strength he managed to get to his
feet and held himself there for a moment
just looking at Al.
I will never forget that
look. Al started screaming ,"No Stoney ,you
got to fight ,you can do it", and the look
seemed to say I'm sorry boss this time I
just can't, it's time to let go.
He just couldn't leave Stoney there
to starve to death on that ledge. He had
a knife and he would have to find the courage
to use it. He would cut Stoneys throat to
save him an agonizing death alone on the
ledge.
Al felt it was his responsibility,
but every time Stoney looked at him he just
couldn't bring himself to do it. Al climbed
and pulled himself up far enough and called
for me to throw a rope to him and he climbed
out. We started the forced march for help.
On we went sliding down, falling, climbing,
having the horse we had left pull us along,
all the time thinking if only we had gotten
a few more feet. If only we had not come.
Al kept repeating ,?I had to leave him what
choice did I have?? I kept saying, ?Leave
me , take the horse and get help. I can't
do this?. My husband wouldn't leave me and
most of the way I kept holding him back.
My husband said allot sometimes and then
nothing for miles. Each of us trying to face
the loss of what was truly a member of the
family. The sight of Stoney falling end over
end down the mountain, and the look in his
eyes flashed in our minds like haunting nightmares.
My horse pulled us both into base camp just
before dark. Marianne had stood vigil waiting
for our return , she didn't even recognize
us (we looked that bad). Then the sign of
recognition in her face with the immediate
question, ?Where?s Stoney?? I tried to wave her off, the words could not
be spoken . '"We lost him" I muttered as the tears began
to flow. My God somebody help us , our family hadn't made it back, part of it was still
out there. It was to late to mount a rescue
that night , it would have to wait until
morning. With every drop of wind and rain
Stoney seemed to slip further and further
away from us. With every gust of wind we
felt him out there. We vissioned him alone
and hoped morning wouldn't be to late.
We
asked them to play mountain goat, while the
rocks give way beneath you traverse the side
of a mountain. Over and over we asked and
time and time again they answered with faith
and devotion. For Stoney to die on that ledge
due in part to his trust and devotion seemed
to horrible.
Horsemen came from all over
for the rescue, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Wyoming,
North Carolina, Alabama and Michigan. Tony
was the optimist , not willing to hear or
surrender to Stoney?s not coming out. Dan
had been involved in horse rescues before
and nobody could out walk the funny gaited
man from Wyoming. Could the horse survive
not only the fall but 24 hours out there?
Would he try to move in desperation and fall
again, could they get him out at all? We
had been told the rangers shot the animal
then dynamite the carcass. The rangers would
try for a human but it was just far to dangerous
with an animal to risk human life.
At first
light 4 rangers and half a dozen horsemen
started out. They would use and old maintenance
road to go most of the way, then they would
have to pack in over 7 miles climbing to
an elevation of almost 6,000ft. They carried
400ft. of rope, repelling gear, axes, saws,
shovels, trail blazing equipment. Al who
had already walked 21 miles the day before
tried to keep up with the man from Wyoming.
Al's blisters bleeding his legs bursting
had one thought ," Hold on buddy we're commin".
The first on the site was Dan and down he
went. He told me latter it looked pretty
bad and he wanted to get to the horse before
Al did. Then the call came up,? He's alive
and he's standing"! It was at this point
the young ranger Wess spoke up, ? We're going
to get this horse out of here , I don't care
if it's a foot at a time or an inch at a
time but this horse is coming out . He didn't
make it this far for us to give up now?,
and so they started.
At the rescue site it
was now about 5 P.M. , every one worked desperately,
each seemed to tear into the impossible task
of making footholds up the mountain to get
this horse out. Not one man ever voiced the
possibility of failure or destroying the
horse, they would not face it. Yet it hung
in the back of their minds. They shot lines,
used pick axes, saws, clearing equipment,
shovels, ropes, and when they had nothing
they dug with their bare hands. Creeping
a few inches this way a foot that. Exhaustion
and impending nightfall made their work all
the more hurried. They had laid 1/4 of a
mile of trail across the shear side of a
mountain, but the last 100ft. they could
do no more, there was a solid rock face.
They had taken the only route open to them
and still the last 100ft. was a grade so
steep and of rock nothing could be done.
Tony brought water , Dan brought electrolytes,
between these and seeing a partial route
of escape open Stoney seemed to liven up.
Jerry another rescuer on the scene well versed
in horse's said to Al, ?"You know your horse,
can he do it"?? Al thought Stoney could. Jerry
spoke again, ? If he goes crazy and starts
fighting we can't hold him, on the other
hand after everything he's been through if
he doesn't have enough fight left in him
we can't get him up the last 100ft. Does
he have it in him?? A winch was out of the
question the horse wouldn't have any legs
left. Rump ropes would only impede what Stoney
now had to do on his own. Jerry and Ray
would attach 2 ropes to Stoneys halter and
stand at the top of the trail . If Stoney
lost his footing they hoped they could hold
his head down enough to keep him from falling
over backwards. Al would be at the bottom
giving encouragement , Al had to stay clear
of the horse, Stoney might fear injuring
Al and in the momentary pause lose the fight.
The men had done all they could do , Stoneys
life now hung on this last all or nothing
attempt. My husband was sure Stoney could
do it and said ,?He's never let me down,
he won't go crazy if I'm here. If this is
physically possible and I ask him he'll do
it?. Everyone was ready, everyone held their
breath as Al gave Stoney a finial pat of
love, let go of his halter, stepped back
and screamed ?Get it son?. The will of every
man was with the horse as he dug in, you
could see every man digging with him, their
hands clinched in fists. Rocks flew, Stoney's
legs faltered , Al kept yelling ,"Get it Stoney ,get it". He clawed , his footing
went out , he slipped and dug in more. "Get
it , get it", Al's voice screamed again and
again . Stoney fought and scrambled and up
the last 100ft. to the trail he went with
Al in joyful tears. All that remained was
getting them all home safely. All of us would
be bounded forever in the memory of an impossible
rescue of a horse that literally fell off
a mountain. Of the courage , the will, and
fortitude of the men who wouldn't let him
die, and ofcourse the horse that never gave
up and his bound with his master. Stoney
is on R & R , nothing but cuts and bruises
from his ordeal . Al and I can finally walk
again and truly believe in miracles. To everyone
who cared and worried and fought to save
a horse, we can all bathe in the knowledge
of what mans inner strength can accomplish
when called upon -
IT TRULY CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS
!
Niki Oliver
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