Remembering Linda
Randy Andrews holds the the memorial trail sign as he stands beside Linda's two daughters Kelly Jaque and Debbie Inman. In the back, from left to right, are Linda's son Casey Matt, Debbie's husband Shawn Inman and Debbie and Shawn's son Kinnley.
Nancy Lazor proposed the memorial gesture.
Seven Wildhorse Plains Back Country Horsemen gathered with Hot Springs' resident Randy Andrews and family in the mountains north of Plains on Saturday, May 22, to spend a few minutes remembering Randy's wife Linda, a former BCH member, who passed away unexpectedly in September of '09.
Seven Wildhorse Plains Back Country Horsemen gathered with Hot Springs' resident Randy Andrews and family in the mountains north of Plains on Saturday, May 22, to spend a few minutes remembering Randy's wife Linda, a former BCH member, who passed away unexpectedly in September of '09.
Some months back, BCH member Nancy Lazor had proposed to the club that memorial gifts received in memory of Linda be used to construct and place trail signs along a stretch of the Historic Baldy/Big Hole Trail. The BCH group clears and rides portions of the trail occasionally, and Linda had participated during initial clearing efforts. The trail was originally maintained by the US Forest Service as a pack trail and phone line serving lookout towers on the two peaks. Maintenance was largely abandoned as roads and modern communications took over.
The signs, crafted by Norm Lazor, unofficially name the route "Linda Andrews Memorial Trail." The first was placed at the eastern (Loneman Divide) terminus and graced with a bouquet provided by Kelly Jaques. Another will label the western terminus near Big Hole Peak at a later date, and smaller arrowhead signs will help orient horseback riders, hikers, or bicyclists along the route.
Plum Creek Timberlands and the Plains BCH have a long-standing informal agreement whereby Plum Creek's logging operations leave the trail intact. The result, for those who enjoy non-motorized backcountry travel, traverses local high country for upwards of ten miles, most of it with good tread and moderately difficult climbs and drops.
An earlier Valley Press article on September 16, detailed Linda's life, including her love of horses and the outdoors.