This article first appeared in The Spokesman Review on Wed., June 2, 2021. All photos by Jesse Tinsley of The Spokesman-Review.
For the last 40 years, the John Wayne Trail Riders have ridden their horses into Malden every summer where they were greeted with friendly faces and a nice dinner during their state crossing on the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail.
Peggy Buxton, from the Tri Cities area, fills up two large containers with water for her horse Nacho, left, Wednesday, June 2, 2021 as both try to keep cool in Malden, Idaho, which becomes a horse camp once a year when her group, the John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders, makes a stop in the tiny town in Whitman County, the first since the town burned last year. The riders group supports the Palouse to Cascades Trial and rides it every year in 10-25 mile segments. The group supports their ride by bringing RVs, horse trailers and a variety of support services like portable toilets, water for humans and horses and their own food.
From left, Pat Foster, Peggy Buxton and Sandy Knighton, all from the Tri Cities area, relax in the shade in Malden, Idaho, which becomes a horse camp once a year when their group, the John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders makes a stop in the tiny town in Whitman County. The riders group supports the Palouse to Cascades Trial and rides it every year. The group supports their ride by bringing RVs, horse trailers and a variety of support services like portable toilets, water for humans and horses and their own food.
Peggy Buxton, from the Tri-Cities area, fills up large water containers with water for two horses Wednesday as humans and horses try to keep cool in Malden, which becomes a horse camp once a year when her group, the John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders, makes a stop in the tiny town in Whitman County.
Sandy Knighton, from the Tri Cities area, fills up large water containers with water for her horse Wednesday, June 2, 2021 as humans and horses try to keep cool in Malden, Idaho, which becomes a horse camp once a year when her group, the John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders, makes a stop in the tiny town in Whitman County, the first since the town burned last year. The riders group supports the Palouse to Cascades Trial and rides it every year in 10-25 mile segments. The group supports their ride by bringing horse equipment like fences for the horses, their RVs, horse trailers and a variety of support services like portable toilets, water for humans and horses and their own food.
Joan Burlingame, formerly of King County but now a fulltime RV traveller with her mules and dogs, checks on a mule named Buckshot Wednesday, June 2, 2021 after setting up camp in Malden, Idaho, which becomes a horse camp once a year when her group, the John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders, makes a stop in the tiny town in Whitman County, the first since the town burned last year. The riders group supports the Palouse to Cascades Trial and rides it every year in 10-25 mile segments. The group supports their ride by bringing horse equipment like fences for the horses, their RVs, horse trailers and a variety of support services like portable toilets, water for humans and horses and their own food.
From left, Pat Foster, Peggy Buxton and Sandy Knighton, all from the Tri Cities area, relax Wednesday, June 2, 2021 in the shade in Malden, Idaho, which becomes a horse camp once a year when their group, the John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders makes a stop in the tiny town in Whitman County, the first since the town burned last year. The riders group supports the Palouse to Cascades Trial and rides it every year. The group supports their ride by bringing RVs, horse trailers and a variety of support services like portable toilets, water for humans and horses and their own food. The early summer heats tests the horses’ as well as the riders’ endurance.
A four-wheeled buggy sits in the city park in Malden, Washington Wednesday, June 2, 2021 until the large group of the John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders takes off again Friday. The buggy and horseback riders make a stop in the tiny town in Whitman County, the first since the town burned last year. The riders group supports the Palouse to Cascades Trial and rides it every year in 10-25 mile segments. The group supports their ride by bringing horse equipment like fences for the horses, their RVs, horse trailers and a variety of support services like portable toilets, water for humans and horses and their own food.