The Kim McCarrel Experience

by Gabriel Denison

Kim Mc Carrell lived in a world of offices and airports. Her world was defined by deadlines, climate controlled boardrooms and investment strategies.

“I work with wonderful people,” she said, “ But after a while, you began to think that is the real world.”

The real world changed in 1987, when she and her husband purchased a home at Black Butte Ranch, and she began riding the guided trail rides available there through the Lazy Z.

“ I grew up without riding seriously,” says Kim, “It was an itch that was never scratched enough.” But in hearing her stories of pasture children that scrambled on the back of a local horse, with nothing but a bridle and a wind tossed mane to secure them, and meadow flowers to cushion their fall, one can see how the wildwood may have infected Kim's blood.

She rode rented horses for approximately two seasons at Black Butte, obsessively spending every weekend hour scouring the available trails, and rediscovering the magic in becoming one with the woods. Then, in 1989, she bought her first horse, and began to explore in earnest.

“My weekends became calling my horsey friends in Central Oregon, pouring over maps on the kitchen table for routes, trying to second guess all possible problems (can I turn my rig around in that area?) and always accompanied with the disbelief that no equestrian books had been written specifically for the Central Oregon area.”

Kim discovered books for hikers and mountain bikers, but no equestrian trail books she could really depend on. Slowly, within her collection of photos, GPS records and mapping, a book of her own began to appear. “I began to think I could do this,” she said. “After a year of the book just taking shape, I worked very seriously for another two years. I wanted to connect everything possible, and make it easy for the reader.”

She approached Sun Publishing in Bend, who found the idea interesting, and encouraged her to proceed. Once published, however, Kim reports the publishing house was “stunned by the demand.” The book began to fly off of the shelves, and merchants still have difficulty keeping Riding Central Oregon Trails on the shelves.

“I love Central Oregon,” Kim rejoiced. “I can't think of any place more horse friendly. The country is unmatched. The wild flowers are wonderful, the trees are phenomenal. This is my therapy. There are nothing like the horse trails, where the world is so three dimensional.”

Weekends still find Kim blazing new trails on her Tennessee Walker, who combines the stamina and initiative Kim recommends for a great trail horse. “My husband says riding has brought balance to my life,” she says. “I used to be a workaholic.”

Now, Kim McCarrel is considering her next book, on horse camps, camping and adjacent areas, and always following in the footsteps of the pioneers.