PUBLIC LANDS — It's well past time to override the emotional argument that wild horses are above proven wildlife management methods that protect the landscape and habitat for that species as well as other wildlife.

U.S. is running out of options for wild horse management

With 50,000 wild horses corralled in holding facilities in the United States and an estimated 11,000 more roaming the range beyond what those wild lands are capable of supporting, the U.S. policy on wild horses has reached a tipping point. — New York Times

WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS — Trail ride wrangler Erin Bolster and her famous steed, Tonk, were greeting fans at the Western Montana Fair in Missoula last week to celebrate the 1st anniversary of their heroic encounter with a grizzly bear.

Bolster and Tonk rode into the national spotlight after repeatedly charging a grizzly that had burst into a trail ride Bolster was leading near Glacier National Park. As the bear chased a horse carrying a terrified 8-year-old boy through the timber, Bolster was able to get Tonk to overcome fleeing instincts and charge the grizzly into submission. 

My story about the encounter last summer swept across the nation and landed Bolster — Tonk, too! — in New York for Late Night with David Letterman.

Bolster said she's met a lot of people and had many career opportunities because of the favorable response to the fame she and Tonk have garnered.

This summer, however, she's been living mostly in a tent near the Flathead National Forest, leading trail rides for the flood of people young and old who've booked trips in anticipation of touching the horse flesh of a hero. 

OUTFITTING — Legendary Western Montana wilderness outfitter Smoke Elser is teaching a two-day outfitting and packing course at Glacier Outdoor Center in West Glacier on May 14-15.

The two-day hands-on course is open to novice packers as well as experienced packers who want to learn new techniques or hone specific skills.     

• Cost: $200 for the two-day course; includes lunch both days.

Class space is limited to 20 students. Contact Glacier Outdoor Center at 406-888-5454 or emal info@glacierraftco.com

Read on for details.

WINTER SPORTS — The 37th annual Sandpoint Winter Carnival is adding some horsepower to its 37th annual event, which runs  Wednesday through Sunday between venues from Sandpoint to Schweitzer Mountain Resort.

Skijoring — horses towing skeirs on a loop track and over jumps will debut in the activity lineup on Saturday and Sunday at the Bonner County Fairgrounds.

“Sandpoint has a great culture — a good mix of horse people and a great ski mountain — and this time of year most people aren’t doing much with their horses and many skiers are looking for a new challenge,” says Matt Smart, owner of the local trail ride company Mountain Horse Adventures.

Read on to see the schedule of other events and activities including food tasting, rail jams, firedancers, torchlight parade, poker skiing, K9 Keg pulls, snowshoe treks and more.

SKIING — Photos of a skier getting air — water-skier-style — behind a horse was the Huckleberrys parting shot for Thursday, and it’s a soaring wintery start to the outdoors blog for Friday.

Get the scoop — (does the skier need a clean-up shovel?) — and more photos here.