Pony Express Re-ride goes through Carson Wednesday

The 28th annual re-ride of the Pony Express will gallop through Carson City on Wednesday afternoon as more than 500 riders will cover 1,966 miles of the historic trail from Sacramento to St. Joseph, Mo., Tuesday through June 16.

Beginning in Sacramento, riders will carry a mochila - a leather bag - with more than 1,000 commemorative letters, through California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. They will travel 24 hours a day until the final rider reaches the final destination.

"The rider should be coming into Carson City from Genoa about 3 p.m.," said Larry McPherson, president of the Nevada Division. "Hopefully, the time won't vary too much."

The rider could be as early or late as two hours. Sierra Intermountain Emergency Radio Association, a group of ham radio operators, keep tabs on the riders with a phone hotline and follow them for safety purposes.

"SIERA helps us out with 'dark' spots," McPherson said. "Wherever they can go, they're there."

McPherson will ride his horses, Sundown and Cheyenne, on different stages. He said there are about 145 rides covering the distance across Nevada - 403 miles.

After a short ceremony in Genoa, rider Mona Dible will pick up the mochila at Third and South Curry streets and head east to transfer the bag to ride captain Debbie Royer at Empire Ranch Road off Highway 50 East.

Debbie is the widow of Jason Royer, a longtime Pony Express Re-ride participant, who was killed last year after a bicycling accident in Mound House. She will ride Jason's horse, Moose.

"I will be riding a part of Jason's leg of the trail," Royer said. This is the 17th year she has participated in the re-ride.

The mail was delivered via Pony Express from April 1860 to November 1981 by the Central Overland and California Pikes Peak Express Co., covering the distance in 10 days. The re-ride route alternates direction each year.

Some of the Nevada riders are taking more than one leg of the route, and are given approximate-riding-time allotments. Each rider is responsible for transporting the mochila.

The re-ride is the longest-distance annual race in the United States, surpassing the Iditarod dog sled race in Alaska.

Each state division of the Pony Express re-ride has its own dress uniform. The Nevada Division wears a black hat, yellow bandana, red shirt, blue jeans and boots. The division also offers educational presentations on the history of the Pony Express.

McPherson asks motorists to "Please be mindful of the riders."

"We generally have someone from the state brand inspector's office or the sheriff's office riding with us (for safety). They run with their emergency lights on. Our people are very careful when riding."

To check on the riders' progress, go to www.xphomestation.com or call the hotline at 783-0462.

• Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.

If you go

WHAT: 28th annual Pony Express Re-ride

WHEN: June 6-16; coming through Carson City June 7

WHERE: Third and South Curry streets

ON THE NET: www.xphomestation.com

HOTLINE: 783-0462

Other scheduled stops*

Wednesday

Depart Picketts Junction (Calif.) 9 a.m.

Arrive Woodfords 9:50 a.m.

Depart Woodfords 10 a.m.

Arrive Carson City 2:50 p.m.

Depart Carson City 3 p.m.

Arrive Fort Churchill 7:50 p.m.

Depart Fort Churchill 8 p.m.

Arrive Schurz Highway 11:50 p.m.

Depart Schurz Highway midnight

* Times approximate. May vary by two hours, early or late.