Ben York, a former president of the Pacific Crest Trail Association Board of Directors, thru-rider and tireless trail worker and advocate, died Oct. 19, 2011. He was 87.
Ben is famous among the PCT community for his thru-rides in 1992 and 1996. Anyone knows that moving horses from Mexico to Canada is a much tougher logistical problem than hiking. But Ben not only mastered the challenge when he was 68 years old, his selfpublished guide is still used by equestrians today.
Ben joined the PCTA board in 1993. He was president from March 1994 to March 1997. He left the board in 1998.
It’s his love of the Trail that will endure. Ben was a member of the Backcountry Horsemen of California. He worked his pack animals diligently each year to keep the Trail open for hikers and horseback riders with the PCTA’s Southern California-based Trail Gorillas.
Pete Fish, the leader of Trail Gorillas, recalled meeting Ben on the PCT in 1992. Ben was riding a horse pulling two pack mules, and the two men shared a camp. Fish was running short on food and thought he was in luck. There had to be extra food in those saddlebags, he thought.
“Sure enough as I helped Ben unload his mules, there was food aplenty — for them,” Fish recalled. “But when it came to us, all I could see was a half-eaten burrito that a TV cameraman had given Ben during an interview at the Cameron trailhead. We wound up eating dinner, as I recall, mostly out of my pack.
“Ben would dispute this account later, but as we became much better acquainted over the years I learned that Ben took much better care of his animals than he did of himself,” Fish wrote. “On trail projects we learned to always pack a lunch for Ben, and were glad to do it.”
He was born Sept. 3, 1924, to Ben and Marion Bunnell York in Pleasanton, Calif. He graduated from Amador Valley High School and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He wed Adeline Wright on Aug. 30, 1952, and celebrated 53 anniversaries before her death in 2006.In 1955, Ben completed his doctorate in animal husbandry at U.C. Davis and opened York’s Animal Clinic in Brawley, Calif. He cared for large and small animals for more than 30 years. He retired in 1987 and moved to Alpine, Calif.A devout Christian, he served as an elder for several Churches of Christ over his lifetime. He was active in many community groups, including the California Veterinary Medical Association, Rotary, Toastmasters, Los Senderos, Imperial County Sheriff’s Posse and Optimists.
He used his skills as a general aviation pilot for Angel Flight to fly gravely ill patients to treatments. He traveled extensively and, while making an around-the-world trip at the age of 80, suffered a massive stroke in Siberia.
Ben’s daughter, Valerie York Watts, said her father truly loved the PCT, the mountains, his animals and the people who came together year after year to maintain the Trail.
“He told me that he would dream about a different stretch of it every night after his trek in ’92,” she said. “He stressed the importance of people meeting on the trail talking to one another, regardless of whether they were hikers or stock users you could always learn something, whether it be the trail conditions ahead, or just making a new friend.”
When Ben started his first thru-hike, Adeline was with him. She was 62, and a broken arm early in the journey forced her to drop out. But Ben and his horse kept on. He learned to love the solitude.
“He would say that so many times he’d find himself somewhere where he could have yelled his fool head off,” Valerie recalled, “but he just wouldn’t because the place and the stillness itself was so awesome he felt like it would be wrong to speak above a whisper.”
A year after his first thru-ride, Ben was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times.
“There’s a tendency to think you’re closer to the Lord when you’re out there,” he said. “You have the quietness and the solitude and the awesomeness of it.”
By Mark Larabee, Communicator Managing Editor, Spring 2012
Dr. Ben York, Jr. of Alpine, CA came to the end of his earthly trail and hung up his spurs on Wednesday, October 19, 2011. He was born September 3, 1924 to Ben and Marion Bunnell York in Pleasanton, CA. He graduated from Amador Valley High School and served honorably in the U.S. Army in World War II. He wed Adeline Wright on August 30, 1952 and celebrated 53 anniversaries before her death in 2006. He attended University of California – Davis where he earned a B.S. and M.S. in Animal Husbandry in 1950, ‘51 and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1955. That year he opened York’s Animal Clinic in Brawley, CA and professionally cared for large and small animals for over 30 years.
He retired to Alpine in 1987 and pursued many interests. A life-long horseman and mule packer, Dr. York was known for being the first American to ride from Mexico to Canada on the 2,638 mile Pacific Crest Trail in one season. He made that trek when he was 68 years old and so enjoyed it that he made it again at 72. A devout Christian, he served as an elder for several Churches of Christ over his lifetime. He was active in many community groups, among them are: California Veterinary Medical Association, Rotary, Pacific Crest Trail Association, Backcountry Horsemen of California, Toastmasters, Los Senderos, Imperial County Sheriff’s Posse and Optimists. He used his skills as a general aviation pilot to fly gravely ill patients to treatments for Angel Flight. He traveled extensively and, while making an around-the-world trip at the age of 80, he suffered a massive stroke in Siberia. Despite the difficulties that resulted, he remained involved in many activities and enjoyed making friends. Predeceased by his wife and brother, Marshall, he is survived by his dear sister, Barbara Sargent Johnson (Haywood) Manchester, NH; beloved children, Victoria Gabbard (Tom) Charlotte, NC, Valerie Watts (Ed) La Mesa, CA, Ben York III Gilbert, AZ; and precious grandchildren, Matthew and Megan Gabbard, Chelsea and Shelbea York. The family is especially grateful for the compassionate care of Denis Rees, Cristina Leal, Bill McConnell, Dr. Donald Adema and Avalon Hospice staff.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, November 5 at 11:00 am at La Mesa Church of Christ, 5150 Jackson Drive, La Mesa, CA. Contributions would be welcomed by Pacific Crest Trail Association, La Mesa Church of Christ, or your favorite charity.