Exploring Lost Trail~

GPS stats

We weren't feeling too inspired, just ready for saddle time.  The "East side" trails keep calling our name.  Our favorite running hill was there, as was another, the "blue bucket" trail.  Today we found both!   We spent the morning mostly walking & just enjoying the woods.   With the beautiful day & scenery - who cared?

Morning trail~

It took a while to reach the far side.  The temperature was perfect, mid-60's & we had all day.  It was after 1 p.m. by the time we'd crossed over - time for Linda to check out the accuracy of her memory & as usual - it was top notch.  The problem came when we found clear-cut where forest had stood.  Then, in the incredible stands of huge trees, where a beautiful trail had been - but the blackberry & salmonberry growing along the old logging roads had closed off the "entrance".  We were so far out it was eerily quiet.  We found our "hill"!  Overgrown to the point where we hardly recognized it.  Another clear cut too.

Clear cut view

It definitely felt like riding back in "time".  It had been at least 15-years since I'd been on those trails & almost as long for Linda.  What had been wide paths, were now totally overgrown.  About the time we thought we might have to backtrack & return on pavement, we found a trail!  A couple riders on that side have actually done some work to try to re-establish at least a couple of the old CT trails.  It was rough going & Linda took a blackberry across her face...

Linda & Count lead on the old "trail~

 We found both the bridges that had been put in back in the 90's still solid!

One of the bridges~

 Since it was getting late in the day & we'd been out for over four-hours, it was time to head back.  We reminisced on the days we could clear trail for hours at a time, then ride fast & far & think nothing of it!  I remember a day that we marked 25-mi. of trail - then I turned around & rode it in reverse to see if Alexi was ready for her first 50-mile ride!  Linda went home for dinner.  As I was riding back out of the woods, I saw car lights coming - Linda, checking to be sure that I'd made the miles & was safely out of the woods :-)

Our saddle time was over six-hours, only one small drink for the horses out of a rapidly disappearing water puddle, but they both stretched out that Walk on the way back!  

What's badly needed now?  A couple of younger "Trail Masters" preferably with teenage kids -  to take on the task of re-opening some of these trails!  They have changed so much, are so beautiful now & would probably double the length of the trails that are currently used.   Any takers?  :-)