Frigid!

Snow on Salal

Never this season had I gone an entire week without logging miles - but I've sure come close!  So - to keep that record going, I Had to ride today!  It was 23 degrees when I was saddling Farah up at the barn.  I wanted to be at the trail head by shortly after 11 & managed that.  The mounting rock was covered with ice, the road we left on was absolutely rock hard.  I was glad for Farah's new shoes.

Heading up ~

I envy my friends to the south - who ride together in these cold temps & at least have someone to talk to while freezing their buns!  There wasn't the snow that we have at home, but plenty of ice - ice even over the rock of the logging roads.  Farah wanted water & seems to like breaking the ice with her feet!  She soon discovered that even once she broke it - there was No water!  :-)  We did find plenty of water though - flowing along the edges of some of the roads.

Whitehorse & Three Fingers, with a cloud drifting over~

There wasn't much we could do besides Farah's swinging walk - a touch of trotting here & there - but just not worth the risk of a slip.  It was Great to get out again - I start getting withdrawals anyway if more than a few days go by between rides.  On the short trail to the Monument, the tree branches were loaded with snow & drooping over the trail - so of course we were both covered with it within a few feet!  BURRR!

Snow at the top

Farah was trying to find grass, I was trying to keep my feet warm while consuming my lunch when we heard a very weird sound & both jumped!  A piece of ice had fallen from the top of the Monument & hit the side as it fell!  I decided it was time to leave :-)

Pilchuck, on our way down~

Wanting to get in at least over ten-miles, I went ahead & took the way down to the bottom of the hill.  From there - we took a turn that I hadn't checked out before, but sadly it dead-ended.

Plenty of snow & frost in the shade~

Disappointed & really cold by now, we headed back.  Besides a couple men with dogs, there were no trailers & no riders on the mountain this day.  Gee - wonder why?  :-)  With this ride, I went over my year-end mileage for last year by a couple miles!   Yippee!
P.S.  I'd forgotten my phone - so was careful all day.  :-)