Whitehorse Trail - Beauty & Dissapointment~

Heading down the trail~

Farah & I needed some fresh views & long trotting :-)  I love the Whitehorse trail in the fall - we hadn't been here for quite a while.  The white thing on the right is a Satellite Dish, cabled to the RV parked near the barn.  The next difference we noticed - Hamilton Mill has enlarged their yard for hog fuel, stacks of logs etc.  It now goes about 7/10ths of a mile down the right side of the trail.  There's just a narrow strip of trees & shrubs left between the trail & the yard.  The noise from the heavy equipment is incredible - so if you want to take this trail, be sure your horse is used to that kind of noise.

Truck driving through the yard~

In just a short way - we were beyond the noise & the beauty of the trail captured my attention.  With only three bridges left to deck - I really hoped that the one at the Fortson Mill would be Done!  Whitehorse mountain is holding on to it's high glacier - but it's very small now...  From a cool morning - the day warmed rapidly!

Whitehorse from the trail~

Lots of the leaves are turning brown, curling & dropping from the trees without turning color, but some of those that are hanging on are incredible!

Riot of Reds!

It was a perfect day - I would have enjoyed a breeze, it did get very warm, especially for Oct., but nothing I'll complain about. 

North Fork of the Stillaquamish

The area above is used as a local swimming hole & for fishing too.  The water level is so very low that it would be great swimming, but not so good for the fish...

The video above is on our way to Fortson.  We did a lot of moving out!  Some of the longest stretches of trotting that we've done with the Stonewall saddle & I'm loving it.  Today we used the pad Jackie recommends & it did not move at all!  I did have to drop the rigging - so now it sits on Farah's sides off the pad.

Blue Grass Festival Grounds~

 The festival grounds were quiet - What a view for the musicians when they perform!

Vine Maples in Oranges~

The Vine Maples are saving our color this season!  So far they are single handily providing us with those blasts of color that we expect!

So near & yet so far...

Well...  We got there & guess what?  No decking yet...  Unreal - I'm stopped heading west by this bridge & heading east toward Darrington by the "hole" :-(

The gaps are just wide enough & the wood old enough that I won't risk it~

Time for lunch then~

Farah loves the grass!

There's enough water running off the pond that we could still enjoy the sound of it.

Whitehorse~

Heading back, there's still wonderful views & this one of the mountain is a favorite of mine.

Road crossing - toward Fortson~

This road crossing is at about 6 miles out from Darrington.

Other direction from the road, toward Darrington~

All beautiful trail, enough organics on the rock ballast that it's become a more solid surface than the loose rock that covers miles of the trail.

Some water still in this creek~

Above was the most water that was in any of the creeks that feed into the Stillaquamish.  Some were completely dry.

Ditching along the trail~

We stopped to talk to the two Rangers who were doing this work along the trail.  They shut the equipment off - but were surprised at how Farah took it all in stride :-)
I did get some new news too - none of it good...  The infamous hole at Cloverdale is now considered a wetland!?  Do you believe?!  The County give out permits that allow new houses to be built on my trails - an area rich with natural water, springs &the headwaters of three creeks...   Then -  the hole - that was originally a rail bed - is now a wetland?  That designation will require the trail to be routed off to the side to get around it!  Another slowdown there - is due to the Japaneses Knotweed on the noxious weed list - that's gained a foothold there...  It is being sprayed & killed.  It must be Dead - before the County crews can bring in or remove any soils from the area!

The Bronco & Trailer wait!

We were back in Darrington sooner than I'd hoped :-)  I'd hoped for more trail - hoped to get over that bridge & the next two - that ARE decked...  Lots more questions for Parks!  :-)
Really an American Beauty of a ride!