Snowline~

Fresh snowline below Three Fingers~

Saturday - a truly stellar day - again, Murphy's Law struck!  I had a commitment to attend a trail planning meeting in Darrington.  The Forgotten Children's Fund fundraiser was held at Rhodes River Ranch on the same day.  BCH held a pack clinic & a Draft Horse pulling contest was scheduled to end the day.   We drove up & met Linda, who also wanted to attend the meeting.  We had lunch, then Linda & I drove on to Darrington. Butch took in the Clinic & wrangled us a reservation for dinner - we had perfect seats for the Draft Pull! 

Yesterday, I took Farah for her vaccinations.  When I went up this morning - she greeted me with her head over the stall door, ready to go.  Once we'd made the drive & I was in the saddle, I could tell she was a little under the weather.   After her little run-away episode last week, it was sort of pleasant to have her so mellow today :-) 

Cow Parsnip

 We left about noon, sun breaks & a wind that came & went - again making maybe 50 degrees feel much colder.  I even wore my gloves.  So nice to see the tinge of light green, buds bursting open, Salmonberry blooming & even the Cow Parsnip!

What's that sound~

 It was really quiet, the sound of the wind of course, but that was about it.  We'd seen three rigs in the parking lot when we left, plus several cars parked off to the side.  Even so, we only saw one hiker with his dog when we were trotting up the hill to the top.

View from the climb~

 We took our usual lunch break at the Monument.  Farah's neck is stiff, when she tried to lower her head to graze, she pawed in frustration - but finally, taking it slow - began grazing.

Mt. Washington

 I know that logging is an industry here & I was riding on a tree farm after all, but I have to say;  watching as the DNR land on Mt. Washington is clear-cut, makes me sick.  Such destruction of habitat...  Sad for the wildlife;  Coyotes, Bobcats, Deer, all the animals that appreciated that habitat.  Many streams flow down the mountain & from what I've seen, only a narrow buffer along the bank is left.  It doesn't take long for the wind to take those trees down too - leaving the streams without shade.

Having ridden to the top & beyond - I know first hand that there were some beautiful older stands of timber.  Now, it looks as though there will be no trees at all... 

Mt. Pilchuck

 I love this view of Mt. Pilchuck, looking at the mountain's north side.  Our view from home is of the west side, which presents itself as more of a peak.

Heading back down~

We did no galloping today, no head shaking, no spooking or displeased neck curls...  What we did do, was quite a bit of slow for Farah trotting :-)  She wanted lots of loves & I provided lots of peppermint treats :-)  Once home, she did go down for a roll, but it wasn't with her usual gusto.  A friend gave me a box of apples, she enjoyed a couple with her dinner :-)

Simply Stupid~

A week ago Monday I came down with the start of a cold.  I'd worn myself down driving 2,800 + in nine-days.  Then, volunteered at the Tractor Supply Grand-opening in Monroe for the BCH - exposing myself to the public.  I tripled up on my Del-Immune & by the end of the week, thought I had it kicked.  Not...  Woke this Monday with so much congestion in my lungs that I called my GP & went in!  He was shocked & they entered me as a new patient - I hadn't been in since 2012.  Thankfully my lungs were clear - he told me to stop at the pharmacy for sudafed (yes I had to sign) & Ibuprofen. 

Well on our way~

I did all that!  Waking today - to sunshine coming in the windows & with the congestion mostly gone - I decided that of course I could ride!  It had been over a week & that is way too long!  Saddling up took more effort than I expected - Farah is finally starting to shed, but we got it done!

Farah's worried look~

Not wanting to overdo - I thought that our short loop would be plenty.  I dressed in warm pants & a thermal shirt.  First, I was cold, chilled but OK.  Farah wanted to do some trotting & by the time we'd reached the power lines, I was hot!  Way too hot & sweating under the thermal pants.  I wasn't feeling very good either...  Farah could tell & had a worried look...

Looking south~

Oh well, I'm stubborn & could see no good reason that we couldn't continue on - go up to the apex of the loop & start back.  As we broke to the open, our friend the Red-Tail Hawk, flew away from the woods & perched on one of the towers.  As I tried to get the photo, I about fell off Farah - feeling very dizzy.  I was so thrilled that he sat long enough for me to get his picture!

Red-Tail Hawk

 Then the cold chills hit.  I'd gone from sweating to freezing in minutes.  Still stupidly stubborn, we continued on to the top of our loop, where I dismounted.  I decided the only thing to do - would be walk & try to warm up.  I walked & Farah followed, putting her nose in the middle of my back to herd me along.  The walking did help, but I knew I'd have to remount to make any time getting back home.

Washington Red Cedar draped in moss~

By the time we were back at the new Beaver Pond, I was felt like I was paying double for my bullheadedness.  I had to remount to get through where the bulldozer had torn things up - Farah was sinking in 6".  The vertigo was terrible, every step she took I felt like I was going to fall off...  Soon though - we were back at the top of last hill & it was a relief to be able to walk again.

Pilchuck covered with fresh snow~

The extra time I'm taking with Farah to work on our calmness really helped today.  She only got excited twice & when I backed her & asked for her head to go down - she responded & again walked like a lady.

Once home, I could hardly unsaddle.  By the time Butch arrived - it didn't take him long to realize what I'd done :-(   Especially since I spent the evening violently ill...  Today - I'm going to take it easy!  Easy I say!

Trailduster's New Years Day Ride!

Rigs lining up!

We were the third ones in the gate - we all agreed that we were Crazy with a capitol C !  Cold!  20 degrees when we left home & if Butch hadn't been driving, I would have been white knuckled with the black ice on the road.  Of course it's always nice to know that you're not the only horseman around willing to brave the cold :-)

Mel - on Zeus the wonder horse, Connie, Linda, Laurie

Butch went into the shelter & got a big fire going in the stove, while we were deciding to saddle up.  It took a mutual decision - since it was so cold!  People were still pulling in - the smart ones parked in the sunshine!

The smart riders!  :-)

To say that the trails were frozen solid is not an understatement.  With Mel in the lead on Zeus - we took it nice & slow - the horses were slipping at the walk.  Mel entertained Linda & I with stories of Zeus's exploits as I watched this horse go down the trail.  He literally knew where he was placing each foot & never took a misstep.  I told Farah to pay attention & she might learn something!

Mel in the lead, Linda & Count

This morning, Count got the award for being bad!  He tried to buck Linda off early on!  Farah did a few of her airs-above-the-ground - but she settled in quicker than I expected her to with over a week off.  She is really enjoying the hackamore & that helps her overall attitude.

Mel & Zeus

I think everyone was just so happy to be out & in the saddle that the cold was secondary - at least while we were in the sun!  Once in the shade, I was wishing for more layers!  We ran into Katie & Hanna who'd planned to ride ten-miles, until they got out there & saw the icy conditions.  I hope they accomplished their goal!

Sunshine & frost

By the time we'd about finished a second loop, Mel headed back with Zeus.  The ice that had formed over any puddles, there were plenty of those - was so brittle that it sounded like breaking glass when one of the horses would step on it.  Linda & I decided to continue on a way further, but it wasn't much longer until we were more than ready to go back!

Hot food!

Several of us had brought pots of beans!  Then, there was homemade soups, salads, desserts!  We jockeyed for position close to the heat coming off that wood stove!  It's good luck to eat beans on New Years Day - didn't you know?  :-)  Anyway - we all ate a lot!

Yes - we're having a good time :-)

After we'd demolished the food, it was time to pack up & head home.  I have no idea how many riders we had - but again - more than I had imagined.

We pose for our NY photo :-)

 Traildusters are a good group of people & can't think of a better way to spend the first day of the New Year!