Chronicle of Change~

New baby lambs at the neighbors :-)

We left from home.  One of those changeable, very early March days that brings sunshine & showers - within minutes of each other!  Both of us happy to be out - I love the fresh air March brings.

Looking southeast~

Living in Colorado, as a kid - I will never, no matter how hard I try, get the love of higher places & elevations out of my system :-)  I have to stop & admire the views each & every time I'm here.  Just a few miles away now, is heavy traffic - congestion & all the things that we moved away from the cities to avoid over 25-years ago now...

A new house under construction~

Through the last of the remaining buffer - we can see the new homes being built - to move yet more people into this area. 

Farah listens~

 Farah stopped to listen to what was going on.  Even she, knows that changes have happened & more occurring daily - those trails over there - are gone.

Cathedral Grove~

Our Cathedral Grove, is now coming to ruin.  With all the woods being cut nearby - the winds are moving across areas of the forest where they were blocked before.  Of course, when - not if - this property sells, I'm sure they'll be cut & everything bulldozed.

Almost to the power lines~

Here too, the strong wind storms of the last year did their damage to the young alder.  Alder can't take the winds anyway & had their start years ago at the edge of the cleared area along the power lines.  Still - I've never seen so many broken off.

Flowering Indian Plum

The flowering plum are just one of my very favorites!  White lace against the green mossy background of the woods.  Decoration for the wedding of Spring!

Looking south along the power lines~

On a clear day - I can see Mt. Rainier from here - today - the clouds were moving in quickly & the wind felt chill.  I went from a long sleeved shirt to my jacket about here.

Development

We did take the trail that used to form one of our loops to check on the houses.  I didn't feel like riding through today.  People are moving in almost faster than the homes can be completed.  Can you just imagine? 

Salmonberry~

The Salmonberry add their bright pink to a now gray day!  Buds everywhere! 

Mt. Pilchuck

The clear-cut logging going on behind Granite Falls has destroyed the view of the lower hills below Mt. Pilchuck.  Makes me sad to see - but the almighty $ rules.

My view to the South~

I haven't looked up the name of this peak - but it's a stunner!  This view gives you an idea of the roll of the Cascade foothills.  Another piece of forested property was cleared in the last week or so.  The noise from Hwy 92 & Getchell can now be heard from most of the valley.

Hence, the title of this post - as I look back on my rides, the change has crept in so fast!  I wish we'd had blogs way back when we first moved here & started riding in the hills behind us.  I do have a few pictures, but wish I'd had the foresight to take more, with a better camera.  The last, large open space - so diverse - is under it's final siege & I'm the unhappy witness to it :-(

Farah was just great today - we enjoyed each others company.  I let her stop to eat several times - after all - when faced with a smorgasbord, that's what I'd want to do :-)

Spada Lake Trail outside Granite Falls~

Pat on KH Destry& Donnie ponying KH Cam & Riding KH Rao

First, I was so darn mad - forgot my camera!  So I had to use my phone...  Pat had mentioned a couple weeks ago, that she'd found another trail a few miles out of Granite Falls.  Since close to home is always nice we made a plan to go.  Today - our schedules merged - Donnie joined us - we drove to a gravel lot just off the road, parked & started in.  Pat brought her young mare Cam to pony along - her first time away from home.

The river~

When we started it was very warm & sunny - but before long - the trail narrowed, went into the trees & stayed close to the river.  It was a gradual climb all the way - nothing steep - just gradual.

Yes, we were climbing - We think this is Pilchuck Creek

There are a couple bad spots, one short steep climb up around some boulders.  Another section shortly after where half the width of the already narrow trail had crumbled down the hillside.  Not for the faint of heart.  Farah just checked it out & trucked right on by, as did the other three horses.

On the bridge over a tributary~

There were small tributaries feeding into the river in several places.  Most would have been small water falls in a normal year - but it was still really nice to see water still flowing!  All the bridges were concrete & sound to cross.  A couple deep holes, a trail not to be taken for granted.

Large Bridge

 This is where we turned back, at just under 5-miles.  Farah loved it!  She was on best behavior, it had been a while since we'd found somewhere new.  Now I'm anxious to do some more exploring up here.  It's basically an in/out for now - but I can see a point-to-point in the future - all the way to Spada Lake!

Pat on Cam with Destry

Pat, decided to take her saddle off Destry & put it on Cam for the rest of the ride back!  Only the mare's second or third time under saddle, first time on the trail & she did just Great!  Of course a good trainer can always make it look easy & Pat hasn't lost her nack!  :-)

End of the Ride~

Cam came back totally relaxed & looked happy to be out & about.  Great way to end the ride. 

Our Route & Spada Lake

Someone told Pat that it's about 30-miles south to Monroe, Spada Lake looks closer, I'm thinking maybe 15 or 20-miles.  Definitely a place I want to go back to & explore some more - with a good map!
P.S.  My new saddle came today!  I'll be opening the box Soon!