Sky High~

2802' - Above it all~

A long time coming - how I'd missed being up here~  Our route to Stimson Hill goes up Mt. Washington.  With the heavy logging & truck traffic, it's been impossible to get even close during the week.  It's fun to have a partner for this ride - since it's long & difficult.

Charlotte had the time - so we made a plan to meet at the MHC & just see how far we could get.  It was a hazy, cool morning & as usual we were the  only ones there.  It was super to see Fancy again!  The mares recognized each other & Farah was So happy to have Fancy as her companion for the day!

The End of the Trail!

We took the usual forested trail out, the one that has always gone past the quarry & still did my last visit here in February.  Before we'd even reached the spot where the trail turned to go by - the trail disappeared.

Clear-cut & Mt. Washington

 Slash from the logging everywhere & deep in spots.  No sign of where the trail had been.

New View of the Quarry

We did some hunting - I got off & looked for a way around - we came out to a newly made & rocked road.   Now, I knew we would be able to get out.  The way around the end of the gate on the power line - is now treacherous, narrower than ever & getting soft - with a nasty drop off the edge if a hoof were to miss the footing :-(  Past that!

On our Way!

Gunfire alerted us to a group firing off high powered rifles - luckily at a shot block - which put the four of us on edge.  Both mares just dug in - attacking the first levels of the climb with minimal effort.

Mt. Rainier on the Skyline~

We couldn't have picked a more perfect day, moderate temperature, light breeze & at least the haze wasn't so thick that we couldn't see Mt. Rainier.

Charlotte & Fancy - from Mt. Washington

We took a short break after the first long, hard pull~

Connie & Farah, Mt. Pilchuck to the left~

I'd told Charlotte that I could find my way over to Stimson & that was our goal, which put a lot more climbing ahead of us...

View south from Barbara's Bench~

Before long we reached just over 2,000 ft. at Barbara's Bench.  We both had to climb up & get photos!

Toward the North with Victoria in the distance~

It's such a unique feeling - to be able to see over to where I ride so often & admire it's rise above the surrounding country.  From this viewpoint - 500 ft. higher than the highest point there.  We were still going, up & up.  Soon coming to an intersection that gave us a choice of up or down.

From Stimson Hill - Whitehorse~

At ten-miles, we decided to go on another mile - then if there were no views, turn back.  About half-way up this hard pull, here came two hikers with walking sticks.  They stopped, raised the sticks over their heads - Farah instantly 180'ed :-)  They explained that they'd hiked in off Cedarvale Loop.  We went for the views!  I did this ride for the first time New Years Eve of 2013, but we'd taken a lower fork.

The Whitehorse Trail from 2802 ft.

 What a thrill to recognize the Whitehorse Trail, my Green Valley & Cloverdale Farm below us!  The line of trees in the upper third, of the right side of the photo above, is the trail.   We stopped just short of the break-spot where Joyce & I had rested another time (post) we went exploring this far - right at the apex of the climb. 

Victoria's peak~

Heading back, we were on foot, talking away - when I realized that we'd taken a wrong turn!  Joyce & I had gone that way in 2013, exploring the lower road, but it wouldn't get us back to the MHC.  Luckily, I caught my mistake before we'd gone too far out of our way.  I programed my Garmin to take us back to start - & it did a fine job of telling us when a turn was coming up.  Once back, it read;  Returned to start :-)

Our route~

It was, as it always is - an impressive ride.   Twenty-two miles, total elevation gain of 4,131 ft. & high point at 2,802.  Moving time;  5hrs. 40 min.  Total time 6 hrs. 40 min.  Average moving speed 3.9 mph.  Both mares impressed us as much as the ride.  Farah learned so much from going out with an experienced, professional, exceptional mare.  I wish we had the opportunity more often.  She was so good all day, until on the way back, when she shied twice - while we were doing a good trot.  I should have turned her back etc., but by then - it was almost 6 p.m. & we all had dinner waiting!

Curve of the Earth~

From Stimson Hill

Another - cool gorgeous late Summer day!  All in all, the last of a very nice string of days comprising our Labor Day Weekend.  Today - I rode with Joyce, Charlotte, Mel & Mel's friend Heather.  The ride plan was for Stimson Hill.  We started out mid-morning & wondered early on if the big gray thunderheads with white billowing edges would drop rain?  No, they just continued to sail overhead as we started the climb.

Heading up~

 Farah was Very full of herself, more time spent airborne than moving forward.  Happy to be out with Target, Jesse was ignored :-)  I was anxious for the climb - hoping it would take a little of the edge off.  I was disappointed - she continued to be handful for most of the ride.

Views open~

We took the more gradual roads on the assent - everyone enjoying the day, the bright sunshine & a ride through this amazing country.

Heather, Charlotte, Joyce & Connie (Thanks Mel for taking the photo)

Just below Barbara's Bench, we stopped for photos.  Heather's Quarter Horse hadn't signed up for the ride he was doing on this day :-)  This was my fourth ride in the Stonewall Classic & longest to date.  It's such a welcome relief to be riding in a comfortable, no issue saddle again.  I can feel Farah walk out better than ever & her transitions - if you could call them that today- were totally fluid. 

Clear-cut at Victoria, just behind the little tree in the middle~

Once you get this high - it seems so strange to be looking so far down.  Seeing Victoria below gives you the perspective.  Looking down, from up high has always been one of my favorite things :-)

Joyce, Charlotte, Heather & Mel~

We reached the apex of the climb, then went on out toward the ridge for a way.  We used to be able to drop down & get back to Joyce's - but those roads are now closed off.  Instead, we turned & started back.

Going Down~

It's steep & it's amazing - we dismounted for most of the way~

Target looking for Farah, Joyce, Charlotte & Jackson

 Joyce said that Target worried if Farah got out of his sight :-)  They touched noses several times & he is not intimidated by her antics.  We took the short-cut coming down, it was overgrown - but both Joyce & I were surprised that the blackberry weren't as bad as we'd expected.  The trees are getting all enough to shade more of the area where they've been known to get ten-feet high. 

Our route

This ride is still one of the best around.  Tough & hard - but I'd do that most any day to experience the high country views.  I've been so jealous of some of the views that I've seen from our eastern, WA derby riders & am determined to go visit & see them for myself!  Until then - I'll stay more than satisfied with the ones that are in our backyard :-)

Movin' On Up!

11:30 a.m. Blazing Sunshine

Today was the day, with bow hunting open - Joyce wore an orange vest, Farah wore her orange rump rug - at least until I had to roll it up to let her cool off! 

Sweat under the rug~

Most of last week was really wet - Fall moved in & with it the rain.  The weatherman was correct though - clearing & sunshine!  So - as we do at least a couple time each season - we headed for the high country.  The 90+ humidity along with the steep climb, soon had both horses in a full body sweat.

Fireweed in it's fall glory!

  We continued up - taking a different route from our usual one.  By the time we'd reached the old quarry - we were higher on the mountain.  The clouds rolled by overhead, but sunshine predominated.

Part of the old quarry~

It was a hunting expedition of sorts, Joyce wanted to try some new trails that we hadn't explored before, so once we crested the top, we started taking right turns & got out quite a way over onto Stimson Hill, before starting to find blocked roads.

Three Fingers peeks through the layer of clouds~

At one of the logging turn-rounds - the clouds opened just enough to let us see the views that were semi-obscured by a low hanging layer of cloud cover - drifting by as slowly as cold molasses.

Taking a break at the Viewpoint~

We waited a while, hopeful that the view would improve, but that wasn't the case, the clouds were actually trying to thicken.  It was blissfully quiet - the only sounds were from two large crows or ravens that sat at the top of one of the larger snags.

Mt. Rainier too peaks above the clouds~

On our way down - Mt. Rainier too - decided to peak it's head up & say "hi"!  It's pretty awesome to be up here.  Our high point was 2,247 ft. - the highest we've ridden to date.  Only a few feet lower than Snoqualmie Pass!

The view of the peak-a-boo clouds~

We turned back, took a left & again found a blocked trail - but now we've narrowed down the places where we're stopped & the places that look like we'll be able to explore further.

"Eye" to the world~

Even heading back, the views try to convince us to stay longer.  The horses didn't mind - water was flowing everywhere after last weeks heavy rains - plenty of water & they did plenty of drinking!

Mt. Baker

We tried one more trail & found one more dead end - again with the partial view of our other large volcano - Mt. Baker.

Down anyone?

 Finally, it was time to head back - the downhill is actually harder than the up!  Farah likes Jesse to go in front, she stays behind & tries to intimidate him - which he has learned to completely ignore!  :-)

Mt. Rainer gives us a last glimpse~

Funny to say that we were going lower - when by the time we'd gotten back to Barbara's Bench - we were still over 2,000 ft.

From Barbara's Bench

According to my Garmin stats - our elevation gain on this ride was just over 3,860 ft.  Yes - I think either of our horses could do about any distance we put them to :-)  It may be close to the end of the Endurance ride season, but to those of us who enjoy riding here - we'll continue on as long as weather permits!

Joyce with Farah & Jesse

When I was coming down off the trail up to the bench, Jesse had forgotten I was up there & spooked - so Joyce had to remind him that it was just "me"  :-)  The day was cooling down just a little, we went through a couple spots where I swear the temperature dropped 15 degrees in 100 ft.

Timber going down~

On our way back, much lower on the mountain - we found this area getting cut.  Sadly - it closes off the access to one of our "short-cut" trails down.  We'd tried taking it from the bottom up early this year - but the brush had grown so thick that we couldn't get through.  Glad we didn't waste the effort to clear it - at least until we see what's left of the "trail" once the logs are hauled out.

Ride Route

It was a gorgeous day - I got a kick out of Joyce mentioning that the air got "thicker" as we descended lower on the mountain.  I told her that she would Love Colorado :-)  Where the high country is really high!  :-)  Only a couple more thousand feet & we'd be at Boulder's elevation :-)

Over The Top~

Barbara's Bench

It seems every so often, Joyce & I decide to buckle down to do this ride!  It's tough - it's hard gravel roads most of the way & it's up...  Way up!  I was surprised to wake this morning to the cloud cover, after yesterday's gorgeous day.  But not to be dissuaded, the weather was supposed to clear & it takes a while to get up to the views.

Joyce, Jesse & Farah wait below Barbara's Bench~

 We didn't get too much farther along until we found this sign on a corner.  Posted on an old growth stump.

Sign for a Timber Sale

The trees on these mountains have been cut so many times now that there really aren't many of the tall ones left.   The ones below were just a few feet from the sign.

Tall Trees

 All that logging is what's opened the views again.  The way we went today was the original Stimson Hill ride that Joyce scouted many years ago.  We continued on east, I wanted to see how far we could get towards the side of the mountain closest to Hwy 530 toward Darrington.

Toward Arlington

 By the time it was coming up on 1 p.m. the sun had burned through the lower level hazy, but it was still hanging higher.  Our high elevation on this ride was 2,247 feet. 

Looking south at the Front Range of the Cascades~

It was so quiet up here - a good breeze was blowing most of the afternoon, but both horses were acting spooky - no idea why.  Farah was so strong that she hadn't even broken a sweat by the time we were up & had plenty of energy to be on her guard?  It was so Quiet - so very Quiet that I could actually hear the silence - then the whisper of the breezes blowing across the landscape below.

Looking toward Whitehorse & Darrington

Joyce made all the correct turns & finally we came out at the view!  To say it is memorable is to say the least!  The peak of Whitehorse was peaking out from under the high clouds.  The size & scope of the views are hard to beat.  I never tire of them, or riding in the high country.

Heading down~

We turned to go back the same way we'd come up.  The old way we used to be able to take is blocked farther below.  No trail that we've found to date that would take us all the way around & that would be a long ride indeed.

Pilchuck on the far horizon

On the way down, the views always look different than on the way up - so I had to take one more shot.   The day really warmed up, I was using my new electrolyte pills & snacking on the way.  Still got warmer than I like - but well worth it!  Both horses had hardly worked up a sweat & were totally dry by the time we returned to Joyce's.

Hill of Death & Beyond~

Joyce & Jesse

Joyce is back in the saddle & we'd planned a ride up Simpson Ridge.  But - it was darn hot, humid & it's a hard ride for a hot day.  I'd forgotten my camera & Joyce her gloves.  We decided to change our plans & head up the aptly named "Hill of Death" - which would still give us a a good climb, then head down & finish off in the shade of the woods.  The first thing we noticed was the amount of water running down the old road.  More water than we'd ever seen & it was really eroding the road - in places over two-feet deep.  We had to think that something up above has changed.

As we climb~

The views open up.  It was a hazy day - but the Olympics were still clear to the west.  I used my Smartphone for these photos today.  Almost to the top, we saw something in the center of the road?

The top shell of a Troxel Helmet!

 We followed hoof prints - friends had ridden here yesterday - obviously going so fast that they blew the top off someone's helmet!  :-)  If anyone is interested, we took it down to the final intersection that takes you up the hill.

Once we'd made it to the top of the HOD - we were surprised that there was a new logging road cut in to the uphill side & heading on up!  We took it~

Steep & more UP!

As we continued, it was plain that we'd see some views that we haven't before & that's always so much fun!  Garmin is having upload problems today - but soon I hope to see my data & find out if we were indeed heading around the side of Mt. Washington.

Views to the north~

Probably a while since this clear-cut happened.

Huge Snag~

Our elevation was over 1,800 ft. & it was blessedly cool with a nice breeze & no bugs!  Finally - we found the end of the road - which dashed our hopes of it possibly circling the mountain.  Turning back, I had to take a couple more photos.

Heading back down~

Once down, Joyce took us back into the shade of the woods & onto one of my favorite trails - a long uphill with fairly soft footing & a nice grade.  Farah took off & both horses did some really nice galloping - almost effortlessly.

Tiny pretty blooms~

These tiny flowers were blooming everywhere - again - another to look up in my native plant book, but not sure they're even a flower - maybe a weed?  We were out over four hours, covered a lot of ground & brought both horses back to the trailers at the Morgan Horse Club dry.