BCHW Northwest Region Prize Ride~

Five Chapters Represented!

It was a cool Saturday morning!  We were up early & driving up to Harry O's  - we'd volunteered to help with the set-up, food service & clean-up for the 16th Annual BCHW Northwest Region Prize Ride.  A collaborative effort between CHC, Island County, Skagit, Traildusters & Whatcom  - these rides are always so well attended, but with the rainy weather we really didn't know how many riders to expect.

Setting up for the food!

So many wonderful volunteers helped with this event, set up was completed in no time!  Connie S. & her husband were in charge of food preparation & did an amazing job!  Almost everything done in advance, only a few things to finish on site.  Butch, Linda, Carrie & I served - once the riders started returning from their ride.  I was too busy to get photos of any of the horse/rider teams - but there were some amazing costumes!  The theme was Riding Through the Ages - each club had a poker stop, CHC was the 60's & Traildusters the 70's.

Ready to begin the drawing!

There were tables full of some very nice prizes!  The rain held off too - no one got wet out on the trail!  It was cool enough that some of us had jackets on!

Breast collars, halters, hay bags, buckets~

The new log, hand cut & carved - looked beautiful & made for some nice seating :-)

Colorful group :-)

Did I say colorful?  Within a two-hour period, we served over 150 lunches!  No totals in yet as to how many riders, but the lunch count is pretty accurate!

All around the Shelter~

Once the prizes were handed out - it was time for clean-up & that went really fast with so many helping hands.  We were on the road for home just after 4p.m. - most of the trailers had already pulled out.  Everyone left the area spotless!

Our first time at this popular ride & we really enjoyed meeting riders from the other Chapters!  A Good time was had by all!

Gettin' It Done!

Tools of the Trade~

National Trails Day!  A super sunshine morning to meet up at the Pilchuck Glass School parking for our work party!  A combination of Trailduster's & Cascade Horse Club members, along with neighbors & a couple representatives from a local bike club.

Where do we go from here?

As Linda has mentioned often, the hardest part of the job is organizing all the volunteers & sending then out to the various trails!  We ended up with a good group - probably close to 20 people & several that knew the trails well enough to head out & attack the trail of their choice!

Discussing the sign-in sheets~

We had to sign hold-harmless releases for the tree farm, then sign in to our respective BCH Chapters.  Paperwork out of the way - it wasn't long before we'd dispersed!  Butch & I had planned to work on one of the trails that leaves the Monument.  Heavily overgrown & tree branches in your face when you're riding.

Butch on the trail~

 With Butch using the weed-whacker ahead, I took my pruners & started in on the trees.  What a job!  I cut each & every one way back to the truck of the tree!  I'd get one done, turn back to look - & see everything I'd missed!  With the branches removed - it gives the blackberry vines one less thing to climb.  Where I could I walked back in & cut the blackberry at it's base - which might slow it down for a week or two :-)

Looking back at my work~

I don't know how far I got - not far enough - not out of the trees, but to where I stopped - this trail will not have to have limbs cut for a long while!  We headed back to the parking area after noon. 

There were a few horse trailers in the parking lot, several riders I knew rode back in.  I know all too many people who ride here frequently - who have never - to my knowledge attended a work party...  I personally would have a hard time justifying my use of this private land - without volunteering at least one day a year to maintain the trails - but that's just me.

On the door of the BCH Trailer~

Lunch was set out & boy did it look good!  Another big thank you - to the ladies who provided the wonderful food.  Homemade potato salad, baked beans, hot dogs, chips, mellons etc.  The ice cream treats - really hit the spot!

I loved the bandana on the inside of the door to the BCH Tool Trailer :-)  Really a Super day's work for a super crew of people, none too busy to volunteer their time to keep our trails open!

To the Creek~

Through the big woods~

I'd been wanting to ride down to the creek for a while - it's about a 12-mile round-trip - the shortest way I know to get there.  At the trail-head, I was surprised to find several rigs already there.  The day was overcast & muggy.  Going through what's left of the big woods - is always so pretty.

Coyote Ridge Trail~

We ended up on the Coyote Ridge Trail - overgrown but passable.  All the blow-down had either been cut, or had ended up on the ground - easy to step over.

Candy Flower~

The little tiny Candy Flower was in bloom all along the sides of one of the trails we were on.  The southern trails don't see the use the the one's higher on the mountain do, since the trail-head was moved years ago.

On the trail~

 During last years trail-clearing party - we'd worked on several of these trails & they've stayed in good condition.  Not that there isn't plenty of work that needs doing this year!  Winter weather was harsh, lots of wind & plenty of clearing to be done at the upcoming work party on Sat.  So far, only eleven people have RSVP'd - the usual group of hard-core dedicated riders who continue year after year to make giving back part of their schedule.

Through the young Cedar Trees~

I love the section through the Cedars - it's amazing how much they've grown just since last year.  From what I've been told, the tree farms are planting more Western Red Cedar - they see it as the next big cash crop.  It takes so much longer to grow to any size - that it will be interesting to see how many years these trees stand.  (If I'm around to see it! :-)

At the creek~

We were both glad to get to the creek for our lunch break.  Farah loves standing in the water & yawning :-)  On the rocky shore, I took off my boots & waded in, while Farah again attacked the reed canary grass growing along the shore.  I wonder if I could count her hours?  :-)

Low flow~

The creek is down, no surprise there, amazing how quickly the snow on the Cascades has melted away this year.  The Glaciers were melting off last season, so anything that accumulated this winter, didn't have the usual base.

Our route~

We headed back & only took one wrong turn to find the trail we wanted.  We had to make some time, since we had a Traildusters meeting in Everett.  As we galloped up the hill, a little bunny came out right in front of us!  Farah slowed & put her head down as he hopped as fast as he could for almost 100ft. before turning off on his bunny trail :-)   Back at the bio-fuel field - a large, nice, healthy looking Coyote was standing off in the trees.

Once home, I had just enough time to give Farah an overdue bath!  We were both soaked by the time Butch pulled in the drive! 

CHC Dessert Auction~

This was our first year attending the Cascade Horse Club's Dessert Auction!  Held at the Lake Stevens Community Center - with proceeds going toward the building & maintenance of multi-use trails!

Flyer~

With flyers posted all over the area, we filled the room with bidders hungry to bid on a counter filled with a plethora of sweet treats!  Cascade members, Traildusters, local visitors & families.  The desserts?  Well - it was simply a matter of picking-your-poison!

Two of Linda's famous pies were auctioned off!

Linda's pies went for over $60. each!  Then, there was Barbara's homemade Irish Cream Liquor - in a beautiful cowboy boot decanter with two shot glasses going for $75. & worth every penny I'm sure :-)  There was such a variety of items from cake pops, to key lime pie, sweet breads, cakes, brownies, cookies & of course pies!

Steve was our auctioneer!

So many volunteers worked hard & baked up a storm - to make this event a success!  Tammy's boys did a super job of assisting the auctioneer - walking through the crowd & exhibiting each item to the bidders.   The close-up look & smell drove the bidding up!  They also passed around samples of many of the tasty items!

I'm not keen on being in the kitchen - but did bake up five-dozen of my somewhat famous Oatmeal Spice, Chocolate Chip cookies.  I put them in five containers - one dozen per, with pretty western cards on top.  They sold for $15. a dozen!  I hope everyone enjoys them!

Great evening, really fun event!  If you didn't go this year, be sure to watch for next time!

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!

Gettin' Er Done!

& the vehicles keep coming!

Scott was thrilled!  Our RSVP list was dismally short - but once we had the gate open - the trucks kept coming!  The weatherman had originally said that today would be decent & it was actually perfect for the work we had planned!  Cool, cloudy & wet!  :-)

Even a lonely bike guy came to help!

As we all said, if we ever admit to being too old - that will be the end of the trails...  It's the same people every year who feel the obligation to do their share, some of them ride this area only very rarely - yet still come to work.  I'd asked Scott early on if Butch & I could tackle the trail where I'd fallen & he readily agreed.  We'd hoped that Joyce would make it - to lead us up - but instead, Scott got everyone organized - then guided us up.  We were just ready to leave, when Rhonda stuck her head in the truck window!  She & Donnie had driven up to help!  So - the four of us followed Scott to where we needed to be & started clearing! 

"The Bridge"

 I was almost sick to my stomach when I saw it again...  At least we Could See it today!   Something Butch noticed right away - the planks were installed going the wrong direction.  Nothing to keep a hoof from slipping forward.  In just three weeks, the Salmonberry was already starting to cover it again!

Looking down~

You could also see the impression made by Farah's body in the mud - now filled with water & the rock, that dented my water bottle.  Scott told us that this was originally a trail - but years of rain & erosion have turned it into a creek & a nasty one it is.

From the creek bed ~

I had to go check out the place where Farah made her jump - again - amazed that she did it - as I looked down at the point where she'd launched herself.

The jumping up spot!

 We cleared everything from around both bridges.  Donnie suggested putting up some caution tape so that at least riders would have notice that it was there - since it's really slippery too.  You can bet I'll be doing that next.   We kept clearing forward until we came to a creek & forest - then turned back & started on up the Ridge Trail to where I remembered the trees being down.

Donnie & his chain saw

 Donnie made short work of both - the one above is the one we'd jumped before reaching the bridge.  Butch was doing damage with the weed whacker, while Rhonda & I used our loppers & picked up the mess the guys were leaving behind.  We got a nice long section of the trail done!  Just in time to head back to meet-up with the rest of the volunteers for a lunch break!  It only sprinkled on us - but the brush was so wet we were soon soaked anyway.

Lunch Break!

Sandwiches never tasted better!  Every year, we try to make at least two trail clearing dates, one for the Traildusters & one for Cascade.  We've done this even during the years when I was working full time.  None of the riders I know, that ride here - were with us this day.  Yes - I had my personal agenda - but we would have been here anyway - just working a different trail.  The rest of our group made huge progress on re-establishing the "White" trail through the recent clear-cut.  Still more to do, always more to do, but we all felt like we'd accomplished a lot!