More New Views~

First - more Clear Trail!

I left early, anxious to get out on the trail on a cooler day!  I was stopped almost to Linda's - a work crew was replacing a culvert & had closed the road!  Oh no!  Me... back up & turn the Bronco & trailer around...  not a pretty picture...  I called Linda & she said;  "Have one of the crew turn it for you!"  Now that sounded like a better, quicker idea!  As I started walking that direction, one of the crew was walking toward me!  He said:  I hope you don't mind - but you look like Joan Jet!  I had to laugh - this is the second time this year someone has told me that!  A very nice guy - he had me all turned in about 2 min. flat & laughed, saying that his wife was the same way!  What a nice thing to say!  :-)

If I'd been coming from I-5 - there would have been plenty of signage, but I come in from the east & that direction there were No signs!  Linda was running late too - so it all worked out.  I wanted to see where the logging had been going on, so we took trails that I hadn't been on in a while.  Beautiful.  Linda said she'd been out clearing trail over the weekend & one rider had offered to pay her - rather than work on the trails himself.  Another rider that we both know, did offer her time to come & help.

Wetland

I love this wetland - so calm, quiet & tucked away that most riders don't even know it's here.  We rode past, onto another overgrown trail & into the woods along a deep ravine with huge Cedars along the slope.  Not too much further along & we could see an opening ahead.

We'd arrived~

We followed the access road - to the place were it was cut on up the hillside & took that.  They had brought in a lot of heavy rock, but it was compacted.

Heading up

Talk about open up a view~

On top

There were wood cutters loading up all the left overs from the cut.  We continued on & it was fun to see the mountain that the Monument is on from a different side.  There was a large planting of young Cedars on the trail we took off the top.  So much is planted with Douglas Fir - the Cedar's take a lot longer to mature.

Looking Southeast

Linda eventually wound us back around to Baby Bear Trail.  From there we headed on up to the Monument for lunch & completed our elongated loop!  Now we have new ideas for trails to re-open & I'm going to go & do what I can do & at least I will feel like I'm doing a small portion of my share :-)

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!

Consternation~

Note:  I revamped the title of this post :-) 

Linda & Count~

Our schedules collided!  Yes!  In a good way & we got out for a ride!  The day looked like it was going to be warm & I was already wondering if my new electrolyte pills would be up to the challenge.  Linda asked me what I planned to do when things really warm up & I didn't have an answer.  I know I rode a lot last Summer & sure hope to do the same this one!

Huge Fungi on a dead tree~

Trails have always been Linda & my thing, with Linda knowing them better than anyone, I'd asked for shade & shade is what I got!  Wonderful!  But after a few heavily overgrown trails - my nerves were up?  I kept trying to see the trail where the trail was not to be seen...  The more I didn't see it - the more I worried to the point of sheer ridiculousness!

At the Monument

As you can tell from the photo above, it was amazingly beautiful up on top.  We had lunch & I took photos of a nice couple who'd hiked up.  Then I begged Linda to find a way onward that kept us off the overgrown trails.  No problem, we're cruising along through the woods when suddenly - Farah does a 180!  I turned her back & asked her to approach the scary object - a hoodie that some one had tossed over a short broken off tree.  Again she flew around, almost knocking into Count - who decided that if Farah thought it was That scary that he should do what she was doing & between the two of them we both about lost our seats!  :-)  I dismounted, took the hoodie & threw it at her - she didn't even twitch a muscle - just looked at me with the "OK- I was pretty dumb..."  look. 

The Peaks~

The peaks that I'd hoped Robin would see yesterday - were certainly out today!  You can almost see the snow melting!  We spent most of the ride catching up on all the stuff-of-life that keeps things interesting.  Linda checked out my shoulder & told me that if I hadn't noticed by now that it's all mashed in - that it was about time I did!  I took her advice & called her recommended chiropractor - actually getting an appointment for tomorrow!

The Meadow & growing bio-fuel hardwood trees~

We finished off our ride by late afternoon.  Farah was again in season & not inspired - just very happy that I'd removed that pack & replaced it with the more streamlined version - sans water bottles.

Farah helping Linda with lawn control~

So, we trotted - did some galloping & all was well with our world :-)  A fine ride with a fine friend is a great way to enjoy a fine day - can't ask for more!

Fallin' off a Bridge~

An Incredible Day!

The day, was just stellar!  Cool, breeze, fluffy white clouds, blue skies - nothing finer!  Joyce & I had planned to ride & I was Not disappointed in the direction we took out of the Morgan Horse Club.  Both horses were working so well for us! 

Meadow of Foxglove

I'd been wanting to see the blooming foxglove & since Joyce had been this way over the weekend, they were in bloom!  We were talking about how darn lucky we are to have the ways & means to do the riding we do - in the beautiful places we have right out our proverbial back door!

Joyce & Jesse

We'd also remarked on how overgrown the trails were getting.  We came to a trail that Joyce wanted to check out, someone had done some light pruning on the Salmonberry.  Farah was in the lead, we'd already had a really nice gallop, both horses had jumped a large dead log that had fallen across the Ridge Trail & we were just walking along.  We'd crossed one small bridge & only gone maybe another 50-feet when suddenly - as Joyce said later - we disappeared from in front of her!

Where we went over~

It was crazy how fast it happened, one instant we were moving through the thick Salmonberry growth  the next - Farah slammed to the creek bed on her right side, me still in the saddle.  As she started to try to regain her feet, I freed myself & started crawling as fast as I could to get clear of her.  (I worried that if hurt - she would start thrashing & I've seen what destruction a horse in pain can cause!)  Once clear, I looked back to see her standing on all four feet.  I CAN NOT tell you how much fear was flowing through my veins at the though of her being possibly injured.  But - as I got close to her - I could tell that she was OK & looking at me with a "What do we do now?" expression.

Our position - not good...

I could hear Joyce, but wasn't making much sense of what she was saying.  She tied Jesse off & was busting through the brush to get to us.  The bank was between 4-5 feet high & crumbling.  After some reconnaissance work - Joyce found a spot where she thought Farah might have a chance of getting out.

One big mess~

I had the tops taken off three of the knuckles on my left hand - blood everywhere.  My right elbow had taken a good hit when we landed, Farah had some nicks on her face & two small marks on her hind legs - that had gotten tangled in roots, but otherwise looked fine & was fully alert.  Joyce found a spot where she started breaking branches & clearing up the hill that we hoped Farah would be able to climb.  (Joyce thought to ask me what Farah's heart rate was...  I looked down at my Garmin & it was reading 74!)  Here she is stuck in a deep creek bed & was that Calm!  Also told us that she was probably OK.  I climbed up, stood by a big Cedar & told Farah to come.  As I've watched her do before - but not in such dire circumstances, she reared onto her hind legs & made a huge jump & was up.  The bank was soft & full of holes, she was sinking in, but it was only a few feet to the trail.

I pulled out my little emergency kit, wrapped my fingers, knocked some mud off Farah & got back on.  We were only a few miles out from the trailers, so no big deal to ride.  Farah was fine, actually trying to nip Jesse on the butt - so I knew she was OK.

Back at the trailers~

Once back, the adrenalin had worn off, but I felt fine to drive - so I called Butch & headed for home.  Linda's saddle is a little bit muddy...  just a little...  I took the tack off, then gave Farah a warm bath - running my hands over her from top to bottom & finding nothing but a small scratch on her hind leg.

At Home~

Butch made record time getting home & found me still in my riding clothes covered with mud, but with a clean horse, now happily grazing in her pasture.

I don't know how many ways I can say; "Thankful" - but I am...  Someone was looking out for us today - our stars were in alignment.  Neither of us were seriously hurt & we rode out.  That - ALWAYS makes for a Good Ride!

"Disney" Dave & Francis - Travel North!

Wasn't too hard :-)  for David & Francis to talk me into a ride!  They were willing to drive up - so that always makes it hard to refuse :-)  The weather too, seemed to want to cooperate - the clouds were clearing & the sun had appeared by the time I arrived at the glass school parking.  (Side note - I was Very disappointed in the shape of the gravel parking.  Several piles of manure left behind - one Full of Worms!  Disgusting on All Counts!)

Salmonberry!

There was a little delay - they had waited for a third rider - that didn't make the ride.  So, Farah grazed & I ate Salmonberries!  Once they were saddled, horses booted etc. we hit the trails.  As with every rider I take on the tour - we headed for the Monument.

Smiles!

  Even with the low clouds, there were views to be had!

With the Monument :-)

I asked these two how far they wanted to go & they were game for my entire loop - so after the views, we started the long downhill - then onto the green trail & out onto the Scott Mainline.  After that - there's the climb back to the top.  David said he'd been looking for elevation & I've been telling him for a long time now that it was easy to find :-)  This day - his quest was completed by the time we'd gotten back up to the top!

Farah was on the make - I couldn't believe how much I had to hold her back & she blasted up the hill like a sprinter.  I was disappointed that the white peaks of the Cascades were under the clouds.

Final View

Mt. Rainier too, wasn't out...  We covered almost 18-miles & the sun was getting low on the horizon by the time we were coming back.  Once home - it was late enough that I didn't want to wash Farah - so I gave her a quick brushing.  She went into her run - hit the ground, did a very quick, forceful roll - both sides - then jumped up like a cat & was back in her stall waiting for Butch to serve her dinner!  Butch downgraded my dinner out to picking up pizza on the way home :-(

Last Ride of Summer~

Farah enjoys the day her favorite way~

We headed out on our own this day.  No particular agenda - just enjoying what was supposed to be the last nice day of our incredible Summer.  It was warmer than forecast, high 70's & high humidity.  There were several horse trailers at the trail head, but we didn't see another horseman all afternoon.

Cheap beer at the Monument's base~

At the monument, it was saddening to find that someone had left two full beers & one empty.  This happened about this time last year too - have no idea who thinks it's a good idea to share - but wish they wouldn't...

Between Farah's ears~

It was just a gorgeous afternoon.  Neither of us were too motivated, we checked out some trails, took some photos & I put in some time on the ground.  I walked the very long downhill stretch from the top, down to the bottom of what I call our running hill.  As long as I was walking, Farah followed behind, but once I started jogging - she started her trot, came up along side, gave me a dirty look & had to travel in front of me!  :-)  Once at the bottom I mounted & we did our run to the top.  It was exactly a mile uphill run!

Our route~

We met one gentleman on foot with a basket, looking for mushrooms.  He hadn't had any luck when we saw him, but Linda & I had seen some last week & I wish we'd picked them!  It was pretty late in the day when we started back.  The shadows were getting long~

Bio-fuel trees now planted in the meadow~

The view above will change quickly, as quick as these trees grow...  I'll miss it - I'm sure.  We covered some ground, both had a good afternoon & were looking forward to Friday evening home!