Duvall to Snoqualmine - Point-to-Point

New Signage

The sign above greeted us as Lynn & I started down along the SVT.  We both knew the exact spot, it's been washing away for a while now.  But to close the trail during the busiest time of year & for so many months?  We were lucky to get in our ride today!  (Our first point-to-point ride.)

A Long Straight Stretch~

It was kind of an unappealing morning - overcast, but warm & humid - the bank in Monroe said 70 when I drove by.  The trail had been recently graded, widened out with the brush cut back & a new layer of gravel in places.

Snoqualmie River - Low!

 The Snoqualmie too, is low - the lowest I've seen it - especially for so early in the year!  For the day after a three-day weekend, it was a busy day!  Lots of people on the trail, a brush cutter out, another crew working on the power lines etc.  (They stopped work & turned off the equipment as we rode by.)

More new signage~

Since I'd spoken to King County about this highway 203 trail crossing, new bright signage has been installed, traffic to slow to 40 heading into Carnation, already moving up to 50 toward Duvall.  As we were waiting for a break in the traffic, a truck came by - doing at least 60+.    Amazing - since we have to go under 530 for the Whitehorse trail - here - everyone just dodges the speeding cars!  (The little new sign - is a warning to trail users that the traffic "Does Not Stop!" 

Lynn & Sophie crossing the Tolt

The Tolt was less than half it's usual flow.  I can almost imagine this going dry by Summer...  With Jack's help, we were riding all the way to Snoqualmie Falls, where Jack would be waiting in the upper parking area.

The pretty part of the trail~

Once we were outside of Carnation & heading toward Fall City, the trail becomes more "rural" except that we both noticed the heavy tracks of bikes.  By "heavy" - I mean solid bike tire marks from one side of the trail to the other!  Also - the trail was as hard as concrete!  The most compacted ever, I was glad that Farah still has her pads on!  Then - suddenly - Boom!  Gun fire!  Lots of Heavy Gun fire!  Enough that both Lynn & I jumped in the saddles!  Enough - that anyone riding less experienced horses would have probably been thrown.  The several times we've been here - this was a first & lasted for a couple miles.

Over Toluk Creek - The Big Bridge :-)

Crossing this bridge is always so fun!  :-)  The gun fire had temporarily stopped as we rode across, but started up again as we cleared the far side.  Going this direction - of course, it's a gradual climb & we had the mares trotting for a few miles.

We arrive at the tunnel

I'm going to have to look back to see if this tunnel has been improved - as I think it has, since our last visit.  We didn't go on up to the Kiosk - since we were running late to meet-up with Jack.  We found the little trail through the woods, then the old roads & finally the other small hiking trail that took us to the parking.

Our ride awaits!

For whatever reason, I didn't feel myself this entire ride.  I was using my electrolyte tablets, Farah was being nasty with Sophie & the feelings are mutual...  But Sophie just moved down the trail ignoring Farah - which I wish I could have!  But when she's tossing her head & lifting her front off the ground at every other stride - it's hard to ignore!

Heading home, we got behind a piece of farm equipment that caused miles of backup...  With heavy traffic in the traffic circle just before you get to Duvall - one driver in a hurry almost caused an accident right in front of us.  By the time we were dropped off  at Taylor Landing - I hoped that the line of cars would be gone...  not...  We followed it most of the way back to Monroe.  I was late getting home, happy that Butch was already there.

Both Lynn & I enjoyed what's become a rare day of riding together!  With the busy schedules we both have this summer - we're still going to try to get in a few more!

Snoqualmie Valley Trail, Point-to-Point

10:02 a.m.Linnea on Bizy, Connie & Farah

Here we were, at Taylor Landing in Duvall, ready to start the ride that Lynn had planned for us.  Having done different sections of the STV trail at different times, both of us were motivated to do the entire length.  I was up early, scraping ice off the windows of the Bronco - 30 degrees felt Cold!  The inside of the horse trailer was frosty & Farah had her rump rug on for the trip to Monroe.  We had both horses loaded & Jack again kindly agreed to be our point man for this journey! 

Heading south outside Duvall, WA

It was Cold & brisk, with just enough of a breeze to send the leaves cascading down from the trees in front of us.   There were more people than I'd expected out enjoying an absolutely stellar fall day.  We were dressed in layers & it wasn't long before our jackets came off! Once out of town, we started making time, knowing with the shorter days we'd have none to waste.

11:48 a.m. Bridge over the Tolt River

Bridges are us!  At least that felt like it should be our slogan for this ride!  I have no idea how many we crossed - but I'd love to know!  We slowed to a walk for each - to err on the side of caution & it was a very good thing we did!

Going over The Tolt River~

As we were walking along a bridge close to the Remlinger Farms - Farah - in the lead, made one of the strangest moves I'd ever ridden, while at the same time, turned her head & acted like she was listening at something beneath us!  Again - she made the same move?  Strange & a little scary when you're up there.  In the next instant, just feet from the end of the bridge I caught something PINK out the corner of my eye, below the level of the bridge deck & off below the side of the bridge support where it met the bank.  A pink hard hat!  I warned Lynn that someone was doing SOMETHING - I knew not what - as a second head appeared next to the first!  I yelled - & said;  "Say HI!"  "Let the horses know you're there!"  They spoke, then told us that they had pounded on the bottom of the bridge to "Let us know they were there!"  THAT was what Farah had felt & heard under the bridge!  Probably NOT the best way to let a horse know that somethings going on!

Tokul Bridge

Lynn  & Bizy make it look like a walk in the park!

Some of these bridges are WAY high up!

Our first ten-miles we did in under two-hours & I hoped to continue that pace throughout the day's ride.  The second ten-miles was just beautiful with the wooded trail & the low sun making the light golden.

Maples along the trail~

 The plan was to meet-up with Jack at a parking area above Snoqualmie Falls.  This was the point where the trail ends at a tunnel at Tokul Rd.  After a  couple turn-back attempts to find the little path through the ferns & forest out to the logging road - we found the gate & came out right where we should be!

A welcome site!  1:53 p.m.

Lynn had hiked this section the day before to see how we could get the horses through.  The SVT trail, ends at that spot, but does continue on as a trail once you're on the far side of Snoqualmie.  To get there would be the challenge. 

Getting around the Snoqualmie

There were a couple gnarly spots, riding along the side of a two-way road on a narrow strip of green on the far side of the fog line is never fun.  We didn't dally - Farah kept up her trot, I wanted to get through!

Another of Snoqualmie

We did stay ON the bridge :-)

Once through town, next was the Mt. Si Golf Course, where we were almost run down by a little ole lady in a hurry!  Our close call of the day!  The rest of the way through, we just had to avoid the whizzing golf carts!

Lynn's beautiful shot of the river & Mt. Si

 It was a relief to get out the far side & back into the semi-country side of North Bend.  We passed schools, playgrounds, beautiful homes, barking dogs, all the usual on an urban trail.

3:48 p.m. & we're heading under I-90!

This was noisy!  You could hear & see all the traffic whizzing by over head.  Again though - with some relief, we ended up riding on another beautiful wooded section of the trail.   Of course there were more bridges here.

3:54 p.m. Crossing the river

It was getting late in the day, the temperature that had warmed earlier, was now dropping down as the sun was moving lower in the sky.  I'd stopped earlier in the day & removed my warm pants & replaced them with cotton.  Now - I was wishing for the warm ones I'd left in Lynn's rig :-)  We started seeing mileage markers!  The one below was exactly one-mile more than what my GPS had recorded, so we knew we were close!

4:19 & 32 miles

We figured we had maybe 3-4 miles to go & the grade had increased to a good up-hill climb.   I always like to finish strong, so moved Farah up into a faster trot & Bizy started galloping (A very smooth gallop!)  along side.   It was almost abrupt when we started hearing cars on a road & suddenly found ourselves next to the parking area!

Rattlesnake Lake!  Here we Are!  4:30 p.m.

 We'd arrived!  There were so many parking areas, that Lynn called Jack to see where he was!  Not to worry - he told us to "stay put" & he would come find us!  What a guy!

Bizy, Linnea, Farah & Connie

The end of the trail!  We'd made it!  Six-hours from our start to the finish!  If I do say so myself, it was really a pretty amazing ride.  Not for the faint-of-heart - at least if you don't like heights :-)  My GPS recorded 32 miles & it was every bit of that!  Both of us have asked everyone we know & no one knows of any rider that's done the entire trail.  So - we're going to say we're the first until someone proves differently!  :-)

Jack drove us back to Monroe, I unloaded Farah from Lynn's trailer, she loaded right back up into mine & we made the hour drive home!  It was Great to find Butch & the dogs waiting for us!  Lights on in the barn & a bring-home dinner in the oven!