2015 Wrap Up~

Sunset - Mt. Pilchuck

By the time Justin was done with Farah's shoes - I was frozen to the bone & the temperature had started down again - from our 30 degree high to 28.  The ground is so hard now, it sounded hollow as Farah walked up to the barn with her new shoes - the last of this year!  :-)

"What ya doing Justin?"

New shoes nine times this year - so roughly every six-weeks.  Not bad for a mare that carried me over 1,000-miles.  Less than the last two-years, but still a very respectable number.  We had some amazing highlights in 2015.

Trip to Southern, CA - 3-14-15

Our trip with Patty to Joshua Tree National Park & Pioneertown in Southern, CA was a trip-of-a-lifetime for me.  Riding in new country would be all I would do if I could.  If you get the opportunity - go!

Columbia River~

 The days we spent the end of April at the Ancient Lakes area - was another I won't soon forget & hope to do again!  More new country - new to me - new to Farah & nothing more fun than enjoying it with good friends.

May - Mt. Adams!  Farah's first win & a really great ride for us both - the only ride we did this year.

Butch trots Farah~

June, the yearly beach trip!  This year was special, since Sandy came & brought Farah's sire Ody with her.  The two of them are a perfect pair - they walk, trot & gallop side-by-side without any issues at all!  Sandy & I reap the benefits - with some incredible riding.

Farah & Ody ~

Summer arrived!  We camped with the kids & grand-kids, lost Rascal & then found him!  Grandson Ben started driving his new truck - Thanks Joyce!  Farah & I tried saddles, several saddles & finally - just a month ago, our new one arrived & it works!

Grandson Mason, David, Nephew Chase, Grandson Ben & Butch

Family visited in Aug., Butch took the guys in our family on a fishing trip to Canada.  They were gone a week & came home with huge smiles & lots of fish!

Butch with Josie & Skyla

September, we made the drive south to visit the Wrights & our two littlest Granddaughter's - who moved to the Astoria area.  No fun to have them so far away - but it could be farther!

Farah checks it out!

Farah & I attended a Saddle-Up Meetup at Fire Mountain - fun obstacles & good time with our friends.

Connie, Farah, Linda & Count

October, camping up at Harry Osborn's with Linda!  Our first camping trip together in probably close to twenty-years & we enjoyed every day.  Perfect riding weather & my only trip up there this season.

Sauk River

November, we made several trips up to Darrington - watching as the Sauk River took huge chunks of land - putting it's main flow right up to the edge of the Wrights backyard.  They moved out November of 14, when it became too scary to stay.

December Cold!

December, well - who isn't busy during the holidays?  Hottest Summer in history, rivers lowest ever, second rainiest December in history - plenty of records were broken this year!

Here's to a Bright, Shiny & more moderate 2016!

Happy New Year!

Final Desert Ride

On our way~

We planned a long exploratory ride for our final one...  It felt almost bittersweet, as I saddled Farah for the ride.  It's hard to describe how amazing it feels when riding in country so different from any I've experienced.  Farah was forward all week & interested in our surroundings from the first ride.  

The climb was deceptive~

 Heading north, it wasn't long & we were climbing, climbing...

Looking back at Pioneertown~

The last opportunity to look back in both time & place - at the consummate Western town...  Once we crested the bluff - the view was like something out of a cowboy movie!

Black Hill on the right, 4,630 ft.

The topography here reminded me a little of parts of Wyoming - just not as high in elevation.

Patty & Freebie head over the edge~

As the trail dropped over the edge, it was heavy with small pieces of broken Basalt & not easy going.  The wind was blowing our direction & the next obstacle was a large pile of tumbleweeds...  that had been caught up against the face of the wall.  The trail here suddenly narrowed & was totally obscured under about 3ft. of the weeds.  I dismounted & started swatting them off the side with my stick :-)  In just a few feet - the trail widened again to a two-track that soon ended at a turn-around.

When I rode over to the edge to see if there was a possible way down - Farah - took the opportunity to 180 from a standstill - leaving me hanging from the off-side.  Patty said all she could see of me was my foot on the bucking roll & was waiting to see me hit the ground.  Since Farah Did Not Move a Muscle...  I grabbed mane & managed to pull myself back into the saddle. She was not as happy as usual this ride, I'd purchased a snaffle in town - about the only bit in town - & it was slightly small.  Nevertheless - No excuse for that behavior!

Burned Pinyon Pine (some were over 1,200 years old)

As we turned back - I decided to walk down & try to keep my stretched ACL from locking up.  The view of Pipes Canyon was stunning.  At the bottom, we found the building that looked like a small jail - that our neighbors had mentioned to Patty & followed their prints along a large wash.

We head east~

Before too far, we saw the bright green of healthy Joshua Trees!

Farah expresses her displeasure with the bit~

Of course it was another photo op!  :-)  At that point, we could either follow the miles of sandy wash, or turn east & take another trail through the rocks.  The rocks sounded like the better way to end our last ride.

Northern end of the boulder field

The blue of the flowers was such a contrast to the stark black & white of the burned pines...  Surreal, the levels of environmental change that are happening - the changes in plant communities - forever altering a landscape that had been changeless for generations...

Hole in the Rock

It was a real treat to look up & see this amazing formation!  Since these trails have been closed for over ten-years - & there are on-going threats to close them again to horsemen - I feel very lucky indeed to have had the opportunity to ride here.

Town from the east!

It was late in the day by the time we again saw town in the distance.  The day had gone fast & even if this ride wasn't as spectacular as our "Rim" ride, it had as it's own special beauty.

A new flower for this day!

As we started down out of the rocks, it was so beautiful to watch the clouds over the mountains as the light dimmed in the sky above.  (During the day - the brightness, even with a Salamander Beak & Maui Jim's sunglasses was very white & strong.)

John greets us from his saddle shop~

"We rode into town."  How often do today's horsemen get to say that?!  :-)  We'd been strangers in town, but during our stay - we'd met some really fine people.  John was a wonderful help in getting us settled in.  Jake, I met shortly after he was thrown from his horse & took a very hard blow to the back of his head - knocking him out.   Once he'd recovered, he came over to introduce himself & admire my mare :-)  The very next day - he lead a group of riders out on the "Rim Loop " ride!  He gave me a rare copy of a map of the National Park, made by locals for locals.  Maybe someday Butch & I will visit & ride some of those trails!

A huge THANK YOU to Patty for letting me accompany her, on vacation to a special place - that she was kind enough to share with me~

Broken Bit!

Our morning hang-out :-)

 We'd started a new morning routine :-)  A short drive to town to our favorite restaurant for a latte, tea smoothie -Great food too!  A place to charge our cameras, phones & use wireless!  After that - on this day we drove back up to Joshua Tree, I wanted to hike into Barker Dam.  On our way back, we took another detour to check out the privately managed trail-head of the Wildlands Conservancy.  (Further posts.)  Once back in camp, we saddled up & were anxious to head out. 

It was another perfect early evening.   We were walking the mares past houses, when a big husky came running out - surprised Freebie & she kicked out with both hind feet!  As I went to turn Farah - something felt strange?  I looked toward Farah's head to find her bit dangling out the side of her mouth!

 Mylar Combination Bit - worn out!

 The dog was still trying to herd our mares, the owners were walking toward us with his leash - so we walked toward them as the dog followed.  Once he was caught - the question - was to go back for some fix - or continue on.  Farah was absolutely enjoying her freedom & being Very Good, so I decided we'd go on - since I still had the nose band, chin strap & moved the reins to the first loop.

Another landscape~

We decided to go down to the wash & follow it a way to see if we could find another trail that our neighbors had told us about, down the far side of ridge from where we were camped.  The granite sand was heavy going.

This blaze of red was jolting against the sand!

 Again - beauty surrounded us!  The rains from the week before had done their job - giving enough moisture to the arid landscape - for the flowers to bloom! 

Dryer mountain, fewer boulders lots of ground grasses?

This was a more barren landscape than the others we'd ridden through - fewer boulders, where the Sawtooth Fires a few years ago - had really swept through - burning hot.  As we went on, the breeze picked up & we could tell that the topography, almost a funnel effect - had contributed to the heat of the fires.

Pioneertown against the Sawtooth Mountains~

 Soon, dusk was falling & we turned back.  I didn't want to push my luck with any mad trotting :-)  The sky had taken on a gray hue & we did see a few Joshua Trees that had fallen from the fire.  Locals told us that it was a miracle the town was saved...

Back at camp - it was a very quiet evening.  John (our camp host) had a fire going & that warmth felt good once night fell!  I couldn't be a full-time "Desert Rat" - but I can sure see the attraction!

Rim of the World~

Map of the area~

This was the ride that took us by surprise!  The day had been really hot & bright - so we decided to take another hiking excursion into Joshua Tree.  (I may eventually post some of our hiking photos too - but really want to get these ride stories written.)

Not far out!

We'd heard "stories" about this loop - it was the most difficult & the most beautiful.  It was just 3 p.m. when we were saddled & heading out.  Ten-miles?  No big deal - should be able to knock that out & get back before dark - right?  Well - great plan - until you start oohing & awing & Connie has to stop every 50-feet to take photos!

Burned Joshua Tree & "root" system~

It was the perfect time of day to be out!  A soft, warm breeze, amazing light & the most incredible country we'd yet seen!  I could fill pages of this blog with just photos of the wildflowers, but will refrain...

Nature's arrangement

 Soon, we were climbing & I do mean climbing!  Once we were in over four-miles - we had to make the decision whether to turn back, or continue on & plan to get out before dark.  It's as treacherous as it is beautiful & anyone would be a fool to think otherwise.  Of course the unanimous decision was to continue on!

Blooms!

The trail was deceptive, first a good climb up, then back down through a gully & again back up even higher!  The last - almost two-miles were straight up!  Switchbacks, over boulders, around boulders & between them.  Both of us thankful for breast collars & tight girths!  Toward the top - we were pretty sure there would be a territorial view & we were NOT disappointed.

Farah surveys the world from the top~

With Freebie in the lead, the mares had to scramble cat like to get up the final push & over slip-rock to the top!  Both were covered in sweat!  It truly was a "Rim of the World" view!  Sadly - now, we were pushing the limits of how much daylight there was remaining.

Boulder fields~

What goes up...  We were now going down, down, down...  slipping, sliding & we even found an area with beautiful tall grasses growing & one tiny spot of moist soil.  No stopping for photos though - we pressed on.

Toad Rock

Well, maybe a couple more stops :-)  I couldn't resist "Toad Rock" as we named him.

Tombstone Rock

Then, here was this beautiful stone, with the flowering shrub growing right in front as though planted.

Far end of town up ahead~

The trail used to connect to this end of town & it would have been very nice to have gone that way...  But we think that landowners in the area decided that they didn't want riders going past - so it's all be fenced off with barbed wire.  The trail stops at the wire, so we had to turn & follow it back to the trail that we'd come in on.  Freebie was setting a great pace considering the trail, rocks etc. & we were flying along - with Farah throwing in a buck here & there to voice her displeasure at being in the rear.  She has yet to figure out that pitching a fit over it does nothing to contribute to forward motion!

Sunset

We rode back into camp just after 6 p.m. with enough time to wash the mares down & blanket them.  The sunset & was glorious as they were most every evening while we were there.  Then - there were the incredible sunrises - that I usually saw from the warmth of my sleeping bag & Patty enjoyed when out walking her dogs :-)  Perfect end to a spectacular day in the high desert!

Hazy Evening Ride~

Evening haze

The day had been Hot - hitting 90, well above normal for the area.  We'd hiked into the National Park in the morning, then found a great bar for lunch out - that included drinks!  After doing some shopping, it was time to saddle-up.  This late afternoon into evening ride had a different feel...

Baby Joshua tree growing from the burned roots & blooming!  It takes years for them to reach this size

We rode north, then turned west - toward the trails that we had yet to explore. The haze burned off, the evening brightened & again we were impressed with how beautiful this area is!

Looking back at town~

The size of the sky :-)  The clear air & elevation all lend itself to that feeling of wilderness that I've always craved & enjoy so much when I find it...

Rock Formations

 Again we were in an area of amazing rock formations - especially beautiful with the setting sun lighting up the reds in the granite.  It was hard to turn back - so tempting to continue on.

The fence...

We found a trail that used to go back toward town & we could have looped - but there was a barbed wire fence blocking it off.  We had to follow it back & find the the trail that we'd come in on.  All that took time & the sun had set by then.  Back again just as dark fell - it was still a warm & wonderful evening to eat a late dinner & sit out to enjoy the stars!

Into the Rocks!

There's slim pickin's!

The temperatures exceeded the forecast highs...  Mid-70's sounded perfect on that long-range forecast, in actuality - it was getting near 90.  Not good for me - a whimp in the heat.  So - we waited until later in the day to saddle-up.

Joshua Trees dot the landscape

 Leaving from the south end of town, it looked pretty barren.  Within a couple miles though - we found that not to be the case!

Flowers among the Granite!

Again - our mouths were open at the brilliance of the bright blue flowers among the granite rocks.

Granite Formations Abound

 It seems the perfect time of the day to be out~

Blaze orange among the boulders

We were climbing, the trail was rocky in places, the decomposed granite sand wearing the horses hooves smooth & beautiful.

We suddenly saw a formation that looked like an alien head! 

Into the wind~

 A man & woman staring off into the distance!  The wind had picked up & it seemed we were on another planet!

Into a Joshua Tree Valley

 Soon, the trail was winding back towards the far end of Pioneertown~

Coming into town~

Riding into the almost deserted town at sunset was the ultimate experience!  We could have easily been over 100-years back in time!  Patty & I were in absolute heaven - if heaven can be found on horseback.  I'm sure we do come as close as any horseman of this generation can come!  One of the many times this trip, where we've looked at each other in disbelief in our incredible good fortune.  Being able to enjoy this amazing high desert - is a real treat!