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!

Summer Shadows~

Linda & Count

We were more than ready to get in a ride together - two weeks had gone by quick!  Neither of us were in a very good mood - neither of us really could put a finger on why, both tired of the heat of Summer & happy that today was cooler.  Both also looking forward to Fall!

Farah is in season again & was at the ride.  Her lack of motivation was apparent today - when she was willing to stop on the trail in the hope that Count would give her attention!  :-)  He was happy that she wasn't her usual self :-)  Even lazy - he led us on some nice fast trots through the twisty trails.

Taking a call~

 Every time we're out & Linda takes a call - it still seems strange that we can & do :-)  All the years we rode without the interruption & never missed it a bit!  It was quiet today - only a couple trailers in the parking lot when we arrived.  We did see Patty & Kendall coming in & I made introductions.  Fun to see them!  Otherwise, only one other local rider on the trails & two bike riders all the way from Federal Way - visiting friends who live at Lake McMurrary.

Always beautiful on top~

We rode a different route today - I showed Linda the newest obstacles that the bike riders have installed on "their" trail.  They have the time to construct rock & wood jumps - but no time to do any trail clearing.

The start of Linda's latest 4.5 hours of trail clearing~

On the other hand - Linda has been weed-whacking more & more trail!  Now I feel like a slouch!  All this was cleared Tue. & by today it was bone dry & we could have bailed it!  Huge difference!  Taking those thistles down sure makes it nicer to ride through!

This section too got done!

Our horses were disappointed - no more grabbing mouthful's at every step!  Even uninspired, we managed to get in some miles, but were ready for a ice cold Coke by late afternoon when we got back to Linda's.  Nice to ride on a day that didn't make it above 80.  

Butch & I will be at the Festival of the River on Sat. morning, to help out at the booth for the Centennial Trail!  We'll have t-shirts for sale & brochures full of trail info.  A great place to promote  the trail that is such an asset to the entire area.  Darrington will be having their annual Summer Melt-Down Festival too - that started today.  So if you're close enough - come on up - support the communities that were so devastated by the March mudslide & enjoy a weekend of fun!

Clear Trail!

Clear Trail!

When I arrived at Linda's this morning - I knew she'd been up to something!  :-)  She had that look on her face!  Once we were up on the trails & I asked my usual question;  "Which way?" I found out that someone had been clearing some more trail!  So - of course I wanted to check it out to be sure that someone wasn't telling tales!  Well...  it was the truth & an interesting truth it is.  It took Linda 1-1/2 hours to clear a quarter of a mile of trail & at a walk - we covered it in 4 min.!  Another section - of 3/10th's of a mile - took us 6 min. to walk & another hour + to clear!  So - it's a labor & time intensive proposition to clear trail in Western, WA!  The reason that the endurance rides that have been held here in the past - are no more!

Another cleared trail!

The trail above heads down to the parking area & porta potty.  It was so heavily overgrown that it was almost impossible to get through at all - not any more!  Thanks to Linda!  Today we did some scouting & checked trails that haven't been used in forever - you have to actually know they are there to even find them!

Linda moving tree tops~

Since I'm still supposed to be in "recovery" mode...  I held the horses while Linda broke us through.  A really beautiful trail that I'd completely forgotten about called the View Trail - from the days when there was actually a great view. 

Clouds in the morning~

Lest you think we didn't have any fun at all - we did go check out the views & had lunch at the monument.  The day started so cool that we took jackets, but once the sun burned through - it turned hot in a hurry.  No need for jackets!

Count brought his snack with him!

Count wanted everyone to know that he too, does his share of trail clearing!  When we dropped off the hill onto the paving, I heard Linda say something & turned to get this photo :-)  Really great day of riding!

Pick a Trail! Any Trail!

  I was up early to get all my stuff in the car & get up to Linda's by 9.  We'd hoped for the same cloud cover & cool that we'd enjoyed on our ride yesterday - but no - blazing sunshine!  It wasn't going to deter us!  The Olympics were just outrageously beautiful when I pulled into Linda's.  Our equipment was loaded, water & snacks.

The "Before"

We had Many, Many trails to pick from - but decided on two that were part of the larger loop that we sometimes do & others do fairly often.  This was verified when two riders wanted past while we were working!  With ear plugs in - they had to do some yelling to get our attention!  Linda was determined to break in her brand new weed whacker!  With the two that belong to the PRA in the shop & both of ours out of commission - I took my pruners!  I've been known to do a Lot of Damage with pruners!

Ripe native blackberry!

Following along behind - gave me the opportunity to find the fruit & partake!

On our way down -

Overgrown is the mildest word I can use to describe this trail.  It was so totally overgrown that Linda started down working just one side.  I started taking branches off the trees.  When I do - I take them right to the trunk & all the way to the ground.  It was tough & we were totally soaked with sweat within the first few minutes.

Linda heads back up to get the other side of the trail~

Once into the trees, we turned back up the hill to knock down the other side. 

The "after" shot!

Another - showing my work on the trees~

Once we were back up at the top, where we'd left the truck.  We re-evaluated our decision & decided that since were were already filthy dirty, sweaty & miserable - that we'd might as well go over to the other area that we'd really hoped to do.

Now we were out in the full sun & it was even warmer~

Again - I brought up the rear, tossing, cutting & taking down whatever Linda missed.  Moving debris off the trail & knocking back the branches on the new trees that were too close to the trail.

"Black Caps"

 I found more berries too!  I thought they were a raspberry - Linda said as kids they called them Black Caps.  They are one of the sweetest berries I've ever picked!

Here's where we finally quit - at the "Y" - but it works as a "before" for this trail~

We were both amazed at how long the weed whacker ran on a tank of gas!  Almost longer than we did!  In the old days - we'd clear all morning - then ride all afternoon.  Things have changed!  We were more than happy to crawl into the truck & turn on the air conditioning!  We'd worked for almost four-hours.

Me on the trail - "after"!

Discussing the trails, the users & the little amount of work that gets done - we both were thinking that if anyone wanted to pick a day & contact Linda - she would be happy to take them out to a trail that needs work.  It's amazing what two people can accomplish!  But we also discussed that so many Endurance riders just pound the logging roads & hardly even venture onto the trails - so I guess that relieves them from trail-clearing responsibility?  Not really..  So - if you're interested, pick a trail, pick a day & come help!

Free Ride!

Whitehorse Mountain & Three Fingers

 Jury duty had finally caught up to me!  Today I was to appear in Arlington & of course it was to be the last day without rain for the next several...  I was not happy to be leaving home without the horse trailer on the back!  I arrived on time, I sat in a rock hard chair for about an hour & then - I was dismissed!   Lynn & I had planned to ride - at least until I remembered that I had to report -  so I called her first thing.  She'd already made other riding plans & I wasn't invited.  No problem - I'd played with the idea of going up to Victoria to give Farah an opportunity to do some moving out!

Haze moving in~

 I think Farah had the same idea - we hit the trails at a trot & trotted all the way up to the Monument.  We took a short break, Farah looked up from her grazing more than once - out the way Linda usually climbs up, but I didn't see or hear anyone.

Still to be identified!

These tiny beautiful pink flowers were opening up along the sides of the trail - I've looked but have yet to identify it.  The leaves are so similar to the Bleeding Hearts - but not the blooms.

The Trillium's are almost past their prime & turning pink~

It's amazing that the amount of times the area has been logged - that there are still spots of hardy natives that have survived & are thriving.  I was almost down to the lower end when my phone rang & it was Linda!  Yes - she was riding - had seen my rig - but was on the far side of the mountain.

Coyote Ridge Trail

Now that the trails are open, I was following the one above & ended up coming out in an area that Linda & I had ridden in a couple years ago - planted with Western Red Cedar - which we don't see often.  Since I couldn't remember how we got back - I decided to turn back & finish our loop.

Where we turned back~

Farah was really cruising - we did a long gallop & trotted the entire way back up the big climb!  The bugs were out in force so when we did stop - it wasn't for long!  We didn't see a soul the entire afternoon & finished up over 18-miles in good time.  Farah was happy - I was happy.   I stopped by Linda's for a coke on our way home.

With her eighth birthday coming up this week - it's hard to believe that she's been with us for almost three-years now.  I'm starting to believe that eight is the magic year - since our girl seems to be enjoying her life on the Homestead & her work - always head up & eager to go!  She's tough, strong & has shown me more than one flash of brilliance.  Once home, she got a warm bath, I got soaked & now it's time for pizza & a movie!  Really great end to what's been a fun week of riding!

In Honor Of~

Looking up~

This morning I received news of the passing of good man...  He had the luck to be married to one of my longest & best friends...  She had the luck to have picked one of those men who's presence is felt & will continue to be felt - by all the trail users in the Arlington/Stanwood area, whether they realize it or not.  George Brown was instrumental in cutting many of the trails that have been enjoyed by horsemen for many, many years.  As an active member of BCH Traildusters - George ramrodded many a trail clearing adventure.  When his wife & I went riding & ran into issues, George was the one who heard about it when we returned :-)  The above trail was one of the last he cleared & it's a critical link to a large loop.

The Monument - one of George's favorite views~

In the early years - when Butch & I started Competitive Trail, Linda & George were the first people we met.  My favorite story - revolves around Khari.   When we purchased her - she wouldn't load in my trailer.  My friend & mentor Dean Essex, DVM - suggested that we raise the roof!  Literally!  So we did & she loaded forever more without any problem.  But - with the roof having gone up 8" - it left a nice wide area above the rear door.  Khari took full advantage & terrorized motorists who pulled up too close behind us!

We leave through the dark woods~

As I pulled in for a ride one day- George came out of his shop & saw what Khari was up to.  By the time we came back - he had welded a bar across the door, dividing the space in half - which no longer gave Khari room to stick her head out!  I loaded her & in an instant she realized not only that her fun was over - but she looked Right at George & let him know that SHE knew who'd done the deed!  :-)   We all had a good laugh at her expense!

Petasites palmatus - Palmate Coltsfoot

My ride today was subdued, but long, far & beautiful.  I'd been out-of-sync for a couple days & when I told my husband last evening - he said that they were talking about just that on the morning radio!  Guess I wasn't the only one!  Strange though & have to wonder if it's something in the air?

Incredible cedar snag on my long loop~

We kept moving - the only trailer in the parking when we left - by the time we returned, it was almost 5:30 p.m. -late for me...  Yes, I washed my smartphone & it wasn't feeling well enough to take with me...  So I didn't realize how quickly the afternoon had gone.

The natural beauty of nature~

We covered some ground - Farah enjoyed her gallops & I'm so thankful that Linda's saddle is working as well as it is - since the latest news on my tree wasn't what I hoped.  Randy had again run out of rawhide - so we're delayed another week...  Hopefully Everett will receive it by the end of next week.  Next will be shipping everything over to Mike.  Good thing - since I started this the first of Feb.!

Farah meets her Sire!

Farah & Ody Meet

With many thanks to Sandy for making the Very Long & traffic filled drive to make this meeting happen!  We were planning for a Sunny day & I was filled with trepidation as the morning dawned yet another with heavy fog.  I'd picked Victoria for the ride - hoping to show off our "views" from the Monument.  The thought of that long drive, then riding in fog...  So I called Butch at his job site in Ballard - the weather word - "fog".  Ugh...  Then I called Linda's - spoke to George - Good News!  Clearing!  Relief!

Sandy called when they cleared Everett & I left home heading to Arlington.  We both arrived at our scheduled meet-up spot within minutes of each other!  Driving right on up to the glass school parking - I got the thrill of watching one gorgeous palomino unload!

Ody surveys his surroundings

Once he was tied to the trailer & while Sandy was busy - I heard noise & looked over to find someone lifting a front leg to paw!  Gee!  Where had I seen that before?  :-)  Then - there were the swirls - lots of swirls - all matching those of his daughter!

Odyessus

The most striking feature - very striking when we admired the two of them together -  the golden eyes!  Like Father, Like Daughter!  Such a deep, striking golden amber & beautiful.  We saddled up & headed out.  Sandy said she rides anywhere from a couple to five hours at a time & after that drive was more than ready to spend a day in the saddle!

Farah & Ody were both very mannerly around each other - Ody exudes a presence & Farah felt it.  Once on the trail though - she was Very Intimidated & heaven forbid if Sandy even considered putting Ody's nose in front of us!  In rare form, she was bucking, tossing her head, threatening him - etc.  All of which he totally Ignored!  :-)

I will Never Again laugh when someone stops me & asks the way to the Monument!  Why you ask?  Because it happened to ME!  :-)  I honestly thought that there was no way I could get lost on those trails - but after taking some turns while we were busy talking - I did!  Linda to the rescue - but I even had her stumped!  No worries - such a beautiful day & all day to ride there was really no wrong way!  Finally - after doing a long, technical trail we came up on a clearing that I didn't recognize.

Unknown clear-cut

I didn't see a trail around it, or though it - but the road - headed the direction I wanted.  It wasn't familiar either?  It was narrow, had a little fresh gravel - but?  Next - we passed a beautiful little cabin!  Now - I knew where we were...  At the Glass School!

Soon, we ran into a couple nice guys.  I apologized & asked for...  yes - that Very Embarrassing Question...  The "way"?  They laughed & guided us to the pond, then explained what gates to use to get out to the trails.  It had been Years since the days we used to occasionally ride through & things had changed!  What a beautiful place - cabins that blend into the landscape, with small neon "address" signs at the doors of each.   Though unplanned - it was a really fun tour!

Art in the Woods~

Going along the road & seeing the view above in the trees was eerily cool!  This got me thinking about something similar I might try in ours!  But finally - finally - we went through a gate & walla!  I KNEW where I was!  :-) 

Ody & Sandy

Though not as clear as it could have been, it was certainly a better view than some I've had up there!  Ody was a little unsure about the Monument - but otherwise was so at home on the trail!  One of those horses who actually looks for a trail & is always ready to take it!   A spectacular mover - gee - where did Farah get that? 

Ody & Sandy admire the views

It was late afternoon by the time we started back to the trailers, not really wanting the day to end.  Farah & Ody by now were getting along well, they'd grazed together at the monument - with absolutely no problems at all.  When we got back, I grazed both of them side by side.

 As little as I sometimes like Facebook - it's ability to network people together who otherwise would have probably never found each other, is yet another reason to maintain an account.
Sandy messaged me when she made it home, almost a 300-mile round trip!  Next time will be our turn to make the drive & see the Green Mountain trails!  I made a wonderful new friend & Farah really seemed to enjoy meeting Ody...   I do think that both of them knew there was a connection?

Riding the Scott Main Line

My ride today on the left, Centennial Trail on the right~

No one could ride with us again today, so I headed up to the Victoria Tract & decided to go somewhere different.  I wanted to see if I could find the way to what's called the old "Scott Main Line".  Why it has that name I don't know, but once I found it - I wanted to finally go see where it ended.

First we had to go north to go downhill again~

It's almost all the way to the bottom of the mountain.  We headed down, then took the roadway to another down.  At that point, we could finally turn south - where the trail runs pretty much parallel with highway 9.

Lots of leaves falling!

 We found at least four different roads/trails that headed up hill - where I don't know, but a place to do some exploring this Winter when the trails are closed.

Beautiful Wetland on the way~

It was very quiet down here, just the rustle of the falling leaves & smell of Fall!  We continued on & on & on, till we came to a huge clear-cut.

Looking back at the Mountain~

Way off in the back you can just see the rise of the mountain where the Monument & great views reside.

This is where the photo above was taken~

We'd come from the far left, turned up here to take the photo, so I decided to take the smaller trail/road that went straight ahead from here.  That went a long way too.

More clear-cuts

Finally, about when I thought we'd need to turn back, the road turned & headed back the direction we'd come!  I actually thought we might find a loop!  It was disappointing to find that the road/trail we'd been following was reduced to what was a road at sometime, but hadn't been used for a very long time.  Totally overgrown & swampy from the last couple rain storms too.

End of the Road

I called Linda, to tell her where I thought I was & see if she had any ideas of how to proceed?  She just reminded me that it would be easier to find me before dark!  That got me to thinking that the day was actually almost over & it was more than time to turn back!  Farah settled into her traveling trot & we made good time.

We were galloping up our "running hill" when I felt Farah hesitate & in the next second saw three bikes coming down the hill - a t us - FAST - taking up the entire road!  Farah made an evasive maneuver sideways into the Salmonberry bushes as they flew by - with a "sorry" over their shoulders!  Next meeting of the PRA, you can bet I'll be there to talk to the guys who represent the bike riders.  I'm thinking that the "rules of the road" should apply here too?  Like staying to the right?  Just in case someone might be coming from the other direction?!

We were back at the trailer as the sun was setting, having covered just over 17-miles.  Really a beautiful ride~