Les Hilde / Harry Osborn State Forest - Day Two~

Ready to leave!

We woke on Saturday morning to another sunshine day!  Only a couple trailers had come then gone since we'd been here.  There was some traffic going into Cowboy Campsites - a few heading out, but not much.  We decided to go that way & see if anyone we knew was there.

Start of the trail~

It was a little cooler this morning with a few clouds, but nothing that looked like the rain that had been forecast.  Both horses were ears forward & ready to be on our way!  We walked around the CC area - most of the RV's are now gone for the season.  It was a quiet morning - no one was around.

Mt. Josephine

With the mountain looming overhead, we both would have liked to go up there - but with gunfire coming from the quarry & having heard a scary story from another rider about bullets whizzing between his chin & his horses neck...  we decided no way.  I wished I had more orange, Butch brought vests - I hope Farah will have her new bright orange rump rug soon!

Cranberry Lake

A very nice lady had come by our camp last evening & asked if we were planning a ride to the Brewery?  Yes we were, hopeful that our mutual friends would come up on Sunday & guide us.  Neither of us could remember the route.  The lady told us to go to Cranberry Lake, then take all right turns - except one left etc.  We did - we tried - but soon knew we were circling back toward camp.

Devoid of leaves, but beautiful!

Since we knew that finding the Brewery route on our own was a no go, we started off exploring again.  Finding some beautiful, if overgrown trail.  The farther we rode from camp, we found that the trails were less used of course & more in need of some brush whacking.

Count & Farah

Farah was being very nice to Count & he appreciated it :-)  She decided that he is a friend & enjoyed his faster pace on fresh trails!  At least until he hit his turbo trot & she had to gallop to catch up!  :-)  It was so nice to see clear, fresh water running in the streams we crossed.

Big Leaf Maple leaf - floats downstream~

So beautiful, especially with all the golds, rusts & yellows.  More rust this season, less color, but still - colorful!  The incredible smell of the air was intoxicating!  I remembered a particular trail, asked Linda about it - & yes we were in the vicinity.  Things had changed, a road had replaced a trail & at the top of the climb was a new cell tower.

Linda & Count

It was amazing at how a clear-cut hillside years ago, is now growing with trees already over ten-feet tall.  We stopped for a lunch break on a grassy trail, where Count & Farah did some mowing.

Skagit Valley

The late afternoon sky was hazy, gray high clouds moving in.  Notice that the weather was going to change.  We turned onto a wooded trail that was so pretty in the gray light.

Between Farah's ears~

This one went on quite a way, with some nice areas for trotting.

Signage~

When we came to this intersection, again it was so hard not to turn & head up to the lakes!  But, it was getting later in the day again.  Soon, we came to a sharp corner & looked down a very steep drop off.  The soil on this side is more sandy rather than slippery, both horses were ready for the drop.

Linda & Count about 1/2 way down

I asked Linda to stop here to get her photo, but it doesn't do the drop justice :-)  Farah loved it - I did too, she's as good on these downhill slides as she is going up the steep climbs.

The steep trail~

Once we'd gone down to the creek - crossed & climbed back to the top - we found this sign!  Being  challenged when it comes to direction - I had no idea how far we were from camp.  It came as a surprise when we came out of the forest right to the side of someone's camp - just across the road from the Cowboy Campsite location!

A beautiful loop around camp!

It was warm enough & still early enough that I put on my crocks & took Farah down to the creek.  She actually stood still & enjoyed having all that salty sweat washed away.  Back at camp, we toweled her off & once dry, put her waterproof sheet on.  Good thing - as while we were sitting around the fire after dinner, the rain started.  Light drizzle at first, it eventually drove us into our respective campers for the remainder of the evening.

I mentioned to Butch that I loved the sound of the rain on the roof & he said that I must finally be a true north-westerner :-)

Les Hilde / Harry Osborn State Forest - Day One~

We head out on a simply beautiful afternoon~

We were pretty excited!  Linda was ready for a shakedown trip with her new Arctic Fox camper!  We'd planned a three-day weekend of riding at the Les Hilde Trailhead.  It had been over a year since my last visit & many more since either of us had ridden this area on any kind of regular basis.  Butch had a busy week & was happy to have an excuse to get away.  With the opening of rifle hunting season on the same day - we were warned to stay on the lower trails & not venture too high on the mountain.  It was a Very Warm afternoon, more like summertime than Fall! 

Along the trail~

Linda used to know all these trails well, so she was our leader as we set out to see what of the trails we remembered were still there.  In 1995 I'd ridden my third fifty-mile ride here on Jasrada.  The Bully Wully is still remembered by those of us who've ridden it - as one of the toughest ever.  In the early years before the GPS, with the first ride manager, the course was thought to be short.  In 1998, with Dory as the RM, she made certain that 50-miles was indeed 50-miles & the complaints abounded - that it was too tough to do within the time limit.  Karma & I had made a couple errors in our ride plan & ended up hardly making it back in time for completion!  It was crazy tough that year!

Lots of leaves down!

We found our way from trail to trail - one of the prettiest Fern Gully.

Linda & Count

Count was in the lead, really moving out in his fast trot when I saw something!  I'd done some research on mushrooms & fungi a couple years ago, after finding a beautiful specimen on Whidbey Is.  I recognized this one, called out to Linda & pulled Farah up!

Sparassis Mushroom!

We both dismounted on the narrow trail & I had to get photos!  Neither of us had any bag with us & I'm usually all about leaving the wild untouched as possible - I took my photos & we continued on our way.

Out to a road~

Soon, we were quite a way far to the south of camp.  It was getting later in the afternoon & sunset is coming earlier!  Linda thought we could find old trails on the far side of the Crown Pacific Mainline, so we tried.  We did a stunning loop - ending up back where we'd started :-)   We tried again, the trail Linda remembered being here - was lost in a clear-cut.  We did some road work, then found the next trail - again looping around, but not getting much further toward camp.  Back to the road again & finally back on trails!

Back to camp!

Butch was waiting for us, hoping to see us before sunset :-)  It was getting chilly & both horses were covered in sweat.  The most sweat I've had on Farah since Mt. Adams.  These trails are technical, lots of up/down & up again.  We'd covered over 12-miles in just over 3.5 hours & climbed 1,450 feet.
The Stonewall saddle performed perfectly on both the steep assents where I had to grab mane & the downhill slides to the creek beds.

Our route~

We had a super time!  Both horses enjoyed seeing new trails so much!  We had dinner, then sat out with a fire burning & admired the stars on a perfectly clear night!

Mares - Friends?

Colorful Bracken Ferns at the Bracken Tree Farm

Another simply gorgeous day!  A very cold morning - became a very warm afternoon.  I was just walking Farah down from the barn when the phone rang.  Justin at the gate!  I had totally spaced our farrier appointment!  I was meeting Dena at Bracken Rd. & I knew she had to be on her way!  I called - she was just past Lake Stevens on Hwy 9.  I ran to the gate, let Justin in - then gave Dena directions to get to the Homestead.  I had caught her just in time for her to make the turn!  Thankfully - she had the day off & plenty of time to wait & watch as Justin did Farah's new shoes!

Bella & Farah

Soon, we were at the parking - saddled & on the trail.  Dena hadn't been to Harvey Creek, so we went that way & the mares got a drink & touched noses.  Ever since Bella had kicked Farah at the beach a couple years ago, we keep them somewhat apart.

Maples in yellow~

We meandered through the woods, enjoying the day, the colors & catching up on all that we'd both been doing.  It had been almost a year since we'd seen each other.  I'd missed the turn to the trail going to the river, so turned back.  When I did & started past Dena & Bella - in a split second - Farah kicked out at Bella!  She connected with Bella's shoulder!  It was a relief that Bella didn't a have mark, but I instantly unloaded with my stick & hit Farah as hard as I could three times!  At the third hit - she was ready to buck me off, I'd made my point.

Dena & Bella

Both of us were amazed - Bella had done nothing & Farah had caught everyone totally off-guard.  So very reminiscent of when Bella had kicked Farah for no reason that any human would understand.  It's hard to believe that Farah would have held her grudge & waited all this time to get back at her x-friend - but it's interesting to contemplate.  We continued on our ride - over Tin Bridge where we stopped for a short break.  We tied them a good distance from each other & neither bothered the other.  Bella got an apple, Farah got her carrots & all was good in the horsey world!

Taking the Bit~

Fog at home, but promise of afternoon sunshine motivated me - as if I need the motivation on these brisk Fall days!  Farah was more than ready too - I unsnap the lead & she loads herself.  I wanted a faster paced ride, we were the only rig at the trail-head.

Rays of sunshine~

The sun broke through just as we were parking, last of the fog burning off.  Before the first mile was behind us, Farah moved into her nice trot & I was busy admiring the sun, the leaves & the day.  Making the climb up to the Monument - all the little trees on the hillside were sparkling with the last of the dew on their branches, growing fast!

Trail to the top~

Once we came off the trail & made the turn onto the road - Farah passed her usual drink at the water puddle.  Before I realized that we weren't stopping - she took the bit, gave a little buck & took off at a gallop!  This was earlier on the hill than where we have made these runs before.  She wasn't slowing down - the speed went up - with one air-above-the-ground - sideways over a sunspot on a fern.  She used that momentum to gain more speed & I was asking sternly for a slow down just prior to the upcoming intersection.  Happily - she complied & we pulled up for me to get a photo of Mt. Washington under a cap of clouds.

Mt. Washington

 A couple deep breaths & we turned to go to our lunch spot - I'm sure part of the motivation for the run :-)  It's made me So happy to see, feel & know that finally, finally we have a saddle that works for us both!  For her to offer these runs, with a free spirit - tells me more than any sweat pattern could!

Stunning views off the west side~

The sun felt that perfect warm, not the hot of Summer.  It was really a quiet day too, only the small wrens flirting from bush to bush~

Enjoying the green grass~

We had a meeting this evening, so I decided to go down the hill to do a short loop at the bottom before heading back up.  There were mushrooms sprouting through the moist forest soil in many places. Strangely, many had been broken & broken off -  certainly looking intentional - either by humans, dogs or other animals.

Fresh shrooms~

I was happy to see this one intact & so pretty!

Lower woods~

It was quite here too, we turned on one trail, followed it a way - until another turned back the way we needed to go.  Again, at the bottom of the hill - a certain gold mare took off at a trot - leaped into a gallop & we flew back to the top, with me yelling "yippee"!  Which she Loves!  :-)

With the growing hair coat, it took me a while to get her brushed out once we were home.  Too late in the day for a bath.   Love these October rides~

Goose Rock Summit ~

Deceptive signage :-)

Starting off on Sat., it was blustery - but not out & out raining!  Good enough that we were not about to postpone the hike we had in mind!  We'd hiked the Goose Rock perimeter trail, but never the trail that goes up to the summit & highest point on Whidbey Island.

Butch & Nika on the trail~

This view almost looks like spring - with the light green of the under-story trees.  It was warm, warm enough that we decided not to take rain gear.  If we were going to climb, we wanted to stay cool.

Disgusting~

 As we came around a corner, just before the summit trail breaks off from the perimeter trail - this graffiti was hard to miss.  I hope the Rangers get time to remove it - just disgusting what people do to promote there personal agendas...

Starting up~

When this trail is described as steep - they're not kidding :-)  Nika lead the way, next Butch, then Rascal & finally me.

Rhododendrons everywhere~

I was amazed at all the Rhododendrons!  We'll have to come back in the spring/summer when they're in bloom!

Madrona

The Madrona trees are amazing!  Their branches twisted almost like corkscrews & sticking out over the hillside.

Rock!

By the time we'd reached the beginning of the rock outcroppings, the wind had picked up & the rain was coming down hard.  We were both soaked in minutes!  Both our dogs thought we were crazy by now - giving us the look :-)

This Madrona - now endangered...  This is one of the most beautiful I've seen~

We were nearing the summit - we could tell, because the sky was getting lighter - if stormier!

Nice signage~

Seeing this sign, we knew we were close to our goal~

View from the Summit~

What the guide book doesn't mention, is that a lot of the view is degraded by power lines that run across the area of the biggest bald rock.  Regardless - it's breathtaking - especially in stormy weather!

Bald Rock!

The trail got a little slippery, but soon we were back into the forest & out of the worst of the rain.  We only saw one other hiker & he too looked as soaked as we were :-)

Uprooted Douglas Fir

This huge Douglas Fir was uprooted along the side of the trail, no wonder - since it was growing over solid rock!  No soil to speak of at all - so amazing that a tree of that size would have even had enough soil to get started here.

Under the Deception Pass Bridge

The trail brings you to the bridge.  Up on top is the popular parking area from which hikers can access these trails easily - in other words - without hiking the way we'd come :-)

Fishermen on North Beach

From up on top, we could see that the beach was a busy place.  I wanted to go on down to get the view of the bridge from the shore.

From North Beach

No one was catching anything :-)  Everyone was trying hard though :-)

Rascal wants a wind break :-)  Nika is embarrassed :-)

By now, there were a few sun-breaks & the rain had stopped!  We started to dry out a little, thankfully my hoodie had dried enough that I put it back on to start the hike back!

Hum...  back up this way!

Looking at the climb back up to the top - I was thinking that Farah would have done it much quicker & with less effort on my part!

We decide to take the Discovery Trail back~

We've been on this trail a couple times before, there's a big climb up to the top - then it's all downhill back to camp.

Perfect little shroom~

This beautiful little mushroom caught my eye.  We soon saw the sign for another trail that we'd by-passed on our other visits here & decided to take it.

Lower Forest Trail~

This is a much less heavily used trail & it's beautiful!

Douglas Fir & Huckleberries

It didn't seem to take us long at all to get back to the perimeter trail & head back to camp.  The rain started again & we just got back without a second soaking!

Rascal

The dogs were happy to be back in time for dinner!  We were lucky & sat out to enjoy a beer & smoked oysters from Seabolts.  The rain came back, we retreated to the camper - then as if by clockwork, it stopped & Butch had time to grill our steaks!  I'd baked organic russet potatoes to go with & we enjoyed every bite! 

Our hike~ Just over 4-mi. round trip~

It rained while we were eating, the wind never stopped blowing - but we did get enough of a break between systems for another fire & even saw the stars from time to time.  Listening to the wind through the big trees is always so grand!

Post Script~  Today, Monday, a melancholy day for me - three-years since my Dad's passing...  Still not a day goes by that I don't miss him...