Takin' Each Day~

Another glorious day, ten degrees cooler would have been perfect.  It seems these last few years, the flowers bloom,  things get so beautiful - then we get a streak of heat that burns all the delicate blooms. :-(   83 in Arlington as I was heading up to Linda's just about noon - another record breaker.

Heading up Linda's access trail~

Farah's spring season seems never-ending - she was pretty low key & miserable.  It was wonderful - for me anyway!  No spooking, a nice subdued mare - except when Khody gave her an uninvited touch!  Not!

Lower trail~

Linda has an upcoming trail-clearing, the trails are very dry - we took one to see what work will need to be done.  It's amazing to see how fast the little trees have grown!  Grass taking over where thistle & weeds were.  Before too many more years - this trail will be shaded!

Linda & Khody

Khody's beautiful buckskin color is just as pretty when he darkens with sweat.  We did a steep climb & he only stopped once for a break.   Farah wanted to do her usual leaps up - but agreed to take it easier & put out the extra effort to step up the trail.

NW from the Monument

There was a light heat haze in the air today, the bugs are horrible - out in force.  We had to stop to spray ourselves down & it hardly helped.  Once up on top though - there was a nice breeze that we really enjoyed.

Starry False Solomon's Seal

The tiny white flowers & showy leaves make this plant a nice native for your home garden.  Best grown in rich, loose, humusy, consistently moist but well-drained soils in part shade. Preferring our climate with moderate summer temperatures, it spreads by creeping rhizomes to form colonies - as you see above.

Linda & Khody

Khody has a super nice walk!  He lead most of the way back & even gave Farah nasty sideways looks when she came along side!  I told her that it's called payback :-)  We had a good ride, I took my electrolyte tablets & drank my water.  Once back to Linda's - a V8 hit the spot!

Our route~

Farah came back as calmly as she'd gone out - just a peach the whole way.  The kind of ride that I can't help but sit back & enjoy when I get it!  On our way home, it was 82 in Arlington - hopefully cooler for tomorrow.

Sky High~

2802' - Above it all~

A long time coming - how I'd missed being up here~  Our route to Stimson Hill goes up Mt. Washington.  With the heavy logging & truck traffic, it's been impossible to get even close during the week.  It's fun to have a partner for this ride - since it's long & difficult.

Charlotte had the time - so we made a plan to meet at the MHC & just see how far we could get.  It was a hazy, cool morning & as usual we were the  only ones there.  It was super to see Fancy again!  The mares recognized each other & Farah was So happy to have Fancy as her companion for the day!

The End of the Trail!

We took the usual forested trail out, the one that has always gone past the quarry & still did my last visit here in February.  Before we'd even reached the spot where the trail turned to go by - the trail disappeared.

Clear-cut & Mt. Washington

 Slash from the logging everywhere & deep in spots.  No sign of where the trail had been.

New View of the Quarry

We did some hunting - I got off & looked for a way around - we came out to a newly made & rocked road.   Now, I knew we would be able to get out.  The way around the end of the gate on the power line - is now treacherous, narrower than ever & getting soft - with a nasty drop off the edge if a hoof were to miss the footing :-(  Past that!

On our Way!

Gunfire alerted us to a group firing off high powered rifles - luckily at a shot block - which put the four of us on edge.  Both mares just dug in - attacking the first levels of the climb with minimal effort.

Mt. Rainier on the Skyline~

We couldn't have picked a more perfect day, moderate temperature, light breeze & at least the haze wasn't so thick that we couldn't see Mt. Rainier.

Charlotte & Fancy - from Mt. Washington

We took a short break after the first long, hard pull~

Connie & Farah, Mt. Pilchuck to the left~

I'd told Charlotte that I could find my way over to Stimson & that was our goal, which put a lot more climbing ahead of us...

View south from Barbara's Bench~

Before long we reached just over 2,000 ft. at Barbara's Bench.  We both had to climb up & get photos!

Toward the North with Victoria in the distance~

It's such a unique feeling - to be able to see over to where I ride so often & admire it's rise above the surrounding country.  From this viewpoint - 500 ft. higher than the highest point there.  We were still going, up & up.  Soon coming to an intersection that gave us a choice of up or down.

From Stimson Hill - Whitehorse~

At ten-miles, we decided to go on another mile - then if there were no views, turn back.  About half-way up this hard pull, here came two hikers with walking sticks.  They stopped, raised the sticks over their heads - Farah instantly 180'ed :-)  They explained that they'd hiked in off Cedarvale Loop.  We went for the views!  I did this ride for the first time New Years Eve of 2013, but we'd taken a lower fork.

The Whitehorse Trail from 2802 ft.

 What a thrill to recognize the Whitehorse Trail, my Green Valley & Cloverdale Farm below us!  The line of trees in the upper third, of the right side of the photo above, is the trail.   We stopped just short of the break-spot where Joyce & I had rested another time (post) we went exploring this far - right at the apex of the climb. 

Victoria's peak~

Heading back, we were on foot, talking away - when I realized that we'd taken a wrong turn!  Joyce & I had gone that way in 2013, exploring the lower road, but it wouldn't get us back to the MHC.  Luckily, I caught my mistake before we'd gone too far out of our way.  I programed my Garmin to take us back to start - & it did a fine job of telling us when a turn was coming up.  Once back, it read;  Returned to start :-)

Our route~

It was, as it always is - an impressive ride.   Twenty-two miles, total elevation gain of 4,131 ft. & high point at 2,802.  Moving time;  5hrs. 40 min.  Total time 6 hrs. 40 min.  Average moving speed 3.9 mph.  Both mares impressed us as much as the ride.  Farah learned so much from going out with an experienced, professional, exceptional mare.  I wish we had the opportunity more often.  She was so good all day, until on the way back, when she shied twice - while we were doing a good trot.  I should have turned her back etc., but by then - it was almost 6 p.m. & we all had dinner waiting!

Gray Card Gray Day~

Light drizzle - not the sunshine that I'd hoped for.  The day was so close to gray card gray that I had to title it as such :-)  After a busy week, today was my day to ride!  

A slight sun break~

At Victoria, we have our training loop down now & it's fun to try to match or beat our own time.  I wasn't too motivated - we were only a half-mile out when Farah started shying at a broken tree tops on the road.  I dismounted - picked one big piece up & shook it all over her, needles flying!  She finally just dropped her head & closed her eyes - submission for sure!

View from the top~

 From that time on, I had a really great ride!  This mare is far from stupid, she constantly pushes boundaries - but once she realizes that the line has been drawn - she will respect it.  At least until the next time :-)  Of course Spring - doesn't help - her mind distracted until she gets to work.

Lunch is a big motivator :-)

  Today - we matched our good time to the Monument from last week & she was still dry.  I was admiring the view - it was so chilly that I put my jacket back on.  Farah had again looked up a couple times & soon a hiker came walking out.  Nice guy, we made small talk before I decided to move on.

The Sound~

 It was a somewhat subdued day - besides a few jets flying over early on, we didn't see anyone else all afternoon.  In just the past week, it's amazing how all the natives are blooming at once!

Bitter Cherry blooms~

 I could smell the bitter cherry, before we rounded the corner & came up on it.  Just beautiful - too bad the fruit isn't edible.  In Fall, the leaves turn turn beautiful oranges & golds. 

Devils Club

 The Devils Club is coming to life!  Sprouting it's nasty spiked leaves!  We went all the way to the bottom of the hill again - finding another tree blow down across the trail.

New tree down~

 Coming back up - we had to slow our trot/gallop to squeeze under - but Farah picked her pace right back up on the far side.  She again matched her fastest speed - as I asked for the slow down - we ran out of road fast!  It's almost fun when she starts applying the breaks - checking herself down, the smoothest of any horse I've ever ridden. 

We have a trip coming up before long, it will be good to get away again & see some fresh country~

Trillium Time of Year~

I'm sure I'm in good company, when I say the Western Trillium is my favorite native plant of Spring!  The first time I found one I had no idea it was a Washington native.  Researching the plant is almost as interesting as finding one!  Almost impossible to cultivate, most of those sold in nurseries are collected in the wild.  A very unethical thing to do - since a huge percentage die after being disturbed.  Requiring seven to ten years to flower, they can live for thirty-years!  These are rare gems!

A large, fresh beauty~

 Ben & I found the above plant in April of 2011, just a short walk from his house outside Darrington.  Growing in very deep, lush organic soil - it remains one of the most beautiful I've ever seen.

A week later~

 Just a week later, we were again out walking & found the above plant - a triple :-)  Fragile should be included in their name...  The more I read about them, the more it amazes me they continue to exist.

Thank you Joyce~

 These two examples, were posted to Facebook by my friend Joyce.  I did a re-check on my facts & yes, I was right - they do darken with age. There are varieties that do bloom in pink, but they are very rare & are found in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

I've never seen one this dark.  Slugs & other ground bugs soon find them & start eating the pedals long before the bloom has faded.  Hard pounding rain takes it toll on the blooms too - as the season progresses.  The leaves will continue for a quite a while after the blooms are gone.  That's a very good thing, since it's those leaves & blooms that feed the bulb below.

They are very difficult o transplant. The bulb is very deep in the soil & the slightest disturbance is enough to damage it.  Please don't pick them either...   The bloom wilts almost in front of your eyes & without it's top - again - the bulb dies.

There are many good links on-line if you're interested enough to read up on these beauties.  It's the thrill of finding that first one in the Spring & trying to capture it's stunning beauty with a photo, I look forward to!    Below are some good links!
Washington Native Plant Society
The Wild Garden
Red Variety

Typical April Day~

Harvey Creek~

 The on-shore flow was in full effect today.  Waking to overcast & cool temperatures, I was tempted to ride the Centennial Trail, but instead went back to Bracken, with the thought of checking out the trails we'd cleared.  Only a few trailers in the parking lot, one that I now recognize.  I wasn't the only one who had the idea - I soon ran into Leigh & Marlene :-)

A cleared trail~

 It was great to come up on this trail - that had been totally overgrown, almost tree branch to tree branch when we started & now - those branches cut back to the trunks.  It's just such an amazing time of year - one of my favorites. 

Into the larger trees~

 I followed the weed-whacking that Linda & Leigh had done - eventually ending up on the power lines.  We headed north & checked out the hitching rails!  Farah took a second look :-)  "Gee - they were over there - on the ground!  I spooked at them!"

Hitching Rails

 The danger tape was still up - since the Rails can't be used until the concrete is well set.  Nice to see that all was OK.  Even on a day of moseying - our average speeds are still going up - a good thing.  Doing rides in the teens in 2+ hours has been my goal for this month.

Sprouting ground!

 Everywhere you look, plants are sprouting up!  I thought these looked so interesting.  It almost seemed strange to be riding on a gray, overcast day - after we've enjoyed so much sunshine.  The temperature was perfect as far as I'm concerned - maybe low 60's.

Farah ~

 Farah was super today - forward.  When we got to the stock water tank, she stopped in the woods about 100ft. away.  I urged her forward - she walked up & Took a drink!  I about fell from the saddle in shock!  :-)

Enjoying the lush, fresh grass~

 I wasn't so lucky on our way back, this time - she started to walk up to it, then whirled before I could check her.  She got the stick for it, I dismounted - turned on the water & again she drank! 

The cows have some cute calves :-)

 We stopped & watched the calves running around - so cute :-)  On our way back - again I took some different trails & wound my way around - finding areas that I am now adding to the map in my head.  I've mentioned before that I'm direction-ally challenged - but still can memorize a lot of trail!

Blooming Mahonia

Any time I'm asked about native plants for landscaping - this is one of the first I mention.  It's a beautiful ground cover, bright green shiny leaves, turning reds in the fall & with the beautiful yellow blooms in spring.