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Posted on 06/01/2005 7:34:38 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
Great pics, and obviously some great trails.
How long did you ride?
ARe you going again today?
Becky
Can't sleep so I'm looking at your pictures again.
I just noticed you all are still wearing long sleeves. What was the tempratures?
That pictures under the vine tunnel is amazing. How long is the tunnel. Did that happen naturally?
I'm still impressed with all those bridges. Is this at a state park? Did you run into any other riders?
I missed the part where you said you did 10 miles. That's a good ride.
Do they allow ATV's on those trails? I was wondering how they stay so open. They seem wider then just a horse trail would be.
Oh, and please don't stop posting pictures. I could look at those trees, and ferns all day. They are beautiful.
Becky
Good morning.
Everyone be sure to check Hair's trail pictures on post 448.
Thundering and lightning here this morning.
BEcky
"What is it with posting snakes lately? I'm terrified of them! : )"
Ssssssssssshhhhhh!!!
Heh! Only teasing. Consider snakes your friend for all the good they do. Their diet consists mainly of insects and rodents. Also, they are afraid of us and try to avoid us if at all possible. If you have to walk through an area where you might encounter one, carry a walking cane or stick. Just bump it along in front of where you walk. The vibrations alert the snake to your presence and gives it a chance to move away. The cane or stick is handy for stepping across fallen logs too. Rap the log sharply and poke the cane/stick around underneath the log before you step over it. Use a little caution and more than likely you will never see one.
: )
I'm jealous, too!! What beautiful pictures, the trees, the waterfalls and bridges look like a page in a storybook. Doesn't look like that here in Texas.
You're brave. I'm terrified of snakes. I was out at the pool with the kids the other day and kept smelling a terrible smell. Finally found a dead snake that the cats must have killed. What a stench!
Rather to go too slow with a trailer, than too fast. :-)
The cats may have thought it was after kittens, something they will not tolerate. Another good reason to let a couple cats hang around your barn. : )
I have 11 cats, all barn cats. We adore them!
The closer cat does not seem to have a tail.
Great photos of your trail ride Hair, It looks like a great place! : )
I like your truck! Looks great! I have Never in my life waxed a truck. Our vehicles are lucky if they get to go through the car wash, and thats normally when we are going to a funeral! We live on a dirt road so it's kind of pointless! My Toyota Sienna minivan is only a year old. It has only had two baths and that was for funerals! : ) Inside is clean though! (thanks to Emma wanting an allowance). : D
It was a little cool yesterday... maybe 60... much cooler in the deep shade of the woods.
That pictures under the vine tunnel is amazing. How long is the tunnel. Did that happen naturally?
It's about 15 feet or so long, and it's natural. I don't know if you have vine maple down there or not, but it grows up, bends over till it touches the ground, and then roots again. It's unusual for it to be high enough that they could leave it in the trail.
impressed with all those bridges. Is this at a state park? Did you run into any other riders?
It's state ~forest~, so it's working timber, as opposed to park. All the tall timber you see will eventually be logged and then replanted. On any given ride we'll ride through freshly logged areas, mature timber, and replanted areas with young trees.
Here's another picture of a replanted area, I remember when it was logged, and the trees here are probably nearing 5 years old.
We didn't see any other riders yesterday except at the trail head. There's a lot of trail up there, but usually we see ~someone~ while up there. On the day before, we saw riders at the river practice spot, and they were riding with the smallest weiner dog I have ever seen on trail with a horse. I am amazed he could do any distance!
I took a picture of this trail sign at a crossroads... so I could remember these distances later... I have a goal to get into the kind of shape to get to Fall Creek Camp and Capital Peak. Mima falls camp is where had come from to get to this spot.
Do they allow ATV's on those trails? I was wondering how they stay so open. They seem wider then just a horse trail would be.
No recreational ATV's on these trails. They've taken the forest and split it in half. Motorized vehicles on one side of the forest, and hikers, horses and mountain bicycles on the other. We don't share any trails with them. The trails are maintained by a combination of 'adopt a trail' where groups like the Backcountry Horsesmen and other horse groups adopt sections of trail to maintain and cut back, and the major work is done by prison crews. There's a minimum security state prison in the forest, and they do labor out there, cutting back brush and fallen logs and such. ecurbh and I talked about it being pretty good time, really, work hard, be out in the woods... it beats doing time in a grey concrete box! So many of the trails are wider because they do use an ATV or a trackhoe to get in there with trailer loads of gravel fill or lumber or tools. Some of the areas need to be done still... it gets narrow enough to brush us on each side in some spots, like pictured below... And these are stickery berries ;~D
I want to join the Backcountry horsemen group now that we have a trailer. They do work parties a couple times a year, often in the early spring before the trails are open. Work crews can get in all year round. If you belong to the trail group, you're legal in winter if you bring a cutting tool with you!
LOL As for never seeing them, I saw a cottonmouth the other day whilst walking. Scared me silly. We had been walking about over a mile, and my 3 year old was tired so I had him on my back for a piggyback ride. Couldnt have run if I had wanted too I was hot, tired and scared. You should see me when I am walking through the woods, you'll recognise me, I am the one who is not looking at the scenery, but at the sides of the path for snakes, I am also stomping my feet like a mad woman! : D
Love that pic Cav! I used to help my grandfather milk cows by hand when I was young. I loved it, but those 4 o'clock morning's were a killer! We have 2 cats and a kitten, they are outside pets. Keep down the mice population, so hopefully less snakes!
Naw... we decided we've done enough, I don't want to push the horses into going three days in a row yet ;~D
And I think ecurbh needs rest too... he just rolled out of bed, I think it was harder on him than the horses! ;~D So he needs one rest day to make it through the week to come. I think we'll groom his horse and clean stalls and not do much else today.
No ATVs on the trail you rise is a good thing. I wouldnt want to come accross some whilst riding.
I used to do conservation work on Ashdown forest and Pooh Bridge where All the Winnie The Pooh stories are based. It was about Half a mile form where I lived. In fact, thats where I met my late first husband! : ) We used to make sure paths were cleared and organise work up there to mend fences etc. We did Layed hedgelaying which is an old woodsmans way of keeping hedges thick and stock proof. It was fun, and a good way of keeping fit. : )
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