lurking

It was a quiet day, though the morning started with a lurking visitor to my hummingbird feeder.

i could hear the hummingbirds yelling (squeakily) at the invaded feeder

A pretty big mantis can actually take down a hummingbird (yes, it's true, not a crazy snopes story), so I'm not sure what this guy's intentions were, but he got moved to a nearby rose bush.

But later Major and I went and took a relaxing walk around the neighborhood. We've had some nice bareback forest jaunts, and little rides, but still taking it easy with no plans this year. So we had a really exciting walk:

Finding a nice bunch of grass to eat.

just take the whole weed with you

Major likes to check out the better addresses.

this place looks good, let's move here

And find a nice tasting moss rock.

mmm, moss

Playing with buddy Cisco.

it's all fun and games till someone loses a fly mask

Then back home to a tiny flake of crack (alfalfa). But beware, someone else is lurking and  watching, biding his time, ready to take down larger prey.

lurking below

creeping above

I see my next prey, just give me time...

empire mine

While "empire mine" may be something a succinct Darth Vader would say, it's also a local state park in Grass Valley, CA. I went exploring on a recent strangely cloudy day (when it was too chilly to go to the river like my original plan). You can ride horses here and I wanted to see the trails, look around, as it had been a few years since I'd been.

Empire Mine, established 1850

Not a lot changes at an historic park, but I had forgotten how cool it really is. Empire Mine is the oldest, largest richest gold mine in California. (If you want to read more, their site or this history site have lots of info and pictures). Now old in California may make other people laugh, it was established in 1850. (I read a great blog out of England, White Horse Pilgrim, where they ride trails the Romans and Celts once trod. Makes me realize how "new" the new world really is)

But it is still old and cool to me. First we took to the trails, just to check it out. The ranger said that this one trail got a bit hilly and rocky. So we walked the criss-crossing trail system  (walked about 4 miles total, there were 7 miles of trail open, much of it overlapping) and encountered about 20 large rocks, easily navicable. "Are these the rocks he was talking about?" we asked ourselves. Needless to say, the trails are very easy, for horse or human.

a path well traveled

hidden gear

well maintained path

i love bridges, what is ahead?

lovely small creek

a hint of fall

not a hill, a pile of mine tailings

But the trails were lovely, even with a hint of fall in the air. And you could search for the hidden mine equipment, half buried and forgotten. A pile of dirt is actually the mine tailings. Some of this park is closed off due to toxic levels of arsenic and lead used to extract the last bits of gold from the dirt. But many of the old buildings are still there, some restored and lots of old equipment.

stamp mill base, had to withstand the giant steel machine, crushing rocks into smaller rocks all day

mine buildings and equipment

carts, gears, unknown stuff and more

assay office, gold per ounce 1850: $20, 2013: $13

giant boulders for a bannister, how cool!

You can wander the buildings, peer inside their workshops (too dark for photos). This was a working mine for about 100 years. In that time they created 357 miles of tunnels, down 11,000 feet. The miners (mostly from Cornwall, England, who already knew hard-rock mining) rode the sled down into the mine every morning, with all their provisions for the day. Almost all the mine shafts are now filled with water, though you can peer down one shaft and imagine the depths and darkness below.

sled for rocks, and men

down into the mine shaft

not an easy life

And it wasn't just men in the tunnels. They had mules to pull the carts. An informational panel made me sad for the mules, but did say some lived up to 30 years. But some in darkness, with no sun or grass. Our luxury horses are sure lucky.

the mule's last sunlight before his ride down into the shaft, all trussed up

hard working mule, pulled up to 8 carts, imagine the weight

There is an amazing juxtaposition between the mine area and the mine owners home and grounds. The mine owner wanted an English cottage style, this was their small retreat (they lived in the San Francisco area) .

the english cottage

The entire inside of the house is paneled in clear-heart redwood. There are leather curtains to dampen the noise from the stamp machine, which crushed rocks most hours of the day. The walls and floor are also extra thick to reinforce from the pounding and noise less than 1/4 mile away. Truly how the other half lived.

and old child's toy from inside the house

windows with small panes to create strength in the glass to resist the vibration

courtyard, imagine your carriage waiting

rose arbor would be amazing in bloom

the mine was a rich place…for some…

Overall a fun adventure. With horses maybe a day trip, not for training miles, just for fun. The trails do hook up with another larger trail system, but that is to be explored another day.

closed mine shaft, but so intriguing...

smoked out

Waking up to smoke again, instantly worrying if it is a new fire, is it closer, where's the cat...?

Ok, so it's the middle of the night, I'm only semi-lucid. But it's been three weeks of smoke, often so bad I can't see off my deck. Every summer I keep a bag packed, precious stuff ready (if I'm home, another thing to worry about!)

But I'm just whining a little. I am totally grateful the fires are not closer. (Redhead Endurance had a scare a few weeks ago!) I am in awe of the amount of manpower and machines it is taking to fight these monster fires. The American Fire has burned across the Western States Trail outside of Foresthill, including the historic swinging bridge. And 27,000 other acres. It is contained, but still being put out. I can't imagine firefighting in inaccessible canyons that haven't seen fire in recorded history.

But the Rim fire near Yosemite is amazing in its horrible, terrible fury. 220,000 acres. 343 square miles. I know nothing of fire mechanics, but it grew so fast. Maybe terrain, or weather, but the fire crews are sure doing their best. Some containment, the fifth largest fire ever in California, much more work to do.

The smoke is not at all bad where Major lives. We did a couple short rides, but he and I are taking a break. Just walking, grooming, relaxing, because it felt like a very long summer. The apple trees are so full, and the ones on the ground are fair game for the horses. He only gets a couple, he would eat himself sick if he could.




We walk down the dirt road and explore. I let him lead and tail him around, good practice plus it is pretty fun to see where he chooses to go. He finds hidden bites of green grass, stops to sniff something, regally stares off at some unseen interest, is suspicious of the moved jumps in the arena, fun to just hang out with my horse. No plans. No miles to train. No deadlines. He is quite happy. Me too.

Tahoe Rim blues

So where did this go wrong?

I've been in a bit of a funk since my Tahoe Rim pull. My last pull (Wild West) was my own boot gluing failure. That I can live with. This time I actually broke my horse. And was the only pull.

While he doesn't show any lameness now (and was fine a few hours after the pull), I do want to give him a few weeks off and do a longer ride to see if there is actually a problem. He was also not done at the ride, pulsing in immediately, all As…except for gait. Damn. Then we had to wait a long time (understandably, it's a hard-to-access vet check) and Major was NOT happy that we were not moving down the trail. Spinning, calling, I just tied him to a tree and let him dance around...for hours. (Hopefully if his leg was injured he didn't do any more to it!)

Where are my friends? If I keep calling maybe someone will answer!

Where did they go? I'm ready, I'm ready!

I am second-guessing everything: Is this from my minimal training lately? We hadn't done more than 12 miles at a time, maybe more miles would have brought up this issue (whatever is it/was)? Or was there just a rock with our name on it?

Don't laugh at my sideburns, I get halter rubs. Call me "Wolverine."

It also doesn't help that I came back to chaos at work. And fire burning down the canyons. My brain is tired and full.

So I'll reevaluate later. For now something a little different. Saturday I am taking a friend who has never even seen a horse up close to meet Major. He better be on his best behavior! I don't think he's the type to give pony rides on, but he likes to be brushed and likes apples, which should be enough for both of us.

onward...another day.

double dog damn

I may as well update as I wait for the pull trailer.




Yup, 18 miles in, no bad steps on trail, vets can't decide right or left front, no heat or swelling, just a bit off.








But enough off that we're done. After a brief meltdown I untacked and cleaned my horse up, who promptly found a sandy place to roll.

I'm off for an evening pity party, more later. Last night at the raffle I did win a guaranteed spot for next year, we'll see. I'm just disappointed. And worried, though Major looks great, weighting all limbs, etc. Damn.

lake to lake

I took Major for a short drag/ride. First he is a slug, then a crazy maniac. Seriously, he keeps me on my toes! Heading out I dragged him down the road, strung out behind me. Found a good rock and mounted up, he walked out but not too enthusiastically. Then I start worrying that he is ok. I should know better.

This was just a short tack test ride (I'd washed and rearranged stuff). I just wanted to check all the equipment before leaving to the Tahoe Rim ride. Through the forest Major was a slug, so I went down to the lake. The whole lake trail is already exposed, the lake very low, drought concerns creeping in.

Tiny boat between Major's ears? Nope, a floating potty! We're classy like that.

At the lake, in the nice sand (and rocks), finally a nice trot. Not too fast, loose rein. A few lovely collected canters too. About the half way point things speeded up a bit. Then more. Soon I had a start-of-an-endurance-ride fire breathing dragon. So I took the rock trail, to make him think. It worked a bit, till we turned for home into the forest.

low lake, exposed rocks, amazing clouds, great horse, amazing view

I did ask only for trot, and I got it. The big huge one. We ran by a jogger on the wide part of the trail. Then a good sized deer skeleton. Finally slowed and saw some other friends from a nearby ranch. They joked that Major saw other horses and would want to join them. Oh no way, we were going home!

Back home I untacked and put my tack in my trailer, one last thing to pack later. Then Tahoe this weekend, from one lake to another! I am totally looking forward to the Tahoe Rim Ride, lucky that I got in, hoping Major and I are up for the challenge.

But there is a lot to pack before that!

flee!

After many rides of such control, Major and I needed a break from walking, following and rock climbing.

So we fled. Into the forest. Whatever pace he wanted to choose was fine. We trotted when I thought we'd walk, cantered over almost everything else. But when I asked just to walk, he was pretty willing. I think he knew the difference between trudging along for 26 miles (like on the Tevis sweep) and carefully negotiable scary terrain (like at Loney Meadow) and playing in the forest.

At one point though he did choose a bad spot to canter, I knew we were coming up on some exposed slick rock. I actually waited to see what Major would choose to do, knowing I had time to stop if needed. We came around the corner, he saw the rocks, slowed to a walk, picked his way over them, them back to a canter! I guess all those months of making him walk those sections of trail really did pay off!

Our flight stirred up others too. A flock of turkey vultures lifted off their sunning rocks as we came to the top of Dottie's Hill.

vultures and a very low water lake

I saw the tail end of a snake disappear into some rocks. And did not stay to investigate.

Lizards are the silliest. Sometimes they skitter into the bushes, hiding from pounding hooves. Other times they run straight down the trail in a seriously dangerous version of "chicken."

I can hear them bullying the littlest one, "What, too afraid to run from the horse?! What, not fast enough? Chicken!" It must be like the running of the bulls for them.

It does seem like they always make it though! Ground squirrels also play this game. I'm always thinking "go, go, go little guy!" as they are almost trampled. What stories they must tell later, how they survived the great, brown beast with glowing orange hooves (Major wearing his boots of course!)

Today a tiny deer caught me at my own game. We were walking along on a loose rein, I was trying to figure out what was itching my side (tick phobia!) paying no attention. Major spun and planted, I somehow stayed on, and the tiny deer probably laughed at us from the side of the trail. He did just watch us walk by. Major unconcerned now that he saw what it was.

And the deer had a friend stationed a bit farther on, but we saw him first. Actually the deer looked a bit bewildered, maybe hoping we were Mom? I think this time of year the babies are weaned and finding their own way in the world. The little deer just ghosted into the shrubs, but I did see him watching as we walked by.

tiny deer pondering the great beast

It was just a quick ride, but sometimes those are best for the spirit. I love rides where I know we BOTH had a great time. I just passed the four year anniversary of buying Major. I feel lucky to have found him. I hope he feels the same. Though he would still say that more carrots are required.

Loney Meadow too!

After the fun first full-day adventure, we scouted on the map a possible new trail: Sawmill lake. Some of the trail was repeat from the day before (but not the death-march road!) We headed out again, lunches and leadropes packed.

Heading out: ears and mules ears

Culbertson lake, standing weird (what is with my posture?!)

small meadow filled with tiny white flowers

and...more rocks...

views forever

Sawmille lake, NOT an accessible mile away!

The trail was great, some of it had been recently cleared, and there were flags marking the trail. We found the access to Sawmill lake, and thought another mile down to a nice picnic spot along the shore.

We were wrong. There are not many photos of this because it got seriously nasty. We were following ribbons, but no trail. picking through rocks and brush. Finally, we gave up when the trail became a boulder steambed with trees fallen across it. We had already asked our horses to do a lot of work. This was dangerous with loose boulders and no end in sight. We turned around and headed back up the hill to a nice picnic spot.

then the trail became this, we decided not to risk it

another lunch break, Major trying to guilt me into sharing sandwich

a refreshing break at Rock Lake

huge aspen on the meadow edge

fallen tree to ride under

snow bent "angel's wing" tree

We headed back, the horses were glad to be going home. But they were tired. I think picking their footing and really thinking about trail is tiring, for horse and human! Back in the meadow we did see what we had hoped to avoid all trip: not bears or cougars, but cows! Luckily they were in the distance, having just been brought to their summer pasture. We could hear the cow bells, and the horses were a bit on edge. But we were glad it would be another trip that we could teach them about wandering cows.

the hard life, with mash

cool lichen

Lovely creek, a bit shallow for swimming, but it felt great

It was a great adventure. I did not remember from hiking how hard the trails were. The shale footing and slopes was harder on hooves than hiking boots. We got our photos taken by Japanese tourists, who had never seen a horse. We both got asked about the horses hoof boots (which we explained as hiking boots). The horses both were very smart and drank at every chance, delicious mountain water. Major and Friday (and me and C) are good companions, not annoying each other too much, compatible riding buddies. And both horses walked over than nasty footing, did what we asked, stood around nicely too, seriously awesome horses.

Both horses did get a bit buddy sour, Friday worse than Major. They also made a great game of tromping all their poo into the dirt, making us pick up poo, dirt and rocks with every shovel. The dirt was reduced to a fine dust that got absolutely everywhere. I was never clean, but that is what camping is for.

For all the lovely views, I'm not sure if I would take the horse for a multi-night here again. But the first loop we did, now that was worth it all.

raven conversation "When are the interlopers leaving?"

goodbye