Trail Log: 7-2-2025

The ground sucks...but the view is awesome. 

• Trail: Halfway - The Loop HNR
• Miles: 3.7
•  Riders: Self
• Horses: Drifter
• Dogs: Groot

Notes: Well, not sure you can call this an official Hike n Ride - I did hike...without a horse....and I did ride...once I got back. I set up my arena for a balloon killing practice. It's pretty rocky so I put Drifters front boots on and he did great. I didn't let him run as fast as he wanted to. I worry about him getting stone bruised. He did fine with the boots on. We shot 30 out of 30. 

At the writing of the blog entry - I discover I have officially filled up my log book I've been keeping since 2016. I think I started logging my trail miles before that and have another filled log book floating around somewhere. This will be the first entry in my new log book. 

Out with the old...in with the new

Trail Log: 6-30-2025

Guard Llama on duty

• Trail: Halfway - The Loop
• Miles: 3.77
• Riders: Self
• Horses: Jack
• Dogs: Groot

Notes: Hike and ride around the loop. I walk up Steel Hill and around since it is the steepest. I must be getting back in some semblance of shape as it doesn't feel long enough anymore. The Guard Llama was a little scary for Jack still but we got closer to it. The goat horde came out to greet us. Jack loves goats so was happy about that. 

Three Amigos...aka, The Horde

Trail Log: 6-24-2025

• Trail: Halfway - Cornucopia Highway - Dixie Creek
• Miles: 4
• Riders: Self
• Horses: Jack
• Dogs: Groot

Notes: Parked at the wide spot and hiked/road up toward Dixie Creek. When I got back - I found the Garbage guys had left me a sweet new official garbage can. It's the weird little things that make my day. \

Trail Log: 6-23-2025

• Trail: Halfway - Clear Creek - Snow Park
• Miles: 2.78
• Riders: Self
• Horses: Jack and Drifter
• Dogs: Groot

Notes: More of a hike than ride - I did saddle Drifter but ended up hiking in and out for no particular reason. I did try to tie a can of 50:1 fuel mix on him that I found on the road. That didn't go well. He did not appreciate the sloshing around and weird popping noise it made. I left my panniers at home or I would be packing him and getting him more use to it.   

Trail Log: 6-20-2025

 

The snow is coming off the mountain pretty quickly now

• Trail: The Loop
• Miles: 3.75
• Riders: Self
• Horses: Jack
• Dogs: Groot

Notes: Hike N ride around the loop. Ran into the baby goat horde again but this time they just came out by the road to meet us but did not chase us. Stopped in at Jimmy Reeds place to say hi and get the run-down on his shop progress. Told him next time to have cookies ready...he said he'd get right on that...

Baby goat horde

Trail Log: 6-19-2025

• Trail: Cornucopia Highway - Dixie Creek area (HNR)
• Miles: 4
• Riders: Self
• Horses: Drifter
• Dogs: Groot

Notes: Hauled Drifter to the wide turnout for an early morning hike and Ride. We rode cross country up an old logging road until it turned into a trail and eventually disappeared. On the way back - Groot took after a doe and her little fawn. I chased him down with Drifter and put the fear of all things un-holly in him. I doubt he will do that again. Doe and Fawn escaped unscathed. Groot, on the other hand, got a taste of what it's like to be chased down by an animal that has no qualms about stomping you into the ground. 

Trail Log: 6-18-2025

Buds

• Trail: Halfway - Cornucopia Hwy - Dixie Creek
• Miles: 6.24
• Riders: Self
• Horses: Jack - Drifter (tow)
• Dogs: Groot

Notes: I'm bored with road riding. Since my trailer is back in commission, I hauled up to the wide spot and hike/rode toward Dixie Creek. I normally avoid ponying but decided to take both horses. It wasn't that bad...Drifter was much less of a goof-ball than normal, so that was a win. 

The hiking part of HNR