Trail Log: 7-24-2020

• Trail: Fruitvale -Weiser River Trail 
• Miles: 10.17
• Riders: Self
• Horses: Jack and J'Lo
• Dogs: Hank

Notes: Wasn't sure where this day was going to end up. The only real plan was to ride somewhere in the timber where it would be cooler. I originally thought I would head up Mann Creek. I started out in that direction at least. I passed the Mann Creek turnoff without realizing it until I hit Midvale. I considered putting in at Shoe Peg, calling Jones and Dusty and riding to the cabin for lunch. Jones didn't have her phone on her so didn't get my text/invite. So...I decided to keep going farther north and put in somewhere I hadn't been before. I snapped a picture of the kiosk map in Cambridge and headed north. I passed several potential trail heads before deciding on trying out the one in Fruitvale.

A local convenience store clerk assured me that Fruitvale did indeed have a spot to put in but the parking was limited. I ended up pulling over at a wide spot across from an old store building with a sign on it that read: Yes...This is Fruitvale. Sweet...I think all towns should have such a sign. It would clear up a lot of guesswork for those of us who are geographically challenged.

A mile down the road and we hit a road closed barrier that detoured back up on the Fruitvale -Glendale road. I had no idea why the trail was closed or how long said detour would take us. I suppose if you knew such things a head of time it wouldn't be much of an adventure.

We rounded a corner on the Fruitvale/Glendale Rd...minding our own business and enjoying the scenery when a long tailed flash of tan whips around in the road and dashes over the bank toward the river. It wasn't huge, but it was definitely an adult cougar. I was hoping it climbed a tree so I could get a picture of it but alas...cougars and Big Foot must come from the same educational background: The un-photo-graphical school of Mystical Creatures.

Not long after the cougar sighting, we came upon what looks to be a large commune called "Starkey." I looked it up when I got home and it appears to be a hot springs. Not sure what all the other dozen or so buildings are for. It will require more research. Not far past Starkey and the reason for the trail closure loomed below. A large trestle bridge spanning maybe 50 yards over the river was blown out in the mid-section. Mystery solved.

The detour puts you back on the trail about 2.5 miles from Fruitvale. I stopped and talked to two lady's eating lunch by the river. They had just got back from riding the trail. They held my horses while I checked out the conditions of the porta-potty before crossing a large trestle bridge and  heading on up the trail.

We passed by a "trail board" secured to a tree for people to write on. The chalk board was covered in names, initials and cute graphics. The largest of initials in bright yellow read: BLM. Apparently that does not stand for Botanical Lives Matter as indicative of the large nails used to hammer the thing to the tree.

I rode for a few more miles through picturesque farmland and homesteads before switching horses (From Jack to J'Lo) and heading back. I wanted to get back before The Cabin closed. We arrived once again at the big trestle bridge to find the two ladies had gone. In their place were two men whooping and hollering under the bridge. J'Lo wasn't about to step on to that bridge with all the commotion going on and I had serious doubts about getting halfway across and having her spook at whatever they were doing under there. I yelled out..."Hey, could you come out from under the bridge so my horses can see you?" One of the two stepped out and waved...the other grabbed for a towel to cover up his naked butt. He needn't have bothered...soon as J'Lo could see they were human, she could care less whether they were buck-naked or not.

The horses and Hank got fairly animated back at the tree where the cougar sighting had occurred - either it was still in the area or it's scent lingered. Regardless, we pushed on and made it back in time to meet Jones and Dusty at the Cabin for dinner.

It seems like my favorite rides end up being those that go not as planned. It's easy to get into a rut and ride areas you are more familiar with. To strike out with no particular plan in mind but to discover new places to explore seems to produce the best adventures of all.

Botanical Lives Matter