Trail Log: 8-17-2021

•  Trail: Clear Creek - Halfway Or.
• Miles: 7.54
• Riders: Self - Mike K. 
• Horses: Jack and Drifter - Stuart
• Dogs: Hank

Notes: At last...cool weather and no smoke.  We finally got a reprieve from the heat and smoke with a high of 80 and enough of a breeze to blow the smoke out of the valley. Mike and I hauled up just short of the Clear Creek TH. We likely could have hauled all the way in but weren't sure about the road conditions. 

They could use a Back Country Horseman of Oregon in this area for sure. There are so many awesome places to ride, but the trails are horrible. The thought crossed my mind to start up a chapter.

Mike rode ahead most of the way in. He popped up on a ridge overlooking a picturesque meadow. Granite mountains towered in the background. Mike signaled for me to ride up beside him quietly. A herd of 50 or more elk grazed in the beautiful little valley. You can get pretty close to elk when you are  horse back. They didn't show much alarm until we started talking. They serpentined up the steep granite mountain toward an almost vertical narrow shoot leading toward the top. The adult elk sent an avalanche of loose rock crashing down the shoot. The babies, apparently unable to make the steep climb...bleated in panic. They called back and forth. Jack wasn't real sure about the whole chaotic scene  and kept one eye on them and one on an escape route. By the time we got back to the valley, the elk were gone. 

Look close -elk moving up the mt.

 

Mike had ridden to the lake years before with a friend familiar with the area. The trail disappears about a mile from the lake. We tried to ride up the high side and back down toward the creek with no luck. Downfall and heavy brush blocked our attempts to pick up the trail. It's discouraging when you know your within a mile. I have a hard time giving up. I had left my vest containing all my shit in "my other trailer." Anybody that has ridden with me knows I carry a lot of "shit." I felt naked without it. No GPS - no InReach. Basically no way of signaling help if we got ourselves into a fix. We turned around and headed back to the truck with the intent of trying another day... armed with more information and more "shit."