Trail Log: 8-2-2025

• Trail: HNR - The Loop
• Miles: 3.5
• Riders: Self
• Horses: Jack
• Dogs: Groot

Notes: Back to the daily hike N ride routine after a week off. I figured I'd fallen far enough behind I'd have a heart attack climbing Steele Hill. I did not and neither did Jack. He went the entire way barefoot. When I first started walking him around the loop on a gravel road - I had to boot him up. I eventually got to where I booted just the fronts...then the fronts half way/barefoot half the way. It bothers him a little going down steep hills. The butcher shoer that crippled him a couple years ago cut into the pedal/coffin bone. Keeping him barefoot and using Scoot Boots seems to be helping him back on the road to recovery....slowly. 

I didn't take any pictures other than this one of the adorable little filly born just up the road at Butlers. 

Trail Log: 7-29-2025

Nearing the top

• Trail: Fisk Creek - Little Eagle Meadow
• Miles: 9.55
• Riders: Self - Darrell - (Blake - Landon - Nick)
• Horses: Drifter - Jewel - Spartacus - saddle-pack - Captain
• Dogs: Groot - Yottee (?)

Back down the Jim Fisk

Notes: Fabulous ride. Blake and his friends packed into Pine Lakes for an overnighter. They went in via the Pack Station. I thought it would be fun to show them how to come out the top of PL and down the Jim Fisk trail so they could make a loop instead of up/back. Coordinating that could have been more difficult than it turned out. Blake and I lucked out and got enough cell service at the right time to meet up at Little Eagle Meadows about the same time. Going up/down the Jim Fisk is a tad gnarly but everyone did pretty well. Landon's saddle and pack horse had the most difficult time as they were not in the greatest shape. It was Drifters most technical trail yet. He did so good and was a trooper climbing up/down a 2k+ elevation gain with little to no switchbacks and a trail littered with granite boulders. 

Met the boys near Little Eagle Meadows

Made it to town - only one rider down. He had all he could do in the saddle and opted to walk down the steep JF. Pretty sure he won't forget a pair of walking shoes next time. 

Trail Log; 7-27-2025

• Trail: Fish Creek - Bucks Crossing - Horse Lake Cabin
• Miles: 7.38
• Riders: Self - Darrell - Lou Ann
• Horses: Jack - Jewel - River
• Dogs: Groot

Notes: Much better day of riding. We shamed Darrell (Professor D) into taking us into Horse Lake via a trail I had not been on. It was a much easier way to get into the cabin than the previous ways I'd been. We hauled to the Fish Creek Trail Head by way of Dry Creek. The trail follows Fish Creek - crosses "Bucks Crossing" and drops into Horse Lake Cabin. The lake is more of a meadow as it does not retain water for long for some reason. The Cabin is my favorite of the Cabins I've seen in this area - very remote and has a stable to horses. 

Trail Log: 7-25-2025

• Trail: Fish Lake - Meadow Camp
• Miles: 4
• Riders: Self - Lou Ann
• Horses: Jack - River
• Dogs: Groot

Notes: Lou came up for a weekend vacation. We planned to camp at Fish Lake in the meadow but the mosquitos pretty much ran us out. We went on a short ride and pulled camp and headed back to the valley. We will go on a nice day ride tomorrow!