Wild Boys

Monday July 28 2014

Something about Duran Duran gets your blood pumping - it's OK, you can admit it. For some reason, their songs seemed the perfect fit for my video of the Eagle Extreme endurance ride in June. Steph rode Batman, and I rode my pal Jose. And of course The Raven rode along, as he does every endurance ride.

While there's actually nothing wild about Jose and Batman and The Raven, the Wild Boys flew along the trails, danced into the sunrise, gave us another fun ride.

(or link:)
http://youtu.be/AYiNMVT3umo?list=UUWERhXYLV3K12Q96SneAADA

Moab Canyons Endurance Ride Day 2: Just Magnificent

Tuesday October 29 2013

More photos of the spectacular trails, on Day 2 of the Moab Canyons endurance ride.


Jose gawking at the scenery (just like I was doing!) at his favorite place - the highest point.


Leading down a steep hill from one canyon into the next.


Jose ogling the scenery some more - I mean, what else can you do in country like this?!


See how high we are on this mesa on loop 1? On loop 2 we will be on a trail in that valley directly below us (Jose spotted the horses), going all the way around that massive Lost World Butte on the left.


Coming into the vet check below The Needles


Just - beauty. Gasp!


Weathered, rippled slickrock sandstone. We're headed for a shelf right alongside the cliffs ahead.


Lots of sand, from all the sandstone cliffs: white sand, pink sand, red sand, deep sand. Climbing out of the Lost World Butte valley.


Jose and The Raven had an awesome ride!

Steph had an excellent camera and got some rare photos of me!


Stunning cottonwoods along the Bartlett Wash


Climbing above yet another canyon on slickrock - easy going in the horses' rubber easyboots!


Pausing to let Jose gape. With his elf eyes, he spotted horses far in the distance.


I. Love. This. Country. I could ride among its mysteries forever. (Well... in fall and winter, when it's coolest!)


Possibly my favorite photo of me and Jose, anywhere, ever.


Climbing red slickrock beneath a gargantuan mesa.

More photos and a recap of the ride! at:
http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2013Moab/

Moab Canyons Endurance Ride Day 1: Grandeur

Sunday October 27 2013

It was a sad thing for John, who at the last minute could not make it, but a serendipitous thing for me, because Steph asked me to go to the Moab Canyons 3-day endurance ride in his place, and ride Jose Viola, no less.

There's something about this part of the country that grips me fiercely, and gloms on at the cellular level (see Beneath the Red). I've spent far too little time hiking and camping here, and always when I drive through the country, the question consumes me: What is it like out there, beyond the roads?

Now I know. We rode in it, for 105 miles.

There isn't really a single word in the English language that captures the spectacular magnificence (see? I tried it - that's two words that don't come close!) this country wears and the near-spiritual worship it incites in me. We rode days 1 and 2 (then had to leave), and my jaw muscles ache because for 105 miles, my mouth hung open in awe-struck disbelief.

Here are a few pictures from day 1:


We rode up to the base of, and all the way around this table mesa, which was some 7 miles or so long. You can't tell from the photo how tall, massive, and imposing it was. In some places on this mesa and many others, you could see the many different layers of sandstone. The rounded tan domes on top which you can't see in this photo is Navajo Sandstone. The red here is several different layers, probably Kayenta and Wingate. But don't quote me!


Just look at this staggering country we got to ride through!


Steph and Batman riding over slickrock by some of the pillars. (It's called 'slickrock' but with the Easyboot glue-ons and gloves our horses wore, they had great traction.)


The weathered sandstone came in many shapes and sizes. Steph called these knobby things 'dumplings'.


Loop 2 was total Outlaw Country. If you look really really closely, you'll see Kerry Redente on her horse in the middle of the picture. See? Total Outlaw country. She blended right in with the landscape. (Well, except for her yellow shirt).


Jose could see outlaws from the past. I saw many, many, many places to hide, if I were an outlaw. But of course I'm not.


Moab outlaws. (Me and Jose!) (photo by Steph!)


And back at camp, a good roll was had by all. Batman and Jose could hardly wait for their saddles to be stripped so they could plunge into the red dirt and roll and scratch and wiggle and itch.


(My point n shoot camera was low on battery first thing in the morning of day 1 (!! - some photographer I am, and what bad timing!) so I was conservative on the photos. I also wore a go pro helmet camera, and I'll put together videos of the ride later. More spectacular photos from Moab at: http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2013Moab/, and Day 2 coming next!)

Owyhee Harvest Moon - Day 2

Wednesday October 16 2013

I've done these loops many times - to Regina's place for a vet check, around Wild Horse Butte and along the Snake River and back to Regina's for a vet check, then back home. The scenery never gets old.

Batman and The Raven and I finished Day 2 of the Owyhee Harvest Moon endurance ride on these familiar trails.

Here are a few pictures from the day:

up top:
We had a whole lotta water here from a flash flood about 5 weeks ago. The water rearranged many trails and hills and washes. Here a good deal of water sat for a while until the ash-y mud dried and cracked.


Alan joined Steph and Amanda and me for part of the ride. The Snake River is always pretty at this spot!


Me, Amanda and Steph posing at our regular spot above the Snake River.


Batman is checking behind him, to see if there is anybody that needs saving.


Riding an old canal near the Snake River. The only thing Russian Thistle - aka tumbleweeds - is good for is the pretty reddish color it turns in the fall. Other than that - nada.


Batman likes a variety of food at vet checks. He tries food from every dish that is near him. He was even eyeing my hamburger!


Batman and The Raven finish another ride together!

Owyhee Harvest Moon - Day 1

Monday October 14 2013

Seven weeks after surgery is much more better for riding a 50-mile endurance ride (or, 3 of them in a row!) rather than 4 weeks after surgery.

We put on the first 3-day Owyhee Harvest Moon endurance ride, and I got to ride Batman all 3 days - and I made it through all 3! I was pretty whooped after day 1, but, just like the horses usually do, I felt stronger, and less tired, each day. Funny how that happens.

Batman felt like he could have easily gone on and done another week or so, and I could have too. And Batman was one of 4 horses to finish all three days - and he got overall Vet's Choice! Which is only fitting, since he's such a superhero (except when he's scared of things, which is only occasionally.)

Here are a few photos from Day 1.


It's The Raven's first time to ride Batman - whose real name is Ravenwood Dark Desire - a fantastic coincidence or what!


Shadows at the start


Following Steph and Rhett into the always spectacular (but particularly in the fall) Sinker Canyon
(top picture is in Sinker Canyon also)


Batman is particularly alarmed at this 'plane crash' in the desert. It's actually an old washer/dryer combo that somebody must have blown up with a bomb. Batman was afraid somebody was in the wreckage and he was needed to rescue them.


Coming out of the Birds of Prey Badlands

Muddy Buddies

Saturday August 3 2013

Oh dear, someone left the trough water pump on too long where the overflow from the trough runs into and fills up a pond (someone left it on a long time).

Batman first discovered the pond. His pawing and splashing immediately attracted Jose, who joined him in the pond, which quickly became a churned up super mud puddle.



Jose pawed and splashed with particularly intense concentration, making mud play an art form.



The pair pawed and churned and splashed, till Jose plopped down in it and had a roll.


Finneas and Bodie watched from the very edge of the pond, not wanting to get their feet wet. Batman had a roll in the mud pond too, emerging looking like a Loch Ness monster. 

After they followed that up with a good roll in the dirt, I was thankful I didn't have to clean them up to go for a ride!

City of Rocks Pioneer Endurance Ride Day 1

 

Wednesday July 11 2012

I think we pulled it off - Day 1 of the City of Rocks Pioneer Endurance Ride. 

It was hot (it got up at least to 95.7*), some ribbons were eaten by cows (I got dropped off early in the morning, and I hiked down that same trail and replaced the missing, digested ribbons), a few people missed a correctly marked non-turn (but I learned how to mark it better), the thunderstorms skipped us today, we had only 1 pull out of about 35 starters, and despite the heat, a good time was had by just about all. Even the locals seemed happy to have us here, hanging ribbons on their trails, riding through their cow pastures.

I met the last few 50's out on trail with cold drinking water, and this evening, the "GONE SWIMMIN'" sign will be hanging at the entrance to Ridecamp, because we'll be hanging out in Durfee Hot Springs!

Here are a few photos:

Vet check at the Bread Loaves, a popular climbing rock.

Connie and her new horse Saruq at the vet check (If Finneas sees this he will be soooooo jealous).

Anya trotting out Jose at the vet check.

Horses in the distance.

Up top, the Bates Creek Team at the last water stop! German Canadians Katrin riding Mac, Anya riding Jose (she said "Wow he does like to look at the scenery!") and Katya riding Batman.

More pictures, and future videos to come here:

http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2011CityofRocks/