Tree Hugger II

Saturday May 4 2013

I do love this Owyhee desert, but man I miss the mountains and forests.

I miss grabbing onto a monster old growth Jeffrey pine in a forest, putting my nose to the cracks in the bark, smelling the scent of vanilla, feeling the tree's sentience, its roughness, the oldness, feeling the decades (or centuries, if the tree is a lucky one) of seed and sun and snows and storms, feeling the secret forest life its branches have held.

yes, it's a spotted owl

I try to find the time to hug trees, real forest trees, at least once a year. Soon, it will have to be more than once a year, but for now, this mountain and this giant forest pine will suffice for a while.

Mt Adams Endurance Ride and Ride N Tie

Saturday May 15 2010

A gorgeous setting for the 14th annual Mt Adams Endurance ride - 100, 75, 50, and 25 miles, 25 and 12 mile Ride N Tie, and a Trail Ride - outside of Trout Lake, Washington, near the foot of 12,281' Mt Adams.


A good scratching while waiting in the vet line.


He thought about bucking at the start of the 25 mile ride!


A group starting on the 25 miler.


One of the CUTEST KIDS EVER. Garret's 5 years old, and did his first endurance ride with his mom on the 25 miler. Biggest smile plastered on his face all day!


Sherry from Canada.


The Ride N Tie'rs start out on the trail.


Heading out on a loop.


One of the other CUTEST KIDS EVER, and one of the CUTEST PONIES EVER. Clara and Benjamin are doing their first 75 miler!


Cooling Benjamin down at a vet check.


Tanking up before going out on the next loop.


Dennis Summers trotting out 19-year-old Rosie. They ended up winning the 100.


This horse was catching everybody's eye: half Friesian, 1/4 Arabian, 1/4 Quarter horse. He and Nicole finished the 100.


Heading out on another loop.


Nothing better then a good roll at the end of the day!