Mid Week Ride - WOW

Tuesday I took my guy out on the Pacific Crest Trail in the Cascades. It was an adventure but the sights were well worth it!

We started heading south from the Snoqualmie Pass off of Interstate 90 and went across a ski slope, through a saddle in the mountains, across a few shale slide areas, past a few couple alpine lakes, up and down a few hills and finally made it to Mirror Lake.

The footing was very very rocky and I was very glad to have made the switch to shoes last week. (barefoot natural trimming was great in Ohio but it's not working here in WA). I was glad to have him sure footed on the shale slide areas. It's scary to hear rocks falling and crashing below you.!

We only had two areas where the shoes were a problem. Both were smooth flat rock where he had no traction and had to clamber up like a slippery cat.

Our destination was Mirror Lake, an alpine lake at about 4,600 feet elevation and nine miles away. It was amazing, trout jumping here and there, Blue bird skies, wow is the best I can describe it.


More pics and info on the ride here

Yeah the PCT is a very amazing trail. I've never taken my horse there (yet) but I have back packed for a week a couple miles south from where you went. And I tell you it was one of the highlights of my life . We saw lots of cougar tracks, bear scat, and mountain goats! Not to mention the hundreds of elk in the area.

Holy cow. That would scare the crap out of me!! I'd need a mountain goat to do that. I can't imagine my horse picking his way through there!

Oh my. I don't think any of my horses could handle that, even though they deal with parades and super loud music at rodeos lol. They aren't always the most sure footed horses.

Horses pick their way through rocky areas all the time. It's not that scary or big a deal.


Give you horse a chance, He may suprise you at what he can navigate.

It's not my horse I'm worried about...Hee hee. That looks pretty, but I just have NO desire to do anything that challenging. My 5 year OTTB surprised me the first time we ever went out. He picked his way through rocks, navigated ditches, banks and streams like a champ. I was very impressed with his ability to switch from stall bound race horse to mountain goat within the span of a month. I'm sure he can do that stuff you're on. It's not him, it's me.

All you have to do is climb to the top of one of those mountains just one time to get you hooked on looking off at the incredible vistas. And your fear will be gone and replaced with the desire to see more.


Or this view

Heh heh we don't have those in Connecticut. Looks breathtaking. My vistas consist of mostly woods and the occasional romp on the beach.

Wow, what a view!! Have you ever camped up there with your horses?

Trails - Great pics! I'm so glad you're enjoying Washington. There really is no other place like it, is there? I couldn't imagine living anywhere else, rain and all!!

Painted - aren't your horses barefoot? Do you ever put boots on them or shoe them? I always love your pictures, thanks so much for sharing!!