Quite a change from Sunday.

Weather today: blizzard warning 6 a.m. until Friday 6 a.m., 10-18 inches of snow (though we already have at least 10), wind 20 mph with gusts to 45, visibility 1/8 of a mile, temperature 28 with windchill of -7.

What happened?

It took me three hours for a 44 mile r/t to the stable to blanket Butch. Poor guy was soaking wet and shivering. I hope he appreciates my effort. He's low horse on the totem pole so usually is not in the shed where he could be more comfortable. Bastard paddock mates!

South Valley Park

Sunny, breezy, and in the upper 70's today. South Park Valley is another park that is extremely convenient to access, 19 miles from the stable, and has a mini Garden of the Gods atmosphere. 8.75 miles of riding today with Noel and her horse Daisy.

Our warm days are to be over after a front comes in tonight. Maybe snow this week?

Yes, again, White Ranch.

I really hate to be repetitious, BUT,
this park is just too darn close to
ignore, is just too good for intense
conditioning, and is just too packed
with so many assorted trail options
that I don't have to get bored with
the park.

Butch and I rode for just shy of four
hours and slightly more than nine miles. I have been, lately, trying to spend time off of the horse and on my own two feet in order to be somewhat more prepared for hiking during our trip next month. We started on Belcher Hill; made a right on Whippletree; left on Longhorn; then a left back onto Belcher Hill and headed up taking a right on Sawmill; stopped for grazing and a potty break for about 15 minutes, and had to listen to creepy little rugrats yelling, "here horsey". Continued on, picking up Longhorn again; right on Maverick; left on Belcher Hill heading down and all the way to the parking lot.

It seems I have made the proper adjustments to my Nikon point-n-shoot digital camera as these pictures seem true to color and light. I had, what would've been good pictures from Bear Creek Lake Park from last Saturday, but they were a wash with light. Don't worry though, I'll get there many times over too, as it is also an easy trailer trip also. Something to look forward to, huh?

White Ranch today.

Weekdays are so different at the open space parks. Today was no exception. Bright sunshine, a breeze with a chill, temperature hovering around 50 degrees, and a near empty parking lot. Butch and I explored for 6.5 miles, the combined trails of Sawmill, Mustang, Belcher Hill, Rawhide, and Longhorn. We were, for the most part, totally alone except for the two bikers, six hikers, one lizard, four bluebirds, and five bulls (I can't for the life of me remember the breed) we encountered along the journey.

I had to make myself go out riding alone, but, in the end, decided it's a good way to go. I plotted my route the night before, rode each trail segment by the mileage on my wrist GPS, and did not miss any turns. I have put in many miles at Horsetooth Reservoir and Bobcat Ridge outside of Loveland, and still can't navigate my way. Why? I've always followed someone else.

I do think Butch may be wishing that Yuma was not at horse boot camp for two months. Yeah, he gets more TLC, but he also gets more work. We're training for competitive trail riding. Our work has just begun.