Harney Peak (Hell)

 

 

Harney Peak. It’s elevation at 7,244 feet is the highest point east of the Rockies.    Taken from an internet site, “The historic fire lookout tower built upon the remote summit remains as an abandoned shell and is open to the public. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the mid-1930’s, photos of the structure show the native stone that was manually hauled the three miles to the summit.” 

 

We could see it from where we were riding from but getting there was the problem.

 

 

Five years ago we rode to Harney Peak from the Willow Creek trail head near Palmer Gulch & the Mt. Rushmore KOA.  It was and still is the most awesome trail I had ever rode.  Not because it was difficult - it was at times - but because it was beautiful. We crossed creeks, we picnicked in caverns and we had “to-die-for” views from the mountaintop.  I couldn't wait to share that with Jules, Steve and Robyn like Kathy and Rich shared it with us. 

 

 

A few weeks ago, I was emailing a local CTR gal and she didn't think the Willow Creek trail head would be open all the way to Harney Peak this early in the season. Like Wyoming, the beetle bugs have infested the trees and there are tons of tree fall on the trails and not enough manpower to clean them up. We decided to wait until we got to South Dakota to get a read on what is open and what is not.  There is more than one way up that mountain.  

 

We found out some of our fellow campers made it to Harney the day before we arrived using the Norbeck Trail from the Iron Creek Horse Camp.  They confirmed there was a lot of tree fall.  They said they cleared what they could and went around the rest; making it up there and back in about 6 hours.  We were hopeful since it sounded like it had been cleared and since none of us had been on the Norbeck Trail, it would be new to all of us. 

 

 

We left for the trailhead at 9 this morning. I was disappointed that by the time we got there it was already nearly 80 degrees and humid. What the heck?  Combine that with hot flashes; I was terribly miserable before we even got on the horse.  Since my hot flashes are primarily around my neck and up the back of my head, my helmet didn’t even last five minutes.  Heck, my hair was even too hot!  I was thankful to find a tank top in the trailer. 

 

The first mile or so was okay but the more we climbed, the more there was downed timber. We would have to step over our pick our way around it. The trail grew more rocky and the only description I have is it was the most 'technical' ride I ever had. We were missing the views picking our way thru the debris.

 

 

I didn’t get a lot of pictures in the bad stuff and when I did, some turned out like this.  I had forgotten to change the white balance on the manual setting.  But these pictures give you a good idea of what the trails were and how hard the horses had to negotiate their steps around the downed trees. 

 

 

In this picture, you can see the narrow trail that Fancy must pass through; dead trees to her left and rock to her right. 

 

 

Under foot was rock and at times, the horses had to step over dead trees while on rock or uneven surfaces.  There were no areas not littered by the dead trees.

 

 

Our fellow campers said it was a six mile ride up the mountain.  When we first caught a glimpse of the At the time we caught a glimpse of the lookout tower, our GPS said we had already gone over 6 miles.  We ran into some hikers who were coming down the trail and they told us we had about 2 miles to go. 

 

We were spent. Our horses were tired, we were tired. We came, we saw but there was not enough gumption in any of us, except maybe John and Rich, to go any farther.

 

 

We lunched in the shadow of Harney Peak and then began our descent. Although faster - just because the horses knew we were going back, it was just as difficult. My elbows and forearms ache from bracing myself on the saddle horn going down the stairsteps or over rock. My thighs were burning. Seriously, over the fire later that night, I said that ride made a CTR feel like a walk in the park. We all agreed it was the hardest ride we ever have done.

 

 

The horses did good, all things considered. They were all business although a few of them came back with some good cuts on their legs.  Fancy and Windy both wore back boots.  Fancy used the EasyBoot Trail and after numerous water crossings, the velro closure would no longer stay closed.  We ended up removing them on the ride back. 

 

 

I had plenty of time to think about how far I had come with Windy. She didn't rush the hills, she kept my knees safe from most of the trees except once when she slipped. She drank good when we crossed the streams and she was surefooted.  She handled the trail well.  I couldn’t have been more proud of my horse or those horses who shared the trail with us that day.  They were tired, sore and no doubt, as exhausted as we were but they brought us back down safely. 

 

The trail beat us that day.  The next morning we were looking forward to some easier riding. 

 

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South Dakota Bound

 

By the time I get this posted, I’ll have been back home and back to work.  Back to the real world.  But I had a great vacation in South Dakota and I’m most anxious to share it with you.  This will probably take a few posts, relying on what I emailed to the Horsetales group while we were away. 

 

 

We had an interesting start on the day we left.  As I got the horses ready to load, I found Fancy missing a shoe. Our new farrier is an hour the other direction and provided we could get ahold of him, realistically it would put us about 2 hours behind.  We had about 600 miles in which to find one.  John drove and I pulled out my iPad and posted my farrier request on a statewide equine Facebook page.  Within thirty minutes I had a farrier offer to meet us along the road.  A call-out to Ryan Jacobi of Monroe.  Just like a pit crew, we pulled her out, he reset her and we were back on the road in no time. The power of the internet!

 

However, my biggest concern when we loaded that day was Windy.  She did not follow the other horses up from pasture when I called them that morning.  Before I could fetch her, she came up on her own but wasn’t interested in sharing the grain I offered the herd.  She just didn't have her normal spunk. When I checked her during the shoeing episode, she had pooped, but she still didn't have that perkiness about her. You know, sometimes we just know. When we met our friends, Kathy & Rich, in Broken Bow, she had not pooped again.  She was just droopy. 

 

 

We planned to stay the first night at the Outriders Trailhead in Chadron.  Storms threatened us on the drive but none came to fruition.  We made it there in good time, checking on Windy at every stop along the way.  There was no change and no poop.  She didn’t show any discomfort; wasn’t sweating or kicking at her stomach – she just was listless.  I walked her at the Outriders Trail Head and nothing. She was eating grass, drinking... just not pooping and still a bit lethargic. There was no cell coverage at Outriders so we decided to load up and go into Chadron and find a vet even though it was after hours on a Saturday night. 

 

 

The power of the internet failed me this time. I had plenty of numbers but no vet would answer or return calls. We went as far as Crawford trying to find SOMEONE and no go. So we pulled through Ft. Robinson and camped at Soldier Creek. Here she finally pooped. Now granted, she had no signs of being colicky other than no poop.  But something wasn’t right.  I gave her some Purina hydrated hay soaked in water and she ate that well and said my prayers that she would be better in the AM.

 

 

Come morning, she had a lot of gas.  John was up first and said her poop was real watery and she was terribly gassy.  She looked perky and herself. I loaded her in the trailer and got a good sized poop out of her. We decided to ride a bit and check her way of going.  I was thrilled to find her 100% fine.  If I hadn’t known she was off the day before, I wouldn’t have suspected anything was wrong with her.  That was a relief. 

 

 

We made it to Keystone, South Dakota later that afternoon.  We had reservations in Elk Haven Horse Camp, conveniently located near Custer State Park and some of the other trails we planned to ride.  We set up camp to be semi-portable as we would be trailering to some of the trail heads.  Our friends, Jules and Steve pulled in a few hours later and Robyn after them. 

 

 

The next day we planned to ride to Harney Peak. 

 

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Goals

 

 

Last year I said I was going to ride 1,000 miles and Top 10 in the Distance Derby.  I rode 1,235 miles and finished in 8th place.  (1,235.8 miles, but who’s counting?)   While I entered the Distance Derby this year, I really didn’t put myself in the race.  I have counted hours in the saddle for years and miles ridden the last few, so I’ll continue to run against those riding faster and farther, but this year instead of hoofing it on Windy, I’ve been doing it on my own two feet.  Exercising, that is. 

 

I mentioned here before that a herd of horsewomen and I joined forces to take it off!  The weight, that is.  I work much better with a team and let me tell you, there are a few determined women out there!  It is not a race or a competition on who is losing the most – it is about making healthy food choices and becoming less sedentary (which sounds better than saying “diet & exercise).   It’s the goal for everyone to get to what they believe is their ideal weight and live healthier.  

 

 

Since we started our program 158 days ago, Shari was the first to meet her goal, losing 18.4 pounds.  But having done so well, she would like to continue to lose a few more to reach the coveted “lower decade”.   Shari’s riding goal this year is to make the 100% club in Region 6 Competitive Trail, completing 100% of the rides in the region.  She is well on her way.

 

 

Diane, has lost 46 pounds and is very close to the finish line.  She, too, had a number goal in mind but now, reading up on ideal weights and other factors, has become a bit more aggressive with her goal.  This is her first ride outing with her new horse, still green to the trails. 

 

 

Corie had lost quite a bit of weight before joining our group and while she continues to see a loss, she has been seriously running, completing several 5Ks in the last couple months and doing some crazy-ass exercise plans which makes the rest of us huff & puff just hearing about them.  While we all like to see our scale numbers down, admittedly, we are just as happy with fewer inches around the waist and great muscle tone. 

 

 

Several in our group started their weight loss plan last year and have now lost over 50 pounds!  Others, who didn’t have as much to lose in pounds, have lost inches through new exercise plans.

 

 

As I put on the weight, I did not have as many full body pictures.  I planned it that way.  But at work a few weeks ago, someone made mention of my weight loss and I remembered that I had a picture of me wearing a similar outfit about a year ago at McCain’s graduation and had them snap a picture of me on the right.  So its about the best before and after I have right now.  Today I reached my goal of a 30 pound loss (30.5 to be exact, but who’s counting?)  Like Shari, I am still tinkering with going for that next decade. 

 

 

And yes, here we are just bragging but Corie and I were thrilled to get back into our wedding dresses.  Did I mention that she has a set of twin girls? 

 

 

What the four of us have in common – besides being in a motivated group - is using My Fitness Pal to monitor our food and exercise.  Initially I set it to a 2 lb a week loss and it was spot on.  I plateaued at the start of the 2nd quarter, made some adjustments and as of today, I averaged about 1.3 lb loss a week.  Again, it was right on for the average.  In addition, I go to Curves 2 to 3 times a week, spend 30 to 40 minutes on the elliptical a few times a week and walk here at home as much as I can.  I try to get a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise in a day.  I still don’t necessarily eat good foods, just eat less of the same of the stuff I like.  Fruits and protein shakes are my friend. 

 

The real work begins – maintaining.  I am a bit scared but beyond motivated!

 

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