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| Hiking | 4.20 Miles |
649 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.20 Miles | 2 Hrs 9 Mns | | 1.95 mph |
| 649 ft AEG | | 12 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | I needed a more mentally engaging hike to get over the funk I experienced after the <3 mile non-hike of a few days ago, so why not do what I had originally thought of when traffic slowed us at Sheep Crossing.
So Stewart Mountain Horse Trails it is. It had been a full 2 years since I was last on these trails so right off the bat, I missed the first turn. Well, I didn't exactly miss it, but it didn't look like what I recalled, so we continued on past, requiring a bushwhack to connect with the trail we passed on.
Although now on the trail I had planned on following, it was obvious it had not been traveled in a LONG time. And based on major erosion, it's no wonder equestrians had been avoiding it. While it felt much like a bushwhack for the first mile, it was just what the doctor ordered... challenging enough not only to demand full mental attention with every step, but providing a thorough workout. Lots of slow-but-sure ascents in the narrow eroded channels followed by stints in sandy washes, which meant plenty of effort for the lower back and leg muscles, yet none of the harsh footfalls a hard-packed trail would cause.
Although it was WINDY at home, noticeably so on the 18-mile drive as well as at our chosen trailhead, the variety of the terrain was enough to block most of the wind so the hike was pleasant enough.
As we neared 2 miles hiking we heard voices gradually closing in from behind and sure enough, it was the quintet of equestrians we had seen well below us earlier in the hike. Knowing how some horses get freaked out by humans standing still by the trail, we went well off the side of the trail and sat down on boulders behind some brush. And yet as the passed by, well over 100 feet away from us (GPS track confirms it), a couple started waving at us. We half-heartedly waved back, to which one woman yelled to us We're waving so the horses know you are humans.
While I do understand the reasoning, we were far enough away not a single horse looked our way, nor appeared to know we were there until we responded to the woman, it still sounds to me like those horses need better training if they are to be on trails where human contact is expected.
Later I told Tracey that when the woman yelled why she was waving, I should have responded well we were waving at you to go away!
So, to avoid any further horse/human contact, for the next 1.5 miles of the hike we stayed well off any of the trails, basically being satisfied to bushwhack most of the return trip.
But wouldn't you know it, less than a hundred yards from the car, we hear a few more equestrians approaching, so although we wouldn't be face-to-face for a minute or two, we spoke loud enough for them to hear, stating we were humans, which they two gals acknowledged with thanks, but all the same, one of the horses still freaked out. The gal was able to regain control of the horse then passed us by, stating she was very surprised by the reaction of her horse as that was not a normal response to obvious (and speaking) humans.
So what's the takeaway from the hike?
While I really like the area in the vicinity of Stewart Mountain, bushwhacking provides so much more enjoyment than following the existing trails. bushwhacking so avoid humans and horses as much as possible. Slightly surprising to me, not once did Tracey raise any ire about the extensive bushwhacking (through/past/around plenty of thorny vegetation) on the return.
In the end, since I wasn't focusing on various aches and pains it was a very enjoyable hike and best of all, I feel much better.
(I only took photos in one spot so I wasn't focusing on that aspect either.)
Temps: 69-77° F |
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