Late last night we were joined by a group of ATVers, with whom we had a nice chat as we did our morning chores. Headed out after breakfast, saddled and booted since the trails seemed to have quite a bit of stone on it, which turned out to be true, though most of it was pretty big stone rather than small gravel, which was easier on the horses. Headed out on what I guess would be considered the middle loop, which took us to a lovely place called Hedgehog Hill, where we had to leave the horses down below to hike up to the top of the hill, a stone cap on the mountain similar to Bradbury Mountain, but without the crowds. The view was equally stunning, however, particularly since the trees are just starting to turn their fall colors. Someone had somehow managed to build or haul up a couple of picnic tables on top, and we rested there, enjoying the view on all sides, and chatting for awhile. What a gorgeous day, the weather was perfect again. Took some great pix from up there, and another one of a rock that looked like a giant snapping turtle head on the road back. Climbed down again, passed a barren teepee at an intersection that has a plaque that invites travelers in to rest and build a small fire (very poetically, I might add, using old Iroquois wisdom), but it was in need of repair and walls. Found out later from Diana (another ranger) that the teepee isn’t used during the summer, but would be fixed in time for the winter season (which probably starts in the next few weeks : -) for the skiers, snowmobilers and snowshoers that apparently use the park to great advantage during the six months of winter here. Anyway, our ride ended up being about 7 ¾ miles long, another perfect day on the backs of our brilliant horses! Late in the day, some friends of the ATVers showed up with two horses, which they put in a portable corral. Meanwhile, ours were back in the "skating rink" happily munching on grass and clover.
Late last night we were joined by a group of ATVers, with whom we had a nice chat as we did our morning chores. Headed out after breakfast, saddled and booted since the trails seemed to have quite a bit of stone on it, which turned out to be true, though most of it was pretty big stone rather than small gravel, which was easier on the horses. Headed out on what I guess would be considered the middle loop, which took us to a lovely place called Hedgehog Hill, where we had to leave the horses down below to hike up to the top of the hill, a stone cap on the mountain similar to Bradbury Mountain, but without the crowds. The view was equally stunning, however, particularly since the trees are just starting to turn their fall colors. Someone had somehow managed to build or haul up a couple of picnic tables on top, and we rested there, enjoying the view on all sides, and chatting for awhile. What a gorgeous day, the weather was perfect again. Took some great pix from up there, and another one of a rock that looked like a giant snapping turtle head on the road back. Climbed down again, passed a barren teepee at an intersection that has a plaque that invites travelers in to rest and build a small fire (very poetically, I might add, using old Iroquois wisdom), but it was in need of repair and walls. Found out later from Diana (another ranger) that the teepee isn’t used during the summer, but would be fixed in time for the winter season (which probably starts in the next few weeks : -) for the skiers, snowmobilers and snowshoers that apparently use the park to great advantage during the six months of winter here. Anyway, our ride ended up being about 7 ¾ miles long, another perfect day on the backs of our brilliant horses! Late in the day, some friends of the ATVers showed up with two horses, which they put in a portable corral. Meanwhile, ours were back in the "skating rink" happily munching on grass and clover.
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