Early Autumn Colors

On the trails north of Strawberry Reservoir, the aspens are starting to change.  The elk mating season has begun, and the bulls announce their presence with bugling. The small herd we spotted didn't hang around long enough to be photographed.

Daisy has a grand time sniffing for elk and running with her horses.

On Tibble Fork, maple reds dominate in the higher terrain, with Timpanogas in the background.

while narrow leaf cottonwoods and box elder begin to change along the stream.

Steve and Coco in Tibble Fork

Autumn colors dress the mountains in splendor.  Another week, and colors will be at their prime.

High Country Autumn

We've ridden in the high country many times in the past month.  Fall is in the air, crisp and cool.  The leaves are starting to change.  And the hunters are out, so orange is our new favorite color.

The aspens on Tabby Mountain are turning gold.

And the maple leaves blush crimson.

The grass is still spring green, due to a rainy August.

The skies are moody, changing quickly from a clear blue to stormy gray.

On another gorgeous fall day, Daisy frolics in a pond along Rock Creek.

Without a yellow lab to disturb the water, a still lake reflects the scene.

50 + 55 = Sweet Success

The Strawberry Fields Forever Endurance Ride was last weekend.  We were conditioned, primed and eager.  There were 125 riders in all, and the ride camp was like a small city.  Some were registered for 25 mile rides, some for 50.  Everyone was ready to rumble.

We rode the 50 miler on Day 1, and the 55 mile ride on Day 2, coming in about the middle of the pack on both days.  We felt pretty good about competing, and even better about finishing with us and the horses in decent shape.  We could have ridden another 50 on Day 3, but since this was the first time we'd tried 2 competitive events in a row, we thought we'd call it good.

Daisy camped with us, but had to stay at the trailer during the ride.  She was sad, but very glad when we returned.  Out of all the places around camp she could lie down, she chose Boss's portable corral.  Boss didn't mind.  During camp meetings, all the dogs were running around, visiting with other dogs and humans.  It was a friendly dog's paradise.
On Day 1, the 7AM start of the 50 miler involved 80 snorting, whinnying, dancing horses, mostly high-stepping, tail-flagging Arabians.  The ride master played the Beatles' Strawberry Fields Forever on his truck's CD as the first competitors rode out. Once we got going, the horses settled down to a good working pace.

Part of the trail wound along a ridge with a rock wall, shown here.

The trail went through a convenient gap in the wall, where elk had worn a path.  The travels included an elevation gain and loss of 6000 feet.

On Day 2's 55 mile event, the competitors were a little more sedate, since most had already competed the previous day.  Here's Steve at the start of Day  2, which also began at 7AM.

We traveled up high, to a mountain ridge with gorgeous views,

and past what the ride manager has named the Elk Gate, probably because a lot of elk hang out up there.   The second day's ride had 6700 feet of elevation gain and loss.
Both Coco and Boss passed their final vet checks with flying colors.  Steve and Janie were feeling a little addled right after the rides, but soon recovered enough to enjoy some socializing each evening.

Wildflowers were in bloom, the mountains were gorgeous, and the bugs were minimal.  Altogether, a great weekend!

Strawberry Fields

The area north of Strawberry Reservoir has some of the prettiest views and wildflowers anywhere in Utah. 

We competed in the Strawberry Fields Endurance Ride this year, a privilege and a pleasure.  Above is our new corral system for camping with the horses.  They liked the freedom compared to the old school method of  being tied to the trailer or to a highline. 

Steve and I both rode 25 miles on Day 1.  Here's a pic from the mid-ride vet check.  Steve was gobbling a granola bar, which seems to be his standard pose.  We finished in the first 25%, not pushing the horses at all.  In fact, most of our effort was in trying to contain their zeal.  Seeing so many horses moving out really got their adrenaline flowing.

On Day 3, Steve and Coco went another 25 miles, sans me and Boss.  Here are the first of the riders (of a group of 25 or so) starting down the trail to the tune of - - what else?  The Beatles' Strawberry Fields. 
While Steve rode, Daisy and I stayed around camp, taking photos of the many beautiful wildflowers:



Columbine

Leafy Jacob's Ladder

Wallflower

Penstemon

When the first rider came in, I figured Steve couldn't be far behind.  He was the next rider to show up. 

Daisy and I were watching the trail, and Daisy recognized him immediately.

Oh, the joy of running with her pack!  What a great place for dogs, horses and people to come together and have fun. 

Falling Leaves

 

Our trails are carpeted with fallen aspen gold.

A few groves still maintain their full glory.

Daisy enjoys swimming with floating leaves in a reflecting pond.

We stopped at this fence for a quick lunch. 

The view toward Daniel's Pass still has lots of color. 

Aspen surround a rock fin on the side of a mountain. Willows are in the foreground, growing along a creek.

Gold leaves hang on the spruce boughs like Christmas ornaments lit by the sun.

Autumn Paths

Doesn't this lane look inviting? 

The aspens are at their peak in the mountains north of Strawberry Reservoir. 

A photo stitch shows the big  picture.

Every turn in the trail offers another vista.

Here's a view to the south, showing Strawberry Reservoir.

Aspen leaves shower our path with gold.  In a few weeks, all of this will be covered with snow.

We pose as we pass through an "unimproved" campground (can you imagine improving on this?), just a few hundred yards from our trailer. 

Fall Colors

A week ago, the first aspen leaves were turning at 9000 feet. 

Now, a few groves have changed completely. 

Most are bright gold, but some have a reddish tint.

Steve and Boss ride through sage, past an old corral.  The willows along an aptly named Willow Creek are below them.  Aspens, some gold and others still green, decorate the hills above.

Along Willow Creek, only a few purple thistle still bloom.

Yellow Daisy stands beside a yellow serviceberry bush, with a big gray hornet's nest in its branches.  We rode right past that nest.  It's low enough to be a real hazard. Fortunately, it doesn't appear to be active. Note Daisy's orange neckerchief.  We all wear orange from mid-August until the snow falls.  We want the hunters to see us, even if we don't see them!