Posted 2009-02-03 4:54 PM (#98734) Subject: Ride Off The Ranch Pardee Lake Ride......, on the Mokelumne Coast to Crest trail
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 479 Location: central sierra nevada foothills
Been spring like weather here, which ain';t all that good. Corrals should be knee deep in mud right now, and I should have my bridge up to the tack room down at the ranch to cross the small flow of water that goes right in front of the door to it. You can kick the ground and all the comes up is dust. So......................
Decided enough ranch riding, that does get old believe it or not, so uncovered the Logan and took Josie on down to Lake Pardee to ride a 20 mile round trip of the Mokelumne Coast to Crest trail. I haven't had Josie down there in about 2 years. The last trip I took last year was with Fancy, so some of you might find the terrain familiar if you followed me on that ride.
I'll tell ya what, Josie was so tight and springy she done wore herself out as you can see from the pics, she was all sweaty from the get go, the excitement and of course all of her winter fur from one cold storm we got didn't help either. So off to Pardee Lake we go!
Cups up from Starbucks my first stop on the way down. It's an iced tea that I'm holding that I always get!
In the first mile you come up to the old Wildermuth House which is completely made of sandstone bricks from the sandstone right in the field there. I love the old rock wall. There are tons of those in this area.......
The terrain is rolling and open in the first 5 miles, lots of oaks, cattle and one old corral.....
Okay, I'm probablly making some of you sick with all this nice green terrain. As I ride farther along and reach the river canyon area, the grass is already becoming thick and abundant. But hang on, I'll be posting more here.....................
Posted 2009-02-03 4:55 PM (#98735 - in reply to #98734) Subject: RE: Ride Of The Ranch Pardee Lake Ride......, on the Mokelumne Coast to Crest trail
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 479 Location: central sierra nevada foothills
View of Lake Pardee just before the river canyon. The lake should be much fuller now, but was shocked that it was as high as it was.
and the road going up through some more rolling hills and green grass, (the green I promised!)
So I"m doing some trotting on and off and we come up to the trail where it becomes narrower, (not as narrow as I'm used to but it'll do!) we've been riding on a fire road basically for some time.
Now these two signs crack me up! It is steep going down and the switchbacks are quick as you come up to them. They are not long switchback very quick, so you need to have your horse turning as soon as you come off of one and onto the other......
Posted 2009-02-03 4:57 PM (#98736 - in reply to #98734) Subject: RE: Ride Of The Ranch Pardee Lake Ride......, on the Mokelumne Coast to Crest trail
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 479 Location: central sierra nevada foothills
This is a view I caught for yalls from the two funny signs! This is the trail and we need to get down and over there!
Now off and down the stairs and switchbacks!!!!!!!!!!
Of course Josie handles these like the ole pro she is and takes them on full bore going down! There is a narrow bridge coming up with a long ways down under it. She went across blowing her nose! She was being so full of herself today!
I know, I know, "some of the caca I put her through!" '
Posted 2009-02-03 5:00 PM (#98737 - in reply to #98734) Subject: RE: Ride Of The Ranch Pardee Lake Ride......, on the Mokelumne Coast to Crest trail
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 479 Location: central sierra nevada foothills
There are gorgeous view from the top of the steep climb out of the bridges of the sierras with their somewhat snow capped peaks. I took a pic. of Butte Mt. This is looking towards the town of Jackson........
Josie and I catching a view over looking the river canyon first......
Here is Butte Mt........(towards the historic mining town of Jackson, Amador County)
Once we reach our end of the trail construction, as this trai is under construction in quite a few spots from the bay area to the sierras up to Ebbetts Pass, we take a much needed cool off break, eat a snack and the much envied green grass and head on back. Along the way she is going like a freight train again, so in the chaparral spot we take a break. You can see her sweaty body in this one........
but the ole' gal is in pretty good shape for just riding the ranch, so just a quick cool off and strecth out for me and then off back to the trailer. At mile 18 she finally settled down as her steam was running out. "Told ya silly girl, chill out it's a long haul today!" as the last ride she did a 20 in was during the summer. Great sunny day, did keep my hooded sweatshirt and flannel on as the breeze was cool, but still a great day!
Ride Off The Ranch Pardee Lake Ride......, on the Mokelumne Coast to Crest trail
