Two Trails, One Perfect Day: Our May Birthday Ride Adventure
What do you get when you mix a milestone birthday ride, two distinct trail groups, and some master-class coordination? An absolute home run of a day in the saddle!
Our May Birthday Event was a unique dual-ride spectacular. A massive shout-out goes to Beth, our Trail Boss, who did a phenomenal job keeping us organized, managing the waivers, and ensuring everyone was at the trailhead and ready to ride on time. Thank you to all the riders who showed up punctual and prepared—because of you, this big group ride ran like clockwork!
It takes serious trail knowledge and logistics to pull off a staggered start. The plan was to send the “Blue Devils” out 30 minutes early on a tougher, longer route, with the goal of timing their return perfectly with the Green group.
Guess what? It worked flawlessly.
The Blue Group: Conquering Cushman Creek: Brandy led the Blue Devils, Bobbi, Cynthia, JoAnn, and Sky. They tackled the formidable Cushman Creek trail, which kicked off with a notoriously massive, steep two-track drop straight down into Dry Creek. From there, they hooked onto the single-track loop, climbing up the south side of Cushman Creek before navigating the heavily rolling, hilly north side of the canyon. Just as planned, their horses were working their way back up “Hell-Hill” at the exact moment the Green group caught sight of them from the overlook.
The Green Group: Owls and Artifacts in Coalbank Canyon: Juleen led the Green Team on a true maiden voyage for the club. This fantastic group included a few couples, and we absolutely love having the men out on the trail riding with us, Gwen & Bill, Jen & Dave, Beth, Brenda, CJ, Cynthia, and Louise.
The group started on a faint two-track skirting the rim of Dry Creek, crossed over Transfer Road, and dropped down into Coalbank Canyon. The single-track path snaked beautifully through the base of the canyon, letting the horses carefully navigate the quirky sights of “Tire Town” and “Old Couch City.”
A sharp-eyed rider spotted a Great Horned Owl glaring down from the canyon wall and it was the highlight of this loop. It turned out she was fiercely guarding her nest. While no one spotted the baby while in the saddle, a closer look at the photos back home revealed a hidden owlet!
Back at the Trailers: Potluck & Celebration: With both loops successfully conquered, the two groups reunited right on schedule back at the trailers. Once the horses were untacked, and settled with some well-deserved hay, the tables were set, the food came out and the stories started flying. A wonderful potluck ensued.
It was a beautiful day, a grand adventure, and the perfect way to celebrate our May birthdays. Thanks again to Beth, Brandy, Juleen, and everyone who came out to ride. Happy trails until next time!
