In which we look forward to a long endurance season starting soon!

Another PNER convention in the books, and we looked so fancy!

(more pictures coming soon)

I spent a lot of time hanging out with the Juniors and Young Riders as well as the Pirates and Fish, but I also attended some meetings and some educational stuff and did a little bit of shopping and bought a bunch of raffle tickets as usual.

Duana won a very large purple rope halter from the raffle,
but for some reason she gave it to me!  

While hanging out with a Green Bean rider, I was able to talk a lot about some (but not nearly all) of our region's rides.  I have seen a lot of trail in (gasp) 16 years of competition.  But there are still so many more I want to see!

With that in mind, I've transcribed the current list of 2017 Northwest Region rides, and added my photos and notes for the rides. 

My hope is that other riders and ride managers will pick up the idea and post their photos and notes somewhere so I can link to them here!

New this year are rides sanctioned by EDRA in addition to AERC rides.  I have denoted the EDRA rides with yellow highlighting like this.

So, here goes:

03/25/2015  Coyote Ridge, Coulee City Washington

Coyote Ridge is a former AERC ride, with a very experienced ride manager.  

Coyote Ride vetcheck 2016

Jim and I attended the ride last year as volunteers (Fiddle was still rehabbing a stifle injury).  The trails are sand with some soggy soil after a very wet winter, and the roads are flat sandy-gravel with plenty of "give" to ease concussion.  As you can see in the photo (above) there are very few trees, but it is unlikely to be hot in March.  Rain and snowmelt may make the trail more challenging.

2016 Coyote Ridge narrative and photos are HERE.

04/01/2017 Owyhee April Fools (Tough Sucker), Oreana Idaho

04/15/2017  Grizzly Mountain, Madras Oregon

Under new (experienced) management this year.  Wide open spaces, some climbing.  The weather is fickle, so pack everything.  I rode this event in 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005, but I don't have any photos online!  It's very pretty.  More trees along the trail than Coyote Ridge.  

04/22/2017  Eagle Canyon, Eagle Idaho

 04/29/2017  April Daze, Spokane Washington

This is the third year for this early-season ride based out of Riverside Park.  Lots of good footing, elevation changes, some rock.  

75 miles of torrential rain (2015).  The weather was much more pleasant in 2016.

This ride might include all kinds of weather: hot, cold, wet, dry, and everything in-between, so pack everything when you come.

2015 Fiddle and I did the 75-miler in the pouring rain HERE

2016 I borrowed a Paso Fino from a friend to do the 25-miler  HERE

04/29/2017  Helldiver Resurrection Again, Vancouver Island British Columbia

05/13/2017  Owyhee River Challenge, Adrian Oregon

05/20/2017   Mount Adams, (FEI), Trout Lake Washington

Lots of elevation changes, single-track and logging roads.  Experienced ride managers, trail is well-marked. Weather is usually moderate.  Rain is always a possibility.

The view from King Ridecamp, 2011

Mount Adams was a many-first-ride for a few of the Usual Suspects in 2013 HERE

Flower's first 50! (2013)

2014 The first ride Fiddle and I did following my first hip replacement surgery HERE

2015 We returned to the ride and had fun on the 50-miler HERE

05/20, 20, 22/2017  Titanium Run 3-day Pioneer (FEI), Fort St John British Columbia

05/27, 28, 29/2017  Oregon Outback Hallelujah Trail Pioneer, Burns Oregon

06/03, 04/2017   Klickitat Trek I&II, Glenwood Washington

A regional favorite:  beautiful trails, not much rock.  Lots of gentle elevation changes, lots of water, and lots of grass along the trail.  

Pre-ride warmup, 2010

Weather is usually warm (or hot) and sunny, but I've spent 75 miles in the rain here in the past, too!  Great completion awards.

2010 Pictures and narration, including photos of the "scary bridge across the Columbia" HERE.

2014 Pictures and narration HERE

2015 Pictures and narration HERE

Klickitat Trek 2015

06/08, 09, 10/2017   City of Rocks Pioneer, Almo Idaho

06/10/2017  Limestone Challenge, Selma Oregon

06/17/2017  Sunriver Classic, Bend Oregon

Another former AERC ride now under EDRA leadership.  I did my first 75-miler at Sunriver in 2004 on the Toad.  Then fuel got expensive and I haven't been back, which is too bad!

Toad and me at Sunriver (2004)

Beautiful trails, lots of water, good markings. Lots of elevation gain and loss--downhill stretches "feel flat", because they are very gradual.  Uphill stretches look like HILLS!  Lots of trees, lots of grass for grazing.

06/30, 07/01 /2017  Renegade Rendezvous, Nile Washington

The prettiest trails in the Pacific Northwest!

My favorite ride.

LOTS of elevation change and plenty of rocks.  Most years the trail is a 50-mile loop with 2 out checks. There is also a (slightly) less-challenging 25-miler offered on the Friday of ride weekend. I have attended this ride every year since (egad) 2002, and Jim and I joined the trail crew in 2005. We can tell you just about anything you want to know about the camp, the trails, and how the magic happens.

Clearing trails so that even a Dragon can pass through unobstructed, 2013

2009 Renegade HERE

2010 Renegade HERE

2011 Renegade HERE

2012 Renegade HERE

2013 Renegade HERE

2014 Renegade HERE

Renegade Rendezvous 2014

Renegade 2015 HERE

Renegade 2016 HERE

07/07, 08, 09/2017  Bandit Springs,  Ochoco National Forest, Oregon

I would love to return to this ride in the beautiful forests of Central Oregon.  Maybe this year?  According to AERC records, I haven't ridden here since 2001!

07/08/2017  Midnight Rider, Olympia Washington

This ride takes place on the Capitol Forest trails, where the Bare Bones rides were held in past years.

Rosemary's ride photo from Bare Bones 2015

Rumor has it that this event will take place at night!  New ride manager.  Trails are well-established through forests and meadows.  Many bridges.  When it rains, the going can be slick (not much chance of rain in July).  Unfortunately for me, this ride is scheduled 7 days after Renegade, while Fiddle will still be resting.  I will try to attend and help out, though, as it's close to home for us.

07/15/2017  Ride the Loup, Loup Loup Pass Washington

 07/22/2017  Pacific Crest Endurance Ride, Lily Glen Horse Camp, Oregon

08/05/2015  Sand Canyon, Chewelah Washington

08/05/2017  Titanium Run 3-day Pioneer FEI, Fort St John, British Columbia

08/26/2017  Cowichan Valley Rail Trail & BCCTRA, Duncan British Columbia

09/02, 03/2017  Crazy Daze of Summer I & II, Spokane Washington

Another ride in Riverside Park, this time at the END of the summer. I haven't ridden it yet, but Santa Jim and I explored with the quads while un-marking the trails last year.

Lovely trail, beautiful footing, not too hot, no rain!

Well-established forest trails, lots of water, plenty of trail marking.  This is a public park that is sometimes subject to trail-marking sabotage, so extra markings are put up for riders! 

09/16/2017  Oregon 100, Brothers Oregon

Sand and sage as far as the eye can see.

Excellent footing, very little rock.  A few trees (maybe 12?) but it really is mostly sand and sage.  Not much elevation change.  In 2017 this ride will be a fundraiser for PNER, with lots of raffle items available.

2015 Photos and narration HERE

09/16/2017  Swiftwater, Teanaway Washington

09/23/2017  Prater Mountain, Priest River Idaho

10/06, 07, 08/2017  Owyhee Canyonlands Pioneer, Oreana Idaho

10/14/2017  Foothills of the Cascades, Molalla Oregon

When it's sunny, it's beautiful.  When it's raining, it's "rock soup". 

Sky and Cricket at Foothills in 2010

The food is good, and the company is good, and the trails are beautiful.  Bring a raincoat or two, just in case. 

2010 Sunny day narrative and photos  HERE

2012 Rainy day narrative and photos HERE

10/21, 22/2017  True Grit, Burns, Oregon (formerly The Haunting)

I do not enjoy this ride manager's events.  Some people do, but I do not.

Haunting - a costume ride in 2015

I attended one in 2015 because I "needed" the miles to secure the Standardbred Endurance award, and it was the last ride of the regional season. Fiddle and I finished the 50-miler in good time. The trails were gorgeous and the company was fabulous. 

However, the trail markings were skimpy, the water tanks were scarce, and ride management was nonchalant about riders who were long overdue.  Some people love the Outback Trails, but I won't be back.

10/28/2017   Owyhee Hallowed Weenies, Oreana Idaho

Okay, all you PNER'ers: let's hear your opinions and see your pictures!  

Remember, this isn't politics:  it's okay to disagree with me.  

I'll still pulse your horse for you next time we're in camp together!