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Tag Archives: Big Valley

Big Valley Fun

Last week we took the dogs to Big Valley for a spin around the 8k loop. Sky and Frida were happy to be hooked up to long leads and pull us along the trail – as long as someone was ahead like a carrot on a stick. Luna and Nancy just ran alongside their dog and people friends. They are more sophisticated than those other dogs. Or smarter, or something. Sky didn’t quite ‘get it’. She thought we should run hard and fast to catch Frida and then she just wanted to trot alongside and back and forth and generally be in the way rather than pull. If she got ahead of Frida, then she wanted to hang back so Frida could catch up. We still have some work to do to perfect this.

We followed Laurie and Nancy til they got out of sight.
At the river, Sky was the only one to test the water. Imagine that.
Nancy has the curliest tail!
It’s not cold.
I think it’s cold.
Got treats?
Methow River
Looks like MA is working and Frida is not.
Holding Sky back.

Early Spring at Big Valley

The girls and I went to Big Valley this afternoon for a walk in the woods. The snow has melted as fast as it arrived. Remember – we were walking all through January and part of February before the big snows finally fell on us and now the trail is dry and the cottonwoods are beginning to leaf out. No flowers up there yet but there will be soon. Big Valley was a good choice because I strained my lower back last Friday and only feel comfortable walking on level ground. Any hills or rough terrain are really challenging. The dogs and I need some exercise and Big Valley is good for all of us with easy access to the river for them to swim and birds for me to see and hear.

A walk in the woods
Another day another stick
Sky took Luna’s stick and then a game of chase was started
Here they come
Look out, she’s dangerous with a stick.
And back again
Through the trees
Tug of war.
The river is rising
Water birch log underwater with reflections. You probably had to be there.
A giant puffball from last year?
She could be on a magazine cover someday.
Texture of the puffball
What is on these aspens?
Fungi on a dead cottonwood
Another fungi
No trail sweep here, or so they say. Don’t worry, I picked up all of her sticks and tossed them off the trail.
That is not one of Sky’s sticks.
Through the pine forest
At home the serviceberry is starting to bloom.
The first balsamroot blooming at home

Spring Skiing

In March we are often blessed with bluebird skies and great ski conditions. This year is no exception, in fact it might be better than usual. With all the new snow last month, MVSTA will probably be grooming miles and miles of ski trails throughout March. Cold nights make for firm trail platforms and good crust skiing and bluebird skies call you to leave the computer behind and go outside.

Yesterday MA said that Big Valley was being groomed and we ought to go and take the dogs. Her dog, Frida will pull her for a real skijoring experience. I think Sky will be trying that next winter when she is full grown. That puppy is now well over fifty pounds and almost seven months old. At the river yesterday she had her first swimming experience! That’s a red letter day for any Labrador. She took to it just as I expected – with vigorous energy. Now we know why she has such big feet – they are her paddles.

Sky
Frida
Luna
Dogs just want to have fun
I can get it!
Is she part seal?
Quizzical

 

Christmas Walk in Big Valley

This is our sixth Christmas here! How can that be? It’s long enough to establish some holiday traditions. And one of my favorites is to ski with the dogs on Christmas afternoon. This year there is not enough snow to groom the trails at Big Valley so we went for a walk with dogs and friends instead.

 

Luna and Wyatt Ann are delighted to be out on the trail together again!
There goes Sky
Magnificent ponderosa pines
Juniper
Frosty Wonderland
Here comes Sky
And there goes Sky with Wyatt Ann right behind her
Methow River
Juniper was the only to get in the river
Cool stick
Down river
Frosty shapes coming out of the water
These plants were thriving under the ice
Along the trail
An enormous paper wasp nest leftover from summer
This should be a packed and groomed ski trail with a couple feet of snow and no grass showing through.
Wyatt Ann
Massive wheel line. Little dog.
Here she comes
And there she goes. Almost lift off!
What’s so funny?
I got a bone!
Ken left his pole back on the first part of the trail
Hey – wait for me
A boy and his dog

 

Here is an article about the economic impacts to our community in a low snow year.

Fall begins

Luna and I went to Big Valley this morning. It is one of the MVSTA winter ski trails where a person can take her dog and it is a great place for a contemplative walk the rest of the year. My computer has been under the weather recently so this post is from my phone. That is why it might seem klunky and abbreviated.

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Luna

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We will be skiing across this field in a few months

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Bear marks?

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Pine drops

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Not too cold for swimming yet

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Methow River

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Puffball

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Love this trail

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Wasp nest

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Old aspen