Snohomish Almosta Ranch

7/23/11

A LATE-JULY FOREST MOZEY

The goats and I were kinda bummed-lonesome with Jane gone so we decided to cheer ourselves up with a walk in the woods and to high places. It worked. It sure cheers things up to wander around nibbling on Mother Nature's grass and Grandma Jane's sausage biscuits.

Custer with Bear Butte in Background

Saving the Good Stuff for Later

MAKING FACES

Just some random glimpses of the faces of a wonderful life at Ten Green Acres in South Dakota. Nothing like it.

Goose Eye

Cat's Eye

Goose Eye

Eagle Eye

Glass Eye

Haunted Eye

SENIOR EXPLORERS REACH HIGHEST SUMMIT EAST OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

Four generations of enthusiastic men, women and children embarked on a Black Hills Explorers adventure to the summit of Harney Peak on July 9. After hiking some of the members went fishing in Sylvan Lake, others went swimming at the Sylvan Lake beach, and others rested in the shade on the lush lawn at the shore.

The seven-mile round trip hike with 1,100-foot elevation gain reaches the old CCC fire watch tower. In 1855 the 7,242-foot mountain, highest point east of the Rocky Mountains, was named for General William Selby Harney. The tower was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938 then de-activated in 1967. On the day of this hike, clear skies and cool breezes provided an impressive 360 degree unobstructed panorama of the entire Black Hills, plus parts of four states.

The Black Hills Explorers group normally meets the second Saturday of each month at 8:15 at the Canyon Lake Center (but check each time, for occasional re-scheduling). Advance signups are in the office. On August 13 from 8:30 – 11:30 (during the Rally and typically one of the hottest weeks of the year), the group will meet in the Canyon Lake Center for a digital photography workshop. This learning-adventure will help Explorers learn how to take better outdoor photo’s, edit (improve) photos on a PC, then store and email the photos to friends and family. Participants may bring a digital camera.

More information about the Black Hills Explorers can be found at www.BlackHillsExplorers.org or by calling Lee Alley at 605.863.0806. Any person of any age is invited to accompany the Black Hills Explorers’ activities, and encouraged to join the Canyon Lake Center. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Explorers en route to the Harney Peak Fire Tower (in background)

Jim and Gigi Kern almost to the top with The Needles in the background

April Malik with her daughters Alysala, Aisha, Aleeya, Aisulu, Asea

Sylvan Lake and Beach

CATS NEED TO GET OUT

The cats were getting antsy (ahem), so I took them with me and the goats on a dinner-mozey in the forest.

PACK GOATS CARRY THE BEER AND ICE

They wanted to go on a munch-mozey. But it was blazing hot. So we negotiated a deal. They carried the beer and ice. I carried the camera.

6/20/11

SENIOR EXPLORERS SNOOP OUT A GHOST TOWN

On June 13 twelve of our Black Hills Explorers toured the Galena, SD mining town ruins and got in about five miles of healthy hiking on a beautiful sunny day in the process. Here are some images from our trip.

For more photo's click here.

The Black Hills Explorers meet at 8:15AM every second Saturday at the Canyon Lake Senior Center. Before attending you should call the leader, Lee Alley at 605.863.0806 or send an email to Lee@LeeAlleyRealEstate.com. That way you can get tips on where we're going, what to wear, etc. Also, please stop by the Canyon Lake Center at 2900 Canyon Lake Dr to sign up during the week before. They will ask you to post a $5 fuel-cost share for the Center's van which we use.

5/14/11

SENIOR EXPLORERS' FLUME TRAIL GEOCHACHING

The Canyon Lake Center's Black Hills Explorers set out on Saturday, May 14 to locate a hard-to-find treasure box hidden along the Flume Trail.

Ten of us went on this snow-misty 7.5 mile trek, including some steep-slope rock-scrambling in search of geochached treasure. Our youngest on this outing was 61 and the eldest was 84. NOTE: The 84-year old recently returned from summiting 19,000-ft Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa. That's nearly a mile higher than Colorado's highest peaks!.

Our GPS expert Clint VanBlaricum showed us all how to use the GPS, then he even "broke the code" and was the first one to locate the sneaky little treasure hidden under rocks off-trail. We took a marble from the box, and left an LED flashlight. But we brought home some great memories, including new GPS and geocaching skills, and great respect for the tenacious vigilance of our fearless GPS leader.

Each outing is the second Saturday of the month. Our next outing is Saturday, June 11, leaving the Canyon Lake Center at promptly 8:30am, returning mid-afternoon. We will tour an historic Ghost town or two, from the old mining and logging days. For more information, call the Explorers' leader, Lee Alley at 863-0806, or email to Lee@LeeAlleyRealEstate.com.