Mountain Mettle June 2011 @ Photos2011-06 @ sweep rider:: Leg 3 sweep rider:: Linda Ballard and her 35 year old mule, Woodrow, followed the last riders to camp.# 049:: 30 milers start::A controlled start for the 30 milers.# 031:: Zack and Dan :: No one got lost, thanks to Zack and Dan, expert trail flaggers.# 034:: Zander:: Zander, trail flagger in training.# 048:: Jim and Vixen:: Jim and Vixen ready to lead the 50 milers in a controlled start.# 053:: Camp:: Camp with Roxborough Park in the background.# 058:: Bill and Terry:: The water monitors. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!# 040:: Flagging trail:: Kayla still smiles after marking 20 miles of the trail.# 057:: Indian Creek Vet Check:: # 063:: Pit Crew:: Steve, will you Crew for me, too?# 064:: The Vet Exam:: Each horse is thoroughly examined before, during and after the ride. There are 15 parameters which must be met before the horse is judged "Fit To Continue."# 073:: Carol and Phlame:: Carol and Phlame after 15 miles.# 076:: Lynn and Rejis:: Lynn and Rejis finished in the Top Ten!# 081:: Rider heading out:: See you at camp.# 007:: CT 1776:: Colorado Trail, 1776, West of Indian Creek Vet check.# 085:: Second in command:: Dan, thanks for all your help!# 086::Crewing:: Dancers Starliner's Pit Crew.# 088:: Refueling:: Dancers Starliner, aka "Ramon," refueling after 32 miles.# 098:: Herb and Challenger:: 50 miles in 7 hours , 39 minutes for a Top Five finish! Great teamwork!# 099:: After the second loop:: Riding with friends makes the miles fly by.# CT 1776 IC-S Platte:: Colorado Trail:: West of Indian Creek on the Colorado Trail.# 105:: Pulse taking:: The horses pulse is taken when the horses arrive at the vet check then rechecked by the vet before being judged "Fit to Continue."# 107:: We're a team.:: Each horse has a unique way of competing. Riders become very aware of their mounts preferences.# 109:: Relaxing at the vet check.:: # 123:: Roses:: # 120:: Bev and Blue:: Blue, age 32, helps "sweep" the trail for the third year in a row. Thanks, Bev, for all you do!# Linda and Woodrow sweep trail 6-11:: Trail Sweeps:: Thank you, Woodrow and Linda.# Registration volunteers:: Registration Volunteers:: Zander and Bev welcome you to Mountain Mettle.# bear061411a:: Respect the locals.:: Respect the locals # % Pre/Post ride photos (behind the scenes, 2009, 2010) @ PhotosPrePost @ Sharptail trail head June 2009 :: Sharptail trail head June 2009 :: # Sharptail shelter :: Sharptail shelter :: Registration, ride meeting, dinner and awards will be held at the Sharptail Ridge Open Space trail head shelter. # Swallowtail trail Damsel and Linda 2009 :: Swallow Tail Trail with Royal Damsel and Linda 2009 :: The Swallowtail Trail winds through sand stone formations. # Sallowtail Trail Kayla and Khaaruso 2009 :: Swallowtail Trail with Kayla and Khaaruso :: Kayla and Khaaruso followed the Swallowtail Trail around the sand stone monoliths to win the 50 mile ride and received the Best Condition Award in 2009. # Swallowtail Trail :: Swallowtail Trail :: There is more sand stone formations on the Swallowtail Trail. # Swallowtail not as bad as it looked :: Swallowtail Trail not as bad as it looked :: The trails are nice and wide throughout the Douglas County Open Space trail systems. # Swallowtail the rock we ride around 2009 :: Swallowtail, the rock we ride around 2009 :: A different view of the monolith we ride around. # Sandstone through Damsel's ears :: Sandstone through Damsel's ears :: Roxborough State Park though Damsel's ears. # R Park :: Roxborough Park :: The Southern end of Roxborough State park with Littleton in the background. # room for rent 2009 :: room for rent :: High end housing along the trail. # Linda Trail Boss 2009 :: Linda, Trail Boss 2009 # Head Vet Julie Bullock Mtn Trike 2009 :: Head Vet Julie Bullock Mtn Trike 2009 :: Head Veterinarian, Julie Bullock takes time to mountain trike between horses checking in.# Camp Cook Bev 2009 :: Camp Cook Bev 2009 :: The wonderful volunteers cooked chili and homemade brownies and cookies for the riders and vets. # Zack camp monitor 2009 :: Zack camp monitor 2009 :: Volunteers were 3 to 98! # Titan on Forest Trail 800 :: Titan on Forest Trail 800 :: "Titan" invites you to ride Mountain Mettle. # East side of Forest Trail 800 :: East side of Forest Trail 800 :: Checking mileage on Loop 2 of the 50 mile ride. # Damsel clearing trail 2009 :: Damsel clearing trail 2009 :: We can pull flags at a canter! # big horn sheep3 :: Big horn sheep :: Big horn sheep are often seen in Waterton Canyon. The horses seem to take them in stride, unless one heads towards you, looking for a treat. # Mountain Mettle Indian Creek T-H 1-31-09 034 :: Mountain Mettle Indian Creek Trail Head :: Trail head where "out" vet check is located. # Pack mules take a break. :: Pack mules take a break :: The water pack mules take a break on the Swallowtail Trail. # Bear emptied water buckets :: Bear emptied water buckets :: After the ride in 2010 a bear played with the water tubs the mules had hauled in. # A lot of firsts. :: A lot of firsts :: A young gelding from Nebraska had his first Limited Distance Ride, his first mountains, first mountain bikers, first oak brush bordered trail and finished in the Top Five. Then he helped clear trail by carrying his first flags and empty water jugs. # Indian Creek Vet check area :: Indian Creek Vet Check area :: The "out" vet check has pens, water and lots of grass for the horses. # Marking powerline trail. :: Marking the Power line trail. # Ranger at base camp :: Ranger at base camp :: Douglas County Open Space Rangers provide 24 hour support for the ride. # Riding Buddies :: Riding Buddies :: Mike and Titan are the most awesome riding buddies! They do it all-check trail, mark trail, ride the ride, sweep trail after the ride and check more trail! # mounted patrol mules pack water :: Mounted patrol mules pack water :: The Douglas County Open Space Mounted Patrol member and mules hauled water up Ringtail Trail in 2010. # Mules pack water for the enduranc horses. :: Mules pack water :: Mules packed water up the Ringtail Trail. In the background is Swallowtail Trail and oxborough State Park. # Sharptail gate :: Sharptail gate Sharptail Ridge Open Space gate :: This is the gate into the parking area where the base camp is located. # Sharptail parking area with shelter :: Sharptail parking area with shelter: The first view of base camp from Roxborough Park Road. # % August, 2010 Ride Photos @ Photos2010-06 @ base camp 3 :: Base camp :: There's shade at Base Camp. # base camp top :: Base camp :: Parking for large rigs on the old helicopter landing pad. # base camp :: Base camp :: Tents, trailers and trees at Base Camp. # buffalo creek 2 016 :: Buffalo Creek :: Rock and trot down the Homestead Trail. # buffalo creek 2 027 :: Buffalo Creek :: The Sandy Wash Trail. # buffalo creek 2 030 :: Buffalo Creek :: 1776, the Colorado Trail. # Miller Gulch trail head 2 :: Miller Gulch Trailhead :: Vet check area at the Miller Gulch Trail Head. # Morrison Creek trail :: Morrison Creek Trail :: A small pile of really big rocks on the Morrison Creek Trail. # Rd 549 :: Road 549 :: Crew's view of a ranch near the Miller Gulch Trail Head. # single track 2 :: Buffalo Creek Burn area:: Riding through the Buffalo Creek Fire, 1996, Burn area. # %