REGULAR FEATURE
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Robert Eversole (The TrailMeister) started creating trail maps, and gathering trail data when he served with a Mounted Search and Rescue team and found that accurate trail information wasn’t available. Five years later,
www.TrailMeister.com is providing free, professionally created trail maps for popular riding areas and helping horse enthusiasts experience the joys of trail riding.
Active in the equine community, Robert is a NARHA Registered Instructor with over a decade of experience helping individuals with special needs experience the rewarding benefi ts of equine-assisted activities. Robert also serves on the boards of trail advocacy groups, as Director-elect of Backcountry Horsemen of Washington (BCHW) Tahoma chapter, and Assistant Treasurer of BCHW.
A U.S. Marine, and most recently a refugee from corporate America, Robert is enjoying his new career helping fellow trail riders stay found and safe on the trail. When he’s not on the trail, “The TrailMeister” resides near Seattle, WA and teaches land navigation to a wide variety of outdoor groups.
For free trail maps, trail tips, gear reviews and more, visit
www.TrailMeister.com.
Trail Savvy
Trail Review: Harry Osborne State Forest by Robert Eversole
Premier Day Riding Destination in Hamilton, Washington
opefully, the worst wintery weather is behind us and miles and miles of glorious trails under blue skies are
ahead. With that in mind, I wanted to briefl y depart from my usual trail tips, how-to’s, and wherefores and talk about a great place to ride. At some point we’ve got to stop reading and practicing for the trail and actually go forth and ride. It’s my hope to augment this year’s column with reviews of a few great places to ride. Destination of the Month: Les Hilde/Harry Osborne State Forest; Hamilton, Washington. For early season
rides, the Les Hilde (or “Harry O” as many local riders refer to it) trail system in northern Washington northeast of the city of Mount Vernon is a wonderful place to start, or continue, a year on the trail. Located on the west side of the Cascades in scenic Skagit County, Les Hilde offers some of the area’s best year-round riding opportunities on the 100-plus miles of trails that meander through the Harry Osborne State Forest on the fl anks of Mount Josephine. One of Les Hilde’s best features is the ease with
which you can get to the trailhead. Unlike many areas where getting to the trails is an adventure in itself, Les Hilde is less than twenty miles from a major interstate highway (I-5), and directly north of Hamilton, WA. The chance of getting lost on the way to the trailhead is fairly low. The easy acces- sibility and close proximity to large metropolitan areas makes Les Hilde one of the premier day riding destinations in the Pacifi c Northwest. Once you’ve arrived at the trailhead you’ll
immediately see why Harry O is such a special place. Separate graveled parking areas for day users and campers keep things nice and orderly. A large covered group shelter makes a wonderful spot to share stories of the day’s ride. A large mounting ramp and spacious restroom facilities
18 March 2012 The Northwest Horse Source
round out the amenities at the trailhead. About the only thing lacking here is water. Les Hilde is a dry camp with no potable water and a moderate walk to a nearby stream for stock water. The trail riding here is typical of Western
Washington with lots of climbing as you ride the well-maintained trails that hug the side of Mount Josephine. The views of the Skagit Valley that you’ll have from any of the various viewpoints make the climbs well worth the effort. The views from the Lower Josephine Lake trail are particularly inspiring. Of course, you’ll fi nd an equal number of down- hill stretches as you make your way back to your rig. With forty named trails covering
over a hundred miles of forest, everyone can fi nd a great ride at Les Hilde, from dusk-to-dawn treks to short rides of under an hour that will have you back to camp in a hurry. For the extremely adventurous the 1,200 mile long Pacifi c National Trail runs through Les Hilde and stretches east to the Continental Divide in Montana and west to the Pacifi c Coast. Another feature the Les Hilde trail system
shares with typically wet Western Washington is it often feels as if you’re riding through a tunnel of greenery as you make your way from one glorious viewpoint to another. The Skagit County chapter of the Back Country Horsemen of Washington does a super job of trimming the brush and otherwise maintaining the trails and keeping them passable. Give this group of hard working trail volunteers a hand by following “Leave No Trace” guidelines and keep Les Hilde a wonderful destination point for everyone. As always, for more information on these and other equestrian riding destinations throughout the U.S. visit
www.TrailMeister.com, the largest source of free validated trail and trailhead information as well as trail maps to keep you on the right path.
NWHS
www.nwhorsesource.com
PHOTO: ROBERT EVERSOLE
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