Hoofing & Hiking it with Jessie

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Hoofing & Hiking it with Jessie

Fused from scoliosis at age 10, nothing could stop this avid equestrian from continuing to ride.

Follow along as she & the horses adventure around & provide updates on trails, camping & more!

27/01/2024

Throwback to 2021 when we camped out at Valar Horse Facility in Jackson, WY to ride in Grand Teton National Park. Our favorite place!

Valar offers limited camping spots, and you have to make reservations a year in advance. You back your trailer up to their deck and have a whirlpool bath to relax in. There are some trails up the road you can ride directly in to. Then you can pay to borrow a trailer and haul over to Grand Teton National Park. Pia is a great and extremely knowledgeable host and even has hay, salt licks and more you can purchase to keep your horses comfortable while there. The pens were kept clean for us and horses each had their own spot or shared spots.

14/01/2024

What is/are your New Years goals? It's ok to not have one and just squeak by. That's exactly what I did last year after dealing with a major spinal fusion revision surgery. I am not allowed to try and horseback ride again for a year, so my goal this year is to keep working on my body strength, get outside and hike more. That I will definitely be doing as I accepted a position with the National Park Service out west. I will still provide horse camping and trail ideas but also hiking and camping/rv ideas as I start my route heading west. I plan on definitely visiting as many National Parks along the way as I can. Maybe I will even get back in the saddle joining some guided walking rides come June. That's my ultimate New Years goal but until then I just continue to live each day to the fullest and am grateful for my second chance at a better life with a new and stronger back. 💪

24/12/2023

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from the horses and I. I didn't get out much this year due to my spinal fusion revision but next year have big plans. 😉 Stay tuned and Happy Trails!

23/11/2023

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Trails wherever you might be!

🐕‍🦺🐾🚶‍♀️🥾🏞🏔⛰️🏇🐴🚵‍♀️

29/10/2023

If you're ever in the Charlottesville, Virginia area... there's so much to see and do! Right now it is apple and pumpkin season. So we visited the Chiles Family Orchard (Carter Mountain Orchard) to pick some apples and take in the beautiful views! Make it a day trip and visit the orchards, hike the nearby mountains, or even tour the nearby Monticello.

https://chilesfamilyorchards.com/carter-mountain-orchard/

16/10/2023

The Blue Ridge Parkway is starting to show its colors. 🍁🍂🍁 We ventured around Lower Otter Creek and the Visitor Center for some easy trails.

You can camp, hike and even horseback ride in certain areas. The horse trails are limited and you can't camp with your horse but they are good day rides if just passing through.

⭐️ Blue Ridge Parkway ~
https://www.blueridgeparkway.org/

🏇 Horseback riding information on trails ~
https://www.virtualblueridge.com/activity-guide/horseback-riding/

17/08/2023

Virginia - White Oak Canyon - Whiteoak Falls Boundary into Shenandoah National Park.

I'm officially 3 months post-op into a 12 month journey of healing from a spinal fusion revision. I move stiff and slow but it'll get better. It's not about finishing for me yet and making it to the end of each trail, as much as I'd like, ha-ha. It is all about being safe, learning to navigate uneven ground again, when to stop and then making it further next time. I did this hike years ago with a family member and made it to the top. It's a beautiful hike but does have some pretty strenuous parts if you do the full thing from Skyline drive within Shenandoah National Park. This time I took the road back from Graves Mountain and Syria Mercantile. You can camp at Graves and grab some good food at the mercantile. Whiteoak has a lot to offer with all of its swimming holes. A small creek runs beside the majority of the trail. There are lots of things to look at nature wise - mossy trees and rocks, old pine, oak trees and more, lots of little water falls and some beautiful old stone walls. The stream was pretty dry this time when we went but the dog and I still managed to find a few spots to swim, cool off and soak our muscles. There's nothing like freezing cold, fresh mountain water! Swimming and walking are two of the best healing therapies also. The trail coming from Syria is much easier at almost 3 miles for the whole family, however, there are still some rocky/steep areas where you may need to be careful. This is still one of my favorite places but make sure you get there early otherwise you won't find parking. There is parking overflow for $10.

https://gohikevirginia.com/whiteoak-canyon-trail/

03/08/2023

Virginia - Storybook Trail in George Washington National Forest. You can hike and camp throughout GWNF. You can also horseback ride but if you wish to camp with the horses, it will require a permit.

I have only ever ridden and hiked from the other end of GWNF near Front Royal, so this was an adventure (driving wise). Storybook Trail though was an easy handicapped accessible paved trail. I am just getting back into walking/hiking so level ground is much needed! This trail was perfect. There are areas along the path with rock scrambles to add some fun for kids. The drive in from the New Market side is a bit sketchy as parts of the road have endless potholes and the road is small/tight for two vehicles. There are a lot of switchbacks as you climb to the top of the mountain in your vehicle. The trail though is 0.7 of a mile and perfect for everyone! Great views once you get to the end, however it was a bit hazy when we went due to the wildfires up north. Storybook Trail overlooks the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gwj/recreation/recarea/?recid=79259&actid=50

25/07/2023

Seven Oaks Lavendar Farm is a cute little farm located in Catlett, VA where you can pick your own Lavendar. We went too late in the season but there was still a little bit of Lavendar left to pick and a lot of beautiful flowers to see. After we stopped in their shop for Lavendar honey ice cream, Lavendar lemonade and Lavendar cupcakes. All the best! If you're ever in the DMV area it is worth swinging by! They also have camping.

https://www.sevenoakslavenderfarm.com/

21/07/2023

A little over 2 months into my year long healing from a spinal fusion revision journey, so i'm starting to slowly get back out there. I have high hopes of camping and hiking all over the US again once I'm fully healed and then sharing those trails with everyone again. ;) So here's a few pics from a short walk at our favorite local park. They have multiple handicapped accessible trails, and you can camp there too!

☆ Prince William Forest Park ☆ https://www.nps.gov/prwi/index.htm

28/06/2023

It has been a month since my spinal fusion revision surgery for Scoliosis. That was a major surgery and has been tough to say the least, but, I'm finally starting to feel better and am starting to walk slowly as walking was said to be the best therapy and look what just came in the mail... my trekking poles! We are so excited!! Thanks TrailBuddy, my German Shepherd and I can't wait to get back to the trails!!

You're so much stronger than you think. 💪 You may just have to take things slowly at times and I've been trying to learn patience as I'm soooo ready to get back out and adventure again. Some things you just can't rush though and we all know that saying, "good things come to those who wait." There will be many more adventures ahead with some time. Stay tuned and thanks for following my journey. ❤️

27/05/2023

Where did she go?

Life is a journey and you have to make the best of each day, stay positive and keep pushing forward! Surround yourself with positive, loving and supportive people and you can do anything.

May 15th, I underwent a complete spinal fusion revision where they broke my back, took out all my old hardware, then put in new and extended my fusion two vertebrae above and below the old fusion. This was to stop my rotation which had caused crankshaft phenomenon and flat back. The spine will take a year or two to fully heal but I can't wait to get back out there walking! I may try and ride again if given the ok in a year but time will tell as this was a major surgery and to be honest I'm nervous and kind of reluctant to get back on as I never want another surgery again. Horseback riding did NOT cause or contribute to my spinal condition of scoliosis. It actually helped me gain core strength and kept my legs strong which has been helpful in going through with this surgery. :)

I got to keep my old spine model, which had shown my spine before surgery with old rods grown into it, fused vertebrae and more. It amazed me how much I was able to do with such a twisted spine! I now look forward to more adventures with a better back after a year or two.

Walking is the best therapy in healing and i'm so thankful I got the chance to walk to my two good old horses. :) Horses truly help heal. Nothing about this surgery has been easy but it's shown me just how strong one can be. Always stay positive and always look forward to what's on the other side. ;) Can't wait to see where I'm at in a year! Thanks for following my horses, dog and I along.

22/04/2023

You can plan all you want in life but it's all about embracing the situations life throws at you and making them a positive part of your journey. There most definitely will be a book in the making! Many have asked where is she now? Well, life throws us curve balls. I have fought my scoliosis for many years and even had a fusion as a kid at age 10 from T7-11 and T4-L2. You couldn't really see my back when I rode as I'd wear a riding (eventing) vest to protect it, or have loose clothes on. I never really talked about how it effected me and over the years have battled major uncontrollable muscle spasms and pain. The horses kept me going. Riding kept me active and was great physically and mentally. I took a big leap back in 2021 and traveled the US, just the horse, dog and I. We rode, hiked, saw so many beautiful places and met so many great people. VA all the way to WA, a trip of a life time! I continued periodically after that to travel when I could but knew my back was getting the best of me. So I do not ride much anymore but still love on my horses and walk as much as I can. I will be going for a spinal fusion revision in May, a 12hr surgery where they break the spine, take out the old metal and then put new metal in and extend the fusion. This will stop my rotation which we believe is causing so much of the pain and muscle spasms. I was fused at too young of an age and developed crankshaft phenomenon as well as flat back syndrome. I will come out with a 75% flatter back and more lung capacity. 😊 I look back at my journey and am grateful for how much I was able to do, and just how far I went and pushed myself. Life is beautiful, we need to live each day to the fullest, never take it forgranted, and just look around and be thankful for all the little things. This is not the end, but just the beginning... a new beginning of finding out just what I can do again. Horses will always be a part of my life in one way or another. They truly help heal. It'll be a good year before I will find out if I can ever get back in that saddle but I'm ready for whatever the future may hold. Thanks for following my horses, dog and I along in all of our adventures, it's been fun. ❤️

22/04/2023

Virginia Trails - Graves Mountain Lodge in Syria, VA has primitive camping, riding for a few hours or all day. This is our go-to spot when we need to be close to home. They have trails for all levels and you can ride up into Shenandoah National Park. They also offer something for the whole family (for those who don't ride). Check them out!

Silver rode part of the green and purple trails, to bear rock and almost to the top of Chapman Mtn. If you want climbs and mountain views here it is. Great conditioning trails.

https://www.gravesmountain.com/resort-smaller-cabins-near-shenandoah-national-park/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwl_SHBhCQARIsAFIFRVWA434pRnamgkJRES_DS8Qh8iRYEQZoQcedayd0nEnAMNGWPnCAg5YaAoqyEALw_wcB

20/04/2023

I only use the best! After workouts or for long hauls home, I love putting the linimint on my guys. This isn't like the other liniments out there... it's not sticky and it smells really good! I use my BOT wraps with it all the time and see amazing results in my older guys.

Message me to try some and see the benefits. ;)

https://backontrackusa.com/collections/animal-health

22/03/2023

- Delaplane, VA - Sky Meadows State Park -

~ You can get about 12-15 miles of horseback riding in if you utilize both sides of the state park. There is no horse camping but you can rent a campsite to tent camp. Only the back side of Lost Mountain you would need horse shoes or boots as it has some rocky parts, the rest of the trails are all rolling meadows and not very rocky. There are some gravel spots, mainly where they have fire roads. Great training trails for endurance horses or those just wanting to get their horses in shape with different types of terrain and some climbs. There are several water crossings and some small bridges. Trails are well marked. Parking is limited, so if you go on weekends, get there super early!

https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/sky-meadows

21/03/2023

Prince William Forest Park has 15,000 acres to explore. Your National Park pass allows access to this beautiful park which is right off I-95 in the northern, VA area. It is $20/car otherwise. Camp, hike and bike but sadly no horses allowed. Dogs are allowed but must be on a leash. Trails are manicured, well marked and perfect for all levels of hikers. There is a lot of history to read about and then see as you're walking along. :) Use the phone app Gaia to follow trails or use the NPS's guide that you can pickup at the rangers station or visitor center.

https://www.nps.gov/prwi/index.htm

27/02/2023

- Haymarket, VA - Silver Lake Regional Park

☆ No camping but great place for a quick 5 mile loop around a beautiful lake. You can also park at James Long and do a 12-18 mile loop by riding back into Silver Lake. The only downside to parking at Silver Lake now is that they put in speed bumps throughout the park which are really rough on trucks and trailers.

https://www.pwcva.gov/silverlake

24/02/2023

Super excited to announce I have partnered with Back on Track USA as an ambassador.

Back on Track (BOT) products have made a huge difference in my life, really helping with my pain and muscle spasms after an old spinal fusion as a kid for Scoliosis. Not only do I use their products but so do my horses! We love their saddle pads, leg wraps and blankets. I can tell a huge difference in the way my horses move when they wear them. Not only will I now be sharing my trail journies via horseback and with the dog hiking but I will also share our favorite BOT products, how we use them, how they help us and how they can help you! :)

As always, Happy Trails! 🐕‍🦺🏇🚶‍♀️🌄

14/02/2023

VA - Bears Den Overlook off the Appalachian Trail.

A short, less than 2 mile hike that is perfect for people with kids and dogs. A beautiful overlook and lots of rocks to climb around on. You can tent camp along the Appalachian Trail. The AT goes for 2,175 miles from GA to ME, and our hope is to someday hike it all, but for now, we will explore it little by little and try and get in good shape ha-ha. Horses are not allowed along the AT, but there were lots of surrounding areas to ride. Happy trails!

🌄🚶‍♀️🥾🐕‍🦺🐾🏇

https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/virginia/bears-den-park

05/02/2023

☆ VA - Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park - Hiking and Horseback Riding.

~ A quick 2.5 mile walk or trail ride through history. Mostly flat but some rolling hills. You can after drive about 10 more minutes to the Manassas Battlefields to horseback ride and hike some more (up to 18 miles more).

https://www.pwcva.gov/department/historic-preservation/bristoe-station-battlefield

29/01/2023

☆ Sowal Palms RV Park ☆ https://www.sowalpalms.com/
~ A great place to stay in your trailer if you have no horses. You can also rent a tiny house. It is less than a mile to the beautiful clear blue water and white sands of Santa Rosa Beach. They have all amenities on site for you as well... nice bathrooms with showers. You also get full hookups for your trailer with sewer and water. There is a playground for kids and some walking areas for the dogs.

☆ Santa Rosa Beach ☆
https://ed-walline-public.edan.io/
~ Ed Walline Public Beach Access is where you can park and view the beautiful Santa Rosa Beach. Dogs need a permit to be on the beach. When we went we had the place pretty much to ourselves as it was kind of early and we were on CST. Clear blue water, and white sands of the gulf coast. It was a neat experience for me as I had never been to the gulf. I loved that you could see your feet and see if anything was coming at you haha.

24/01/2023

Townville, SC - Layover

~ West View Farm ~ Misty was a great host. We arrived in the dark, but she hooked us right up and showed us where to keep our horse. You only have a power hookup. The horses have a stall with small turnout which is perfect for them to stretch their legs. I wouldn't recommend this layover for super big rigs as turning around is kind of tight and iffy when wet but it's in a quiet, peaceful location. They rent out the cute little cottage where I plugged my trailer in and parked beside. It has a great pond view. Misty also stated trails nearby but you must haul to them. They do have a ring on site if you wish to ride.

24/01/2023

Florida Layover - Bradenton, FL.

Full hookups with water and sewer. Stalls and pasture available. Lots of room for horses to stretch legs. Beautiful spanish moss covered trees for shade. Trails nearby! We checked out Alafia River State Park, Celery Fields, Lake Manatee and the local preserves. There are sooo many options. Stay a night or several days and explore. Lisa was a great host, explaining the area and allowing me to stay longer than I thought I would.

16/01/2023

Snuck in a beautiful ride on these amazing gaited guys at Alafia River State Park in FL thanks to a friend the other day. We had the best 8 miles gaiting along. No other horseback riders lol because it was 45 degrees. 🤣🙈 BUT warm to us as we both are from colder states. Alafia has hills too and isn't all flat. You can bet I'll be back for winter with my gaited girl one day! Just have to book a year or two in advance lol. The state park does have camping spots and horse corrals. 🏇 There is also a nice layover facility nearby in Bradenton, FL where you can stall or field board your horse for a bit. I'll share details later. I didn't bring a horse but did check them out and stored the trailer there.

https://www.floridastateparks.org/Alafia

21/12/2022

I haven't been to any beaches in the past year so the dog and I took a quick break at a beautiful small public beach (Haven Beach) in Mathew's, Virginia. It bumps up against the Chesapeake Bay and is so peaceful! We caught a beautiful sunset this evening and had the beach all to ourselves. The parking lot is small and only meant for one or two vehicles but what a location! It is extremely remote though, so definitely take someone along. ;) We could've stayed forever listening to the waves crash and just walking around in the sand.

https://www.theoutbound.com/virginia/chillin/relax-at-haven-beach

21/12/2022

This page was started back in 2021 when I decided to take my horse and dog and venture from VA all the way to WA while also working my FT job. I wanted to keep my friends and family up to date on my whereabouts (showing places I stayed and went to after I left). I also started this page to share that anything is possible if you just get up and try. You see, I was the homebody and also suffered from major anxiety so I planned my route and off I went. At first I was nervous but then all that left me as I started to explore our beautiful country. Fast forward to now... this page isn't very active as I haven't been able to do too much thanks to a spinal condition. However that won't stop me either! I still plan on trying to get out, and explore more. The point of this post is that you can overcome anything and you need to live life to the fullest. The world has so much to offer. Happy trails!

28/11/2022

⭐️ Trails in Virginia ⭐️

- Riding out from Graves Mountain Farm and Lodges into Shenandoah National Park (SNP) -

🏇 Hundreds of miles of trails - some for all levels. Stick with the easy around the lower level of Graves and ride the orchards or go up through some of their challenging areas like Devils Backbone or into SNP for all day riding. Graves Mountain was always the closest we could get to the mountains from where I live so I've been going there for a good 10 years now. It is the perfect place to train for endurance rides or to just build your trail mount up! We took it pretty easy this last time back at the end of October and didn't wander too far, about 10 miles due to the weather conditions... rainy and stormy. We usually do about 15-25 miles and ride all day. Our favorite ride is starting from Graves and riding to Big Meadows in SNP for lunch at the lodge and then coming back down (a good 22 mile all day ride). Stay tuned for more Graves adventures! We plan to share the challenging Devils Backbone, more lower and upper Graves trails and more of SNP. Whether you want to ride for a few hours or all day, Graves is the place to be!

~ Graves Mountain Lodge does off dry-camping overnight for $18. I normally just set up an electric corral for my guys so they can graze. You can also rent a stall for your horse, but call ahead. It's a perfect location for the whole family as they offer farm tours, pony rides and there is hiking and fishing.

⭐️ Graves Mountain ~ https://www.gravesmountain.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA1ZGcBhCoARIsAGQ0kkpVAXuYjnR1v1dg1v3cpuOR8mBwXmI5iSeqgAoO6gMamkG3HRPHSdYaAoE1EALw_wcB

⭐️ Shenandoah National Park - https://www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm

24/11/2022

Happy Thanksgiving to all our friends and family near and far. 🦃 There's always something to be thankful for. Take the road less traveled, and go hit those trails. 😉
~ Our favorite place in Idaho ~

16/11/2022

Virginia - Mount Rogers National Recreation Area - Virginia Creeper Trail.

You can horseback ride, bike or even hike this nicely manicured rail-trail system. We decided to hike away from the bikers all the way down to the North Carolina side. Next time we will horseback ride the whole trail. ;)

https://www.virginia.org/listing/the-virginia-creeper-trail/7397/

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Throwback to 2021 when we camped out at Valar Horse Facility in Jackson, WY to ride in Grand Teton National Park. Our favorite place! Valar offers limited camping spots, and you have to make reservations a year in advance. You back your trailer up to their deck and have a jacuzzi to relax in. There are some trails up the road you can ride directly in to. Then you can pay to borrow a trailer and haul over to Grand Teton National Park. Pia is a great and extremely knowledgeable host and even has hay, salt licks and more you can purchase to keep your horses comfortable while there. The pens were kept clean for us and horses each had their own spot or shared spots.

Lots of neat rock bridges and rock slabs to cross

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