Rain, rain and more rain. We looked east, as usual, and it still looked wet. It did seem to be a slight possibility of getting a dry stretch down around Thorp and Ellensburg. We hadn't done Joe Watt canyon in a long time, so we headed there. Francine mentioned hunting season, as we drove down I90. Joe Watt parking area is closed in the winter due to elk feeding. Today, I guess is the opposite. As we rolled up to the gate, we could see campers/trailers all over the place. I guess this is hunting in the modern age. You and a thousand of your friends camped in the same valley. We quickly turned tail and ran away. Next stop, Mansion trails in Ellensburg. We had originally been hesitant of riding here due to fearing the ground would be too wet to ride without doing trail damage. Lucklily the trails were perfect, and we only suffered a light drizzle. We rode to the top of the ridge on Chest Pains, then turned around and hit the other short loops, off of chest pains. Needing a little more exercise we headed up the boy scout trail, for another out and back. We didn't make it to the top of BST, but got enough to wear out the legs. Still dialing in the loop possibilities out here and will hopefully make it back before the snow shuts down the top of the ridge.
