David and Faye always say we should hike together when I see them but we've never done it. I hiked with them today, starting from the Lone Spruce lift and following jeep roads and bike trails to the top of Rim Run where they had some lunch and we all enjoyed the views.
Faye took off right away and I walked behind David but next time, I'd like some Elevated Heart Rate (EHR) so I'll follow Faye. I could hike with Dave every other time.
We only did 4 miles and Dave stopped in at the ski area office and got his badge. I've met more ski area employees this one day than in all the years I've been in Los Alamos - Tom Long is the ski area manager, Don Sauer is the manager of the ski area office, and Mike Green, along with Jessie May, a fierce blue heeler, is the maintenance manager.
I walked another mile afterwards and was surprised to see Dave and Faye still there. They had found a bonanza (incidentally, the ski area has spelled "Bonaza" on one of the signs for the Bonanza run!) of aspen wood, which they prefer because it doesn't create much creosote. Ski area employees had cut it down and told Dave and Faye that they could haul it away. They'll go up tomorrow and get the rest and invited me to walk with them again.
Mike Green said that Jessie May (for whom Faye always carries a dog biscuit) had treed a bear and there are several bears in a range of sizes roaming the mountain.
The ski area office has glossy bike map brochures.
After I left Dave and Faye, I saw 2 small deer, one with small velvet antlers, on the hill above me and I flushed a grouse in the woods - gave me a start! Faye said that one time Betsy saw a cougar on the mountain. On Monday, Dorothy and I saw several roadside animals - first a coyote, then a young deer, and last, 2 raccoons running across NM126.