Started late today - 3pm - on the Kwage Mesa Trail at the horse stables. They were getting ready for their luminaria walk tonight so I only did 3 miles round-trip because I was afraid I'd get locked inside the gates. Also, I only had an empty water bottle as I had forgotten to refill it. I did parts of exercise dvds when I got home - weight work for my shoulders and yoga abs.
As I walked, my thoughts turned to mountain lions and I thought about the Monitor article today which detailed efforts to remove the feral cattle from White Rock Canyon in Bandelier National Monument. Bandelier said the cattle were more wild than they thought and wouldn't herd. Of 11 cattle they tried to bring up the Falls Trail, they got out 4 but the rest are dead and rotting along the Falls Trail, closer to the Rio Grande. One bull had to be shot because it was threatening the cowboys and horses. They warned hikers to beware that predators like mountain lions might hang around the carcasses. After all this (failed) effort, there are still more live feral cattle roaming around. Well, maybe if the mountain lions develop a taste for beef, they'll polish off the remaining live cattle. Sounds like next time, Bandelier needs to get more experienced cowboys!
At the end of my walk, a young woman was at the trailhead with a beautiful red horse on a lead. She was letting the horse dine on juicy green grass. I bet it was a real treat for the animal!
My knee might be getting a little better. I would really like to go up the Nail Trail and out to FR2998 and back but if it snows tomorrow, I may not get to do that for a while. I'm unsure if FR2998 is full of mud right now. I'm still babying my feet somewhat until they get stronger.
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