We started downhill from the Sandoval-Los Alamos County Line in Bandelier National Monument toward the Apache Springs Trail. There were 9 people. Total walked was a little over 7 miles. First part of hike was in woods and it wasn't too hot. Lunch was in the trees at American Springs. You could call it a Springs Hike because we saw Apache Springs and American Springs although Robin and I were the only ones who bothered to take a gander at American Springs. The pink and rose colored NM locusts were blooming heavily along the Apache Springs Trail and FR181/American Springs Road - now is their time!! Some of us commented on the haze to the east and our leaders said their water glass was "sweating" this morning. Was it haze or moisture to the east or was the poor visibility due to a wildfire somewhere in Colorado?
Jim says there was a sawmill in the meadow east of American Springs. That's the same area that I explored one year. Even though there wasn't any shade along FR181/American Springs Road, I really wasn't too hot. Around the trail/old road going up toward Tick Meadow, I saw bear tracks and showed them to the group. They enjoyed studying them. We got back in the trees on the Perimeter Trail.
Going along the Perimeter Trail, Jim wanted to show the group an overlook of S Site above the twin water tanks. He took us to an area that looked familiar and it may have been near the FR181 Shortcut Trail. Later, he saw another overlook right before we go down into Valle Canyon and said he had meant to take us to that one.
I had never noticed how the fireline/firebreak coming over from FR181/American Springs Road/FR2997 intersects the Perimeter Trail right before you go down to the ledge that's above Valle Canyon. Anyway, Don and Chuck had went way ahead as usual. Our leaders hadn't made it down to the overlook but continued on the Perimeter Trail toward Valle Canyon and the rest of us were trucking along behind Jim when he decided to take the fireline/firebreak, bypassing the cairned Perimeter Trail. I had at first assumed that perhaps he knew a different way down to the last ledge before the Perimeter Trail dropped into Valle Canyon; but very quickly he thought better of his course of action and bushwhacked downhill to get back on the Perimeter Trail. My left leg was mildly protesting so I said I'd go back to the trail intersection but I stupidly neglected to tell Rich, Robin, and Norm that the trail intersection I was going back to was the Perimeter Trail which would take us back to Valle Canyon. No one followed me or Jim because I think they had lost all confidence in Jim as a leader and never had any in me, plus they weren't familiar with the Perimeter Trail. Rich, Robin, and Norm all continued on the fireline/firebreak trail. When I saw that Jim had gone back up the hill to look for the three, I backtracked on the Perimeter Trail back up to the fireline/firebreak and whoo-ed loudly for the disappeared hikers. When they showed up a short time later they said they didn't hear me but at least it gave my vocal cords some exercise. They showed up just as Jim was going to wait there for them while I was going to go back to tell the group the news.
Two bikers overtook the group in Valle Canyon and all we could hear behind us was their tires on the rocks and gravel but the bikers gave no verbal warning. I didn't know what in the world that noise was! The 4 wheel driver we saw on FR181 was very considerate and slowed down so as not to create too much dust. I think that the bikers assumed that the noise their tires made were sufficient warning. I wonder who has put in small wooden elevation signs in Valle Canyon? When we all got back to Jim's truck at the Valle Canyon trailhead, which he fortunately had left unlocked so hikers could help themselves to soda, I took the two drivers up to their car and called it a good day and a good hike.
Picked up spouse's prescs afterwards. Have to put new registration tag on my car this evening and write some bills to put out in tomorrow's mail. Starving - will have another big salad this evening - can hardly wait to eat!!