What a beautiful Autumn day it is today, August 25 - cool, 74 degrees in the house and in the 60's outside. I decided this was perfect weather to go up the Quemazon Trail. Since that trail was toasted in 2000 by the Cerro Grande fire, it has become a cool weather hike.
On the way up the trail, mountain lions were on my mind. I had read a study about older drivers and how they are aware of their limitations of attention and compensate. They gave the example of older drivers not always registering what's in their peripheral vision. I've seen myself succumb to this on the trail - I've gone past hikers and dogs by the side of the trail and never even saw them. I decided I would carefully study the sides of the trail ahead of me and not get ambushed by a mountain lion.
I did get ambushed by inattention anyway. When the upper Quemazon Nature Trail ( a branch off the Quemazon Trail) met up again with the main trail, I followed it instead of the main trail. I started to realize that I was going back toward the view of the Omega Bridge over Los Alamos Canyon and, in addition, it looked like I was approaching the edge of the mesa. Eventually it got through to me that I needed to retrace my steps back to the main trail (which I had been so sure was another way down rather than up!).
I met a hiker with a dog coming down the trail. I asked how far she had gone. She said to where the aspens were tall - not all the way to Pipeline Road. She said she's heard there was a lion on the trail but hadn't seen it. Her dog, which she had found abandoned by the side of the road, was very affectionate. He goes up to baby strollers and kisses the babies - sweet!
Even before meeting the hiker, I noticed that the young, post-Cerro Grande aspens were becoming thicker by the side of the trail. I missed the lower part of the trail where I could see views and predators. I wondered if this is why humans started out on the African savannah - they could see clearly who would eat them and weren't so apt to get ambushed. Although, now at home, I'm thinking that tall grass can just as effectively hide an animal as tall aspens!
I went up to my 4 mile RT turnaround point (except I think it's really closer to 5) and admired the view of Pajarito Mountain Ski Area's slopes. I heard some thunder but it never developed into anything except a couple of rain drops on the way down.
I love going down the Quemazon Trail - you have to hop and skip and jump over the rocky trail and it's fun - almost like running! Also, I did very well going up it. It's a good trail to get some elevated heart rate on.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
First - Yesterday: Walnut Canyon Road
Got my usual early start - NOT - and since it looked like rain, decided to explore the Los Alamos County trails behind the Aquatic Center. Went over to the big Pueblo Canyon pedestrian bridge but along the way, was scared by bicyclist with too much testosterone.
I was ambling on a slight uphill portion that runs along the site of the former Olive Street Sewage Treatment Plant, looking for a faint trail that goes through the open, grassy meadow where the sewage plant used to be.
Suddenly I heard behind me this deep, unearthly whoop and I whipped around to see who was playing Monster in the Woods with me and saw a herd of wild bicyclists, 5 total, coming down a slight hill. They were far enough back that the man in front, old enough to know better, did not need to whoop at me like I was an animal he wanted to scare off the trail. I stepped aside and when he passed told him thank you for warning me but told him he had scared me. No comment. I guess he knows he's an a-hole! The other 4 came by and seemed somewhat embarrassed because each one thanked me.
I continued across the Pueblo Canyon Bridge to the North Pueblo Bench Trail and followed that east to Walnut Canyon Road and to the edge of the golf course. There's still a lot of roads and trails that I want to explore in there - the East Fork Trail and the Walnut Rim Trail.
It rained lightly on the way back but no thunder. It was such a beautiful day with clouds hanging low over the mountains.
I admit that I thought way too much on the way back about that rude and obnoxious bicyclist.
I was ambling on a slight uphill portion that runs along the site of the former Olive Street Sewage Treatment Plant, looking for a faint trail that goes through the open, grassy meadow where the sewage plant used to be.
Suddenly I heard behind me this deep, unearthly whoop and I whipped around to see who was playing Monster in the Woods with me and saw a herd of wild bicyclists, 5 total, coming down a slight hill. They were far enough back that the man in front, old enough to know better, did not need to whoop at me like I was an animal he wanted to scare off the trail. I stepped aside and when he passed told him thank you for warning me but told him he had scared me. No comment. I guess he knows he's an a-hole! The other 4 came by and seemed somewhat embarrassed because each one thanked me.
I continued across the Pueblo Canyon Bridge to the North Pueblo Bench Trail and followed that east to Walnut Canyon Road and to the edge of the golf course. There's still a lot of roads and trails that I want to explore in there - the East Fork Trail and the Walnut Rim Trail.
It rained lightly on the way back but no thunder. It was such a beautiful day with clouds hanging low over the mountains.
I admit that I thought way too much on the way back about that rude and obnoxious bicyclist.
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