Spouse today called one of the premier contractors in town to ask questions about our roof worries. I'm writing this as a summary of the conversation so that if either of us ever worries about this issue again, we can look back at this post for reassurance!
Contractor said: It possible that the sheet of wood decking stopped short of the ridge and another piece was used up to the ridge, thus creating a seam. It's also possible the gap in the roof deck was there all along. It wouldn't be unusual for the roof decking on a half century old house to separate along the seams due to expansion and contraction. If we checked other old houses in the neighborhood, we may find similar situations. It's not necessary to caulk the gap. If it gets worse, he would nail a plank to the underside of the roof deck from inside the attic to cover it. The ridge vent shouldn't affect the structural integrity of the roof. The ridge vent won't make the house cooler but is only intended to prevent build up of moisture in the attic space.
The contractor once taught a building trades class in the local high school and our roofer was one of his students. Our roofer has done 3 roofs for houses the contractor has built.
Despite this recommendation, I have to say that our roofer doesn't have the best customer service interface. It wasn't necessary to say things to us like "the roofer destroyed our house", "blame it on the painter". It wasn't funny and put a pall on what was otherwise a considerate act, coming out to inspect the decking. To his credit, the head of his roofing crew has good customer service skills at least. I'd truly rather not ever again see the owner himself.
The roofer also told us at his recent visit that if the gap gets wider, we should call a contractor as it would not be his area of expertise. This is probably true but perhaps the roofer should have first ascertained, before he cut the ridge vent the full length of our roof, that the roof over the remodeled carport is probably not built to the same strength and specifications as that over the rest of the house. We didn't do the remodeling but I can see that the roof in the main part of the house has impressive cross supports but the peaked roof over the carport's original flat roof only has a center support.
In the meantime, I won't hold my breath waiting for the roof to fall!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Marvelous 84 Year Old
On yesterday's WI hike up the Aspen Vista Ridge Trail, I fell in beside the marvelously fit 84 year old hiker. She's the one who told me I wasn't at the top of Tesuque Peak.
On our steep slog up Tesuque Peak, she mentioned that she no longer drives due to macular degeneration. She was driven to the trailhead in her car by another hiker.
I told her about my 3 Santa Fe area winter hikes that I'd like to complete one day. They are winter hikes because they are mostly flat and shadeless - the Spur Trail from Santa Fe Community College to the Rail Trail, Arroyo de los Chamisos Trail from Yucca Street to the Rail Trail and the rest of the Rail Trail from El Dorado to Lamy. I asked if she wanted to do any of those hikes one day and then I could take her to Vitamin Cottage afterward to shop. She has her own philosophy of hiking, though, and kindly suggested that I find someone else for those flat hikes. She doesn't hike everyday but swims also. When she does hike, she wants it to count. I have my peculiarity of insisting on 4 miles a day. Hers is to do at least 1,200' elevation gain.
Eventually, I wanted to go up faster to get to the top and then back down to my waiting husband so I said goodbye and asked her in parting to let me know this winter when she again does the hike to the Rio Grande down the Falls Trail in Bandelier. This is the one where she saw the Rio Grande magically transformed by rafts of snow.
On our steep slog up Tesuque Peak, she mentioned that she no longer drives due to macular degeneration. She was driven to the trailhead in her car by another hiker.
I told her about my 3 Santa Fe area winter hikes that I'd like to complete one day. They are winter hikes because they are mostly flat and shadeless - the Spur Trail from Santa Fe Community College to the Rail Trail, Arroyo de los Chamisos Trail from Yucca Street to the Rail Trail and the rest of the Rail Trail from El Dorado to Lamy. I asked if she wanted to do any of those hikes one day and then I could take her to Vitamin Cottage afterward to shop. She has her own philosophy of hiking, though, and kindly suggested that I find someone else for those flat hikes. She doesn't hike everyday but swims also. When she does hike, she wants it to count. I have my peculiarity of insisting on 4 miles a day. Hers is to do at least 1,200' elevation gain.
Eventually, I wanted to go up faster to get to the top and then back down to my waiting husband so I said goodbye and asked her in parting to let me know this winter when she again does the hike to the Rio Grande down the Falls Trail in Bandelier. This is the one where she saw the Rio Grande magically transformed by rafts of snow.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Aspen Vista Ridge Trail
Wednesday Irregulars met at Aspen Vista parking lot on ski hill road in Santa Fe. Some walked up Aspen Vista Trail (aka Tesuque Peak Road), some took the lift up and some took a trail up that I've never taken before which I'll call Aspen Vista Ridge Trail.
Husband took off work today and he went up the ridge trail to the lift, took the lift down and then walked downhill to the car.
I was ahead of him. When I got to the lift, even though I've been up Tesuque Peak several times, I thought I was on top and was ready to go back down until another hiker explained to me that "on top" was way up there! So, I walked to the top from the lift. It was steep but not impossible. Had great views from the back of Tesuque Peak into the Santa Fe Lake basin and of Penitente and Deception Peaks and Santa Fe Baldy. Saw two grouse. Beautiful Fall colors. Great elevated heart rate!
A hiker who had been up Cerro Rubio recently told me that the aspens leaves are just turning brown. The Jemez Mountains may have a disappointing aspencade this season but in the Sangres, colors are busting out in Technicolor!
Husband took off work today and he went up the ridge trail to the lift, took the lift down and then walked downhill to the car.
I was ahead of him. When I got to the lift, even though I've been up Tesuque Peak several times, I thought I was on top and was ready to go back down until another hiker explained to me that "on top" was way up there! So, I walked to the top from the lift. It was steep but not impossible. Had great views from the back of Tesuque Peak into the Santa Fe Lake basin and of Penitente and Deception Peaks and Santa Fe Baldy. Saw two grouse. Beautiful Fall colors. Great elevated heart rate!
A hiker who had been up Cerro Rubio recently told me that the aspens leaves are just turning brown. The Jemez Mountains may have a disappointing aspencade this season but in the Sangres, colors are busting out in Technicolor!
Celery Chomping Mountain Lions
More thoughts on Ms SUV: Maybe her and I were separated at birth. At times on the recent hike I took with her, we seemed to get along like feuding sisters. I'd rather take my chances walking alone and getting eaten by celery chomping mountain lions than make Ms SUV my regular hiking partner. Too bad for me because she likes to explore and has lots of spunk!
I was inspired to coin the phrase "celery chomping mountain lions" after listening to an NPR segment on a book about how animal sounds are often faked in nature movies. To make the sound of a lion crunching down on its prey, for instance, the sound person breaks a stalk of celery
I was inspired to coin the phrase "celery chomping mountain lions" after listening to an NPR segment on a book about how animal sounds are often faked in nature movies. To make the sound of a lion crunching down on its prey, for instance, the sound person breaks a stalk of celery
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Way Too Tired
I woke up in the middle of the night last night, around 4 am, thinking of that stupid roof. Wish we had never had a ridge vent cut in it. The house is over 50 years old and we should have waited for the best old time roofer in town to put an old fashioned roof on it. Wish we owed a mortgage on it but we don't so we can't even walk away from it! Had to get up at 6:30 am so I'm very tired.
Beautiful gray cat came meowing to our back door this evening. No collar and hungry. Gave her some of spouse's freshly cooked chicken thighs. She inhaled them. Called Animal Control to pick her up, after first checking with some neighbors. Now, Kitty won't become coyote bait tonight. OK - I thought I had troubles! Poor kitty is homeless tonight!
Beautiful gray cat came meowing to our back door this evening. No collar and hungry. Gave her some of spouse's freshly cooked chicken thighs. She inhaled them. Called Animal Control to pick her up, after first checking with some neighbors. Now, Kitty won't become coyote bait tonight. OK - I thought I had troubles! Poor kitty is homeless tonight!
Peralta Road Cattle Guard to Paliza Pass
Went with Tuesday group renegades who didn't want to walk, shop and eat out in Santa Fe today so we decided to go to Paliza Pass.
The woman who said she would drive us in her big SUV came to the meeting place but said her husband hadn't left enough gas in the tank. I didn't even know she had that enormous vehicle since she never drives it to the group hikes! Instead, she talked the other hiker (only 3 of us) into driving her tiny passenger car on Peralta Road. I said I was a wuss but probably could have driven although not as skillfully and smoothly as the woman who graciously drove us up there.
We parked just below the locked gate and walked up to the rough, steep motor bike trail that goes down just past the cattle guard and grazing fence. Two rough paths come up and now I know that both go to the same place, the intersection of the Peralta-Paliza Trail that goes around the west side of Las Conchas Peak, the blue diamond cross country ski trail that comes up from NM4 and the logging road that goes downhill to NM4 from Paliza Canyon.
I enjoyed seeing Paliza Pass. The hiker who drove us to the start of the hike is laid back but Ms SUV can be aggressively bristly at times. Even so, I see lots to admire in her and I like her.
Husband called roofer who came out this afternoon. Roofer's telling us that the cracked decking near the ridge vent is the end seam of the wood panel used to sheathe the roof and not a crack at all but a separation along the seam. If true (I have my doubts) that means that whoever made the peaked roof over the flat carport roof used a piece of wood that stopped short 8-10 inches from the ridge and then used another strip of wood to finish the ridge which is ridiculous.
My theory is the ridge vent cut somehow caused the deck panel to crack but at this point, I really don't care. The house can fall down on top of our heads for all I care!
It's 82 degrees in the house and I'm uncomfortably hot.
The woman who said she would drive us in her big SUV came to the meeting place but said her husband hadn't left enough gas in the tank. I didn't even know she had that enormous vehicle since she never drives it to the group hikes! Instead, she talked the other hiker (only 3 of us) into driving her tiny passenger car on Peralta Road. I said I was a wuss but probably could have driven although not as skillfully and smoothly as the woman who graciously drove us up there.
We parked just below the locked gate and walked up to the rough, steep motor bike trail that goes down just past the cattle guard and grazing fence. Two rough paths come up and now I know that both go to the same place, the intersection of the Peralta-Paliza Trail that goes around the west side of Las Conchas Peak, the blue diamond cross country ski trail that comes up from NM4 and the logging road that goes downhill to NM4 from Paliza Canyon.
I enjoyed seeing Paliza Pass. The hiker who drove us to the start of the hike is laid back but Ms SUV can be aggressively bristly at times. Even so, I see lots to admire in her and I like her.
Husband called roofer who came out this afternoon. Roofer's telling us that the cracked decking near the ridge vent is the end seam of the wood panel used to sheathe the roof and not a crack at all but a separation along the seam. If true (I have my doubts) that means that whoever made the peaked roof over the flat carport roof used a piece of wood that stopped short 8-10 inches from the ridge and then used another strip of wood to finish the ridge which is ridiculous.
My theory is the ridge vent cut somehow caused the deck panel to crack but at this point, I really don't care. The house can fall down on top of our heads for all I care!
It's 82 degrees in the house and I'm uncomfortably hot.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Aster Mania Along Bypass
I didn't mention that along the West Road Bypass these past couple of weeks, the hillside was encrusted with yellow sunflowers (quite possibly there was more variety but I'll say "sunflowers" for simplicity's sake!) with a border of purple asters nearer the road edge (that too is simplified - DNA analysis reveals that our "asters" are not related to "true" European asters but who cares!) This weekend, I've noticed that the sunflowers are fading and dying back but the asters seem to have grown more profuse and the purple swath along the road is a delight!
Hiked Escobas Mesa to Witch's Broom tree with Monday hiking friend. Two people from Santa Fe were to have joined us on Burnt Mesa to go to the Indian plaza but they didn't coordinate their meeting times so that fizzled.
Attended sleep-inducing AARP Defensive Driving course with husband this afternoon - all this to save a few dollars off insurance. AARP need to make the course less a dreary reading of the manual. Don't suppose they can afford driving simulators to show us how truly terrible our driving skills are?
Husband is sure he saw a bug walk into the undereave crack above the attic. Next on my list is to caulk the crack and paint over it this weekend. Don't really want to do that but maybe he's right that I should.
Hiked Escobas Mesa to Witch's Broom tree with Monday hiking friend. Two people from Santa Fe were to have joined us on Burnt Mesa to go to the Indian plaza but they didn't coordinate their meeting times so that fizzled.
Attended sleep-inducing AARP Defensive Driving course with husband this afternoon - all this to save a few dollars off insurance. AARP need to make the course less a dreary reading of the manual. Don't suppose they can afford driving simulators to show us how truly terrible our driving skills are?
Husband is sure he saw a bug walk into the undereave crack above the attic. Next on my list is to caulk the crack and paint over it this weekend. Don't really want to do that but maybe he's right that I should.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Up on the Rooftop
OK - so I wasn't actually up on the rooftop - not my forté nowadays - but I did go up the extension ladder to take photos of the crack in the roof deck, both under the eave and inside the attic area above the remodeled carport. It doesn't look like the roof will collapse any time soon. I told husband he could keep an eye on it and tell me if the crack widens. It's not the roofer's fault that whoever put the peaked roof above the carport's flat roof to create attic storage space didn't use sturdy decking. For now, the slender crack is well-covered by the roof membrane and shingles.
Hiked Apache Springs Trail to overlook just above Apache Springs. Aspens are slowly changing. On the way back, we got more distance in by walking on old NM4 that goes out Apache Springs Mesa and then eventually dips down to new NM4. I'd love to show that area to the hiking groups.
Hiked Apache Springs Trail to overlook just above Apache Springs. Aspens are slowly changing. On the way back, we got more distance in by walking on old NM4 that goes out Apache Springs Mesa and then eventually dips down to new NM4. I'd love to show that area to the hiking groups.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Paul's Portal - An Ungroomed Snowshoe Trail
Ullr Fest today on Pajarito Mountain - Aspen Lift operating, band, brew, cafe open. Spouse attended the fest while I hiked to Cañada Bonita Meadow on the lower road.
I finally explored the turnoff for Paul's Portal, an ungroomed snowshoe trail that goes out, per the sign, .5km (just under one third mile) to an overlook of Los Alamos Canyon. The snowshoe trail is marked with orange flagging tape.
As I descended through the woods, I saw a retreating, brown furry butt going sideways to my path. I chose to believe it was a deer although it looked a tad broad and low. No matter - it was uninterested in me. Just in case, I picked up two long branches which also were handy to keep my balance.
After enjoying the overlook, which is above where Cañada Bonita Canyon feeds into Los Alamos Canyon, I followed flagging that led me along Cañada Bonita Canyon but when the flagging ran out, I headed uphill to the road. When I was at the intersection of the lower road and the even lower road to the right (both go out to the meadow), I saw the orange flagging coming uphill again from alongside Cañada Bonita Canyon. Hikers I met in the meadow say plans are to have a snowshoe trail along Cañada Bonita Canyon, starting from Paul's Portal. That would be really neat!
My leg is mostly all well today - yay!
Back at the ski lodge, I sat inside and ate my homemade tabooley which was delicious. Even inside, it was torture listening to the band's loud thumping!
I finally explored the turnoff for Paul's Portal, an ungroomed snowshoe trail that goes out, per the sign, .5km (just under one third mile) to an overlook of Los Alamos Canyon. The snowshoe trail is marked with orange flagging tape.
As I descended through the woods, I saw a retreating, brown furry butt going sideways to my path. I chose to believe it was a deer although it looked a tad broad and low. No matter - it was uninterested in me. Just in case, I picked up two long branches which also were handy to keep my balance.
After enjoying the overlook, which is above where Cañada Bonita Canyon feeds into Los Alamos Canyon, I followed flagging that led me along Cañada Bonita Canyon but when the flagging ran out, I headed uphill to the road. When I was at the intersection of the lower road and the even lower road to the right (both go out to the meadow), I saw the orange flagging coming uphill again from alongside Cañada Bonita Canyon. Hikers I met in the meadow say plans are to have a snowshoe trail along Cañada Bonita Canyon, starting from Paul's Portal. That would be really neat!
My leg is mostly all well today - yay!
Back at the ski lodge, I sat inside and ate my homemade tabooley which was delicious. Even inside, it was torture listening to the band's loud thumping!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Sore, Swollen Left Leg
Don't know how I ended up with a sore, swollen left leg. Tuesday night, when I did my calf stretch, I felt a twinge in my left leg but it was fine on the LL hike Wednesday and didn't start hurting and swelling until Wednesday afternoon. The left calf was 1 1/4" more in circumference than the right one yesterday. I saw a doctor yesterday evening. He doubted it was a deep vein thrombosis but said get a doppler ultrasound to rule it out. He thought it's more likely a calf muscle tear.
My leg felt a little better today and is less swollen and sore so I didn't bother with the doppler ultrasound which isn't terribly reliable anyway for diagnosing calf thromboses. Usually, calf thromboses don't cause pulmonary emboli. If it's a thrombosis, I doubt it will kill me. If it's instead truly a calf tear, it will take a while to heal. The odd thing is that it doesn't feel horrible to walk on it but stiffens up when I'm sitting down for a while.
I had written a blog draft bemoaning my husband's neglect of his health but maybe it's more my health I should worry about.
I hiked with the WRSC group to Guaje Pines Cemetery and back. Spouse invited two of his coworkers, one who is moving back to Nebraska. They are in their 40's. They were polite but it was hard to tell if they honestly enjoyed hiking with us old folks!
I am working on matchmaking for our widower in the WRSC group. I met a widow in her 80's this summer who lives in Arizona and who would like to meet a man, I was told. I've put in a phone call to her daughter to find out her contact info. All this is with the consent of the widower. Matchmaker, matchmaker: make me a match!
Spouse has started worrying that our roof is going to collapse. This is because he once heard a loud noise originating from the roof - perhaps bats in the belfry... He has been pointing out to me deck separation at an undereave seam. He says the longer life the shingles are, the heavier the roof will be on the rafters. He's right about that and perhaps the roofer should have taken this into consideration but I don't think the roof is in danger of collapsing. To humor him, I'll go up on the ladder this weekend and peer into the attic space above the big living room to see if I see any evidence of damage and to make sure everything below the ridge vent appears dry.
We had a small leak in the furnace room on Wednesday night during the big rains. The roofer came out Thursday and replaced the furnace chimney cap. Hope that will stop the leak!
Thought of this on the hike today: The purpose of a relationship is to laugh and enjoy someone's company so much that you forget you're going to die one day. Let's call this the Noir Theory of Relationships!
My leg felt a little better today and is less swollen and sore so I didn't bother with the doppler ultrasound which isn't terribly reliable anyway for diagnosing calf thromboses. Usually, calf thromboses don't cause pulmonary emboli. If it's a thrombosis, I doubt it will kill me. If it's instead truly a calf tear, it will take a while to heal. The odd thing is that it doesn't feel horrible to walk on it but stiffens up when I'm sitting down for a while.
I had written a blog draft bemoaning my husband's neglect of his health but maybe it's more my health I should worry about.
I hiked with the WRSC group to Guaje Pines Cemetery and back. Spouse invited two of his coworkers, one who is moving back to Nebraska. They are in their 40's. They were polite but it was hard to tell if they honestly enjoyed hiking with us old folks!
I am working on matchmaking for our widower in the WRSC group. I met a widow in her 80's this summer who lives in Arizona and who would like to meet a man, I was told. I've put in a phone call to her daughter to find out her contact info. All this is with the consent of the widower. Matchmaker, matchmaker: make me a match!
Spouse has started worrying that our roof is going to collapse. This is because he once heard a loud noise originating from the roof - perhaps bats in the belfry... He has been pointing out to me deck separation at an undereave seam. He says the longer life the shingles are, the heavier the roof will be on the rafters. He's right about that and perhaps the roofer should have taken this into consideration but I don't think the roof is in danger of collapsing. To humor him, I'll go up on the ladder this weekend and peer into the attic space above the big living room to see if I see any evidence of damage and to make sure everything below the ridge vent appears dry.
We had a small leak in the furnace room on Wednesday night during the big rains. The roofer came out Thursday and replaced the furnace chimney cap. Hope that will stop the leak!
Thought of this on the hike today: The purpose of a relationship is to laugh and enjoy someone's company so much that you forget you're going to die one day. Let's call this the Noir Theory of Relationships!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Having My Doubts About La Niña
Today's LL hike was only 3 miles and attended by 13 people. Weather was cool and wonderful. We walked on the Perimeter Trail, starting from the Mitchell Trail trailhead, over to the Dot Grant Trail and back to the North Mesa-Barranca Mesa Roundabout where we had left parked cars that morning.
Across from Ponderosa Estates housing development, we found a lot of yellow golf balls that someone had putted across Rendija Canyon. Picking them up was was as fun as an Easter egg hunt! I now have more golf balls for the putt putt golf course at East Park than I need!
At Guaje Pines Cemetery, the group visited a memorial cross on a hillside above the graveyard. The cross had a plaque that said "Brad". The hikers told me there used to be a guitar at the memorial but it wasn't there today. Don't know who Brad is. Maybe someone's guitar playing dog??
The predicted rain didn't begin until we got to the pedestrian underpass near the North Mesa-Barranca Mesa Roundabout which is right where the parked cars were waiting and by the time we walked through the underpass, the rain stopped. We saw a warning sign posted at the Bayo Canyon trailhead with photos of a dog that was attacked by coyotes in broad daylight. The dog lived but the photos show obvious wounds.
We drove up to the sheltered North Mesa picnic area for lunch; afterward, I drove three hikers back to the Mitchell Trail trailhead.
Then I drove to the Ocean and walked the flat part of the Route to the bottom of Guardrail Hill. There was some rain on the way back but no thunder or lightning.
Now, it's been raining off and on all afternoon, with some hard rainfall. How could a La Niña event, which brings dry weather to the southwest, possibly be occurring this winter when we're getting all this moisture?
I'm afraid that all this rain (yes, yes, I know - the mantra in the southwest is "We need the rain!") will cause the aspen leaves to drop before they turn yellow. The aspen leaves at Ice Lake near Silverton, CO are already completely golden but they are several hundred feet higher than us. One of the LL hikers camped there overnight recently with her husband. She wanted to camp several nights but the husband got altitude sickness so that nixed that.
There has been a full moon the last few nights. I'm enjoying all my day time hikes but realized last night that I'm lately divorced from the wonder and splendor of the night sky. I did step outside the other night and gaped at the moon riding high overhead. The clouds nearest the moon were edged in silver from the bright moonlight.
Across from Ponderosa Estates housing development, we found a lot of yellow golf balls that someone had putted across Rendija Canyon. Picking them up was was as fun as an Easter egg hunt! I now have more golf balls for the putt putt golf course at East Park than I need!
At Guaje Pines Cemetery, the group visited a memorial cross on a hillside above the graveyard. The cross had a plaque that said "Brad". The hikers told me there used to be a guitar at the memorial but it wasn't there today. Don't know who Brad is. Maybe someone's guitar playing dog??
The predicted rain didn't begin until we got to the pedestrian underpass near the North Mesa-Barranca Mesa Roundabout which is right where the parked cars were waiting and by the time we walked through the underpass, the rain stopped. We saw a warning sign posted at the Bayo Canyon trailhead with photos of a dog that was attacked by coyotes in broad daylight. The dog lived but the photos show obvious wounds.
We drove up to the sheltered North Mesa picnic area for lunch; afterward, I drove three hikers back to the Mitchell Trail trailhead.
Then I drove to the Ocean and walked the flat part of the Route to the bottom of Guardrail Hill. There was some rain on the way back but no thunder or lightning.
Now, it's been raining off and on all afternoon, with some hard rainfall. How could a La Niña event, which brings dry weather to the southwest, possibly be occurring this winter when we're getting all this moisture?
I'm afraid that all this rain (yes, yes, I know - the mantra in the southwest is "We need the rain!") will cause the aspen leaves to drop before they turn yellow. The aspen leaves at Ice Lake near Silverton, CO are already completely golden but they are several hundred feet higher than us. One of the LL hikers camped there overnight recently with her husband. She wanted to camp several nights but the husband got altitude sickness so that nixed that.
There has been a full moon the last few nights. I'm enjoying all my day time hikes but realized last night that I'm lately divorced from the wonder and splendor of the night sky. I did step outside the other night and gaped at the moon riding high overhead. The clouds nearest the moon were edged in silver from the bright moonlight.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Pajarito Mountain Every Which Way
Oh, I love the onset of Fall's cooler temperatures after summer's heat and before winter's deep freeze. I love the way the forest floor is dappled with spots of yellow and red. Gathering boletus and admiring wildflowers is just a fond memory that I hope to repeat next year.
Today I hiked up Pajarito Mountain, going up Zero Road East from the Lodge, over and up Evershine Ridge, connecting back with the Zero Road East, then taking bike trails on the back of the mountain over to the Mother Lift and down Rim Run to the Logging Road back to the Lodge.
The aspens are very slow to change this year. I see some color on the hillside above Pajarito Canyon, below the Knife-edge, but can't tell if it's really aspens or just shrubs that are turning. Pajarito Mountain is not showing much color except for isolated patches here and there. Looking across at Cerro Grande today, the aspen patches were still green.
Some of the small aspens on Pajarito Mountain have brown spots on their leaves. A woman who works at the library told me that maybe the aspen colors will fizzle this year due to all the rain we got this summer. I admired a patch of thimbleberry that's turned yellow. I'll take what I can get even if it's only a patch of autumn colors here and there.
I saw a WI hiker on top, eating his lunch in the shelter of the Mother Lift. His wife had gone to the top of the Lone Spruce lift but then went back down to gather some wood. She seems to be the wood handler of the family, having badly injured her finger while splitting wood last winter. The couple won't be going to Los Griegos tomorrow with the WI group. Neither will I - the LL group switched hikes because of the predicted heavy rains and will hike locally tomorrow to get done before the rains come. Anyway, I wouldn't be able to keep up with the awesome Amazon who will lead the group up Los Griegos tomorrow!
The weather was cooler today and even some rain. I need to bring a windbreaker next time. There are still many ways left to tackle Pajarito Mountain. La Niña this winter may give me lots of opportunities to do so. The weather forecasters say that this winter's La Niña has established itself with stunning rapidity. If I understand correctly, we're supposed to have warmer and drier conditions this winter because of La Niña. I know that last winter was an El Niño event and, boy, did we get snow - lots of it!
I had this thought: If I had to troll the woods everyday to gather and hunt my food and shelter, would I love being outdoors as much or would I curse the hard work and harsh lifestyle? I thought this after reading about the hunter-gatherer lifestyle in The Peopling of Bandelier. It's one thing to go out and blithely admire and appreciate Nature, garnering mental sustenance from the land, knowing that the creature comforts of home await, but entirely different to derive all physical sustenance from the land.
Today I hiked up Pajarito Mountain, going up Zero Road East from the Lodge, over and up Evershine Ridge, connecting back with the Zero Road East, then taking bike trails on the back of the mountain over to the Mother Lift and down Rim Run to the Logging Road back to the Lodge.
The aspens are very slow to change this year. I see some color on the hillside above Pajarito Canyon, below the Knife-edge, but can't tell if it's really aspens or just shrubs that are turning. Pajarito Mountain is not showing much color except for isolated patches here and there. Looking across at Cerro Grande today, the aspen patches were still green.
Some of the small aspens on Pajarito Mountain have brown spots on their leaves. A woman who works at the library told me that maybe the aspen colors will fizzle this year due to all the rain we got this summer. I admired a patch of thimbleberry that's turned yellow. I'll take what I can get even if it's only a patch of autumn colors here and there.
I saw a WI hiker on top, eating his lunch in the shelter of the Mother Lift. His wife had gone to the top of the Lone Spruce lift but then went back down to gather some wood. She seems to be the wood handler of the family, having badly injured her finger while splitting wood last winter. The couple won't be going to Los Griegos tomorrow with the WI group. Neither will I - the LL group switched hikes because of the predicted heavy rains and will hike locally tomorrow to get done before the rains come. Anyway, I wouldn't be able to keep up with the awesome Amazon who will lead the group up Los Griegos tomorrow!
The weather was cooler today and even some rain. I need to bring a windbreaker next time. There are still many ways left to tackle Pajarito Mountain. La Niña this winter may give me lots of opportunities to do so. The weather forecasters say that this winter's La Niña has established itself with stunning rapidity. If I understand correctly, we're supposed to have warmer and drier conditions this winter because of La Niña. I know that last winter was an El Niño event and, boy, did we get snow - lots of it!
I had this thought: If I had to troll the woods everyday to gather and hunt my food and shelter, would I love being outdoors as much or would I curse the hard work and harsh lifestyle? I thought this after reading about the hunter-gatherer lifestyle in The Peopling of Bandelier. It's one thing to go out and blithely admire and appreciate Nature, garnering mental sustenance from the land, knowing that the creature comforts of home await, but entirely different to derive all physical sustenance from the land.
Cañada Bonita with Husband Yesterday
Husband made it to meadow - I continued on to my official 4 mile RT turnaround point.
On the hike, I asked husband about CNBC Obama-thon and he enjoyed telling me about the questions directed at Obama. He said that Obama has to be careful of what he says so as not to scare the stock market, that den of thieves!
Husband seems happy with his half-time schedule. He had to ice his ankle in the evening. I'm trying to convince him to use two hiking sticks, old ski poles, to help his balance but he's not interested. Probably if the physical therapist recommended using two hiking sticks, he'd believe it but he won't believe me. I hope he remembers to ask the physical therapist about it next week.
On the hike, I asked husband about CNBC Obama-thon and he enjoyed telling me about the questions directed at Obama. He said that Obama has to be careful of what he says so as not to scare the stock market, that den of thieves!
Husband seems happy with his half-time schedule. He had to ice his ankle in the evening. I'm trying to convince him to use two hiking sticks, old ski poles, to help his balance but he's not interested. Probably if the physical therapist recommended using two hiking sticks, he'd believe it but he won't believe me. I hope he remembers to ask the physical therapist about it next week.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Husband's First Day of Semi-Retirement
Lab still hasn't confirmed that husband is officially on half-time so this "day off" may come out of our vacation budget.
Husband decided to have an Obama-thon this morning. He's watching a townhall meeting on CNBC starring OBAMA! It's on from 10-noon and afterward, he'll hike with me. I told him that likely no new news will transpire and that this is just a campaign event (even though not billed as such!)
He can't tape the show on our VCR because it would interfere with my taping of Dr. Oz. I'm passing time, waiting to go out on the hike, by doing a load of laundry and playing on the computer while half-listening to This American Life which I taped yesterday. The show's theme was Life After Death - oh, oh... (Isn't it quaint that we still use video and audio cassette tapes?)
Husband decided to have an Obama-thon this morning. He's watching a townhall meeting on CNBC starring OBAMA! It's on from 10-noon and afterward, he'll hike with me. I told him that likely no new news will transpire and that this is just a campaign event (even though not billed as such!)
He can't tape the show on our VCR because it would interfere with my taping of Dr. Oz. I'm passing time, waiting to go out on the hike, by doing a load of laundry and playing on the computer while half-listening to This American Life which I taped yesterday. The show's theme was Life After Death - oh, oh... (Isn't it quaint that we still use video and audio cassette tapes?)
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Tomorrow is Sunday Too
Spouse begins half-time work schedule tomorrow. Usually I'm hiking with a group on Monday but tomorrow the group is going to Las Trampas and I'm not - too far to drive - so I'll hike with hubby.
Today: Went to MPL, then we drove to White Rock, parked at WRMPL and husband walked a little bit with me but then went back to library. I went all the way to Potrillo Canyon trailhead and back. Stopped at Smith's afterwards - bought frozen veggies on sale for 88 cents a bag!
Today: Went to MPL, then we drove to White Rock, parked at WRMPL and husband walked a little bit with me but then went back to library. I went all the way to Potrillo Canyon trailhead and back. Stopped at Smith's afterwards - bought frozen veggies on sale for 88 cents a bag!
Landfill Cleanup Resumes with Radiation Detector Now on Excavator Arm
Los Alamos Monitor had brief story today by Garrison Wells: Pipe with excess plutonium halts lab clean-up. Now, the excavator arm will have a radiation detector on it to prevent any more breaches of the allowable above ground plutonium radiation permitted at the landfill cleanup. Idea is that the radiation detector will measure the amount of radiation before the excavator drags the contaminant above ground. Before, the radiation detector was placed on the ground next to the hole being excavated. That meant that they didn't know the amount of radiation until the cat was already out of the bag, i.e., after they had already drug the contaminant above ground! This is not rocket science. Not sure if I feel any more comforted by the change in procedure. I HOPE that some agency other than the lab is overseeing the safety of this cleanup.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
New Mexican Story on Plutonium Contaminated Pipe at DP Road Cleanup Site
Roger Snodgrass wrote an excellent article, on 9/16/2010 in the Santa Fe New Mexican, titled Contaminated pipe halts LANL cleanup project: Cylinder exceeds allowed radiation. Work has been shut down on the cleanup of the old landfill on DP Road dating from 1945 after a worker discovered a plutonium contaminated pipe and surrounding soil that had radiation levels that exceeded by six times those permitted above ground during the cleanup. The pipe and the soil it was buried in were measured to contain the equivalent of 40 grams of plutonium-239. Before cleanup began, the whole 5-acre site was estimated from soil sampling to contain only 200 grams of plutonium.
I live near this cleanup site and I'm not happy that the LANL spokesman, Fred deSousa, said the public was not notified about this discovery because, to quote Roger Snodgrass's article, "there had been no radioactive release to the public and no exposure". Regardless, the public SHOULD have been informed. LANL is not being very transparent about what's going on at the landfill cleanup.
The talk is that the landfill will be cleaned up to residential housing standards. I don't plan to ever live there. It's bad enough that we live so close to the cleanup site.
I live near this cleanup site and I'm not happy that the LANL spokesman, Fred deSousa, said the public was not notified about this discovery because, to quote Roger Snodgrass's article, "there had been no radioactive release to the public and no exposure". Regardless, the public SHOULD have been informed. LANL is not being very transparent about what's going on at the landfill cleanup.
The talk is that the landfill will be cleaned up to residential housing standards. I don't plan to ever live there. It's bad enough that we live so close to the cleanup site.
Eating Out Resolution
Resolved: Never order appetizers AND a meal - too much food. Went to Jinja House for husband's 60th birthday. He wanted to order the Tokyo Crispy Tofu as an appetizer and we shared it. I ordered the Jungle Green Curry with marinated tofu and brown rice off the lunch menu - the portion was enormous and I, of course, ate it all even though the appetizer had quelled my appetite. What's the point of appetizers except to make people too full to eat their real meal? I didn't want leftovers sitting in the hot car while we shopped at Whole Foods. I should start carrying a small cooler and ice to take leftovers home when I eat out!
Overheard at Jinja House (probably the WHOLE restaurant overheard) a motor-mouth woman talking loudly on her cell phone. Or maybe she was pretending to converse with someone because she left no space at all for the other person to say a word. She said she's going to move to Santa Fe, journal about the experience and write a book. Maybe it will be a talking book...
Daughter and son-in-law had husband and me over for dinner. Made pork BBQ, potato salad, roasted vegetables from their garden, green salad and chocolate-iced marble bundt birthday cake. Daughter gave husband home made plum jam for his birthday - very delicious. I had some tonight on bread and peanut butter.
Husband at movie theater seeing The Town because he gets in free on his birthday.
Exercised on Canyon Rim Trail and Mesa Trail this morning before Santa Fe trip. Saw coyote chasing something that ran off fast in a swirl of dust. Saw adorable boy bicyclist, with his Dad, who was maybe all of 5 years old. Little boy told me he liked my hat!
Last night we watched the DVD Temple Grandin, a made for HBO movie. It utterly enthralled me. It won loads of Emmys and I can see why - it was so well acted. I found the story of Temple's life and career moving, inspiring and so very interesting. Temple is one smart person!
Overheard at Jinja House (probably the WHOLE restaurant overheard) a motor-mouth woman talking loudly on her cell phone. Or maybe she was pretending to converse with someone because she left no space at all for the other person to say a word. She said she's going to move to Santa Fe, journal about the experience and write a book. Maybe it will be a talking book...
Daughter and son-in-law had husband and me over for dinner. Made pork BBQ, potato salad, roasted vegetables from their garden, green salad and chocolate-iced marble bundt birthday cake. Daughter gave husband home made plum jam for his birthday - very delicious. I had some tonight on bread and peanut butter.
Husband at movie theater seeing The Town because he gets in free on his birthday.
Exercised on Canyon Rim Trail and Mesa Trail this morning before Santa Fe trip. Saw coyote chasing something that ran off fast in a swirl of dust. Saw adorable boy bicyclist, with his Dad, who was maybe all of 5 years old. Little boy told me he liked my hat!
Last night we watched the DVD Temple Grandin, a made for HBO movie. It utterly enthralled me. It won loads of Emmys and I can see why - it was so well acted. I found the story of Temple's life and career moving, inspiring and so very interesting. Temple is one smart person!
Friday, September 17, 2010
WRSC Hikers Walk Canyon Rim and Pueblo Canyon Rim Trails
Only a small group - 3 drove up from White Rock Senior Center and met spouse and me. We parked at the official parking lot for the new, paved Canyon Rim Trail (across from the construction site of the Los Alamos Cooperative Market on NM 502 aka Main Hill Road - slow down or you'll miss the turn off).
Had to quickly cross the busy road and walked behind the Holiday Inn to pick up the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail (dirt trail that runs along fence on north side of Los Alamos Airport - great views of the tent rocks in Pueblo Canyon) which we took west to the airport terminal building.
Another access can be had by walking down the sidewalk along Entrada Road at Los Alamos County's new Pajarito Cliffs site and picking up the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail on the north side of the county warehouses. Look for a small sign crediting the Youth Conservation Corps (sponsored by the YMCA) for the work they did on this trail and then turn left toward the airport.
After we reached the airport terminal, I continued west toward the paved Mesa Trail and East Park but the rest walked the streets back to continue on the Canyon Rim Trail at its western terminus near the fire station across from East Park (the Canyon Rim Trail will eventually extend to the Los Alamos Medical Center). Even so, I caught up with them and we all moseyed east back to the parked cars. I eschewed the car ride offered by spouse and instead did "walk fast-walk slow" intervals, fartlek style, back to the fire station and called it a day.
The Canyon Rim Trail is close to 2 miles RT if you do an out and back on it. The Mesa Trail is close to 1 mile RT out and back. A sign at the Canyon Rim trailhead suggests an almost 4 mile loop by walking on the Canyon Rim Trail, the Mesa Trail and the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail. The eastern continuation of the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail connects with the Camp Hamilton Trail near Eastgate Industrial Park. This opens up a number of possible hikes utilizing the trails in the Pueblo Canyon and Bayo Canyon areas.
Had to quickly cross the busy road and walked behind the Holiday Inn to pick up the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail (dirt trail that runs along fence on north side of Los Alamos Airport - great views of the tent rocks in Pueblo Canyon) which we took west to the airport terminal building.
Another access can be had by walking down the sidewalk along Entrada Road at Los Alamos County's new Pajarito Cliffs site and picking up the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail on the north side of the county warehouses. Look for a small sign crediting the Youth Conservation Corps (sponsored by the YMCA) for the work they did on this trail and then turn left toward the airport.
After we reached the airport terminal, I continued west toward the paved Mesa Trail and East Park but the rest walked the streets back to continue on the Canyon Rim Trail at its western terminus near the fire station across from East Park (the Canyon Rim Trail will eventually extend to the Los Alamos Medical Center). Even so, I caught up with them and we all moseyed east back to the parked cars. I eschewed the car ride offered by spouse and instead did "walk fast-walk slow" intervals, fartlek style, back to the fire station and called it a day.
The Canyon Rim Trail is close to 2 miles RT if you do an out and back on it. The Mesa Trail is close to 1 mile RT out and back. A sign at the Canyon Rim trailhead suggests an almost 4 mile loop by walking on the Canyon Rim Trail, the Mesa Trail and the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail. The eastern continuation of the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail connects with the Camp Hamilton Trail near Eastgate Industrial Park. This opens up a number of possible hikes utilizing the trails in the Pueblo Canyon and Bayo Canyon areas.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Up FR181 from West Jemez Road
Went up FR181 from twin water tanks on West Jemez Road. In the past, I've thought I was going 4 miles RT by turning around at the big meadow where the road splits but then comes together again. This meadow is well past the turnoff to the Perimeter Trail. But in reading Craig Martin's Los Alamos Trails more carefully, I realized that I was probably only doing a 3 mile RT hike.
Today I didn't turn around until the first road to the left past the meadow. This is the road that Craig says is 2.1 miles in from West Jemez Road and goes in .6 mile out to Red-Tailed Hawk Point, a fantastically scenic overlook into Water Canyon as long as you have the patience and stamina to wade through giant pick-up sticks from the Cerro Grande Fire in 2000.
Craig doesn't mention it but a few tenths of a mile further southwest along FR181 (American Springs Road) is another road to the left that will also take you to Red-Tailed Hawk Point. There is no avoiding the eventual mish mosh of downed wood along the way, though. This other road runs along a ridge that separates two of the three branches of upper Water Canyon and you will have beautiful views along the way.
To read more about Red-Tailed Hawk Point, see Dorothy Hoard's Los Alamos Outdoors. Craig's hiking book is indispensable to learn the nuts and bolts of the hiking trails in and around Los Alamos County but Dorothy's book still provides an almost poetic interpretation of what you'll see along the way.
It was warm and dry today - too much so. The purple asters and yellow sunflowers are putting on a cheerful show but the aspens are still holding back their display.
Today I didn't turn around until the first road to the left past the meadow. This is the road that Craig says is 2.1 miles in from West Jemez Road and goes in .6 mile out to Red-Tailed Hawk Point, a fantastically scenic overlook into Water Canyon as long as you have the patience and stamina to wade through giant pick-up sticks from the Cerro Grande Fire in 2000.
Craig doesn't mention it but a few tenths of a mile further southwest along FR181 (American Springs Road) is another road to the left that will also take you to Red-Tailed Hawk Point. There is no avoiding the eventual mish mosh of downed wood along the way, though. This other road runs along a ridge that separates two of the three branches of upper Water Canyon and you will have beautiful views along the way.
To read more about Red-Tailed Hawk Point, see Dorothy Hoard's Los Alamos Outdoors. Craig's hiking book is indispensable to learn the nuts and bolts of the hiking trails in and around Los Alamos County but Dorothy's book still provides an almost poetic interpretation of what you'll see along the way.
It was warm and dry today - too much so. The purple asters and yellow sunflowers are putting on a cheerful show but the aspens are still holding back their display.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Cañada Bonita to Guaje Canyon Overlook-Fleeting Seasons
The main hiking leaders are out of town attending a high school reunion so the substitute hiker took the eight of us on the Cañada Bonita Trail. One hiker stayed behind at the Pipeline Road overlook into Valles de los Posos. The rest went to just above the start of the downhill to the Guaje Canyon Overlook.
I walked down to the overlook and took photos of Caballo Mountain. Several times, I heard some scruffling nearby and looked back, expecting to see one of the other hikers but saw no one.
I somehow managed to miss seeing the Cerro Rubio turnoff on the way to the Guaje Canyon Overlook. We all enjoyed the various viewpoints into the Valles Caldera along the way.
There are golden aspen leaves here and there on the trail but nothing large scale is happening yet. At the Cañada Bonita meadow, one of the hikers sang a line of the folk song "Where have all the flowers gone?" They were splendid while they were here. The same hiker pointed out on the way back where he had photographed loads of orchids in the Spring.
At the hike's beginning, seeing all the fireweed gone to seed, I had made the comment that it seemed like Spring just happened a few weeks ago. That's the only downside of the change of seasons - it can be sad to know that a season is past and to think that I may not have fully appreciated it while it was here. I feel the same way when I look at photos of our daughter as a baby. If I had only known how short and precious that time would be, would I have appreciated it more instead of letting myself get embroiled in the everyday ephemera of life?
I walked down to the overlook and took photos of Caballo Mountain. Several times, I heard some scruffling nearby and looked back, expecting to see one of the other hikers but saw no one.
I somehow managed to miss seeing the Cerro Rubio turnoff on the way to the Guaje Canyon Overlook. We all enjoyed the various viewpoints into the Valles Caldera along the way.
There are golden aspen leaves here and there on the trail but nothing large scale is happening yet. At the Cañada Bonita meadow, one of the hikers sang a line of the folk song "Where have all the flowers gone?" They were splendid while they were here. The same hiker pointed out on the way back where he had photographed loads of orchids in the Spring.
At the hike's beginning, seeing all the fireweed gone to seed, I had made the comment that it seemed like Spring just happened a few weeks ago. That's the only downside of the change of seasons - it can be sad to know that a season is past and to think that I may not have fully appreciated it while it was here. I feel the same way when I look at photos of our daughter as a baby. If I had only known how short and precious that time would be, would I have appreciated it more instead of letting myself get embroiled in the everyday ephemera of life?
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Change of Seasons-Kudos to Canyon Rim Trail-Dr. Oz's Colonoscopy
I'm in love with the change of seasons. I get bored easily as a season wears on and on. Too much of anything is boring but at a season's beginning, with its promise of what's to come, I'm excited. Fall is coming on in northern New Mexico with all its yellow - billows of sunflowers and barrels of chamisa and the promise of hillsides soon to be festooned with golden aspens. I can't wait!
I did intervals on the Canyon Rim Trail today and am continually amazed at how well used that trail is. Apparently there was a crying need in Los Alamos for a paved trail for people who prefer that to walking on the uneven surface of a dirt trail. Some scoffed at the cost of the pedestrian bridge on the Canyon Rim Trail and called it the bridge to nowhere. Not hardly! It's enabling many to have an enjoyable outdoor experience. Build a trail and people will have fun!
I recently watched an episode of the Dr. Oz show in which he revealed that his colonoscopy showed he had an adenomatous polyp which is a type that can turn into cancer. I thought it was very brave for him to reveal this because some will say that eating healthy, exercising and staying slim didn't do Dr. Mehmet Oz any good since he developed this precancerous polyp despite his healthy lifestyle. I disagree. Maybe these measures aren't an ironclad guarantee of good health but I'd rather hedge my bets by practicing a healthy habits than by following the Standard American Diet (SAD) and being a couch potato. Long live Dr. Oz!!
I did intervals on the Canyon Rim Trail today and am continually amazed at how well used that trail is. Apparently there was a crying need in Los Alamos for a paved trail for people who prefer that to walking on the uneven surface of a dirt trail. Some scoffed at the cost of the pedestrian bridge on the Canyon Rim Trail and called it the bridge to nowhere. Not hardly! It's enabling many to have an enjoyable outdoor experience. Build a trail and people will have fun!
I recently watched an episode of the Dr. Oz show in which he revealed that his colonoscopy showed he had an adenomatous polyp which is a type that can turn into cancer. I thought it was very brave for him to reveal this because some will say that eating healthy, exercising and staying slim didn't do Dr. Mehmet Oz any good since he developed this precancerous polyp despite his healthy lifestyle. I disagree. Maybe these measures aren't an ironclad guarantee of good health but I'd rather hedge my bets by practicing a healthy habits than by following the Standard American Diet (SAD) and being a couch potato. Long live Dr. Oz!!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Burnt Mesa Indian Plaza - Nailed!
Was going to hike Sawyer Mesa with Monday group but only one local hiker could make it so we switched the hike to finding the Indian plaza ruin on Burnt Mesa. After she recently saw a depiction of an Indian plaza on Burnt Mesa at the newly reopened Bandelier National Monument Museum, she asked if I would take her there, quite possibly because she remembered my mentioning it. I didn't have the map because we didn't change the plans until we met at Ponderosa Campground this morning to leave a car for the Sawyer Mesa car shuttle.
I knew the general area of where to turn off the main Burnt Mesa Trail. We wandered a little, looking back all the while to see landmarks to find our way back. I have a GPS but why use it if you don't need it. Eventually, we saw what looked like a mound and then also spotted a large elk exclosure and I remembered that the plaza was near an elk exclosure so we moseyed over to the mound and, bingo, there was the plaza! It's small, doughnut-shaped and right next to it is a straight line of blocks outlining a foundation. We both sat at the edge of the plaza for a long time, enjoying the 360 degree views. From here, you can see across to Frijoles Mesa where another Indian plaza is located.
We decided to head due north from the elk exclosure, back to the main trail, to see where we came out. We saw a number of stakes along the way but it wasn't clear what they were marking. We both have a good idea of what landmarks to look for that tell us to turn off the main trail.
We continued walking out to the end of the main trail. I pointed out various small house mound ruins. We passed a male hiker walking back from the end and said hello.
As we approached the cars, we met a ranger. He was touching up some trail work that young volunteers did this summer. They filled some trenched and eroded portions of the trail with old pieces of wood. The ranger is hoping that they will come back next summer and as there is more trenching and erosion to address.
The ranger said that the Bandelier supervisor, Jason Lott, is very interested in improving the trails. I'm happy about that! He suggested that we email Jason Lott to give kudos for the Burnt Mesa trail work. I will but I'll also ask for an update on turning the official route up Cerro Grande into a real trail and if the national park will take over the Valles Caldera National Preserve anytime soon.
The ranger told us that red-haired ranger is retiring next month. When you reach a certain age in national park law enforcement, you're forced to retire. Everyone's hoping they will find another position for him at the park. He's young - only 57? - and has a son in high school.
I knew the general area of where to turn off the main Burnt Mesa Trail. We wandered a little, looking back all the while to see landmarks to find our way back. I have a GPS but why use it if you don't need it. Eventually, we saw what looked like a mound and then also spotted a large elk exclosure and I remembered that the plaza was near an elk exclosure so we moseyed over to the mound and, bingo, there was the plaza! It's small, doughnut-shaped and right next to it is a straight line of blocks outlining a foundation. We both sat at the edge of the plaza for a long time, enjoying the 360 degree views. From here, you can see across to Frijoles Mesa where another Indian plaza is located.
We decided to head due north from the elk exclosure, back to the main trail, to see where we came out. We saw a number of stakes along the way but it wasn't clear what they were marking. We both have a good idea of what landmarks to look for that tell us to turn off the main trail.
We continued walking out to the end of the main trail. I pointed out various small house mound ruins. We passed a male hiker walking back from the end and said hello.
As we approached the cars, we met a ranger. He was touching up some trail work that young volunteers did this summer. They filled some trenched and eroded portions of the trail with old pieces of wood. The ranger is hoping that they will come back next summer and as there is more trenching and erosion to address.
The ranger said that the Bandelier supervisor, Jason Lott, is very interested in improving the trails. I'm happy about that! He suggested that we email Jason Lott to give kudos for the Burnt Mesa trail work. I will but I'll also ask for an update on turning the official route up Cerro Grande into a real trail and if the national park will take over the Valles Caldera National Preserve anytime soon.
The ranger told us that red-haired ranger is retiring next month. When you reach a certain age in national park law enforcement, you're forced to retire. Everyone's hoping they will find another position for him at the park. He's young - only 57? - and has a son in high school.
Cerro Grande Walk and Talk
Tom Ribe, author of Inferno by Committee: A History of the Cerro Grande (Los Alamos) Fire (read it!) gave a walk and talk on Cerro Grande yesterday. It was sponsored by PEEC (Pajarito Environmental Education Center). Twenty seven people showed up and all but 3 made it to the top - two turned around because they had other commitments and one's trick knee wouldn't permit him to go to the top but he made it to the high pass. I'm sure that a lot of people had never been up Cerro Grande before and this event gave them motivation. The pace was slow and some made it up before others.
In the parking lot, Tom first pointed out on a map various features about the fire so it was a while before we started walking. Some WI hikers attended. Two of them got tired of all the stopping and standing around and headed for the top from the high pass, including the marvelously fit 85 year old. At a certain point, I too headed for the top. We all had lunch on top. I stayed with the group during the rest of the hike and we didn't get back to the parking lot until around 2:30 pm.
The most interesting part for me was seeing where the prescribed burn escaped from the west fireline as a crown fire and jumped NM4, going uphill on an eastern arm of Cerro Grande. We didn't walk over there but it was somewhere in the meadow with the small exclosure and then headed across the flat area near the big elk exclosure and downhill into Frijoles Canyon, jumped NM4 and tore uphill in a narrow path on an eastern arm of Cerro Grande.
Near the top of Cerro Grande, Tom showed us where the test burn was started in May 2000. I had seen this area before courtesy of a hiker who pointed it out to me so it was good to see it confirmed.
I'd highly recommend reading this book. Tom started researching it back in 2000 when the ground was still smoking from the fire. The author has had some fire fighting experience and this shows in how he's able to explain fire behavior. For those who want to delve deeper, the book is well footnoted. There is some repetition in the book but that served to help me better understand the Cerro Grande fire.
In the parking lot, Tom first pointed out on a map various features about the fire so it was a while before we started walking. Some WI hikers attended. Two of them got tired of all the stopping and standing around and headed for the top from the high pass, including the marvelously fit 85 year old. At a certain point, I too headed for the top. We all had lunch on top. I stayed with the group during the rest of the hike and we didn't get back to the parking lot until around 2:30 pm.
The most interesting part for me was seeing where the prescribed burn escaped from the west fireline as a crown fire and jumped NM4, going uphill on an eastern arm of Cerro Grande. We didn't walk over there but it was somewhere in the meadow with the small exclosure and then headed across the flat area near the big elk exclosure and downhill into Frijoles Canyon, jumped NM4 and tore uphill in a narrow path on an eastern arm of Cerro Grande.
Near the top of Cerro Grande, Tom showed us where the test burn was started in May 2000. I had seen this area before courtesy of a hiker who pointed it out to me so it was good to see it confirmed.
I'd highly recommend reading this book. Tom started researching it back in 2000 when the ground was still smoking from the fire. The author has had some fire fighting experience and this shows in how he's able to explain fire behavior. For those who want to delve deeper, the book is well footnoted. There is some repetition in the book but that served to help me better understand the Cerro Grande fire.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Trashy Afternoon
Did housekeeping chores on Route. Cut down remainder of spindly trees left by tree-snapping trail foe. Picked up 2 plastic grocery bags of trash and a short section of 1' tall, white-painted metal picket fence. Trash included a small bottle, half-full, of Leroux Peppermint Schnapps (I poured the schnapps out) and a large, empty bottle of Sobieski Vodka from Poland - woo, wee!
Weird that the national lab held their annual employee picnic on 9/11. Spouse, daughter and grandson went and had a good time.
Really enjoying new season of Dr. Oz. Show is better than ever with news I can use. I like the new Pulse segment that analyzes recent health news like the meta-analysis that concluded that people taking calcium have more heart attacks. Dr. Oz said continue to take calcium if you're taking it but add magnesium and Vitamin D which I already do. When they talked about the female condom, though, they did something new - trailed a warning across the screen about mature content. Might be better to have Dr. Oz give his usual verbal warning as well. Some little toddler is going to get an earful!
Weird that the national lab held their annual employee picnic on 9/11. Spouse, daughter and grandson went and had a good time.
Really enjoying new season of Dr. Oz. Show is better than ever with news I can use. I like the new Pulse segment that analyzes recent health news like the meta-analysis that concluded that people taking calcium have more heart attacks. Dr. Oz said continue to take calcium if you're taking it but add magnesium and Vitamin D which I already do. When they talked about the female condom, though, they did something new - trailed a warning across the screen about mature content. Might be better to have Dr. Oz give his usual verbal warning as well. Some little toddler is going to get an earful!
Older, Wiser, Than You Die
What good does it do to get older and wiser when your kids don't care to hear any of your wisdom and nor does anyone else and then you die anyway. Have fun on the journey at least!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Excruciatingly Detailed Regurgitation
Do you ever have a day where everything feels a little off?
It started off OK. Spouse and I drove in separate cars to Valle Canyon to leave my car there and then he gave me a ride up to FR181/American Springs Road. He wasn't going to do the whole hike because it involved some rough, stony downhill and his sprained ankle is still slightly swollen at the end of each day.
Here is my biased regurgitation of my day - a litany of minor grievances:
Why did the tall, heavy hiker who picked up trash along the way, only bring a small, flimsy, plastic produce bag which we quickly filled up? He then let a hiker who's well into his 80's carry it which may have caused the octogenarian to slip on the descent into Valle Canyon and spill all the trash. The elderly hiker seemed uninjured but the bag was toast and the rest of us had to carry the mashed cans down to the trash-picker-upper waiting below who put it all in the other flimsy produce bag he had. He and his wife have no full-size plastic grocery sacks at home because they use cloth grocery sacks exclusively. Perhaps bringing a cloth grocery bag and lining it with plastic produce bags would be advisable. The cloth bag's handles allow free use of hands for balance and the produce bags would keep the cloth bag clean.
On the hike, after spouse turned around, they asked questions about his ankle sprain. I said it would probably get better if he would walk a little every day and do his physical therapist prescribed exercises. I pointedly intimated that "Mommy" (me) wasn't going to tell him to do this. Felt a bit like a bitch but it's true. I've been nagging my husband all his life to take better care of himself - mainly lose weight and exercise - but to no avail. He's retiring to half-time at work and maybe it's time I retire as his "Mommy"!
I was able to correctly show the group where to turn off FR181 onto the Perimeter Trail but I screwed up mildly where the Perimeter Trail descends after its intersection with the fireline that travels around the northwest and north edge of the Water Canyon area. When I came to the first intersection of the Perimeter Trail and fireline, I saw a small cairn and fruitlessly looked around several times for the downhill continuation of the Perimeter Trail. Someone decided to take a group photo just then but I declined, so intense was I in making sure I wasn't missing the turnoff.
The group managed to find the downhill turn off themselves and proceeded on without me. The correct turn off was just ahead and marked by more cairns - some most likely built by me the last time I was confused here. When I caught up with the group, I told the leader that she needn't worry about losing her job anytime soon - ha, ha! I hadn't been on this part of the trail for over a year - it's a beautiful trail and it's high time I used it again. I need to remember that when the Perimeter Trail, coming from FR181, first crosses the fireline that it then continues parallel to the fireline and downhill soon after.
After the hike, we went to Santa Fe, ostensibly to eat at a new restaurant on Alameda, near the La Montanita Co-op called Pho-Kim. We had read a review of the restaurant in the Santa Fe Reporter. (We were surprised to discover that the Annapurna Restaurant, also in the Solana Center, has been closed since a fire April 21, 2010.)
One of the waiters seemed all that you would desire in a waiter. I overheard him carefully explaining the menu items to a table while taking their orders. Instead, we got a young man who acted semi-sullen. He took spouse's order first. I missed hearing that spouse had finished ordering and only knew it was my turn when I saw the waiter staring at me from across the table while kneeling next to spouse. I tried to ask a question but it was hard for him to hear me so I asked if he'd come closer and thanked him. I wanted to know if the restaurant served brown rice - the answer was no, not traditional, only white. I asked if I could have extra vegetables on my stir fried cashew tofu to replace the rice. He said it depends on the cook. I left it at that.
First my husband's order came out and nothing was said to me about my order. I waited patiently but my heart sunk (I was starving) when I saw our waiter run outside after a couple of diners who had just left. Resolving whatever that was took some extra minutes while I still had no food.
When my order finally came, no extra vegetables (the dish seems to only come with stir fried onions anyway) but also no cashews, an integral part of the dish. I waited until I could get his attention and politely requested that when he wasn't busy, I had some questions. When he came over to our table, I asked for a garnish of cilantro and lime wedges and the missing cashews. Even though cilantro and lime wedges are not traditional, something he felt compelled to tell me, he did bring some, first having to hash out with the cook (we could overhear) if my cashew tofu dish truly included cashews. My tofu tasted very delicious with the non-traditional additions. It would have been too plain otherwise.
Then we went to Sunflower Farmer's Market. I'm now declaring myself amicably separated from that store. I've noticed recently that the produce, albeit cheap, is sometimes in poor condition with fruit flies swirling around. I've tried to buy their 3/$1 grapefruit for the last month but each time it's in poor condition - soft and bruised, not fresh. The produce department is the heart and soul of any grocery store and if it goes downhill, I'm out of there.
At the checkout, the cashier had to call the supervisor over to approve a $13.29 credit for olive oil she had accidentally scanned twice. The cashier said any credit over $10 had to be approved by the supervisor. She told us this was to keep employees from stealing. Then she regaled us by demonstrating how if she wanted to steal a product, she would just pass it through unscanned - class act.
After checking out, I examined my receipt and noticed that the bag of Lundberg brown long grain rice (did I tell you that I like brown rice?) had rung up for $3.19 instead of $2.50 on sale. I had the cashier re-scan it and we discovered that it wasn't included in the sale, which is dumb since the white long grain rice was. So, I went back and got the store's last bag of jasmine brown rice which the shelf tag listed as being on sale.
The cashier acted as though it would be a complicated process to get my 69 cents refund (yes, I'm cheap!), that would involve re-running our credit card and that it would be far less complicated if I would simply pick something from the store shelves for 69 cents. I didn't want to because there was nothing more I wanted except to get out of the store and go home.
Then the supervisor came over again but at first she too acted like giving me my refund for such a piddling sum was beneath them but ultimately she deigned to give me 69 cents saying it would cost them more to run the credit card again. I was polite during all this - no shouting or angry words but I wasn't impressed.
The class act cashier further entertained us during all this by explaining, when I asked, why her terminal was not available - the cashiers are timed so she had turned her terminal off so, as she put it, the manager wouldn't think she was taking 4 days to help one customer. The girl would make a good comedienne but is a lousy cashier.
On the drive home, I was still P/O-ed about the whole refund business (and probably the whole day). They wouldn't treat me like that at Whole Foods, I sniffed. I'll take Sunflower off our Santa Fe rotation, kvetch, whine, quibble, etc. But just then, there was a sound like a gunshot when a pebble hit our car's windshield and an ugly starburst instantly bloomed. So much for my 69 cents refund!! Arghhh...
It started off OK. Spouse and I drove in separate cars to Valle Canyon to leave my car there and then he gave me a ride up to FR181/American Springs Road. He wasn't going to do the whole hike because it involved some rough, stony downhill and his sprained ankle is still slightly swollen at the end of each day.
Here is my biased regurgitation of my day - a litany of minor grievances:
Why did the tall, heavy hiker who picked up trash along the way, only bring a small, flimsy, plastic produce bag which we quickly filled up? He then let a hiker who's well into his 80's carry it which may have caused the octogenarian to slip on the descent into Valle Canyon and spill all the trash. The elderly hiker seemed uninjured but the bag was toast and the rest of us had to carry the mashed cans down to the trash-picker-upper waiting below who put it all in the other flimsy produce bag he had. He and his wife have no full-size plastic grocery sacks at home because they use cloth grocery sacks exclusively. Perhaps bringing a cloth grocery bag and lining it with plastic produce bags would be advisable. The cloth bag's handles allow free use of hands for balance and the produce bags would keep the cloth bag clean.
On the hike, after spouse turned around, they asked questions about his ankle sprain. I said it would probably get better if he would walk a little every day and do his physical therapist prescribed exercises. I pointedly intimated that "Mommy" (me) wasn't going to tell him to do this. Felt a bit like a bitch but it's true. I've been nagging my husband all his life to take better care of himself - mainly lose weight and exercise - but to no avail. He's retiring to half-time at work and maybe it's time I retire as his "Mommy"!
I was able to correctly show the group where to turn off FR181 onto the Perimeter Trail but I screwed up mildly where the Perimeter Trail descends after its intersection with the fireline that travels around the northwest and north edge of the Water Canyon area. When I came to the first intersection of the Perimeter Trail and fireline, I saw a small cairn and fruitlessly looked around several times for the downhill continuation of the Perimeter Trail. Someone decided to take a group photo just then but I declined, so intense was I in making sure I wasn't missing the turnoff.
The group managed to find the downhill turn off themselves and proceeded on without me. The correct turn off was just ahead and marked by more cairns - some most likely built by me the last time I was confused here. When I caught up with the group, I told the leader that she needn't worry about losing her job anytime soon - ha, ha! I hadn't been on this part of the trail for over a year - it's a beautiful trail and it's high time I used it again. I need to remember that when the Perimeter Trail, coming from FR181, first crosses the fireline that it then continues parallel to the fireline and downhill soon after.
After the hike, we went to Santa Fe, ostensibly to eat at a new restaurant on Alameda, near the La Montanita Co-op called Pho-Kim. We had read a review of the restaurant in the Santa Fe Reporter. (We were surprised to discover that the Annapurna Restaurant, also in the Solana Center, has been closed since a fire April 21, 2010.)
One of the waiters seemed all that you would desire in a waiter. I overheard him carefully explaining the menu items to a table while taking their orders. Instead, we got a young man who acted semi-sullen. He took spouse's order first. I missed hearing that spouse had finished ordering and only knew it was my turn when I saw the waiter staring at me from across the table while kneeling next to spouse. I tried to ask a question but it was hard for him to hear me so I asked if he'd come closer and thanked him. I wanted to know if the restaurant served brown rice - the answer was no, not traditional, only white. I asked if I could have extra vegetables on my stir fried cashew tofu to replace the rice. He said it depends on the cook. I left it at that.
First my husband's order came out and nothing was said to me about my order. I waited patiently but my heart sunk (I was starving) when I saw our waiter run outside after a couple of diners who had just left. Resolving whatever that was took some extra minutes while I still had no food.
When my order finally came, no extra vegetables (the dish seems to only come with stir fried onions anyway) but also no cashews, an integral part of the dish. I waited until I could get his attention and politely requested that when he wasn't busy, I had some questions. When he came over to our table, I asked for a garnish of cilantro and lime wedges and the missing cashews. Even though cilantro and lime wedges are not traditional, something he felt compelled to tell me, he did bring some, first having to hash out with the cook (we could overhear) if my cashew tofu dish truly included cashews. My tofu tasted very delicious with the non-traditional additions. It would have been too plain otherwise.
Then we went to Sunflower Farmer's Market. I'm now declaring myself amicably separated from that store. I've noticed recently that the produce, albeit cheap, is sometimes in poor condition with fruit flies swirling around. I've tried to buy their 3/$1 grapefruit for the last month but each time it's in poor condition - soft and bruised, not fresh. The produce department is the heart and soul of any grocery store and if it goes downhill, I'm out of there.
At the checkout, the cashier had to call the supervisor over to approve a $13.29 credit for olive oil she had accidentally scanned twice. The cashier said any credit over $10 had to be approved by the supervisor. She told us this was to keep employees from stealing. Then she regaled us by demonstrating how if she wanted to steal a product, she would just pass it through unscanned - class act.
After checking out, I examined my receipt and noticed that the bag of Lundberg brown long grain rice (did I tell you that I like brown rice?) had rung up for $3.19 instead of $2.50 on sale. I had the cashier re-scan it and we discovered that it wasn't included in the sale, which is dumb since the white long grain rice was. So, I went back and got the store's last bag of jasmine brown rice which the shelf tag listed as being on sale.
The cashier acted as though it would be a complicated process to get my 69 cents refund (yes, I'm cheap!), that would involve re-running our credit card and that it would be far less complicated if I would simply pick something from the store shelves for 69 cents. I didn't want to because there was nothing more I wanted except to get out of the store and go home.
Then the supervisor came over again but at first she too acted like giving me my refund for such a piddling sum was beneath them but ultimately she deigned to give me 69 cents saying it would cost them more to run the credit card again. I was polite during all this - no shouting or angry words but I wasn't impressed.
The class act cashier further entertained us during all this by explaining, when I asked, why her terminal was not available - the cashiers are timed so she had turned her terminal off so, as she put it, the manager wouldn't think she was taking 4 days to help one customer. The girl would make a good comedienne but is a lousy cashier.
On the drive home, I was still P/O-ed about the whole refund business (and probably the whole day). They wouldn't treat me like that at Whole Foods, I sniffed. I'll take Sunflower off our Santa Fe rotation, kvetch, whine, quibble, etc. But just then, there was a sound like a gunshot when a pebble hit our car's windshield and an ugly starburst instantly bloomed. So much for my 69 cents refund!! Arghhh...
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Labor Day Weekend-Thursday
We had a good time at Rocky Mountain National Park with daughter and grandson. We couldn't hike any big hikes because spouse's right ankle sprain is still healing. I'm sure that Mr. Grandson was happy about not having to go on any death marches! He did get to go on some brief, flat hikes, go to the go-cart-bumper boats-mini golf place and go out to eat several times as well as go on a surrey bike ride during a visit with spouse's Denver cousins.
I walked into downtown Estes Park two nights with daughter - very enjoyable - and walked one afternoon around Lake Estes. All 4 of us walked around Sprague Lake on a very windy Monday - water was slopping out of the lake onto the boardwalk on to one small section.
We attempted to go to Loch Vale but didn't get very far which didn't surprise me. Spouse's ankle needs to heal more. It would help if he'd take short walks everyday and do the exercises the physical therapist has given him. You can take a patient to the physical therapist but it doesn't do any good if they don't do their homework.
I wish I could live in Estes Park. I wouldn't enjoy the summer crowds but they do have a hiker shuttle into the park and a shopper shuttle downtown to reduce traffic congestion. Estes Park is the loveliest place on Earth! The 9 hour drive up there is a bit much for a 5 day weekend. If we lived there, that would be eliminated!
Yesterday's WI hike was up Rabbit Ridge Road from the Coyote Call Trail and over to Rabbit Mountain and then down the face of the mountain at the game trail saddle- it was an enjoyable workout. The hiking announcement said it's 7 miles RT and 2,000' elevation gain. I kept my GPS off so I can't verify that.
Eleven started out but only 4 made it to Rabbit Mountain with one waiting back at a saddle to go down with us. It was a cool, overcast day with some minor drizzles - not even enough to break out my golf umbrella. Of course, I couldn't have anyway because I was totally dependent on the golf umbrella as a walking stick whilst traveling along trail-less, hazard-strewn Rabbit Ridge!
We had a new hiker recruit and it may have been too much for her. We'll see if she returns! I hope she does - she was nice. I filled her in about the best local hiking books and told her about all the health food stores in Santa Fe.
The leader did a good job except when we got back down to the road, she didn't realize it was the Rabbit Ridge Road and not the other connecting logging road. As we started going uphill, I told the new recruit my suspicions. We were saved by one of the hikers noticing a unique, bi-level scat pile that I had pointed out that morning as we ascended Rabbit Ridge Road.
One of the hikers told us of her hike down the Falls Trail in Bandelier National Monument last winter when she saw the Rio Grande covered with frozen chunks of snow. She said it almost looked like, if the chunks would stop moving, she could walk across to the other side. It sounded quite magical. She's 84 and did the hike by herself. She's quite fast and can keep up with hikers younger than herself.
One hiker I know planned to come but had a bout of vertigo Tuesday which kept her home.
The man who hikes with his dog had a bad fall recently and is recovering. I don't know all the details.
Today I checked out the Route. I need to bring a trash bag next time. There are already more beer cans and bottles to pick up. Also, someone snapped the top off a spindly limber pine and a larger but equally spindly ponderosa pine - both near FR2998. I'll need to take my handy-dandy folding pruning saw and cut down the standing tree trunks. One will be a cinch but the other will require some minor sweat equity. As it is now, the tree remains look too pitiful. In addition, I dragged a fallen tree off Guardrail Hill and moved some cut tree debris blocking my way near Paintball Road. The tree debris wasn't thrown across the trail maliciously because they didn't harm my cairn and they probably didn't even realize anyone tries to keep that pathway open. I built and augmented a number of cairns and tore out some baby NM locust. The Route could easily be named Cairn Mania.
I saw the loco-lady-walker-in-white-today. She was on Camp May Road. From above the road at the back of The Ocean, I watched her hop the guardrail and continue down the old road that runs below the new road - the same path I take. I wonder if she uses the rest of the Route? I also wondered if I'm really very different from her. After all, a woman of my age should probably not be spending so much time on a simple route through the woods. I'm not exactly obsessed because I don't go to the Route every day but when I'm on it, I am somewhat obsessed with "house-keeping" chores!
I walked into downtown Estes Park two nights with daughter - very enjoyable - and walked one afternoon around Lake Estes. All 4 of us walked around Sprague Lake on a very windy Monday - water was slopping out of the lake onto the boardwalk on to one small section.
We attempted to go to Loch Vale but didn't get very far which didn't surprise me. Spouse's ankle needs to heal more. It would help if he'd take short walks everyday and do the exercises the physical therapist has given him. You can take a patient to the physical therapist but it doesn't do any good if they don't do their homework.
I wish I could live in Estes Park. I wouldn't enjoy the summer crowds but they do have a hiker shuttle into the park and a shopper shuttle downtown to reduce traffic congestion. Estes Park is the loveliest place on Earth! The 9 hour drive up there is a bit much for a 5 day weekend. If we lived there, that would be eliminated!
Yesterday's WI hike was up Rabbit Ridge Road from the Coyote Call Trail and over to Rabbit Mountain and then down the face of the mountain at the game trail saddle- it was an enjoyable workout. The hiking announcement said it's 7 miles RT and 2,000' elevation gain. I kept my GPS off so I can't verify that.
Eleven started out but only 4 made it to Rabbit Mountain with one waiting back at a saddle to go down with us. It was a cool, overcast day with some minor drizzles - not even enough to break out my golf umbrella. Of course, I couldn't have anyway because I was totally dependent on the golf umbrella as a walking stick whilst traveling along trail-less, hazard-strewn Rabbit Ridge!
We had a new hiker recruit and it may have been too much for her. We'll see if she returns! I hope she does - she was nice. I filled her in about the best local hiking books and told her about all the health food stores in Santa Fe.
The leader did a good job except when we got back down to the road, she didn't realize it was the Rabbit Ridge Road and not the other connecting logging road. As we started going uphill, I told the new recruit my suspicions. We were saved by one of the hikers noticing a unique, bi-level scat pile that I had pointed out that morning as we ascended Rabbit Ridge Road.
One of the hikers told us of her hike down the Falls Trail in Bandelier National Monument last winter when she saw the Rio Grande covered with frozen chunks of snow. She said it almost looked like, if the chunks would stop moving, she could walk across to the other side. It sounded quite magical. She's 84 and did the hike by herself. She's quite fast and can keep up with hikers younger than herself.
One hiker I know planned to come but had a bout of vertigo Tuesday which kept her home.
The man who hikes with his dog had a bad fall recently and is recovering. I don't know all the details.
Today I checked out the Route. I need to bring a trash bag next time. There are already more beer cans and bottles to pick up. Also, someone snapped the top off a spindly limber pine and a larger but equally spindly ponderosa pine - both near FR2998. I'll need to take my handy-dandy folding pruning saw and cut down the standing tree trunks. One will be a cinch but the other will require some minor sweat equity. As it is now, the tree remains look too pitiful. In addition, I dragged a fallen tree off Guardrail Hill and moved some cut tree debris blocking my way near Paintball Road. The tree debris wasn't thrown across the trail maliciously because they didn't harm my cairn and they probably didn't even realize anyone tries to keep that pathway open. I built and augmented a number of cairns and tore out some baby NM locust. The Route could easily be named Cairn Mania.
I saw the loco-lady-walker-in-white-today. She was on Camp May Road. From above the road at the back of The Ocean, I watched her hop the guardrail and continue down the old road that runs below the new road - the same path I take. I wonder if she uses the rest of the Route? I also wondered if I'm really very different from her. After all, a woman of my age should probably not be spending so much time on a simple route through the woods. I'm not exactly obsessed because I don't go to the Route every day but when I'm on it, I am somewhat obsessed with "house-keeping" chores!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Wednesday-Thursday
Hiked with LL group yesterday. Did Graduation Flats explore, starting on FR36, just before cattleguard, downhill to gravel pit, then along east side of Pines Canyon and over to west side of Spruce Canyon, near Graduation Flats for 4+ miles on dirt roads and motorbike trails. 14 of us - at the start, ailing leader walked part way out with us and then turned around. She drove her car to the end point of the hike (1 1/2 miles from the beginning) and then walked out to meet us on the way back. She took a nap in the shade while she waited. Because of her illness, she's painfully slow and lacking in energy.
The LL hiking group has a certain chemistry that is very appealing - a familiarity and ease and teasing humor toward each other.
I'm going to give up on puffball mushrooms. I collected 6 small ones yesterday but by the time I started to prepare them (had them sitting on the counter for several hours) they seemed to have turned. Or, perhaps they were old when I picked them though they hadn't formed spores yet. I threw them out. Boletus edulis is a lot more reliable.
Took myself to Pajarito Mountain today - up the Logging Road on the west side, over to the Rim Run viewpoint, to back of the mountain to Yeamans Memorial Bench, down to Sunier picnic deck, behind south side of water retention pond, down the Zero Road East and back to Lodge on Lone Spruce ski run. I was happy to see that lots of barbed wire VCNP boundary fence is down. Everyone is sick of not being allowed to access that private public land!
I hope that Pajarito Mountain Ski Area plans to landscape the area around their snow-making water retention pond. It makes the back of the Pajarito Mountain so atrociously ugly. It's not a big enough mountain that it has room for this ugly scar on its south side.
I walked behind the pond just to see what the back of the mountain looked like before. There is almost a trail in the "talus slope" of dirt and stones but then it ends and I scooted down to the grass to continue walking around. It would be nice if the ski area puts a real trail at the back of the pond so hikers can easily skirt around it to see uninterrupted views.
Also, what do they plan to do with the jumble of huge boulders they wrested from the earth? They're unaesthetically heaped at a corner of the pond.
Hopefully they plan to either chip or haul away the enormous tree stumps that were jerked from the ground. I see that the logs are stacked like there's a plan for them.
I thought today about how wedded I feel to this land that I live in - northern New Mexico. I really have no real reason to ever want to leave it because I have all that I want right here. Tell that to my husband though. Next year, let's forget about a 9 hour drive to Estes Park and instead go to Salida, CO and make that our vacation headquarters!
The LL hiking group has a certain chemistry that is very appealing - a familiarity and ease and teasing humor toward each other.
I'm going to give up on puffball mushrooms. I collected 6 small ones yesterday but by the time I started to prepare them (had them sitting on the counter for several hours) they seemed to have turned. Or, perhaps they were old when I picked them though they hadn't formed spores yet. I threw them out. Boletus edulis is a lot more reliable.
Took myself to Pajarito Mountain today - up the Logging Road on the west side, over to the Rim Run viewpoint, to back of the mountain to Yeamans Memorial Bench, down to Sunier picnic deck, behind south side of water retention pond, down the Zero Road East and back to Lodge on Lone Spruce ski run. I was happy to see that lots of barbed wire VCNP boundary fence is down. Everyone is sick of not being allowed to access that private public land!
I hope that Pajarito Mountain Ski Area plans to landscape the area around their snow-making water retention pond. It makes the back of the Pajarito Mountain so atrociously ugly. It's not a big enough mountain that it has room for this ugly scar on its south side.
I walked behind the pond just to see what the back of the mountain looked like before. There is almost a trail in the "talus slope" of dirt and stones but then it ends and I scooted down to the grass to continue walking around. It would be nice if the ski area puts a real trail at the back of the pond so hikers can easily skirt around it to see uninterrupted views.
Also, what do they plan to do with the jumble of huge boulders they wrested from the earth? They're unaesthetically heaped at a corner of the pond.
Hopefully they plan to either chip or haul away the enormous tree stumps that were jerked from the ground. I see that the logs are stacked like there's a plan for them.
I thought today about how wedded I feel to this land that I live in - northern New Mexico. I really have no real reason to ever want to leave it because I have all that I want right here. Tell that to my husband though. Next year, let's forget about a 9 hour drive to Estes Park and instead go to Salida, CO and make that our vacation headquarters!
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