Saturday, July 19, 2008
Dumb Donkey
I take it back. Spouse is not so intelligent. Yesterday he consumed 800 calories of beverages including 2 beers, approximately 5 ounces wine, and 2 Starbucks Frappuccinos (the ones you buy in the grocery store that are 200 calories a pop). That's criminal for someone who's fasting blood sugar on his most recent tests was 133.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Lab Fitness Trail Still Open to Public
Spouse and I joined the Betty Ehart Senior Center hiking group this morning for their 8:05am start. Norma came up from Pojoaque to hike so Mary tailored the hike for her because Norma's a bit slow. We went to the LANL Fitness Trail near the Wellness Center, parking in the big lot that replaced the running track that I used to love to go to. I thought the Fitness Trail was closed after 9-11-2001 but I'm glad I was wrong. This gives me a new option of a close-in, quick trail to do my 4 miles. It goes all the way to S-Site. I'll go back to explore this area and work out some 4 mile walks.
There were 9 of us on the hike. Art always does his own hike but today Jane, who's lived in LA since January 2008, joined him for a cross country trek back. It was fun being with people. Spouse was excited to meet Bob Cowan who's a well-known nuclear physicist. I always like spouse better when we're in a group because I appreciate his true, gregarious, intelligent nature better. At home, I'm so likely to classify him as brain dead when he asks where something is before he even looks for it.
Even though it's his Friday off, spouse had to go into work for an hour to check on some computer runs. I have to stay home to wait for the plumber to fix our kitchen sink leak. I actually vaccumed the kitchen floor for him so he doesn't have to lie in filth when he gets under the sink.
The group only did 3 miles so I'll get in 1 more this evening. I walk to the Gordon's Concert and back.
Channel 13 says we're having a good monsoon and it should last until Labor Day. It looks dark over the mountains and I hear thunder.
Guess all thoughts of brevity have gone with the wind!
There were 9 of us on the hike. Art always does his own hike but today Jane, who's lived in LA since January 2008, joined him for a cross country trek back. It was fun being with people. Spouse was excited to meet Bob Cowan who's a well-known nuclear physicist. I always like spouse better when we're in a group because I appreciate his true, gregarious, intelligent nature better. At home, I'm so likely to classify him as brain dead when he asks where something is before he even looks for it.
Even though it's his Friday off, spouse had to go into work for an hour to check on some computer runs. I have to stay home to wait for the plumber to fix our kitchen sink leak. I actually vaccumed the kitchen floor for him so he doesn't have to lie in filth when he gets under the sink.
The group only did 3 miles so I'll get in 1 more this evening. I walk to the Gordon's Concert and back.
Channel 13 says we're having a good monsoon and it should last until Labor Day. It looks dark over the mountains and I hear thunder.
Guess all thoughts of brevity have gone with the wind!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Thor's Hammer
Weird of David Espinoza to go up on the roof without knocking on the door and telling me he was here unless perhaps he knocked and I didn't hear him. I checked the vent pipe with binocs but can't even see where he put caulking - time will tell.
Really don't want a plumber messing around under my kitchen sink but don't want a leak underneath either - rock and hard place.
Went to woods along Camp May Road even though skies looked ferocious. Pulled thistles and NM locusts along the way. Was chased back down by terrific lightning (3 screams, twice saw flash and and immediately heard thunder), rain, and hail. My old golf umbrella officially died, breaking 2 more ribs in the winds but at least it lasted until the rain died down. Got pretty wet anyhow. After excitement died down, I finished 4 miles by going up Guardrail Hill again. Will finish weeding another time.
Olivas Tree Service did excellent work and I'd recommend them to anyone!
Trying to make these shorter like I would if I had to write out all this crap!
Really don't want a plumber messing around under my kitchen sink but don't want a leak underneath either - rock and hard place.
Went to woods along Camp May Road even though skies looked ferocious. Pulled thistles and NM locusts along the way. Was chased back down by terrific lightning (3 screams, twice saw flash and and immediately heard thunder), rain, and hail. My old golf umbrella officially died, breaking 2 more ribs in the winds but at least it lasted until the rain died down. Got pretty wet anyhow. After excitement died down, I finished 4 miles by going up Guardrail Hill again. Will finish weeding another time.
Olivas Tree Service did excellent work and I'd recommend them to anyone!
Trying to make these shorter like I would if I had to write out all this crap!
Houses Need Care
The pruners are here. Tomorrow, maybe a plumber. Our kitchen sink leaks underneath where the tailpiece attaches to the sink's strainer. I tried some cautious tightening but that neither harmed or helped so it's Waller's to the rescue! I'm also waiting to hear from Casey's Top Hat to get our chimney cleaned this year. David Espinoza Roofing came out but I didn't even realize he had been up on the roof to put some silicone caulk on the furnace vent pipe until he knocked on the door and said he had.
Frankly, my dear, I'd rather live in a cave!
Frankly, my dear, I'd rather live in a cave!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Upper East Fork Jemez River: A LL Hike
There were 17 people counting Eric and Adam, our leaders's son and grandson. Eric carried Adam in a baby backpack. It was cute watching our leader feed little bits of Oreo cookies to Adam to keep him happy. He was a very good 13 month old baby and got to run around at lunch. He liked when I played peek-a-boo with him, taking my mask off and on. Our leader had to cut the hike short because her toe was giving her pain. The hike was advertised as 7 miles but only turned out to be 3 miles. We got back to the East Fork TH at 12:30pm - early - just as rain began.
This hike begins at the Roland Pettit Trail but quickly goes west up the hill and over the ridge north of Las Conchas Picnic Area and then goes down to the official East Fork Trail. We took the abbreviated version of hike #74 in our leaders's book. We had to cross the East Fork twice. The leaders said the crossings would be easy because the water was low but it must have rained since they checked because I had to take my shoes and socks off for the first crossing although others said they found a log to cross on further downstream. The second crossing was easy - rock-hopped across. I see that a bridge is being built to replace the last old, rickety bridge - yippee!
I felt lonely after the hike. Maybe it was because it was so short and the group seemed to be speed-walking, except for our leader - Doris stayed back with her - and I didn't feel I connected with anyone in the short time frame. The after-hike social time was cut short because of the rain.
Afterwards, I drove up to the Ocean and hiked little beyond Paintball Road. I did some stretches back at the Ocean. I think there are ghosts on the Camp May Road Route because I felt even lonelier hanging out at the Ocean! It looked dark and I could see lightning and hear thunder but it never rained while I was there.
I would like to know the difference between White Mountain Ragweed and Wild Cosmos. I thought sure that Dorothy had called White Mountain Ragweed what Doris called Wild Cosmos today. I'll check with Dorothy. I'm sure that Doris is correct but perhaps the other name is correct too.
I'll do email tomorrow as that will be good to do when the pruners are here.
I discovered last night that our kitchen sink trap has a slow leak. I'll call Waller's one day.
This hike begins at the Roland Pettit Trail but quickly goes west up the hill and over the ridge north of Las Conchas Picnic Area and then goes down to the official East Fork Trail. We took the abbreviated version of hike #74 in our leaders's book. We had to cross the East Fork twice. The leaders said the crossings would be easy because the water was low but it must have rained since they checked because I had to take my shoes and socks off for the first crossing although others said they found a log to cross on further downstream. The second crossing was easy - rock-hopped across. I see that a bridge is being built to replace the last old, rickety bridge - yippee!
I felt lonely after the hike. Maybe it was because it was so short and the group seemed to be speed-walking, except for our leader - Doris stayed back with her - and I didn't feel I connected with anyone in the short time frame. The after-hike social time was cut short because of the rain.
Afterwards, I drove up to the Ocean and hiked little beyond Paintball Road. I did some stretches back at the Ocean. I think there are ghosts on the Camp May Road Route because I felt even lonelier hanging out at the Ocean! It looked dark and I could see lightning and hear thunder but it never rained while I was there.
I would like to know the difference between White Mountain Ragweed and Wild Cosmos. I thought sure that Dorothy had called White Mountain Ragweed what Doris called Wild Cosmos today. I'll check with Dorothy. I'm sure that Doris is correct but perhaps the other name is correct too.
I'll do email tomorrow as that will be good to do when the pruners are here.
I discovered last night that our kitchen sink trap has a slow leak. I'll call Waller's one day.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Kwage Mesa Trail and Engineering Marvels
Although I saw no mad dogs or Englishmen on this trail this afternoon, it was hot enough! Clouds were building over Pajarito and I thought "Hot dog - it would be fun to go to Kwage Mesa and watch the clouds build over the Sangres and the Jemez and maybe it would get overcast and cool off - WRONG! Clouds built but they didn't do anything and the trail was sunny and dry but I had it all to myself as no one else was so stupid! I went on the trail to the right of the dressage arena instead of the old road to the left of the dressage area that I usually take. The official Kwage (also called North or Horse Mesa) Mesa Trail winds and winds across the mesa and seems longer than the 1.4 miles that Craig Martin says it is. The only living beings I saw were large raptors flying around, waiting for something to die.
Walking along, I had views to the south of Los Alamos Mesa and the Los Alamos Airport. The cap on the old dump on the side of Los Alamos Mesa, at the south edge of the airport, looks like a dam with the earth above the cap shaped like a funnel. I need an engineer to explain that one to me. If you cap an old dump, why would you build an earthern funnel above the cap? Maybe I could figure out things if I had brought my binoculars.
I could also see that work has begun on the Airport Basin site. It's between De Colores and the Industrial Park on Los Alamos's Main Hill Road and the site is on the steep south side of the mesa and is above some breathtakingly steep cliffs on Los Alamos Mesa that plunge straight down to Pueblo Canyon.
I also wanted to take a gander at the road work on Diamond-Conoco Hill. It looked exciting but it still looks like piles of rubble to me. Pity the homeowners in that area. I didn't realize that Volvo makes excavators but there it was shoveling dirt with Volvo emblazoned on its rotating cab.
Walking along, I had views to the south of Los Alamos Mesa and the Los Alamos Airport. The cap on the old dump on the side of Los Alamos Mesa, at the south edge of the airport, looks like a dam with the earth above the cap shaped like a funnel. I need an engineer to explain that one to me. If you cap an old dump, why would you build an earthern funnel above the cap? Maybe I could figure out things if I had brought my binoculars.
I could also see that work has begun on the Airport Basin site. It's between De Colores and the Industrial Park on Los Alamos's Main Hill Road and the site is on the steep south side of the mesa and is above some breathtakingly steep cliffs on Los Alamos Mesa that plunge straight down to Pueblo Canyon.
I also wanted to take a gander at the road work on Diamond-Conoco Hill. It looked exciting but it still looks like piles of rubble to me. Pity the homeowners in that area. I didn't realize that Volvo makes excavators but there it was shoveling dirt with Volvo emblazoned on its rotating cab.
LA Roofing: Not Above Reproach?
I tend to think that LA Roofing exaggerated the need for our roof to be replaced. So far two different people have told me that even in the case where narrow crown staples (better to use broad crown staples or nails) have worked their way up to the top of the shingle, the asphalt shingles are self-sealing and will, in effect, seal any penetration caused by the staples. The roof is only 13 years old and not every staple is showing. There are some diagonal lines of staples showing on the roof. I stood on the ladder while LA Roofing was here and even commented to them that I could see large numbers of shingles that did not have the tell-tale black line of the staple head. The owner also acted like that was what was causing the leak around the furnace exhaust vent and that it was imperative to replace the roof ASAP. When I asked when I might have a problem if I didn't, he gave no further elucidation. I think the reason he lit up a cigarette and smoked in my face, without asking if I minded, is that he's stressed when he tries to convince a potential customer that 1+1=3!!
Monday, July 14, 2008
West Rim Above La Cueva
Dave and Faye didn't show up. I realized too late that they don't have a computer at home and wouldn't receive Dorothy's emails regarding today's explore. Dorothy will call them to apologize.
We went in a very short distance on FR376 South and turned left on an unmarked road that led to an area where people camp above La Cueva where we parked. Actually, two other cars were there when we got back a little after 3pm. One drove out before we did and the other looked like it was staying. We also saw some campers near the intersection of FR604 and FR376 on our way back.
After lunch above Wildcat Canyon, we headed back, planning to go back the way we came which included going up and over a tall hill but a thunderstorm intervened. Instead, we walked down FR604 to FR376 and eventually cut over to where Dorothy's car was parked. The rain was coming heavy for a while but Dorothy and I both broke out our golf umbrellas and were happy. Happy also were we that the thunder and lightning were not directly overhead and we were off the rim. But, I've gotten way ahead of myself.
The rim above La Cueva is beautiful with views of La Cueva, San Antonio Mountain, Redondo, Redondo Border, etc., and all the way to Los Griegos, Pelado, and Las Conchas. We saw several trees along the rim that had been split by lightning so I highly doubt the SFNF is going to make an official trail right along the edge. The view down to the tent rocks was stupendous and I wonder how the forest service managed to let that beautiful natural wonder become private property. There's a big house right at the base of the tent rocks. After we got off the rim and intersected FR604, we walked up a hill from the road and found a fence signed Posted No Trespassing Keep Out. Then we came to a fence corner and another fence continued at a diagonal to the posted one but maybe the private property didn't even though there was one more posted sign on the diagonal fence.
We encountered several more fences and gates and they were all in excellent condition and hard to crack. One gate, we had to take apart at the opposite end because the part with the wire latch was so wedged into the gate post because they used barbed rather than barbless wire for the latch. Another fence, I had to untwist wire so we could pull the two strands apart to get under it. A vexing day for fences but I will come armed with the red pliers next time!
I was looking at the topo map this evening and I really don't see how Dorothy will scale the cliffs down to Battleship Rock but we will have a good time exploring.
Sunday, spouse and I went to the Hotrock Rim Trail because he wanted to hike there. It was cool and overcast but later turned sunny but not as warm as it can be. We walked to Pajarito Canyon and on the way back, took the side trip on the bench beneath the rim trail. That's a lovely area. I think it would be interesting to get into WR Canyon via that bench trail.
We went in a very short distance on FR376 South and turned left on an unmarked road that led to an area where people camp above La Cueva where we parked. Actually, two other cars were there when we got back a little after 3pm. One drove out before we did and the other looked like it was staying. We also saw some campers near the intersection of FR604 and FR376 on our way back.
After lunch above Wildcat Canyon, we headed back, planning to go back the way we came which included going up and over a tall hill but a thunderstorm intervened. Instead, we walked down FR604 to FR376 and eventually cut over to where Dorothy's car was parked. The rain was coming heavy for a while but Dorothy and I both broke out our golf umbrellas and were happy. Happy also were we that the thunder and lightning were not directly overhead and we were off the rim. But, I've gotten way ahead of myself.
The rim above La Cueva is beautiful with views of La Cueva, San Antonio Mountain, Redondo, Redondo Border, etc., and all the way to Los Griegos, Pelado, and Las Conchas. We saw several trees along the rim that had been split by lightning so I highly doubt the SFNF is going to make an official trail right along the edge. The view down to the tent rocks was stupendous and I wonder how the forest service managed to let that beautiful natural wonder become private property. There's a big house right at the base of the tent rocks. After we got off the rim and intersected FR604, we walked up a hill from the road and found a fence signed Posted No Trespassing Keep Out. Then we came to a fence corner and another fence continued at a diagonal to the posted one but maybe the private property didn't even though there was one more posted sign on the diagonal fence.
We encountered several more fences and gates and they were all in excellent condition and hard to crack. One gate, we had to take apart at the opposite end because the part with the wire latch was so wedged into the gate post because they used barbed rather than barbless wire for the latch. Another fence, I had to untwist wire so we could pull the two strands apart to get under it. A vexing day for fences but I will come armed with the red pliers next time!
I was looking at the topo map this evening and I really don't see how Dorothy will scale the cliffs down to Battleship Rock but we will have a good time exploring.
Sunday, spouse and I went to the Hotrock Rim Trail because he wanted to hike there. It was cool and overcast but later turned sunny but not as warm as it can be. We walked to Pajarito Canyon and on the way back, took the side trip on the bench beneath the rim trail. That's a lovely area. I think it would be interesting to get into WR Canyon via that bench trail.
Friday, July 11, 2008
A Mish Mosh of a Day and Blog
I started off the day feeling somewhat lonely and depressed but managed to dissipate the entire day. My bladder woke me at 7am when I wanted to sleep in. Then, after breakfast, I started feeling sorry for myself and wished that I had set my alarm for 6am to go with the BESC hiking group just to have some company! Here's how I managed:
Went to talk to John across the street to ask if Olivas Tree Service told him one price and then charged another higher one when the job was finished as that's how Western Trees always did to me. Nope - Olivas stuck to the price he had quoted John. Olivas will prune our ash, mugo pines, and cherry tree on this coming Thursday morning. He did a good job on John and Ginny's humongous willow tree.
I spoke to Joe at the LAC Building Permit office. He suggested that I get several more opinions before I replace the roof based on what LA Roofing told me. He also said that it's possible that since asphalt shingles are self-sealing that they may seal around the staple tops. He mentioned names of three local roofers - George Roofing (George Vigil), Richard's Roofing (Richard Martinez), and David Espinoza Roofing. He said that David Espinoza hand nails all the roofs instead of using staples. I called Espinoza, not even mentioning the staples and asked him to come out to look at the furnace vent pipe leak. He sounded a bit impatient but said he'll come next Tuesday at 10am. He only has a BB rating with BBB of NM. Perhaps I should check again what ABC Roofing Specialist's rating is. Richard's Roofing had an AA, I think. I want a condo!!
Then I went to MPL and trolled the free stuff in the lobby and looked in the bookstore. I was hoping the interlibrary book called something like the Good Foot book would be in but it wasn't. Then I went to WR to the MPL branch there and trolled the freebie box there and afterwards went to the Jemez House Thrift Shop where I bought for one whole buck some exercise videos that I'll preview tonight on fast forward while I kegel. Then, since it seemed cooler and somewhat overcast, I decided to walk the Hotrock Rim Trail, still feeling sorry for myself. I think I need to reserve an old pair of shoes just special for walking that lava trail. Instead, I used a mostly brand new pair of Merrell's from REI. BTW, REI in SF now won't open until the end of September.
Then home and waded through email on the computer, made some phone calls. Daughter called to ask if she could bring grandson over while she jogged so I made the pizza (easy - pizza shell, canned spag sauce, bags of shredded cheese) for grandson and spouse. After supper, spouse took grandson to Baskin Robbins. I cooked up bunch of beet tops that daughter had given me. She bought a lot of red beets to make borscht for a dinner she's going to tonight. While I was trying to get my supper underway, I heard trapped bird sounds from the woodstove. The poor thing was scratching and practically squeaking and whimpering to get out so I closed up everything and opened the front door. Man, that little birdie flew out to that beautiful light and freedom as soon as I opened the woodstove door and then sat on my car for a moment, collecting itself.
OK, after all that humaneness to the bird, well it does not apply to the squirrels that are burrowing under our back porch slab!! John told me that Go Die Gopher has styrychnine in it and he's used it for gophers but found a dead squirrel instead. I didn't need to think twice and went to Metzger's this morning to buy some. When I opened the back patio door, there was a squirrel that popped into a hole under our back porch. After supper, I left him a little treat. I hope I don't burn in Hades for killing squirrels but I already have dead gophers on my conscience so what's another squirrel? I tore out the sunflowers in the rocks to cut off the food supply so as not to attract them. God bless the soul of that poor defenseless squirrel but I like them much better in the forest. I'm afraid that when their family gets to big for under the porch slab, they'll move into the crawl space. The awful thing is that grandson loves squirrels!!
Aren't you sorry you asked about my day??? : )
Went to talk to John across the street to ask if Olivas Tree Service told him one price and then charged another higher one when the job was finished as that's how Western Trees always did to me. Nope - Olivas stuck to the price he had quoted John. Olivas will prune our ash, mugo pines, and cherry tree on this coming Thursday morning. He did a good job on John and Ginny's humongous willow tree.
I spoke to Joe at the LAC Building Permit office. He suggested that I get several more opinions before I replace the roof based on what LA Roofing told me. He also said that it's possible that since asphalt shingles are self-sealing that they may seal around the staple tops. He mentioned names of three local roofers - George Roofing (George Vigil), Richard's Roofing (Richard Martinez), and David Espinoza Roofing. He said that David Espinoza hand nails all the roofs instead of using staples. I called Espinoza, not even mentioning the staples and asked him to come out to look at the furnace vent pipe leak. He sounded a bit impatient but said he'll come next Tuesday at 10am. He only has a BB rating with BBB of NM. Perhaps I should check again what ABC Roofing Specialist's rating is. Richard's Roofing had an AA, I think. I want a condo!!
Then I went to MPL and trolled the free stuff in the lobby and looked in the bookstore. I was hoping the interlibrary book called something like the Good Foot book would be in but it wasn't. Then I went to WR to the MPL branch there and trolled the freebie box there and afterwards went to the Jemez House Thrift Shop where I bought for one whole buck some exercise videos that I'll preview tonight on fast forward while I kegel. Then, since it seemed cooler and somewhat overcast, I decided to walk the Hotrock Rim Trail, still feeling sorry for myself. I think I need to reserve an old pair of shoes just special for walking that lava trail. Instead, I used a mostly brand new pair of Merrell's from REI. BTW, REI in SF now won't open until the end of September.
Then home and waded through email on the computer, made some phone calls. Daughter called to ask if she could bring grandson over while she jogged so I made the pizza (easy - pizza shell, canned spag sauce, bags of shredded cheese) for grandson and spouse. After supper, spouse took grandson to Baskin Robbins. I cooked up bunch of beet tops that daughter had given me. She bought a lot of red beets to make borscht for a dinner she's going to tonight. While I was trying to get my supper underway, I heard trapped bird sounds from the woodstove. The poor thing was scratching and practically squeaking and whimpering to get out so I closed up everything and opened the front door. Man, that little birdie flew out to that beautiful light and freedom as soon as I opened the woodstove door and then sat on my car for a moment, collecting itself.
OK, after all that humaneness to the bird, well it does not apply to the squirrels that are burrowing under our back porch slab!! John told me that Go Die Gopher has styrychnine in it and he's used it for gophers but found a dead squirrel instead. I didn't need to think twice and went to Metzger's this morning to buy some. When I opened the back patio door, there was a squirrel that popped into a hole under our back porch. After supper, I left him a little treat. I hope I don't burn in Hades for killing squirrels but I already have dead gophers on my conscience so what's another squirrel? I tore out the sunflowers in the rocks to cut off the food supply so as not to attract them. God bless the soul of that poor defenseless squirrel but I like them much better in the forest. I'm afraid that when their family gets to big for under the porch slab, they'll move into the crawl space. The awful thing is that grandson loves squirrels!!
Aren't you sorry you asked about my day??? : )
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Las Conchas Peak
The Las Conchas Peak hike went well Monday. David wasn't impressed with the route up. All along he had wanted to go up from Peralta Road up a pass. I must admit that watching everyone pick their way up the rocky south side of Las Conchas and burying themselves in the shrubs to do it, made me realize that David was right but I wasn't familiar with any other way.
Everyone seemed to like the views from on top but the caldera views were probably somewhat disappointing to Dorothy. I had forgotten how blocked toward Redondo the top of Las Conchas is. The best views of Redondo were from the next peak to the south - Hermit Thrush Peak.
After lunch, David wanted to go down a different way and no one protested! He went down from the northeast corner of the mountain and it was a very good way down - not too steep. He built some small rock cairns as we went down and we built another brush cairn when we intersected the Peralta-Paliza Trail.
When we got back to the Peralta-Paliza Trail, Dorothy suggested that we shortcut the trail by going downhill to another section of the trail and we all agreed. However, Dorothy wasn't paying complete attention because we kept asking her to identify this and that flower so we ended up going down to Peralta Road. Basically, I think that Faye and David both wanted to go down the shortest way and they would head off and we all mindlessly followed. I marked where we came out on the road with a stone cairn. I'd like to try to go to Las Conchas again from that point and going up the way we came down on this past Monday. I think that David and Faye are excellent mountaineers.
Annette walked back with me to my car parked at the bottom of Peralta Road. We walked out through Corral Canyon but cut up the hill, before NM4, to go east along an old road that went alongside the private property. The road intersected the Peralta Road fairly close to my car and we walked back on the road.
Today I mailed off the Roadrunner Sports shoes for a refund. I also mailed 3" of our toaster oven plug to get a new one under warranty as it had began working only intermittently. It was only 7 months old and a Black and Decker model.
I walked in the woods alongside Camp May Road for the first time in a long time. It was in surprisingly good condition as far as trash. I had decided anyway that I'd be ignoring trash except on a yearly basis. Someone knocked down a few of the rock cairns in the area near Paint Ball Road. I had forgotten how hard it is to pull myself up Guardrail Hill! I'm out of practice!!
Tomorrow I hike with the WI. They'll go to the East Fork Area but the one further west with the pit toilets, I think. Annette emailed me where they are going but if I want to get on the email list, I have to ask Ginny Bell.
Everyone seemed to like the views from on top but the caldera views were probably somewhat disappointing to Dorothy. I had forgotten how blocked toward Redondo the top of Las Conchas is. The best views of Redondo were from the next peak to the south - Hermit Thrush Peak.
After lunch, David wanted to go down a different way and no one protested! He went down from the northeast corner of the mountain and it was a very good way down - not too steep. He built some small rock cairns as we went down and we built another brush cairn when we intersected the Peralta-Paliza Trail.
When we got back to the Peralta-Paliza Trail, Dorothy suggested that we shortcut the trail by going downhill to another section of the trail and we all agreed. However, Dorothy wasn't paying complete attention because we kept asking her to identify this and that flower so we ended up going down to Peralta Road. Basically, I think that Faye and David both wanted to go down the shortest way and they would head off and we all mindlessly followed. I marked where we came out on the road with a stone cairn. I'd like to try to go to Las Conchas again from that point and going up the way we came down on this past Monday. I think that David and Faye are excellent mountaineers.
Annette walked back with me to my car parked at the bottom of Peralta Road. We walked out through Corral Canyon but cut up the hill, before NM4, to go east along an old road that went alongside the private property. The road intersected the Peralta Road fairly close to my car and we walked back on the road.
Today I mailed off the Roadrunner Sports shoes for a refund. I also mailed 3" of our toaster oven plug to get a new one under warranty as it had began working only intermittently. It was only 7 months old and a Black and Decker model.
I walked in the woods alongside Camp May Road for the first time in a long time. It was in surprisingly good condition as far as trash. I had decided anyway that I'd be ignoring trash except on a yearly basis. Someone knocked down a few of the rock cairns in the area near Paint Ball Road. I had forgotten how hard it is to pull myself up Guardrail Hill! I'm out of practice!!
Tomorrow I hike with the WI. They'll go to the East Fork Area but the one further west with the pit toilets, I think. Annette emailed me where they are going but if I want to get on the email list, I have to ask Ginny Bell.
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