Today I decided to explore the bottom mile of the unofficial Cerro Grande Route aka the Coker Trail. I started around 10 am. The route starts as a definite path through the grass but then the situation disintegrates. The path disappears and then reappears with no logic to it. I know basically how to get where I want to go but anyone who's never been there wouldn't know - unless they have read about the hike in Hiking Adventures in Northern New Mexico.
First, I walked to the elk exclosure/monitoring station on the right and not very far from the highway. I followed along the west side of it hoping it would funnel me into a definite trail. It sort of does but then the track gets indefinite again. The problem is that there are paths trampled here and there but none distinct enough to be THE one to follow.
I blundered around following this path and that, saw cairns here and there and compounded confusion by making a few of my own.
The way I like to go is to first head uphill toward the "air" to the east with great, close-in views of the Water Canyon drainage below but going up this way leads to an obstacle course of downed trees. There are several ways to tackle these - either go wide around or go right through. It doesn't seem right to not detour over to enjoy the view.
Today, I tried to pass the mish mosh of trees on their east side but it became too steep. Then I started to clear a small area to go west but it's too big a network of giant pick up sticks. I'd need a chain saw and Bandelier National Monument would frown on that.
I saw an area that seemed passable. As I picked my way through, I saw a path that went north right up the middle of the mess but I didn't follow it because I wanted to get over to the old logging road to the west.
Eventually I got to the old logging road that goes directly to the first golden grass meadow on the way to Cerro Grande. At the meadow, I tightened my shoelaces for the trip down.
I decided to follow the old logging road down. It's no piece of cake either as I had to step over plenty of logs fallen across the road. The road led right by a second,large elk exclosure. I just kept following the road, bearing somewhat to the east, ignoring a broad turn off to the right/south, and eventually got to the far north corner of the first elk exclosure. I left some rocks and pieces of wood here and there to mark my route. It needs a lot more marking. The road is not even clearly a road in places but I got where I needed to go.
Conclusion is that we did the best that we could on Monday. Until you get to the first golden grass meadow, there is not one definite path to follow but instead, there are many options to get to that first golden grass meadow which leads up to Cerro Grande.
When I got back to the first elk exclosure, I decided to go in a straight line east from it. I ended up at the Bandelier boundary fence.
On the way back to the elk exclosure, I saw a doe walking away from me, all the while keeping an eye on me. I thought it strange that she didn't just bolt away but kept walking perpendicular to my line of travel while looking sideways at me.
I was surprised at my boldness in walking into the untracked woods to the fence line. It was a sunny day and a thunderstorm wasn't imminent. I get spooked by cloudy days and rumbling thunder.
Almost back at the car, I saw an old logging road on my left. I've walked it before from another old road to the east but would like to walk it again one day.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Hike of the Season
I hiked with the LL group. There were 25 of us. The hike description may make you breathless so hang on! We left some vehicles at the Pine St. play lot and drove over to North Mesa picnic area to start the hike.
We headed on a sidewalk downhill to the Roundabout and then went briefly uphill to cross San Ildefonso. We started walking on the Walnut Canyon Rim Trail at the northern edge of the golf course. We took that over to the North Pueblo Bench Trail, crossed the tall Pueblo Canyon Bridge, took a jaunt on the South Pueblo Bench Trail to the Acid Canyon Trail to the Ranch School Trail (but stayed atop the canyon bench) to what I call the Rogue Trail (a vertigo-inducing trail per a hiker) to Graduation Canyon (where we had lunch) then up canyon to our cars and the play lot where we had the usual end-of-hike soda pop fiesta at the picnic benches. It was a good hike of a little over 5 miles.
One of our hiking leaders opted to do only part of the hike. She and a married couple left the group at Orange Street. She met us back at the play lot but the couple skipped the get together.
I found out who built the Rogue Trail. I won't put his name here but he's a retired LANL scientist who worked with the Los Alamos Accelerator Code Group and truly did, as I had heard, go over to CERN to work. Yesterday, our open space czar told me that the first trail this man built (wish I had asked where) wasn't built good but said this one improved after the man attended a trail-building workshop.
The Rogue Trail is high on the south bench of Pueblo Canyon. Most places have an uncomfortably steep looking drop off to the canyon bottom. We met a doe on the trail today. The lead hiker held his hand up to halt everyone. The deer stood poised at the edge of the canyon looking cautiously at us. Eventually, she turned around and walked in the direction we were going and disappeared. A hiker in the back groused that she didn't care about seeing the deer and didn't see the point of stopping. But, if we hadn't, there was a chance that the deer may have panicked and tried to head down into the canyon and hurt herself.
The hiker who complained was getting hungry for lunch. At the lunch spot, with beautiful views down canyon of mesas east of Los Alamos, it turned out she had forgotten her lunch. Sorry to admit but I pretended not to hear and kept walking toward a scenic lunch spot at the canyon edge. Fortunately, others with extra food (I didn't have extra) came to her rescue!
Graduation Canyon spills over a steep cliff into Pueblo Canyon. The recent heavy rains must have created a spectacular waterfall because after lunch, as we walked up canyon, we saw flattened grasses indicating that the drainage far overflowed its banks.
We headed on a sidewalk downhill to the Roundabout and then went briefly uphill to cross San Ildefonso. We started walking on the Walnut Canyon Rim Trail at the northern edge of the golf course. We took that over to the North Pueblo Bench Trail, crossed the tall Pueblo Canyon Bridge, took a jaunt on the South Pueblo Bench Trail to the Acid Canyon Trail to the Ranch School Trail (but stayed atop the canyon bench) to what I call the Rogue Trail (a vertigo-inducing trail per a hiker) to Graduation Canyon (where we had lunch) then up canyon to our cars and the play lot where we had the usual end-of-hike soda pop fiesta at the picnic benches. It was a good hike of a little over 5 miles.
One of our hiking leaders opted to do only part of the hike. She and a married couple left the group at Orange Street. She met us back at the play lot but the couple skipped the get together.
I found out who built the Rogue Trail. I won't put his name here but he's a retired LANL scientist who worked with the Los Alamos Accelerator Code Group and truly did, as I had heard, go over to CERN to work. Yesterday, our open space czar told me that the first trail this man built (wish I had asked where) wasn't built good but said this one improved after the man attended a trail-building workshop.
The Rogue Trail is high on the south bench of Pueblo Canyon. Most places have an uncomfortably steep looking drop off to the canyon bottom. We met a doe on the trail today. The lead hiker held his hand up to halt everyone. The deer stood poised at the edge of the canyon looking cautiously at us. Eventually, she turned around and walked in the direction we were going and disappeared. A hiker in the back groused that she didn't care about seeing the deer and didn't see the point of stopping. But, if we hadn't, there was a chance that the deer may have panicked and tried to head down into the canyon and hurt herself.
The hiker who complained was getting hungry for lunch. At the lunch spot, with beautiful views down canyon of mesas east of Los Alamos, it turned out she had forgotten her lunch. Sorry to admit but I pretended not to hear and kept walking toward a scenic lunch spot at the canyon edge. Fortunately, others with extra food (I didn't have extra) came to her rescue!
Graduation Canyon spills over a steep cliff into Pueblo Canyon. The recent heavy rains must have created a spectacular waterfall because after lunch, as we walked up canyon, we saw flattened grasses indicating that the drainage far overflowed its banks.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Coker Trail Up Cerro Grande
The Monday group made the mistake of letting me lead them up the Coker Trail to the top of Cerro Grande. This is an unofficial route up Cerro Grande. The parking for it is 1.7 miles east of the official route's parking lot.
There were 6 of us and we started around 9 am. The weather was cool which was perfect for going up 1,050' in 2.4 miles to the top of Cerro Grande. There was no rain or thunderstorm - yay!!
My first instinct was to go toward the first elk exclosure and find the trail up but one hiker remembered going to the left so we went that way instead. The NPS had burned piles in that area which made the walking nasty. I could see there wasn't really a trail so we worked our way east where the ridge drops off, enjoyed the view and then headed north up the ridge.
Then, at the mess of downed trees, we were too far to the right when we should have approached it from the left. Everyone was very forbearing about the muddling which they can afford to be because they are very fit. Eventually we got out of the downed trees and on the wide road that heads up to the first meadow. The rest went smoothly after the initial snafus because they basically could lead themselves after we hit the first golden grass meadow.
I should explain that this alternate route up Cerro Grande (in Hiking Adventures of Northern New Mexico) can be confusing as tracks go off here and there. How apparent the route is depends on how many people have been on it recently, trampling a path through the grass. I would have checked it out this weekend to orient myself but my foot and hip/buttock were still sore then.
They all had a snack at Coker Point which overlooks practically all of northern New Mexico.
These women are very fit! After the snack on top of Cerro Grande, they practically ran down the mountain. I guess they've been up Cerro Grande enough that they didn't feel like gawking at the views. I pointed out where we saw the bear on Memorial Day.
I got good exercise keeping up with them! The trail surface has gotten enough moisture that we didn't slip and slide on "marbles" on the steep descent. From the top, on the official route, it's 1.9 miles and you descend 1,063'. My quads were getting really tight as we descended into the Frijoles Canyon drainage. My right foot and right hip/buttock were fine.
Almost back at the car, we met a slight woman walking up. Everyone else said hello but went on by. I stopped and told her she looked like a runner. She assured me that it was more of a power walk for her. She asked if we had seen any bears and I told her we hadn't. Then she told me about her recent encounter with a mother bear and cub. She admitted that she had been looking down at her feet and wasn't scanning off in the distance and when she looked up, bam - there were the large mama bear and cub. The mama bear huffed and the cub instantly treed. The woman said she had to pass very near the bear but kept her head down and talked softly and reassuringly. She was wearing a bear bell today but said she had forgotten it the day of the encounter although she had been singing to warn off bears as she went downhill.
When I told the woman's story to the others back at the trailhead, they thought this was not a smart woman but I thought she was very brave.
They had planned to walk the 1.7 miles back to their vehicle at the Coker Trail but I talked them into letting me drive them back. Four sat in the back seat and two of us sat up front. We opened all the windows and turned on the a/c. It was tight but they appreciated the ride. They were all so sweet at the end, hugging and thanking me. I thanked them for their forbearance!
I stayed at the trailhead and had my lunch, shook out the car rugs and changed out of my wet shoes and socks. It was a good day.
We had a another seemingly never-ending rain storm this afternoon - some thunder but not too bad. It's 78 degrees in the house now - nice!
There were 6 of us and we started around 9 am. The weather was cool which was perfect for going up 1,050' in 2.4 miles to the top of Cerro Grande. There was no rain or thunderstorm - yay!!
My first instinct was to go toward the first elk exclosure and find the trail up but one hiker remembered going to the left so we went that way instead. The NPS had burned piles in that area which made the walking nasty. I could see there wasn't really a trail so we worked our way east where the ridge drops off, enjoyed the view and then headed north up the ridge.
Then, at the mess of downed trees, we were too far to the right when we should have approached it from the left. Everyone was very forbearing about the muddling which they can afford to be because they are very fit. Eventually we got out of the downed trees and on the wide road that heads up to the first meadow. The rest went smoothly after the initial snafus because they basically could lead themselves after we hit the first golden grass meadow.
I should explain that this alternate route up Cerro Grande (in Hiking Adventures of Northern New Mexico) can be confusing as tracks go off here and there. How apparent the route is depends on how many people have been on it recently, trampling a path through the grass. I would have checked it out this weekend to orient myself but my foot and hip/buttock were still sore then.
They all had a snack at Coker Point which overlooks practically all of northern New Mexico.
These women are very fit! After the snack on top of Cerro Grande, they practically ran down the mountain. I guess they've been up Cerro Grande enough that they didn't feel like gawking at the views. I pointed out where we saw the bear on Memorial Day.
I got good exercise keeping up with them! The trail surface has gotten enough moisture that we didn't slip and slide on "marbles" on the steep descent. From the top, on the official route, it's 1.9 miles and you descend 1,063'. My quads were getting really tight as we descended into the Frijoles Canyon drainage. My right foot and right hip/buttock were fine.
Almost back at the car, we met a slight woman walking up. Everyone else said hello but went on by. I stopped and told her she looked like a runner. She assured me that it was more of a power walk for her. She asked if we had seen any bears and I told her we hadn't. Then she told me about her recent encounter with a mother bear and cub. She admitted that she had been looking down at her feet and wasn't scanning off in the distance and when she looked up, bam - there were the large mama bear and cub. The mama bear huffed and the cub instantly treed. The woman said she had to pass very near the bear but kept her head down and talked softly and reassuringly. She was wearing a bear bell today but said she had forgotten it the day of the encounter although she had been singing to warn off bears as she went downhill.
When I told the woman's story to the others back at the trailhead, they thought this was not a smart woman but I thought she was very brave.
They had planned to walk the 1.7 miles back to their vehicle at the Coker Trail but I talked them into letting me drive them back. Four sat in the back seat and two of us sat up front. We opened all the windows and turned on the a/c. It was tight but they appreciated the ride. They were all so sweet at the end, hugging and thanking me. I thanked them for their forbearance!
I stayed at the trailhead and had my lunch, shook out the car rugs and changed out of my wet shoes and socks. It was a good day.
We had a another seemingly never-ending rain storm this afternoon - some thunder but not too bad. It's 78 degrees in the house now - nice!
Sunday Synopsis
Friend dropped off boletus edulis mushrooms in morning. He had collected them with another friend who also lives in Albuquerque. I'm invited on their next mushroom foray. The unprecedented monsoonal rains we're having will ensure that the bumper crop continues.
The mushrooms he gave me were in wonderful condition. I saw very little evidence that bugs had fed on them. He explains in his mushroom reports that this means the mushrooms grew very fast before the bugs could feast on them.
To prepare them, I softened onions and garlic in water, gently simmering them with the lid on. Then I added the trimmed mushrooms and simmered them some more, adding 1 T canola oil and some parsley flakes at the end. They taste delicious. I made broth out of the boletus sponge and mushroom trimmings. I froze most of the mushrooms and the broth. Next week, I will add them to brown rice.
I prepared the mushrooms during a power outage. We were having an amazingly profuse rain storm and the power went off at 6 pm and didn't go on again until 7:30 pm or so. Daughter who lives in North Community didn't have power until midnight. White Rock didn't have an outage. When I walked around 9 pm last night, it looked like North Mesa still didn't have power.
I walked late because we went to Santa Fe. I returned some items to REI and looked for new hiking shoes but didn't find any. I attended "worship services" at the Sunflower Farmer's Market produce department. Yummy!!
The mushrooms he gave me were in wonderful condition. I saw very little evidence that bugs had fed on them. He explains in his mushroom reports that this means the mushrooms grew very fast before the bugs could feast on them.
To prepare them, I softened onions and garlic in water, gently simmering them with the lid on. Then I added the trimmed mushrooms and simmered them some more, adding 1 T canola oil and some parsley flakes at the end. They taste delicious. I made broth out of the boletus sponge and mushroom trimmings. I froze most of the mushrooms and the broth. Next week, I will add them to brown rice.
I prepared the mushrooms during a power outage. We were having an amazingly profuse rain storm and the power went off at 6 pm and didn't go on again until 7:30 pm or so. Daughter who lives in North Community didn't have power until midnight. White Rock didn't have an outage. When I walked around 9 pm last night, it looked like North Mesa still didn't have power.
I walked late because we went to Santa Fe. I returned some items to REI and looked for new hiking shoes but didn't find any. I attended "worship services" at the Sunflower Farmer's Market produce department. Yummy!!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
87 Degrees in House
It's hot. Spouse says it's not but he's wrong!
I walked on the Route. I felt a lack of energy even though it's not that hard. The padding on the right insole seemed to help my toe pain. Either that or wearing a different pair of shoes helped. Buttock pain even improved slightly.
I saw one of the uptown Friday hikers at the library bookstore. She thanked me for leading the hike and said she enjoyed being out doors. It made me realize that even though I excoriate this hiking group for not espousing my hiking style, they enjoy the outdoors but in their own way. It would help if I were less judgmental, intense and serious all the time! I felt pretty black about the whole incident yesterday but I was very tired from getting up at 6 am. I feel better today.
Lots of red amanitas popping out on the Route. I saw some evidence that the rescue dog people have been on the Route - polka dot flagging on a tree and a red rag on the ground.
I walked on the Route. I felt a lack of energy even though it's not that hard. The padding on the right insole seemed to help my toe pain. Either that or wearing a different pair of shoes helped. Buttock pain even improved slightly.
I saw one of the uptown Friday hikers at the library bookstore. She thanked me for leading the hike and said she enjoyed being out doors. It made me realize that even though I excoriate this hiking group for not espousing my hiking style, they enjoy the outdoors but in their own way. It would help if I were less judgmental, intense and serious all the time! I felt pretty black about the whole incident yesterday but I was very tired from getting up at 6 am. I feel better today.
Lots of red amanitas popping out on the Route. I saw some evidence that the rescue dog people have been on the Route - polka dot flagging on a tree and a red rag on the ground.
Friday, August 13, 2010
I Was It
I subbed for the BESC hiking leader who was out of town. She had mentioned that someone had called to inquire for an elderly man who wanted to come on the hikes. The elderly man turned out to be an intellectually disabled man who was maybe in his 40's - not elderly at all. Not knowing any more details ahead of time made for some awkward moments when I, at first, thought the man that brought him to the senior center intended to drop him off for me to watch which was a big responsibility but it turned out that man was his caretaker. Once I understood this, no problema! It all worked out as they are both excellent hikers. The caretaker explained that the man's father wants his son to get some exercise; they will hike with the group again next week. They are more than welcome on the Friday hikes.
I drove myself up to the trailhead. We all parked on FR181 and walked across NM4 to the Apache Springs trailhead. We were a group of 6, including me. At the start, I must have made one woman nervous that I planned to take them on a death march because when I told them the trail went all the way to Bandelier headquarters, this woman, relatively young and in good shape, piped up that they usually only walk an hour. Although she later admitted that they actually walk two hours, I, wanting to be fully compliant, told the group to let me know when to turn around but inwardly felt frustrated by how this group always sets a time limit. They did go as far as the overlook above Apache Springs. We turned around because no one expressed desire to go on. My GPS said we did 2.4 miles round trip.
Right before the overlook, the intellectually disabled man's caretaker called out to me. We were going down a slight hill. We all stopped and turned around and then saw the 84 year old woman, her arm in a cast (she fell and broke it while riding her bicycle!), slowly making her way down hill. I felt so embarrassed to have left her trailing behind, however briefly, and was grateful that someone alerted me. Overall, she did very well on the hike.
Now, I better appreciate how hard the hiking leader's job is and how smoothly she does it! That still doesn't make me appreciate this group with their urge to get back early. The group and I are not a good fit.
I got them back at 10 am. After they all drove away, I finished my daily 4 miles by walking a little past where Water Canyon crosses FR181. I was having pain in the ball of my right foot and right buttock on the way back. I'm not happy about this!! I don't like anything that threatens my ability to walk everyday!!
The podiatrist today said I have second toe tendinitis. He added some padding to my insole to take weight off the tendon. I'll try it out on a tame walk tomorrow but I suspect the extra padding is just going to cause pain in another part of my foot. I'm going to carry an extra, unpadded insole just in case!
Why do my feet have to be so delicate?? My second toe is longer than the first and takes a beating when I walk. I have osteoporosis as well. There must be a type of shoe I can wear that would protect my feet. I told spouse if I ever have to stop walking the woods, I'd like to move to the ocean.
Daughter and grandson bought over Papa Murphy pizza tonight. I made a salad. Spouse bought Haågen Dazs ice cream - Rocky Road and Dulce de Leche. My supper was salad with butter beans, peanut butter sandwich (with Bubbies horseradish, tomatoes and onions), nectarine, grapes and spicy pumpkin seeds.
Afterward, daughter and husband took grandson to MPL to see Lego models at the county fair exhibits. Grandson may enter a model next year.
I drove myself up to the trailhead. We all parked on FR181 and walked across NM4 to the Apache Springs trailhead. We were a group of 6, including me. At the start, I must have made one woman nervous that I planned to take them on a death march because when I told them the trail went all the way to Bandelier headquarters, this woman, relatively young and in good shape, piped up that they usually only walk an hour. Although she later admitted that they actually walk two hours, I, wanting to be fully compliant, told the group to let me know when to turn around but inwardly felt frustrated by how this group always sets a time limit. They did go as far as the overlook above Apache Springs. We turned around because no one expressed desire to go on. My GPS said we did 2.4 miles round trip.
Right before the overlook, the intellectually disabled man's caretaker called out to me. We were going down a slight hill. We all stopped and turned around and then saw the 84 year old woman, her arm in a cast (she fell and broke it while riding her bicycle!), slowly making her way down hill. I felt so embarrassed to have left her trailing behind, however briefly, and was grateful that someone alerted me. Overall, she did very well on the hike.
Now, I better appreciate how hard the hiking leader's job is and how smoothly she does it! That still doesn't make me appreciate this group with their urge to get back early. The group and I are not a good fit.
I got them back at 10 am. After they all drove away, I finished my daily 4 miles by walking a little past where Water Canyon crosses FR181. I was having pain in the ball of my right foot and right buttock on the way back. I'm not happy about this!! I don't like anything that threatens my ability to walk everyday!!
The podiatrist today said I have second toe tendinitis. He added some padding to my insole to take weight off the tendon. I'll try it out on a tame walk tomorrow but I suspect the extra padding is just going to cause pain in another part of my foot. I'm going to carry an extra, unpadded insole just in case!
Why do my feet have to be so delicate?? My second toe is longer than the first and takes a beating when I walk. I have osteoporosis as well. There must be a type of shoe I can wear that would protect my feet. I told spouse if I ever have to stop walking the woods, I'd like to move to the ocean.
Daughter and grandson bought over Papa Murphy pizza tonight. I made a salad. Spouse bought Haågen Dazs ice cream - Rocky Road and Dulce de Leche. My supper was salad with butter beans, peanut butter sandwich (with Bubbies horseradish, tomatoes and onions), nectarine, grapes and spicy pumpkin seeds.
Afterward, daughter and husband took grandson to MPL to see Lego models at the county fair exhibits. Grandson may enter a model next year.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
I Didn't Die
I guess those 4 mushrooms I found in the forest really were puffballs because I haven't died yet. I can't say they were any more delicious than the mushrooms I buy in the store but they were good. I sautéed them in olive oil and added them to my eggplant stew with brown rice.
Tonight I finally finished the eggplant stew and brown rice that I made last week and froze half of. What in the world will I eat tomorrow? Nothing is prepared. Daughter is bringing over pizza for her, grandson and spouse. I'll make salad and something simple for my supper.
Doctor visit went well. I got an x-ray of my sore toe and will see the podiatrist tomorrow to ask him what's wrong. Maybe Morton's neuroma? Phooey on all this!
I walked on the Canyon Rim Trail and the Mesa Trail for my almost 4 miles (3.75). The county is putting benches, trash cans and doggy doo containers along the asphalted path. The grand opening is August 21 but people are walking it now. I saw two other walkers and a coyote.
Tonight I finally finished the eggplant stew and brown rice that I made last week and froze half of. What in the world will I eat tomorrow? Nothing is prepared. Daughter is bringing over pizza for her, grandson and spouse. I'll make salad and something simple for my supper.
Doctor visit went well. I got an x-ray of my sore toe and will see the podiatrist tomorrow to ask him what's wrong. Maybe Morton's neuroma? Phooey on all this!
I walked on the Canyon Rim Trail and the Mesa Trail for my almost 4 miles (3.75). The county is putting benches, trash cans and doggy doo containers along the asphalted path. The grand opening is August 21 but people are walking it now. I saw two other walkers and a coyote.
Anatomy of an Automated Phone Answering System
All this was repeated twice each minute during 6 minute call:
Arrghh!! Arrghh!! Arrghh!!
Do the companies that use these automated phone answering systems think the caller is so stupid that they will hang up if not prompted every 10 seconds, 6 times a minute??? Just shut up and let me listen to the music or find my own entertainment during my wait.
We appreciate your patience as we experience a heavy call volume. We should be with you momentarily.
This call may be monitored and recorded for quality assurance.
If you like, you can book on the Internet at ChoiceHotels.com.
Arrghh!! Arrghh!! Arrghh!!
Do the companies that use these automated phone answering systems think the caller is so stupid that they will hang up if not prompted every 10 seconds, 6 times a minute??? Just shut up and let me listen to the music or find my own entertainment during my wait.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Mushroom Foraging
Spouse came home early again because of his sprained ankle. He keeps asking when I'll be done on the computer. This is but a small taste of retirement and I don't like it! I need my own space!!
WI hike today up Pajarito Mountain via Aspenola bike trail on east side and down Aspen for Trouble bike trail on west side. Actually, I gave up following Aspen for Trouble where it intersected Battle Stations and May Day. I have to study the map and follow it uphill one day.
It was a birthday hike which I skip but I did stop in the Lodge to ask advice on mushrooms. On the way down, I collected a boletus and some puffballs. The boletus turned out to be an aspen boletus. The hiker whose advice I asked said he got a gurgly stomach from eating one. Its sponge was orange. I cut it open and it's bluish inside which confirms that it's an aspen boletus. I dumped it in the backyard.
The puffballs were a good learning experience. The ones that feel hollow-y or collapsed inside are very moist when you cut them in half and are forming brown spores from the top down. Threw those in the backyard too. That left a mere 4 small puffballs that are edible. Hope I don't die. I don't see evidence of gills and they are snowy white - gulp...
Finishing up 4 small loads of laundry - oh, joy! Cleaned myself up because I have a doctor visit tomorrow - a follow-up on my recent partial bowel obstruction - oh, joy!
WI hike today up Pajarito Mountain via Aspenola bike trail on east side and down Aspen for Trouble bike trail on west side. Actually, I gave up following Aspen for Trouble where it intersected Battle Stations and May Day. I have to study the map and follow it uphill one day.
It was a birthday hike which I skip but I did stop in the Lodge to ask advice on mushrooms. On the way down, I collected a boletus and some puffballs. The boletus turned out to be an aspen boletus. The hiker whose advice I asked said he got a gurgly stomach from eating one. Its sponge was orange. I cut it open and it's bluish inside which confirms that it's an aspen boletus. I dumped it in the backyard.
The puffballs were a good learning experience. The ones that feel hollow-y or collapsed inside are very moist when you cut them in half and are forming brown spores from the top down. Threw those in the backyard too. That left a mere 4 small puffballs that are edible. Hope I don't die. I don't see evidence of gills and they are snowy white - gulp...
Finishing up 4 small loads of laundry - oh, joy! Cleaned myself up because I have a doctor visit tomorrow - a follow-up on my recent partial bowel obstruction - oh, joy!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Valle Canyon Again
The Tuesday group hiked up Valle Canyon today, starting at 7:45 am. There were 12 of us. I don't like getting up at 5:45 am but the early start works to get us off the trail before the rain. Of course, when I try to read this evening, it'll be snooze time, big time!
I measured the branch spread of a Douglas fir today for the PEEC big trees project. I used the "Go To" feature on my cheapo Garmin GPS to find the tree, high on a hillside.
I'm sure our "big trees" are bantam weight contenders compared to the giants of the Pacific Northwest! A woman who's lived there told me today that their trees get quite enormous.
I told the group that I'd see them on the way down but after measuring the tree, I scooted up to the VCNP fenceline where they were still enjoying their rest/snack break before the trip down.
Spouse tried to work today but came home after 1/2 day because his ankle was swelling. X-ray says no fractures. He was supposed to wear his stirrup ankle splint today but instead, only wore an ordinary elastic ankle brace. He will not be hiking for a while and our Rocky Mountain National Park trip is coming up soon and it is predicated around hiking. Daughter and I will have him watch grandson while WE hike - not unlike our last trip when I was off my feet due to posterior tibial tendon dysfunction and he took short hikes while I sat in the car.
I measured the branch spread of a Douglas fir today for the PEEC big trees project. I used the "Go To" feature on my cheapo Garmin GPS to find the tree, high on a hillside.
I'm sure our "big trees" are bantam weight contenders compared to the giants of the Pacific Northwest! A woman who's lived there told me today that their trees get quite enormous.
I told the group that I'd see them on the way down but after measuring the tree, I scooted up to the VCNP fenceline where they were still enjoying their rest/snack break before the trip down.
Spouse tried to work today but came home after 1/2 day because his ankle was swelling. X-ray says no fractures. He was supposed to wear his stirrup ankle splint today but instead, only wore an ordinary elastic ankle brace. He will not be hiking for a while and our Rocky Mountain National Park trip is coming up soon and it is predicated around hiking. Daughter and I will have him watch grandson while WE hike - not unlike our last trip when I was off my feet due to posterior tibial tendon dysfunction and he took short hikes while I sat in the car.
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