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!

Corral Canyon-Calzada and Peralta-Paliza Trails

This has to be fast because grandson is coming over soon.  Also, I'm doing two loads of laundry and am very hungry for supper!

The Tuesday group went up Corral Canyon to Junction Meadow and followed the Calzada Trail to the so-called T-Intersection on FR280.  It's really an intersection of 3 different roads and 2 trails.  Maybe it was a T at one time...

At the intersection, we picked up the Peralta-Paliza Trail and followed it around the west side of Las Conchas Peak.  There were no takers for going up the peak!

Then we followed the road below Paliza Pass and the Valles Caldera rim.  I don't know the name or number but if you continue following it, you end up on NM4 near the Los Griegos XC ski trails/roads.  Our leader didn't have time to check out the hike ahead of time and she was badly confused.  She thought we were going toward FR281 which leads up to the electronic site on Peralta Ridge. 

Eventually we turned around when we found a road going uphill and back toward FR281.  I kept hoping they would go to Paliza Pass - most beautiful place in the world but no luck today on that either!  Obviously I'll have to hike to it myself before hunting season begins.  Has it already begun?

We got back to FR281 and took it downhill past the cattle guard to its intersection with FR280, Peralta Road.  We turned left to go back to Corral Canyon.  At that point, I was confused myself and asked some campers where FR280 went taking it to the right.  They said it goes all up and down the mountain.  I wonder if I've been on that before.  I have to check that out too before hunting season.  Wish I had someone to hike with.  I'd like to ask one of the Tuesday hikers but they are all so busy. 

We decided to take the Peralta Road back to Junction Meadow (Calzada and Corral Canyon trails cross here) instead of taking the Calzada Trail but when we reached the meadow, the leader was convinced the turnoff was still ahead.  We had a gentle insurrection and 4 of us went down into the meadow.  Eventually the leader and the sixth hiker came back down to the meadow after realizing we were right.  We waited for them. 

Then we decided to follow the continuation of the Calzada Trail back to the highway.  It travels up above the Corral Canyon Trail and below Peralta Road.  I finally understand how that trail works and now I realize that it's really more for XC skiers than hikers.  It takes you on such a long backtracking switchback that you nearly return in a loop to where you picked it up from the Corral Canyon Trail.  Then it changes direction to go back to NM4, staying just above Corral Canyon.

I drove myself to the trailhead which was good because I stepped in a very fresh cow pie and had to wash my shoes when I got back home. 

My GPS batteries conked out at 7.53 miles so who knows how long we walked.  There were 6 of us.  The day was utterly gorgeous with a hint of Fall in the air.  I drove back home very slowly because I didn't want to leave the wonderful Jemez Mountains too soon!  This is the time of year when I want to be hiking literally everywhere but there's only so much time! 

Gathered Trash

Went to SF today to get my car's remote transmitter's chip replaced and both keys re-coded.  Wanted to do it today instead of Thursday.  Got back home around 4 pm, changed into hiking togs, went to library and then to Route to pick up trash.  Gathered 3 plastic grocery bags full plus found, near where I parked, a partially filled, plastic gallon jug of motor oil.  I know I should take the motor oil for special recycling at the waste station but I just put everything in my trash barrel.  Part of the trash was from a short section I walked along Camp May Road to get back to my car.  A bicyclist going by thanked me which startled me because I was deep in thought. The amount of trash gathered on the Route surprised me because I didn't think there was that much but once you start looking...

I didn't get home until past 7 pm.  Ate a late supper and have to get up early tomorrow to go with the Tuesday group.

Blood Bath on the Route

Now, don't get excited.  It was only me slitting the throats of NM locusts.  I also sawed off some tree branches and refined the cairns.  I left the lopper in the trunk and only took the compact pruning saw because the weather looked like there'd be a thunderstorm so I had to carry my umbrella.  Clouds rolled in and out all afternoon while I worked for over 4 hours but other than some distant rumbles and a few raindrops on my windshield as I drove to the Route trailhead, the weather was beautifully sunny.

Next, I pick up trash.  There really isn't that much - just a few beer bottles and beer cans.  I'm debating - should I leave the half-finished pint of peppermint schnapps in case the owner comes back or toss it?

Have to start packing for RMNP trip.

Made a huge batch of soup-stew - garlic, onions, Napa cabbage, bean-rice mixture, buckwheat udon noodles, Thai chiles, ginger, boletus edulis mushrooms.  It looks gray but tastes delicious.

Yesterday we saw Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work at the CCA in Santa Fe.  I love her foul mouth and risqué jokes!  Afterward, I bought way too many plums and pluots at Sunflower Farmers Market.

Wednesday-Friday

Wednesday - Helped at PEEC evening walk up Valle Canyon for the Los Alamos county big trees project sponsored by PEEC.  Myself and another cohort of the woman who compiles all the big tree info led a group of 5 up to the Clothespin Tree - a big southwestern white pine.  I was the sweep.  I didn't have much to say other than that a tree expert says it's a southwestern white pine based on the photo, a cone and some bark.  I showed them that you could stick your hand inside the tree.  We didn't have copies of the booklet that tells how big this tree is but they didn't ask so that's OK.  Met a nice young couple who just moved to town.  One participant found a piece of worked obsidian right on the trail.  She threw it to the side so no one would abscond with it.  Seven other participants walked a lesser distance up canyon to look at a big tree.  Drove home from Valle Canyon trailhead at 7:39 pm.  Would be nice one day to take an evening walk up Valle Canyon but start earlier.  We hurried to much on the hike and didn't stop to enjoy.  It was enjoyable anyway because I'm not usually on the trail in the evening.  It was something different.  Two other women and I exchanged bear sighting stories on the way up!

Thursday - Santa Fe trip ostensibly to replace the innards of my car's remote transmitter (keyless entry).  There's a service bulletin on it and since I have to sometimes press it 3 times to open the trunk or doors, decided to get it replaced.  One problem - their machine that re-codes the remote wasn't working so I have to go back next week when they have the new machine.  Shopped at Walmart and Natural Grocers.  Got home in time to walk on Route.  Need to trim some branches and NM locusts with lopper.

Friday - Husband walked almost 2 miles RT on new Canyon Rim Trail but found that was too much for his ankle.  He'll watch grandson next week while we are at RMNP and I'll hike with daughter.  He'll hike some but only what his ankle will tolerate.  He started physical therapy Thursday. After lunch, went to library with spouse.  Stopped by Romero Cabin but they were closing up so I'll go back in September.  Banged head in doorway as I entered but didn't get hurt.  Docent had just taken down bumper guard that softens the blow.  In recent renovation of cabin, floor had to be raised which makes doorway even lower.    Walked back home on Rogue Trail.  Daughter and grandson came over for spaghetti dinner.  Then they and husband went out for ice cream because tomorrow is daughter's birthday.

Cocoa Addict Flys HIgh

Cruising along the Canyon Rim Trail, listening to Eagles songs, I understand why people become addicts. My mind and body are flying fast. I love the whole world.  I clearly see how beautiful life and the world are.  As I become "airborne", small birds fly ahead, fleeing as I soar.  I hover to admire a glorious sunflower and tell it "You're beautiful!"

The cause of this is 2 T of cocoa in my green tea this morning (along with soy milk and 1 t each of turmeric and ginger - none of which I'm addicted to!).

I scribble notes as I jet along.  I refuse to stop to neatly write.

Sometimes life is not enough.  We get bogged down by anxieties concerning most everything.  Cocoa (and the Eagle's music!) help me, at least for a while, to rise above these worries.  I feel plain good. I've shed my aging body and all my worries.  I step back (fly high!) and appreciate how wonderful life really is.  It's like the first day of summer vacation when I was a kid or like suddenly noticing a rainbow arc across the sky.  I feel free.  This is what most of us want instead of how our lives get so mixed up sometimes.

4-T's Hike Alamo Boundary-Coyote Call Trails

I hiked with the 4-T hikers this morning.  There were 14 of us but we ended up with twelve because two only went part way. We parked on the Dome Road and walked the Alamo Boundary Trail over to the Coyote Call loop.  We took the lower part of the loop going out and the upper part going back.  The views of the Valles Grande's grasslands were splendid.  Even though Fall is not here yet, the day was cool so it felt fall-like. On the Alamo Boundary Trail, we saw lots of purple meadow gentian flowers (I call it star gentian.)  There was nice shade on the Coyote Call loop.

The group could easily call themselves the 5-T's because there are so many retired teachers in the all-woman group.  I hiked off and on with this group in the late 80's but their name was different then.  The old timers that I knew don't hike anymore so it's an all new group except for one hiker who's been with the group since the late 80's. 

On the drive to the trailhead, we saw 2 deer in the woods along the highway and saw 2 more running through the forest as we stood at the trailhead.  The leader had us all stand in a circle to introduce ourselves and tell how long we had hiked with the group and if we intended to complete the entire hike today.

I spotted a young shaggy mane mushroom in the parking lot.  Its condition was perfect but I didn't pick it since that's not allowed in Bandelier National Monument unless I plan to eat it on the spot. 

This group doesn't stop for lunch but instead has a tradition of enjoying an extended snack around 10-10:30 am.  I don't snack but felt comfortable sitting on the ground, listening to the conversations.

Afterward, when they dropped me off at the Back Gate, I drove over to Ponderosa Group Campground to use their outdoor privy.  Then, I took off my sodden shoes and socks.  Before changing into dry shoes and socks, I pulled out a wooden orange stick and used it to push back my cuticles since they were so nicely softened.  Of course, several vehicles pulled up while I was doing this but pedicures in the national monument are probably legal!  Not sure if showing huge, bare feet in public is though!

Rice, Eggplant, Mushroom Recipe

No one's going to follow this recipe because it makes a massive quantity of 7 quarts.  Consider it a concept.  I don't really follow recipes because what I makes depends on what's in the pantry.

1 quart brown rice
1 quart boletus edulis mushrooms broth (from freezer)
1 quart boletus edulis mushrooms with parsley, onions, garlic and olive oil (from freezer)
1 jar sweet red peppers, undrained
1 jar 24 ounce Bionature strained tomatoes
1 can 28 ounce Bionature diced tomatoes
1 eggplant diced
1 cup bean juice from Westbrae 25 ounce can black beans (I ate the black beans the day before)
1 cup dry vermouth
1/2 cup jalapeño slices (from freezer)
2 T olive oil
dried Italian seasoning, tarragon, thyme, parsley, ground fennel - all to taste
salt if you use it

Brown the rice in the 2 T olive oil in a huge cast iron pot.  Food process the jalapeños and sweet red peppers to a puree and add to rice.  Add the mushroom broth and mushrooms to the rice.  Throw in the tomatoes, bean juice, eggplant, vermouth and water.  Bring to a boil, turn down heat, add seasoning and cover, simmering until rice is soft. I forget how long I cooked it but it took over an hour.  I had to add more water.  The rice started to scorch and I turned down the heat. Fortunately the scorch flavor didn't permeate the dish.

I froze 4 of the 7 quarts this made.  I'm the only one eating it.  Each night I reheat some and add beans or tempeh or fish and cooked vegetables like spinach.  For salt, I add some miso.

Saturday-Monday Synopsis

Saturday, I walked on the Route.  I picked up some puffballs and a large, insect-eaten boletus edulis.  It was drying out and when I cut off the stem, there were lots of holes from insect invasion so I put it in our garden (garden is a euphemism for place to toss weeds and such).

The puffballs weren't worth the work of peeling their warty skin.  I fried them in olive oil but there wasn't enough and even though they hadn't spored yet, their taste wasn't the freshest.  Maybe that's because they sat for a while before I washed, peeled and cooked them.  I didn't get sick at least.

I heard paintballers shooting each other in the woods and saw their marble shaped blue paintballs.  A broken in half one made me believe it was a fallen robin's egg.

Sunday we went out to eat at Jinja House Bar and Bistro.  I got the tofu and spinach salad - very good.  Then we went to see The Kids Are All Right.  I enjoyed the movie very much but check the reviews first to determine if its your cup of tea.  The gist of it is that families are families no matter how unconventional they appear.  Afterward, I bought lots of fruit at Sunflower Farmers Market.  My four miles consisted of walking downtown in the evening and listening to Prairie Home Companion.

Today, I walked the newly opened section of the Canyon Rim Trail and connected, by crossing NM502, to the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail along the south boundary of the airport. To do this, I had to walk a short distance along the noisy highway and along the sidewalk in the Pajarito Cliffs county yards with large buses passing by.  I followed the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail to the Mesa Trail and followed that back home, past East Park.  The sign at the Canyon Rim trailhead says this loop is 4 miles roundtrip.  I got back home just in time for a brief thunderstorm which prevented me from weeding the tall amaranth out of, ahem, our backyard showcase.

The power went off briefly this afternoon.

Gathered Wild Boletes

I got invited to go mushroom foraging.  We met up at the Dome Road at 8:15 am. This was with the same friend that brought over a bag of cream of the crop Boletus Edulis mushrooms last weekend.  He drove the loop on the Dome Road and Paso del Norte Road.  We collected a few but the majority were collected on Peralta Road.  This outing was meant to be an overview to teach me to spot Boletus Edulis.  We got done just past 11 am.

Since I cornered the market in young boletes last weekend, I gave the cream of the crop boletes bambinos (the beautiful young ones) to my daughter.  She seemed excited about them.  I asked her to let me know how she fixes them and how she likes them.  I forwarded her recipes from my Italian friend.  His family has been collecting boletes in New Mexico for a long time.

I stewed the others but only used water.  I wanted to taste the mushrooms because last time I drowned them in onions and garlic.  I had some with canned black beans tonight and will freeze the rest to add to recipes.  They were yummy!  I still chickened out on eating the very yellow sponges on the huge boletes but did include the lighter-colored sponges in the stew.  I cooked the stems first to make sure they were softened.   Any trimmings went back to the soil in my backyard.

I'm thawing out last week's mushrooms and broth to make my rice dish this weekend.

I will try to walk the Peralta Road area next week to hunt for more bambinos. 

Doing a quick Google search, I found that the mycella (part that nourishes the mushroom) is in the soil.  if you pull the whole mushroom out and leave a hole in the duff, the mycella dries out.  Another friend cuts the mushroom off the stem and leaves the stem bottom in the duff to keep it moist.  If the mushroom is pulled out, stem and all, re-covering the hole in the duff keep it from drying out or even placing the stem trimmings back in the hole and then covering them would work - lots of options.   I read it's advisable to put the mushrooms you don't want back in their hole, stem  side down, to help them drop their spores.

Afterward, I walked 4 miles on FR181.  I picked one of the mushrooms I wondered about a few weeks ago.  It was a boletes but it turned bluish when I pressed on it and it had an orange-brown cap and very stiff, scaly stem.  I threw it back in the bushes!  I've learned in a short time how to recognize edible boletes!    Avoid ones that turn blue when you cut or press them and/or have red or orange tubes (the spongy underside).

The main mushrooms that I'll collect will be Boletus Edulis and Puffballs.