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.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Raspberries - Ra, Ra, Ra!
I walked up Valle Canyon with 3 other women. There were lots of big, red raspberries on the upper part of the trail. I had to measure a tree's branch spread on the way back so, after turning around at the VCNP fenceline, I told them to go ahead, not wait for me.
I ate my way down Valle Canyon. Now I know how wild animals feel while they are eating. As I plucked the raspberries and stuffed handfuls in my mouth, I'd look all around to make sure no bear was sneaking up on me.
I measured the Clothespin tree's spread but I'd only consider it a very rough estimate as it was really hard to see where the opposite branch was because another tree's branches obstructed it. It's either a southwestern white pine or a limber pine. It was named by a master hiker because of its split on the bottom 12 feet or so of the tree which resembles an old-fashioned, one-piece, wooden clothespins.
I got 38' 8". I used my backpack to weight down one end of the measuring tape. My reward was to eat lots of fat raspberries growing beneath the tree. The trampled grass around the tree was evidence that another mammal has also enjoyed the raspberries!
Walking back by myself was a touch creepy in the narrow parts of the canyon. I kept saying "Bear, where are you? I am here!"
I looked for the two shaggy mane mushrooms that we had spotted on the way up but didn't see them coming back.
On the drive to the trailhead, I saw two well-fed coyotes cross the West Road Bypass; they were heading toward LANL.
creepy
wild onion coyote
I ate my way down Valle Canyon. Now I know how wild animals feel while they are eating. As I plucked the raspberries and stuffed handfuls in my mouth, I'd look all around to make sure no bear was sneaking up on me.
I measured the Clothespin tree's spread but I'd only consider it a very rough estimate as it was really hard to see where the opposite branch was because another tree's branches obstructed it. It's either a southwestern white pine or a limber pine. It was named by a master hiker because of its split on the bottom 12 feet or so of the tree which resembles an old-fashioned, one-piece, wooden clothespins.
I got 38' 8". I used my backpack to weight down one end of the measuring tape. My reward was to eat lots of fat raspberries growing beneath the tree. The trampled grass around the tree was evidence that another mammal has also enjoyed the raspberries!
Walking back by myself was a touch creepy in the narrow parts of the canyon. I kept saying "Bear, where are you? I am here!"
I looked for the two shaggy mane mushrooms that we had spotted on the way up but didn't see them coming back.
On the drive to the trailhead, I saw two well-fed coyotes cross the West Road Bypass; they were heading toward LANL.
creepy
wild onion coyote
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Bye, Bye Big Trees!
First: Yesterday evening on my Mesa Trail hike, it was a little windy. I saw a tall sunflower and turned the flower head toward me to see if it was full of pollen. Nestled close together at the base of the petals were 3 small bees, with their butts upturned. Were they sleeping? Sheltering from the wind? I dunno.
I will retire from the big tree project. My friend who leads that has lucked upon a woman who is very efficient and much more enthusiastic about the project than I ever was. She's new to this area, coming from the midwest, and eager to learn about the area.
I saw the woman in action today when I went with my friend to measure big trees and take their portraits. She arrived with a measuring tape that was probably 200'. She used it on a project measuring vegetation transects. It made the measuring today so much easier than using a measly 100' tape. She does the work with good cheer. In the past, I mildly kvetched about disliking the inexactness of methods used to measure the height, girth and spread of the trees.
My friend will be in very capable hands and I'm happy for her. The woman will also benefit as my friend will take her to neat places like the petroglyphs in White Rock Canyon (where she took me also). I, of course, am invited on these trips but the pace is so slow that I may decide to start later and try to find them. Also, I'm trying to step up my efforts to walk with trestle-hopper's Monday and Tuesday hiking groups. They're a bit speedier.
The slow pace makes my feet hurt - especially the ball of my right foot. We only walked a little over 3 miles and took nearly 6 hours which meant I was standing around on sore feet for a long time. I've been having this pain for several months.
I'll do some experiments over the next week with different insoles and shoes. If all else fails, I'll be forced to contact the physical therapist in Albuquerque who made my orthotics less than 2 years ago - they couldn't be worn out already!
I will retire from the big tree project. My friend who leads that has lucked upon a woman who is very efficient and much more enthusiastic about the project than I ever was. She's new to this area, coming from the midwest, and eager to learn about the area.
I saw the woman in action today when I went with my friend to measure big trees and take their portraits. She arrived with a measuring tape that was probably 200'. She used it on a project measuring vegetation transects. It made the measuring today so much easier than using a measly 100' tape. She does the work with good cheer. In the past, I mildly kvetched about disliking the inexactness of methods used to measure the height, girth and spread of the trees.
My friend will be in very capable hands and I'm happy for her. The woman will also benefit as my friend will take her to neat places like the petroglyphs in White Rock Canyon (where she took me also). I, of course, am invited on these trips but the pace is so slow that I may decide to start later and try to find them. Also, I'm trying to step up my efforts to walk with trestle-hopper's Monday and Tuesday hiking groups. They're a bit speedier.
The slow pace makes my feet hurt - especially the ball of my right foot. We only walked a little over 3 miles and took nearly 6 hours which meant I was standing around on sore feet for a long time. I've been having this pain for several months.
I'll do some experiments over the next week with different insoles and shoes. If all else fails, I'll be forced to contact the physical therapist in Albuquerque who made my orthotics less than 2 years ago - they couldn't be worn out already!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Spouse Sprained Ankle
We went to Santa Fe. Bought DVD player and Star Wars comforter at Target. DVD player is to hook up to new 22"-diagonal Sony flat screen TV for bedroom. This was husband's idea. I was deliriously happy with the Magnavox 14" old-style picture tube TV because it did what I needed it to do - record Dr. Oz, get KNME and play DVDs.
Afterward, we went to Trader Joe's where I spent quality time in the produce department. In the parking lot is where spouse tripped and sprained his ankle as he stepped off the sidewalk. He's practicing RICE - rest, ice, compression and elevation.
I called my friend of the big trees of LA county fame and set up a hot date to meet her tomorrow to go fondle big trees - actually, the fondling is peripheral to taking their photos, measuring the spread of their branches and looking for more specimens.
I wanted to go with her this weekend since the opportunity presented itself because husband can't hike with me tomorrow. That way I can go with my train-trestle-hopping friend's two women's hiking groups on Monday and Tuesday. My big tree friend was all ready with a chore for me to do on those two hikes anyway - measure the branch spread of two big trees in Valle Canyon. I will be making myself useful at the same time as having fun.
We invited daughter and her family over for supper tonight - sashimi grade tuna steaks, sweet potatoes, sushi purchased at TJ's (white rice - yuck!), and a salad of romaine, cucumber, green onion, tomatoes and avocado and fruit for dessert.
Oh, yesterday train-trestle-hopping friend spotted an area with monkshood flowering right alongside the Calzada Trail. That girl has good eyes!!
Afterward, we went to Trader Joe's where I spent quality time in the produce department. In the parking lot is where spouse tripped and sprained his ankle as he stepped off the sidewalk. He's practicing RICE - rest, ice, compression and elevation.
I called my friend of the big trees of LA county fame and set up a hot date to meet her tomorrow to go fondle big trees - actually, the fondling is peripheral to taking their photos, measuring the spread of their branches and looking for more specimens.
I wanted to go with her this weekend since the opportunity presented itself because husband can't hike with me tomorrow. That way I can go with my train-trestle-hopping friend's two women's hiking groups on Monday and Tuesday. My big tree friend was all ready with a chore for me to do on those two hikes anyway - measure the branch spread of two big trees in Valle Canyon. I will be making myself useful at the same time as having fun.
We invited daughter and her family over for supper tonight - sashimi grade tuna steaks, sweet potatoes, sushi purchased at TJ's (white rice - yuck!), and a salad of romaine, cucumber, green onion, tomatoes and avocado and fruit for dessert.
Oh, yesterday train-trestle-hopping friend spotted an area with monkshood flowering right alongside the Calzada Trail. That girl has good eyes!!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Las Conchas Canyon
Hiked up Las Conchas Canyon, parking at MM37 on NM4, with a friend. The barbed wire crossing was easier than I remembered, especially with someone to help hold down the top strand!
The stream was running in the canyon with lots of miniature "waterfalls" tumbling down canyon. We saw cows grazing. There were mushy places where my feet got wet - my shoes don't have a Gore-Tex lining but that was OK.
This was my 4th time in Las Conchas Canyon but I really have no better idea of how to negotiate the upper part of the canyon that connects with the Calzada Trail. It's not a well traveled canyon except maybe by cows in the summer and cross country skiers in the winter. The lower part mostly has a definite trail but the upper canyon splits at several places giving too many choices of where to go although some are clogged by deadfall.
We followed the "trail" as best we could and eventually ended up at a well-stamped-down real trail that shortly led us over to the Calzada Trail. I made some brush cairns - perhaps I'll take another crack at Las Conchas Canyon one day, starting from the Calzada Trail.
We went back to Corral Canyon on the Calzada Trail and walked .7 mile back to my car. Along the way, my friend pointed out a bear crossing the road. It was fairly distant but seemed to look toward us before somehow getting over the barbed wire fence and running across the meadow to the sheltering forest - neat sighting!!
The stream was running in the canyon with lots of miniature "waterfalls" tumbling down canyon. We saw cows grazing. There were mushy places where my feet got wet - my shoes don't have a Gore-Tex lining but that was OK.
This was my 4th time in Las Conchas Canyon but I really have no better idea of how to negotiate the upper part of the canyon that connects with the Calzada Trail. It's not a well traveled canyon except maybe by cows in the summer and cross country skiers in the winter. The lower part mostly has a definite trail but the upper canyon splits at several places giving too many choices of where to go although some are clogged by deadfall.
We followed the "trail" as best we could and eventually ended up at a well-stamped-down real trail that shortly led us over to the Calzada Trail. I made some brush cairns - perhaps I'll take another crack at Las Conchas Canyon one day, starting from the Calzada Trail.
We went back to Corral Canyon on the Calzada Trail and walked .7 mile back to my car. Along the way, my friend pointed out a bear crossing the road. It was fairly distant but seemed to look toward us before somehow getting over the barbed wire fence and running across the meadow to the sheltering forest - neat sighting!!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Epic Monsoonal Rains
Went with the dendroglyph project people into Short Canyon on the VCNP. The area smells really sulphur-y and you can see the glint of tiny fumaroles bubbling in the dry creek bed. It's a nice crew - there were 7 of us. We only walked about 2 miles. Four of us got back to the car by 1 pm. Our driver needed to get back home early because her dog was recovering from a chemo treatment. Another driver and two of the crew stayed behind to finish recording two more dendroglyphs. Wonder how they fared in the storm on the drive home?
I didn't find any dendroglyphs in my scouting but it's a pretty area. When they get done with Short Canyon, then they'll begin documenting dendroglyphs in Valle Seco. I may show up for trips here and there but if I go out on the big trees project, I won't have time for this too and all the groups I hike with.
Afterward, since my car was already parked at the bottom of Camp May Road, I did the Route up past Paintball Road but just to where the white RV trailer is parked (every summer) to get 2 more miles, thereby achieving my daily 4. Was really good to see the Route again.
I got back to my car just in the nick of time as the storm broke. The rain got really heavy driving back on Trinity. I could see lightning flashed in my rear view mirror. I could barely see the white lines on the road, it was raining so hard. I splashed up lots of water from the side of the road - I couldn't help but drive through it.
Lots of thunder overnight. Roof repair is holding.
Spouse goes half-time the week of September 20. The husband of the dendroglyph project leader is 67 and still works full-time.
I didn't find any dendroglyphs in my scouting but it's a pretty area. When they get done with Short Canyon, then they'll begin documenting dendroglyphs in Valle Seco. I may show up for trips here and there but if I go out on the big trees project, I won't have time for this too and all the groups I hike with.
Afterward, since my car was already parked at the bottom of Camp May Road, I did the Route up past Paintball Road but just to where the white RV trailer is parked (every summer) to get 2 more miles, thereby achieving my daily 4. Was really good to see the Route again.
I got back to my car just in the nick of time as the storm broke. The rain got really heavy driving back on Trinity. I could see lightning flashed in my rear view mirror. I could barely see the white lines on the road, it was raining so hard. I splashed up lots of water from the side of the road - I couldn't help but drive through it.
Lots of thunder overnight. Roof repair is holding.
Spouse goes half-time the week of September 20. The husband of the dendroglyph project leader is 67 and still works full-time.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Done Exploring Side Roads on Pajarito
My consensus is that I understand them well enough now - they basically run east-west, crossing the ski runs, sometimes traversing uphill, sometimes dead-ending but usually always intersecting one of the main jeep roads on the east or west sides of the mountain. For now, I'll just enjoy my walks on Pajarito and all the variation that the side roads afford me.
Why Does It Look Like Rain But Doesn't Rain
Well, there WAS a little rain on Pajarito Mountain but only toward the end when I was going back to the Lodge anyway. It was a cool, cloudy, almost fall-like day so that part was fine with me. Lightning was not a factor and I always like that.
Morose thoughts while studying flowers on Pajarito Mountain: The flowers know what I refuse to accept - life ends. Already I can read the signs - seedheads forming on mariposa lilies in Cañada Bonita meadow, aster petals shredding and losing their color on Pajarito Mountain, death camas beginning to go to seed even while their white, candlestick-like blooms thickly populate the ski runs. But flowers will enjoy a renaissance next Spring while my body goes slowly, steadily to the ultimate end - loss of sentience.
Along these same lines, at the picnic deck near the Aspen Lift, I wondered to myself, in Zen koan-like fashion, if it's better to be lonely alone or to be lonely in crowd. Then it struck me that when I'm feeling lonely and sorry for myself, I'm not fully opening my eyes and ears to the sights and sounds around me. Distracting oneself in the NOW may help to banish moroseness!
I'm reading a book, Heroic Climbs. It has two photos 19th century women mountain climbers, one wearing a face mask with holes for eyes and mouth and another a helmet-like drape with a slit for eyes, open at the bottom to allow air to enter. So, even though wearing a sun protection mask is thought to be extremely odd today, it has precedent in the past!
Morose thoughts while studying flowers on Pajarito Mountain: The flowers know what I refuse to accept - life ends. Already I can read the signs - seedheads forming on mariposa lilies in Cañada Bonita meadow, aster petals shredding and losing their color on Pajarito Mountain, death camas beginning to go to seed even while their white, candlestick-like blooms thickly populate the ski runs. But flowers will enjoy a renaissance next Spring while my body goes slowly, steadily to the ultimate end - loss of sentience.
Along these same lines, at the picnic deck near the Aspen Lift, I wondered to myself, in Zen koan-like fashion, if it's better to be lonely alone or to be lonely in crowd. Then it struck me that when I'm feeling lonely and sorry for myself, I'm not fully opening my eyes and ears to the sights and sounds around me. Distracting oneself in the NOW may help to banish moroseness!
I'm reading a book, Heroic Climbs. It has two photos 19th century women mountain climbers, one wearing a face mask with holes for eyes and mouth and another a helmet-like drape with a slit for eyes, open at the bottom to allow air to enter. So, even though wearing a sun protection mask is thought to be extremely odd today, it has precedent in the past!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Pajarito Ski Hill to Pipeline Overlook
Hiked with Tuesday hiking group - all women. We were 12. Wildflowers still putting on good display in Cañada Bonita meadow but mariposa lilies, while still plentiful, are going to seed. I was convinced that a seed head was a butterfly on top of one mariposa bloom.
The group started at 8:30 am and was back to the vehicles by noon. I drove myself up to the Pajarito Ski Area to meet them. They get the job done (exercising outdoors) and are a nice bunch of woman. They all seem able-bodied. I have their schedule and plan to join them from time to time.
Had to get up at 6:30 am and I'm tired now. If you hear a loud thud, that's just my (numb)skull hitting the computer keyboard as I nod off.
Last night went to Buffalo Thunder's Painted Parrot buffet. The occasion was that a work buddy spouse has known for a long time (was his boss once!) is commuting from the west coast every week to work here. We left at 6 pm and waited an hour in a long line and didn't get home until almost 9 pm. I'm suggesting next time we just dine locally as that's too long to devote to going out to eat.
I have something planned outdoors for every day this week. Sooner or later, another house crisis will occur and I'll have to stay indoors waiting for a contractor so my philosophy is get outdoors now!
No rain yet today.
The group started at 8:30 am and was back to the vehicles by noon. I drove myself up to the Pajarito Ski Area to meet them. They get the job done (exercising outdoors) and are a nice bunch of woman. They all seem able-bodied. I have their schedule and plan to join them from time to time.
Had to get up at 6:30 am and I'm tired now. If you hear a loud thud, that's just my (numb)skull hitting the computer keyboard as I nod off.
Last night went to Buffalo Thunder's Painted Parrot buffet. The occasion was that a work buddy spouse has known for a long time (was his boss once!) is commuting from the west coast every week to work here. We left at 6 pm and waited an hour in a long line and didn't get home until almost 9 pm. I'm suggesting next time we just dine locally as that's too long to devote to going out to eat.
I have something planned outdoors for every day this week. Sooner or later, another house crisis will occur and I'll have to stay indoors waiting for a contractor so my philosophy is get outdoors now!
No rain yet today.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Forsook Pajarito Mountain Today
Got a late start - after 11 am - because just as I was getting ready to drive away, the roofers showed up. They applied some silicone caulk to the furnace vent. I asked how long the silicone lasts - 2-4 years. OK. Good to know since that's what's keeping rain from running down our woodstove chimney because the roofers banged it up so much that that the collar no longer fits tight around the base. They also dropped off the promised package of spare shingles just in case I need them in the future.
Afterward, I drove up to American Springs Road/FR181 to meet my hiking buddy of the Big Trees fame. She and a PEEC volunteer were murdering invasive bull thistles. Turns out that invasive musk thistles are easily dispatched by beheading them because their flowers are only on the top half of the stalk. But bull thistles have flowers all along the stalk which requires chopping down the whole thing. Invasive Canada thistles are even worse, sending out nasty runners everywhere that sprout baby thistles.
Thankfully, due to the roofers coming late, I missed all the fun of wrestling thistles to the ground! As I walked in on FR181, they were driving out with 4 trash bags of thistles in the trunk. I got to meet the PEEC volunteer and she seems very nice.
On my walk, I saw a bicyclist coming up out of Water Canyon and continuing east on FR181 to loop back to West Jemez. When I asked, he said it looks like the Youth Conservation Corps crew has worked on the upper quarter of the trail but the rest of it is getting a little thick with overgrowth.
I hadn't been up to FR181 for a long time. When I started walking, I was sure that I'd get caught in a lightning storm but it never happened. I enjoyed seeing old haunts. I stopped often to gaze upon the beauty of the wildflowers, the billowing clouds and the green mountains.
Afterward, I drove up to American Springs Road/FR181 to meet my hiking buddy of the Big Trees fame. She and a PEEC volunteer were murdering invasive bull thistles. Turns out that invasive musk thistles are easily dispatched by beheading them because their flowers are only on the top half of the stalk. But bull thistles have flowers all along the stalk which requires chopping down the whole thing. Invasive Canada thistles are even worse, sending out nasty runners everywhere that sprout baby thistles.
Thankfully, due to the roofers coming late, I missed all the fun of wrestling thistles to the ground! As I walked in on FR181, they were driving out with 4 trash bags of thistles in the trunk. I got to meet the PEEC volunteer and she seems very nice.
On my walk, I saw a bicyclist coming up out of Water Canyon and continuing east on FR181 to loop back to West Jemez. When I asked, he said it looks like the Youth Conservation Corps crew has worked on the upper quarter of the trail but the rest of it is getting a little thick with overgrowth.
I hadn't been up to FR181 for a long time. When I started walking, I was sure that I'd get caught in a lightning storm but it never happened. I enjoyed seeing old haunts. I stopped often to gaze upon the beauty of the wildflowers, the billowing clouds and the green mountains.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)