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!
Monday, August 16, 2010
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.
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!
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