Nine people showed up--Tom and Cynthia, Joan and Gary, Robin and Rich, Ernie (Susan was working), and Joe. I wonder if people stayed away because they, like I, thought they’d encounter a deluge. I even brought along my fiberglass golf umbrella (it’s usable as a walking stick) but at the last minute, left it in the car trunk and I’m glad I did!
We took 3 cars. I drove Tom and Cynthia. We stopped at the Roland Pettit TH to disgorge the hikers and the drivers drove to the Las Conchas TH, across from House Ranch. On the way there, I spotted a sign that said “Wild Hogs”. I thought maybe the crazed critters were running all over the highway! In my mind, this was all but confirmed when I saw signs to slow to 35 mph and also a road crew person holding up a “SLOW” sign. When we got to the parking lot, other crew members told us to park across the street alongside SR4. They needed to keep the parking lot clear for their equipment. Apparently, some scenes from a Disney movie called Wild Hogs are being shot there. From what I could see, they have dug out a large squarish hole and made a dirt road into that from the highway.
After the hike, Ernie talked with two of the “heavies” guarding the set. The movie company is building a “waterfall” and “hot springs” near the climbing area across the river from the start of the East Fork Trail. It’s easier for them to build these “natural wonders” rather than drive/haul all their equipment and crew to a real waterfall and hot springs! Joe said that his daughter is working as an EMT on the set. He also said that no one thought to get an environmental assessment before they did all that digging and road construction. He seems to remember reading that some people were not happy over this.
Anyway, when we started hiking on the Roland Pettit Trail, we didn’t go very far before we turned left and up a hill toward a dead tree and there was a trail that I had never seen before! We followed it downhill for a while. It was steep in spots but not cliffy and, due to the recent rains, not skittery footing. Then when we had gotten downhill to an easy crossing of the East Fork, we started up a ridge on the other side to see a Trick Tank. I now know the symbol on the topo map for a Trick Tank--a very small circle. After that side trip, we went back down hill, but not all the way, to where we picked up a trail to our right and followed that up onto a ridge that was high above the Upper East Fork Valley. I could see views of Las Conchas mountain and saw a glimpse of the Las Conchas fee picnic area as we passed above it.
Norm B. wasn’t on the hike today but I bet he would have enjoyed this hike as he has mentioned to the group in the past that he has cross country skied along the East Fork from the Las Conchas fee picnic area. Joan said that she has walked along the East Fork from there also but it can get very brushy.
At times, we had to skirt around large fallen trees. Once, we were walking in a narrow, dry canyon that was congested with fallen trees for a short distance. Eventually, we reached a grazing fence, with the East Fork in sight, and the fence had a crude “gate” in it--one of the primitive stick and wire ones. Tom held the gate open for everyone. I realized that I have often seen this fenced area from the official East Fork Trail and always wondered about going over there to check it out. Maybe I would have discovered the trail that Joan led us on but, until today, wouldn’t have known where it went. I have always been puzzled by the Roland Pettit Trail as it didn’t seem to go anywhere, just ending frustratingly soon at the Baca fence.
We now had to cross the East Fork to go over to the “official” East Fork Trail. While everyone searched for the best way across, I spotted what looked like metal forest service signs on several nearby trees and strolled over to check them out. They said something like official boundary monument. Two of the trees were bearing trees but I couldn’t find the third one. The date was 1989. At the base of one of the trees, someone had wrapped some kind of natural cordage around a stick to attach a small pine cone to the stick and had plaited the end cordage like a tail for the stick and propped it upright against the tree. I wonder if I discovered a sacred spot.
A few of us crossed on a very large, sturdy log that Tom found for Cynthia to safely cross on but most went over on a smaller, more rickety looking log. I chose the large, sturdy log but said “Damn!” out loud when I started to trip over my walking stick (the log was far enough above the water that I had to place my walking stick on the log to steady myself) and thought I was going in the drink for sure!
Later, Joan told us, we could have bailed out at the grazing fence had the weather deteriorated but, since the weather was fine--overcast, cooler, but no immediate rain, we continued on upstream. Right after the stream crossing at the grazing fence, we saw another fence--the triangular one that comes down to the stream. Joan said that the Baca (now the Valles Caldera National Preserve) had wanted to ensure that the cows could get to the East Fork for water and hence the small fenced triangle of the East Fork River. We were outside of that fence but started seeing huge, fresh cow plops. On our way to lunch, everyone else noticed the 5 or so cows and calves sitting in the shade but I didn’t notice them until we were heading back after lunch. That explained all the fresh, nearly steaming cow pies!
I noticed two colors of wild roses along the trail--one was pink and the other red. I smelled the red one and it smelled like real roses, unlike some of the giant, showy roses at the Fuller Lodge Rose Garden which smell like absolutely nothing--should be illegal!! I thought I saw Jacob’s Ladder, maybe choke cherry, definitely saw some fat gooseberries, lots of beautiful white daisies with a yellow center, lots of tall, yellow cutleaf coneflower being visited by butterflies, a lone harebell, angelica growing in the streambed, tons of yellow cinquefoil, and always, always heard the haunting song of the hermit thrush.
After crossing the sagging bridge, at a bend in the river and near a campsite, the group took a much longer lunch than I have ever seen them take. Everyone was thoroughly enjoying the day and the setting.
Ernie has a Lowrance GPS that he bought for $60 on eBay and it had the trail we had been following up on the ridge. I was amazed at that and wish the National Geographic Topo! maps were that up to date! Gary’s GPS gave a final tally of 4.8 miles.
Completely, officially, topping off a fantastic day, on the way home, well past the Frijoles Canyon dip but before the Coker Trail, we saw 3 cars in the opposite direction, stopped in the road with their emergency blinkers on. I slowed and pulled off the road when I spotted a baby bear cub with its mama that everyone was looking at. The mama seemed in no distress although she was fairly close to the road. She was steadily making her way uphill, though, away from the road and the little one was scrambling along to follow her. Before today, I had only seen 2 bears in NM--one in the Peralta Canyon area and one crossing West Jemez Road--but I have never seen a baby bear with its mother. They both looked very beautiful and healthy and I am happy that I got to see them.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Cerro Grande Handline Report September 21, 2005
Today I went up Cerro Grande and walked the handline down the ridge to the edge of the Valle Canyon meadow. If you're up on Cerro Grande, near the benchmark at the highest point of the peak, the handline trail is in the trees to the north, more or less, of the benchmark. In fact, if you look behind the biggest cairn that has sprung up on top of Cerro Grande, there is a dim trail behind it, in the grass, that goes into the trees to the north.
In the trees, the handline trail starts out like a pleasant walk in the woods,pine cones under foot, with very well defined, single track. That part doesn't last long, though, because then you come to the steep, stony middle part and my first reaction is "elevator shaft"!
That part is short also and than the trail moderates and comes to a rock felsenmeer. There are views of Redondo, Redondito, Cerro del Medio, and La Garita from the felsenmeer. You walk straight across the felsenmeer and the handline trail continues for a short distance down to the edge of the Valle Canyon meadow.
Walking the trail, you catch glimpses of the caldera and of Pajarito Mountain through the trees. At one point, I spied Cerro Rubio and Valles de los Posos when I looked back during a rest stop while going back up the "elevator shaft".
There are places where there are standing dead trees at the side of the ridge that block what would have otherwise been a great view. The sides of the trail are littered with cut trees from the construction of the handline. The trail is easy to follow because you essentially keep to a ridge that is more or less north-south trending and the various cut tree stumps are a dead giveaway that you're following the handline.
There was a bit of fall color starting, mostly in shrubs growing in the understory.
In the trees, the handline trail starts out like a pleasant walk in the woods,pine cones under foot, with very well defined, single track. That part doesn't last long, though, because then you come to the steep, stony middle part and my first reaction is "elevator shaft"!
That part is short also and than the trail moderates and comes to a rock felsenmeer. There are views of Redondo, Redondito, Cerro del Medio, and La Garita from the felsenmeer. You walk straight across the felsenmeer and the handline trail continues for a short distance down to the edge of the Valle Canyon meadow.
Walking the trail, you catch glimpses of the caldera and of Pajarito Mountain through the trees. At one point, I spied Cerro Rubio and Valles de los Posos when I looked back during a rest stop while going back up the "elevator shaft".
There are places where there are standing dead trees at the side of the ridge that block what would have otherwise been a great view. The sides of the trail are littered with cut trees from the construction of the handline. The trail is easy to follow because you essentially keep to a ridge that is more or less north-south trending and the various cut tree stumps are a dead giveaway that you're following the handline.
There was a bit of fall color starting, mostly in shrubs growing in the understory.
Sunday, October 22, 2006 - O’Keeffe Country Geology Field Trip
Just outside of Abiquiu, before steep climb to Abiquiu Dam and Chama River Overlook, and right before “Red Rocks” roadside marker on right side of road, is forest road and an arroyo that goes to Copper Canyon on your right. Kempter says that Copper Canyon is in a little ways and he hikes up the black dike on the right to get a good view of Copper Canyon--there is no trail up the dike--which he describes as an expansive canyon.
Red rocks on way to Abiquiu Dam, off US 84, are pre dinosaur. CO Plateau rose in elevation but very stable--didn’t rift or form mountains--maybe because the sediments are so thick.
230 mya, NM at sea level. Rivers, etc., deposited sediments, including Entrada Formation (fossilized sand dunes) and ocean deposits. 70 mya North American and Farallon plates collided in Pacific and NM rises above sea level, raising sedimentary layers and then they are eroded over time. Rocky Mountains formed during intense uplift 70-40 mya. Then, last 40 my, Basin and Range pulling apart and extension occurs with a north south trending lineation. Extension of crust allows magma from mantle to find its way to the surface. CO Plateau uplifted but not much deformation. San Juan Mountains are the north boundary of the CO Plateau. Mesa de Abiquiu is another name for the long, dark mesa called Black Mesa. Ojo Caliente sandstone is another fossilized sand dune.
Abiquiu Formation was the earliest deposit in the Rio Grande Rift and it is mainly pumice and ash washed down from the Taos Volcanic Field (may also be called the Latir Volcanic Field). It is 20-30 my old. The surface of the cliff above the Rio Chama at the roadside Overlook is Paleo sandstone. Cerrito de la Ventana is the dark dike that crosses US 84.
We took CR 155 to Plaza Blanca or White Place, which Georgia O’Keeffe has painted. We passed Helen Hunt’s, of Hunt’s Ketchup fame (I coined The Lycopene Queen), and Marsha Mason’s ranches. Marsha Mason grows lavender. Abiquiu Formation is very silica rich and hence its white color. Ojo Caliente sandstone is 12 to 9 my old. CR 155 is washboardy. Kempter pointed out CR 156, off of CR 155, and said it leads to Shirley McLaine’s property and also to a piece of property that he co-owns and would like to build a 1000 square foot dwelling on one day.
Sierra Negra is capped by 6 my old basalt and that is why it has not eroded down--same with Mesa de Abiquiu or Black Mesa. Lots of erosion occurred between Sierra Negra and the mesas to the west and Polvadera. Faulting and erosion makes the CO Plateau landscape look complex but underneath are all the broad, formerly continuous layers of the CO Plateau.
After we parked at Plaza Blanca (parking and hiking here graciously allowed by the Dar Al Islam Mosque), we met some hikers coming back who said that they found a small labyrinth but we didn’t stumble across it in our walk.
It is so elemental in Plaza Blanca with the hard-baked, glinting soil and the rock and boulder littered landscape, all set off by the whiteness of the place. Kempter pointed to the upper levels of the Abiquiu Formation to a layer of big boulders and told us that was a former river level. The whiter, more laminated layers of the fantastic turrets in Plaza Blanca are flood sheet deposits of the Abiquiu Formation. Ojo Caliente sandstone is deposited on the Abiquiu Formation. Also, the area has some young, Quaternary sediments (orange) from 60,000 years ago that redeposited over the Abiquiu Formation after the Ojo Caliente and El Rito Formations eroded away. Some of the boulders, large and small, in the present day channels, washed down from the Tusas Mountains--Ortega Quartzite. The arroyo with pink sand is from the Quaternary deposits of 60,000 years ago (although they look orange when viewed from afar in place on the mesa tops.) Kempter says that these 60,000 year old Quaternary deposits were basically from the ancestral Chama River. Chunks of black basalt on the modern day surface are from the black dike to the north of Plaza Blanca.
Attending these field trips and listening to Kempter explain the scenery is like seeing Geology Revealed!! Kempter says that 500 mya, this area was above sea level, 300 mya it was below sea level and the ocean came into this area. By the Cretaceous, the sea had come down from the Alberta area and up from the Gulf of Mexico and that essentially the land that is now the United States formed 2 islands. From 65 mya, the land was always above sea level and the ocean had disappeared from this area. Volcanism didn’t begin until 40 mya. In all that time, a lot of layers have eroded away. The Chama El Rito formation originated from the Sangres. The Ojo Caliente layer was aeolian. Before the layers eroded away, the whole area was once as high as Sierra Negra.
Red rocks on way to Abiquiu Dam, off US 84, are pre dinosaur. CO Plateau rose in elevation but very stable--didn’t rift or form mountains--maybe because the sediments are so thick.
230 mya, NM at sea level. Rivers, etc., deposited sediments, including Entrada Formation (fossilized sand dunes) and ocean deposits. 70 mya North American and Farallon plates collided in Pacific and NM rises above sea level, raising sedimentary layers and then they are eroded over time. Rocky Mountains formed during intense uplift 70-40 mya. Then, last 40 my, Basin and Range pulling apart and extension occurs with a north south trending lineation. Extension of crust allows magma from mantle to find its way to the surface. CO Plateau uplifted but not much deformation. San Juan Mountains are the north boundary of the CO Plateau. Mesa de Abiquiu is another name for the long, dark mesa called Black Mesa. Ojo Caliente sandstone is another fossilized sand dune.
Abiquiu Formation was the earliest deposit in the Rio Grande Rift and it is mainly pumice and ash washed down from the Taos Volcanic Field (may also be called the Latir Volcanic Field). It is 20-30 my old. The surface of the cliff above the Rio Chama at the roadside Overlook is Paleo sandstone. Cerrito de la Ventana is the dark dike that crosses US 84.
We took CR 155 to Plaza Blanca or White Place, which Georgia O’Keeffe has painted. We passed Helen Hunt’s, of Hunt’s Ketchup fame (I coined The Lycopene Queen), and Marsha Mason’s ranches. Marsha Mason grows lavender. Abiquiu Formation is very silica rich and hence its white color. Ojo Caliente sandstone is 12 to 9 my old. CR 155 is washboardy. Kempter pointed out CR 156, off of CR 155, and said it leads to Shirley McLaine’s property and also to a piece of property that he co-owns and would like to build a 1000 square foot dwelling on one day.
Sierra Negra is capped by 6 my old basalt and that is why it has not eroded down--same with Mesa de Abiquiu or Black Mesa. Lots of erosion occurred between Sierra Negra and the mesas to the west and Polvadera. Faulting and erosion makes the CO Plateau landscape look complex but underneath are all the broad, formerly continuous layers of the CO Plateau.
After we parked at Plaza Blanca (parking and hiking here graciously allowed by the Dar Al Islam Mosque), we met some hikers coming back who said that they found a small labyrinth but we didn’t stumble across it in our walk.
It is so elemental in Plaza Blanca with the hard-baked, glinting soil and the rock and boulder littered landscape, all set off by the whiteness of the place. Kempter pointed to the upper levels of the Abiquiu Formation to a layer of big boulders and told us that was a former river level. The whiter, more laminated layers of the fantastic turrets in Plaza Blanca are flood sheet deposits of the Abiquiu Formation. Ojo Caliente sandstone is deposited on the Abiquiu Formation. Also, the area has some young, Quaternary sediments (orange) from 60,000 years ago that redeposited over the Abiquiu Formation after the Ojo Caliente and El Rito Formations eroded away. Some of the boulders, large and small, in the present day channels, washed down from the Tusas Mountains--Ortega Quartzite. The arroyo with pink sand is from the Quaternary deposits of 60,000 years ago (although they look orange when viewed from afar in place on the mesa tops.) Kempter says that these 60,000 year old Quaternary deposits were basically from the ancestral Chama River. Chunks of black basalt on the modern day surface are from the black dike to the north of Plaza Blanca.
Attending these field trips and listening to Kempter explain the scenery is like seeing Geology Revealed!! Kempter says that 500 mya, this area was above sea level, 300 mya it was below sea level and the ocean came into this area. By the Cretaceous, the sea had come down from the Alberta area and up from the Gulf of Mexico and that essentially the land that is now the United States formed 2 islands. From 65 mya, the land was always above sea level and the ocean had disappeared from this area. Volcanism didn’t begin until 40 mya. In all that time, a lot of layers have eroded away. The Chama El Rito formation originated from the Sangres. The Ojo Caliente layer was aeolian. Before the layers eroded away, the whole area was once as high as Sierra Negra.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Thursday group hiked on lower Water Canyon Trail. Only 4 of us. Old road into Water Canyon, from NM4, has some packed down snow in shady areas but no significant mud or ice yet. We started at 8:30 am so any snow was still frozen. It softened somewhat on way back but mud not a problem.
One hiker, in his 80's, remembers driving into Water Canyon on the old road which now has a gate and on which no motorized traffic is allowed. He said there was good deer hunting in there. He remembers one involuntary "oil change" due to a collision of his oil pan with a rock!
The group turned around after about 1.5 miles but I continued on to the saddle between Water and Potrillo canyons and down to the Potrillo Canyon channel, where I turned around. Very satisfying to be walking on a trail!
One hiker, in his 80's, remembers driving into Water Canyon on the old road which now has a gate and on which no motorized traffic is allowed. He said there was good deer hunting in there. He remembers one involuntary "oil change" due to a collision of his oil pan with a rock!
The group turned around after about 1.5 miles but I continued on to the saddle between Water and Potrillo canyons and down to the Potrillo Canyon channel, where I turned around. Very satisfying to be walking on a trail!
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Going to give up snowshoeing and sell my snowshoes next year at ski swap. I haven't been using them much at all in the past few winters and my posterior tibial tendon dysfunction seems much better. The snowshoes weren't really appropriate for breaking trail but I used them for that anyway, to the detriment of my feet.
So, instead of snowshoeing, when the trails are snow-covered, I'll walk paved roads, sidewalks and forest roads. Today I wanted to walk FR181 but the parking lot was too treacherous for me to park there - fie! (Next time bring a snow shovel!) Instead, I drove to the plowed, paved parking area near the Dome Road, FR289. I walked to its intersection with FR36. They now have mile marker signs on the Dome Road! I estimate I walked 4.5 miles. It wasn't icy or muddy but I'll carry my YakTrax next time just in case.
So, instead of snowshoeing, when the trails are snow-covered, I'll walk paved roads, sidewalks and forest roads. Today I wanted to walk FR181 but the parking lot was too treacherous for me to park there - fie! (Next time bring a snow shovel!) Instead, I drove to the plowed, paved parking area near the Dome Road, FR289. I walked to its intersection with FR36. They now have mile marker signs on the Dome Road! I estimate I walked 4.5 miles. It wasn't icy or muddy but I'll carry my YakTrax next time just in case.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
First cousin Butch died yesterday. Only a year or so older than me. Had recent operation for colon cancer. Not sure it he'd started chemo yet. Sad. His Mom, my Mom's last remaining sibling, Ethel, had died a month or so ago - was in her 90's.
Yesterday, attended Halloween Potluck at WRSC. We brought delicious tuna salad from LA Food Co-op. I helped a little afterward with folding up chairs. Much more work remained to be done - dirty dishes, folding tablecloths, etc., but I had to leave. I'll help again next time. I like helping when it's not an obligation but freely done.
Also, on WRSC hike before potluck, one hiker had balance problems and toppled over and was very unsteady on way back. I and another hiker stayed close to him on the walk back.
Upset last night when spouse partially closed laundry room door which has no heat and in which, several winters back, water pipes froze and burst. He couldn't understand why I'd be upset over that!
Still trying to figure out what to do with handwritten journals. There is much good in them but also much blathering and complaining. How to easily get rid of the dreck and keep the interesting stuff?
Yesterday, attended Halloween Potluck at WRSC. We brought delicious tuna salad from LA Food Co-op. I helped a little afterward with folding up chairs. Much more work remained to be done - dirty dishes, folding tablecloths, etc., but I had to leave. I'll help again next time. I like helping when it's not an obligation but freely done.
Also, on WRSC hike before potluck, one hiker had balance problems and toppled over and was very unsteady on way back. I and another hiker stayed close to him on the walk back.
Upset last night when spouse partially closed laundry room door which has no heat and in which, several winters back, water pipes froze and burst. He couldn't understand why I'd be upset over that!
Still trying to figure out what to do with handwritten journals. There is much good in them but also much blathering and complaining. How to easily get rid of the dreck and keep the interesting stuff?
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Listening to Wild by Cheryl Strayed. I like her honesty.
Yesterday, volunteered at Home Tour. Sat at a house in our neighborhood to greet people and make sure they either put on paper booties or took off their shoes. As a volunteer, I could have gone on house tour also but why bother? I didn't even take a look at the lovely house I was stationed in, only venturing from my doorway chair to quickly use the bathroom. Won't volunteer again on the weekend or at the Home Tour - not my style.
Family is making annual pilgrimage to Salman Raspberry Ranch this year. Me, I can buy frozen raspberries at Trader Joe's so I stay home and reap the fruits of their labor. Besides, I have to get up early tomorrow for a volunteer task that will occupy most of the day.
I will go with them next weekend to Rancho de las Golondrinas Harvest Fest - crowded, hot but at least it's family time!
Made brownies yesterday - cocoa powder, garbanzo bean flour, applesauce, honey, date sugar, vanilla extract, natural peanut butter, almond butter, soy milk, rolled oats. They actually taste good - even husband likes them - but after we use them up, I need to start eating less green tea, cocoa powder and honey. Need to try to adhere better to OmniHeart diet to improve my cholesterol profile.
Yesterday, volunteered at Home Tour. Sat at a house in our neighborhood to greet people and make sure they either put on paper booties or took off their shoes. As a volunteer, I could have gone on house tour also but why bother? I didn't even take a look at the lovely house I was stationed in, only venturing from my doorway chair to quickly use the bathroom. Won't volunteer again on the weekend or at the Home Tour - not my style.
Family is making annual pilgrimage to Salman Raspberry Ranch this year. Me, I can buy frozen raspberries at Trader Joe's so I stay home and reap the fruits of their labor. Besides, I have to get up early tomorrow for a volunteer task that will occupy most of the day.
I will go with them next weekend to Rancho de las Golondrinas Harvest Fest - crowded, hot but at least it's family time!
Made brownies yesterday - cocoa powder, garbanzo bean flour, applesauce, honey, date sugar, vanilla extract, natural peanut butter, almond butter, soy milk, rolled oats. They actually taste good - even husband likes them - but after we use them up, I need to start eating less green tea, cocoa powder and honey. Need to try to adhere better to OmniHeart diet to improve my cholesterol profile.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Cool, cloudy and drizzly. Guess I should be happy after the sweltering days of summer!
Friday hike was local on White Rock streets so we could attend grand opening of new White Rock Visitor Center. The new visitor center is beautiful! Hopefully no runaway cars will bang into it like happened with the old one twice!! Spouse and I decided not to stay for the blah-blah-blah dedication and the wonderful spread of food given as a reward for attending.
Instead, we ate at Lee's. I got the homestyle tofu with cashews. Saltier than I'd like but delicious and I didn't eat all the sauce - only what clung to the food.
They don't have brown rice so I skipped rice. Also skipped the soup and egg roll.
Felt sorry for obese elderly woman who could barely walk but came in for take out from their buffet. She told waitress she comes in every day. Too bad White Rock doesn't yet have a hot meal program for seniors. They have to go 10 miles to Los Alamos to get a hot lunch. Poor thing didn't need all that salt and calories when she already looks all swollen!
Signed up to volunteer at home tour tomorrow. Ay yi yi - the agency sponsoring called to remind me and tell me about the list of rules that I'm supposed to tell people - no bathroom, no food, no picture-taking, no cell phones, no touching anything (have I forgotten any?) Reciting the rules and handing out booties are my main duties - ay yi yi!! I'll skip this next year!!
Friday hike was local on White Rock streets so we could attend grand opening of new White Rock Visitor Center. The new visitor center is beautiful! Hopefully no runaway cars will bang into it like happened with the old one twice!! Spouse and I decided not to stay for the blah-blah-blah dedication and the wonderful spread of food given as a reward for attending.
Instead, we ate at Lee's. I got the homestyle tofu with cashews. Saltier than I'd like but delicious and I didn't eat all the sauce - only what clung to the food.
They don't have brown rice so I skipped rice. Also skipped the soup and egg roll.
Felt sorry for obese elderly woman who could barely walk but came in for take out from their buffet. She told waitress she comes in every day. Too bad White Rock doesn't yet have a hot meal program for seniors. They have to go 10 miles to Los Alamos to get a hot lunch. Poor thing didn't need all that salt and calories when she already looks all swollen!
Signed up to volunteer at home tour tomorrow. Ay yi yi - the agency sponsoring called to remind me and tell me about the list of rules that I'm supposed to tell people - no bathroom, no food, no picture-taking, no cell phones, no touching anything (have I forgotten any?) Reciting the rules and handing out booties are my main duties - ay yi yi!! I'll skip this next year!!
Friday, May 25, 2012
Let me first say - I don't like the new blogger interface. I preferred the old, so-called Beta version. It was more attractive, easier to understand and use. To figure out what all the symbols mean on the new interface, I'm forced to hover my cursor over them until they, a la "open sesame", reveal their meaning.
It's all hazy smoky here today from the conjoined wildfires in the Gila Wilderness. This reminds me too much of last Spring when we were treated to days of smoke inhalation from the Wallow wildfire in Arizona. It's also been dry and windy here which brings back unpleasant memories of similar conditions last year which resulted in the devastation of the Las Conchas wildfire. I tell myself that there is not much left to burn but I know there is plenty left, especially if dry, windy conditions continue.
This morning we walked with the White Rock Senior Center Friday group on the north section of the Perimeter Trail, starting at the Mitchell Trailhead and going toward Quemazon Community. The leader surprised my by wanting to ascend to Pipeline Road above the north branch of Pueblo Canyon. We then went the short distance down Pipeline to Quemazon Road and followed that to an access trail which led to Upper Pueblo Canyon Trail and then down an access trail to Yucca Road and back to the cars. We were joined by 3 hikers from the Betty Ehart Senior Center walking group because their leader was on a trip. I forgot to check my GPS but think we did 3 miles.
After lunch at home, I did 2 more miles, going east on the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail to just past Zeus's easy chair carved out of tuff. Near the intersection with the Zipline Trail, I watched 5 turkey vultures circling around and around. Despite their "naked" red head which looks similar to the carrion they eat, they are beautiful birds that fly with grace and ease.
It's all hazy smoky here today from the conjoined wildfires in the Gila Wilderness. This reminds me too much of last Spring when we were treated to days of smoke inhalation from the Wallow wildfire in Arizona. It's also been dry and windy here which brings back unpleasant memories of similar conditions last year which resulted in the devastation of the Las Conchas wildfire. I tell myself that there is not much left to burn but I know there is plenty left, especially if dry, windy conditions continue.
This morning we walked with the White Rock Senior Center Friday group on the north section of the Perimeter Trail, starting at the Mitchell Trailhead and going toward Quemazon Community. The leader surprised my by wanting to ascend to Pipeline Road above the north branch of Pueblo Canyon. We then went the short distance down Pipeline to Quemazon Road and followed that to an access trail which led to Upper Pueblo Canyon Trail and then down an access trail to Yucca Road and back to the cars. We were joined by 3 hikers from the Betty Ehart Senior Center walking group because their leader was on a trip. I forgot to check my GPS but think we did 3 miles.
After lunch at home, I did 2 more miles, going east on the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail to just past Zeus's easy chair carved out of tuff. Near the intersection with the Zipline Trail, I watched 5 turkey vultures circling around and around. Despite their "naked" red head which looks similar to the carrion they eat, they are beautiful birds that fly with grace and ease.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Just realized that I went on and on so much about the Route and the forest service that I forgot to say where I walked today. I practiced jogging intervals on the White Rock Rim Trail from the official trailhead near Overlook to where it intersects Pajarito Canyon. I continued all the way to Sherwood Ave. on the rim trail but gave up on the jogging practice because of the wind, the rocky trail tread and the uphill. Was listening to book on CD, Head Trip, that I recorded to audio cassette. I meant to follow the easy way back but wound up back on the rocky part of the rim trail for part of the way. The whole round trip is ~5 miles.
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