My Lunch Spot Today!

Redondo from Coyote Call Trail, Valles Caldera National Preserve.

Valle Grande from Coyote Call Trail, Valles Caldera National Preserve.

Pajarito Mountain - Storm Coming

Walked up Zero Road East today. Coming down, storm clouds were gathering to north but only produced a little thunder and a little rain. (Last Friday, walking on Camp May Road Trail, lots more rain, even hail.)

On the way down, spied a bull elk above me on a ski run. Too far away to take picture with my tiny point and shoot. He seemed to be cautiously enjoying the mountain but very aware of me because he took cover in the woods when I stopped to watch him. At first I thought he was a rock or bear or stump, until he moved!

At the back of the mountain, found a long stick - wood was fresh and bark all peeled off - nice enough to haul downhill. At home, sawed it in two. I now have a stout "bear stick" to whack any bear that ventures too near. Course, my golf umbrella also serves that purpose, plus I can open and close it, while holding it high overhead. Hopefully, I will look like a frightful, gigantic insect flexing my black carapace - up and down, up and down! Surely I will scare any bear away (and many a fellow hiker as well!)

Wall of Green - FR181

Incredibly green scene, from FR181/American Spring Road. This belies how dry it is. Wind stirred up dust devils as I walked. The breezes cooled me but net effect is they further dry out everything. Monsoon is shorting us and all we're getting is hot, hot, hot.

Pajarito Mountain ridgeline, background.

Remnant grove that did not burn in either Cerro Grande or Las Conchas wildfires. Always seems to invite me in.

Cliffs above Upper Water Canyon, looking eastward.

Another forest spared by both Cerro Grande and Las Conchas wildfires.

Townsite from Townsight

Back on The Mountain today! Pajarito Mountain, that is!! As I parked, three modulars (probably from Granite Mountain filming) were being hauled down Camp May Road. Yay, they're gone!! Now I can roam the mountain again in peace.

It's quintessential summer up there now - butterflies and flowers everywhere. Wonder if bears eat red elderberries? There are a lot that will ripen soon. Didn't see any roaming bruins but spent some time throwing sticks and stones off the road (so I wouldn't trip on them) and hoped the noise scared them away.

Had a thought today about why I like to be outdoors hiking: When I'm hiking, I feel "timeless". That is, I have no age, I'm just traveling through the scenery, putting off all cares and worries for the meantime.

Los Alamos Townsite from near Pajarito Mountain Ski Area Townsight Lift