Sat. Sept. 8, 2012
Last night I had to once again crawl out of my nice warm bed, get dressed and go into the cold, dark night. This time it was to tighten the awning that was being snapped by the wind. Now, understand that we heard coyotes yipping nearby when we were going to bed, and those re-introduced wolves are around somewhere, but I didn't mind. I am so brave!
This morning when it was actually time to get up, the rain and wind had stopped, but it was still overcast. When I stepped outside with my hands full of breakfast fixin's (we find it is less messy if we fry bacon outside) I spotted a flock of turkeys in what we call our front yard. They saw me, or heard me, and began heading for the tree line. By the time Peggie responded to my call, they were well on their way and disappeared pretty quickly. We estimated twenty or so, with about a third of them juveniles.
So here's a big THANK YOU to all you from-the-cities noise makers who have left our woods so we can enjoy the natural wildlife.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
A heck of a hike
Friday, Sept. 7, 2012
In the interest of sighting our elk herd again this morning, we decided to take a walk along last evening's trail. We saw the tracks of the herd. Then we decided to continue around the woods to a "road" that appeared to go to the top of the hill from the west side. It is a 4x4 trail that goes steeply to the top. At more than 9000' elevation we had to take frequent breathing breaks on our way up. The trail continues down the east side from the peak, but it is not well used. We soon discovered why when we came to the point where the trail ended in just a little ways. So we started bushwhacking back to our camp at the eastern base of the hill. We could see the tracks of the lone bull elk from time to time. But the big excitement was a pile of bear scat that still appeared fresh. Maybe, the bear is what had the elk spooked before we saw them. Even though black bears seldom attack full grown elk or people, I would certainly be spooked by one when I was on foot in the woods.
So now we are excited. With fewer people around, we have elk and bear on the hill behind our camp. We saw deer in this woods when we were camped on the far side last month. We still hear the wolves howling some nights. This is why we camp in the woods.
In the interest of sighting our elk herd again this morning, we decided to take a walk along last evening's trail. We saw the tracks of the herd. Then we decided to continue around the woods to a "road" that appeared to go to the top of the hill from the west side. It is a 4x4 trail that goes steeply to the top. At more than 9000' elevation we had to take frequent breathing breaks on our way up. The trail continues down the east side from the peak, but it is not well used. We soon discovered why when we came to the point where the trail ended in just a little ways. So we started bushwhacking back to our camp at the eastern base of the hill. We could see the tracks of the lone bull elk from time to time. But the big excitement was a pile of bear scat that still appeared fresh. Maybe, the bear is what had the elk spooked before we saw them. Even though black bears seldom attack full grown elk or people, I would certainly be spooked by one when I was on foot in the woods.
So now we are excited. With fewer people around, we have elk and bear on the hill behind our camp. We saw deer in this woods when we were camped on the far side last month. We still hear the wolves howling some nights. This is why we camp in the woods.
A little excitement!
Friday, Sept 7, 2012
We returned to our campsite yesterday at lunchtime. We noticed on the way out that most other campsites are empty. Some trailers are still there, but nobody is around. As near as we can tell, there isn't another occupied camp within a mile of us. That's good. No barking dogs, no revving unmuffled ATV's, no chain saws, no shooting. Maybe we will be able to see some natural wildlife. We didn't see any cattle on the way out either; they must must have been relocated again.
We were a little bummed that some miscreant took our hummingbird feeder from the tree where we left it for the 24 hours we were gone.
Last night while we were preparing dinner, I heard some cows lowing in the distance. Then I heard the keening of a bull elk. Close by. I grabbed my binoculars and began to scan. The forest has some pretty clear spaces allowing more than 50 yards of visibility. Whoosh! I saw a tan hide flash through a gap. The elk was flying!
We couldn't interrupt dinner prep, so we decided to sneak into the woods after we ate. And we did.
Casey will know the way we walked because it is the way she drove out to avoid all the mud and rocks from the other road. As I sit here the next morning writing this, the pachinko squirrels are at it again. But last evening as we walked into the woods, we discovered that elk running through the trees sound just like the invisible elephants. We barely got a glimpse of the lone elk I had seen before, when we heard the elephants behind us. We turned and there was a herd running through the trees fifty feet away. They moved fast and we estimated a dozen or more. They stopped briefly in an open area but the bull saw us right away and led his harem up the hill into the denser woods. We could hear them crashing for a while. Then we could hear the two bulls keening for a long time afterwards. It is too bad they were moving so fast. It is the closest encounter we've had with elk.
This morning dawned cloudy and we awoke to sprinkles. We want it to dry out so we can go looking for the elk herd. From the sounds it appears they are still in the vicinity.
Of course, I will probably sprain my neck snapping at every dropped cone.
Today, only invisible elephants.
We returned to our campsite yesterday at lunchtime. We noticed on the way out that most other campsites are empty. Some trailers are still there, but nobody is around. As near as we can tell, there isn't another occupied camp within a mile of us. That's good. No barking dogs, no revving unmuffled ATV's, no chain saws, no shooting. Maybe we will be able to see some natural wildlife. We didn't see any cattle on the way out either; they must must have been relocated again.
We were a little bummed that some miscreant took our hummingbird feeder from the tree where we left it for the 24 hours we were gone.
Last night while we were preparing dinner, I heard some cows lowing in the distance. Then I heard the keening of a bull elk. Close by. I grabbed my binoculars and began to scan. The forest has some pretty clear spaces allowing more than 50 yards of visibility. Whoosh! I saw a tan hide flash through a gap. The elk was flying!
We couldn't interrupt dinner prep, so we decided to sneak into the woods after we ate. And we did.
Casey will know the way we walked because it is the way she drove out to avoid all the mud and rocks from the other road. As I sit here the next morning writing this, the pachinko squirrels are at it again. But last evening as we walked into the woods, we discovered that elk running through the trees sound just like the invisible elephants. We barely got a glimpse of the lone elk I had seen before, when we heard the elephants behind us. We turned and there was a herd running through the trees fifty feet away. They moved fast and we estimated a dozen or more. They stopped briefly in an open area but the bull saw us right away and led his harem up the hill into the denser woods. We could hear them crashing for a while. Then we could hear the two bulls keening for a long time afterwards. It is too bad they were moving so fast. It is the closest encounter we've had with elk.
This morning dawned cloudy and we awoke to sprinkles. We want it to dry out so we can go looking for the elk herd. From the sounds it appears they are still in the vicinity.
Of course, I will probably sprain my neck snapping at every dropped cone.
Today, only invisible elephants.
One of the (many) reasons Peggie keeps me around
Tues. Sept. 4, 2012
Last night after we went to bed, Peggie's C-PAP started misbehaving the way it does when our batteries are getting low. So I crawled out of the nice warm bed, got dressed, went out into the cold, dark night and plugged the umbilical cord into the truck. Then I turned on the heater, found a soothing classical station on SiriusXM and sat up for an hour and a half until I thought the batteries had recharged enough. The biggest problem I had, was that when I dozed off, my foot depressed the accelerator and the racing engine woke me up. When I finally returned to bed I knew my sacrifice had worked; Peggie was sound asleep and the C-PAP was behaving normally.
Well, I am a real sweetheart and all, but in order to avoid a repeat, I hooked the trailer up this afternoon and let the batteries charge again.
Tomorrow we will head for Eagar for the weekly refill.
Last night after we went to bed, Peggie's C-PAP started misbehaving the way it does when our batteries are getting low. So I crawled out of the nice warm bed, got dressed, went out into the cold, dark night and plugged the umbilical cord into the truck. Then I turned on the heater, found a soothing classical station on SiriusXM and sat up for an hour and a half until I thought the batteries had recharged enough. The biggest problem I had, was that when I dozed off, my foot depressed the accelerator and the racing engine woke me up. When I finally returned to bed I knew my sacrifice had worked; Peggie was sound asleep and the C-PAP was behaving normally.
Well, I am a real sweetheart and all, but in order to avoid a repeat, I hooked the trailer up this afternoon and let the batteries charge again.
Tomorrow we will head for Eagar for the weekly refill.
Labor Day
Monday, Sept. 3, 2012
We just had a different kind of weekend. Casey drove up Saturday morning to join us for the holiday. Her holiday, not ours. We don't need holidays. Anyway, it was the first dirt roads for her two (three?)-year-old Honda Fit. Two miles of graded dirt, and half a mile of muddy two-track. I walked out to the graded road to guide her in past the puddles and rocks. Her car only bottomed out once and she got a scratch (arizona pin striping) on the passenger side. We're hoping it will buff out with wax.
On Sunday we drove around a bit to show her some of the damage from last year's Wallow Fire. Then we headed to the nearest Indian casino at Hon-Dah. We all dropped our $20 limit pretty quickly, but Peggie got hers to last for a while.
We stayed up late playing Uno and laughing. Casey and Peggie take great pleasure in beating me at games. As you all know I am a gracious loser. I am never having so much fun as when my "loved ones" are laughing at me.
It would have been nice if Casey had had longer than a three-day weekend, but we are glad that all the other yahoos who run their obnoxiously loud ATV's up and down the trails had to go home.
We just had a different kind of weekend. Casey drove up Saturday morning to join us for the holiday. Her holiday, not ours. We don't need holidays. Anyway, it was the first dirt roads for her two (three?)-year-old Honda Fit. Two miles of graded dirt, and half a mile of muddy two-track. I walked out to the graded road to guide her in past the puddles and rocks. Her car only bottomed out once and she got a scratch (arizona pin striping) on the passenger side. We're hoping it will buff out with wax.
On Sunday we drove around a bit to show her some of the damage from last year's Wallow Fire. Then we headed to the nearest Indian casino at Hon-Dah. We all dropped our $20 limit pretty quickly, but Peggie got hers to last for a while.
We stayed up late playing Uno and laughing. Casey and Peggie take great pleasure in beating me at games. As you all know I am a gracious loser. I am never having so much fun as when my "loved ones" are laughing at me.
It would have been nice if Casey had had longer than a three-day weekend, but we are glad that all the other yahoos who run their obnoxiously loud ATV's up and down the trails had to go home.
Squirrels playing pachinko and invisible elephants
Sat. Sept 1, 2012
The quiet forest is often invaded by the sound of elephants crashing through the trees. When we go in search of these behemoths, they are nowhere in sight. Invisible. Instead, if you stand still and observe, you see pine cones (generic term, they are actually spruce cones) landing all around. The squirrels are high in the trees harvesting the cones. They do this by pulling a cone loose and dropping it. The cone strikes a branch, bounces randomly, strikes another branch etc. until it thumps into the detritus on the ground. The sounds are "conk" "thunk" "bonk" "crack" "thump." Most of the nearby squirrels are thus engaged at the same time. That's why it sounds like elephants coming through. They all cease at about the same time and sit up in the trees chattering. I think they are saying, "Hey, I just dropped a bunch of cones on the ground and the rest of you better not try to pick any of them up!" On the ground they sometimes immediately attack the cones like a kid at the state fair in July with a corn cob on a stick. Or they grab a cone and run off to their secret hiding place.
This activity is repeated numerous times throughout the day.
The quiet forest is often invaded by the sound of elephants crashing through the trees. When we go in search of these behemoths, they are nowhere in sight. Invisible. Instead, if you stand still and observe, you see pine cones (generic term, they are actually spruce cones) landing all around. The squirrels are high in the trees harvesting the cones. They do this by pulling a cone loose and dropping it. The cone strikes a branch, bounces randomly, strikes another branch etc. until it thumps into the detritus on the ground. The sounds are "conk" "thunk" "bonk" "crack" "thump." Most of the nearby squirrels are thus engaged at the same time. That's why it sounds like elephants coming through. They all cease at about the same time and sit up in the trees chattering. I think they are saying, "Hey, I just dropped a bunch of cones on the ground and the rest of you better not try to pick any of them up!" On the ground they sometimes immediately attack the cones like a kid at the state fair in July with a corn cob on a stick. Or they grab a cone and run off to their secret hiding place.
This activity is repeated numerous times throughout the day.
We're here
Friday, Aug. 31, 2012
White Mountains, Arizona
Two miles from AZ Hwy 260, .5 miles from FR 117 on the edge of an enormous meadow. Spruce, blue spruce, fir, aspen, and ponderosa pines marking the forest edge. Our trailer is oriented East/West putting our patio on the south for maximum sun exposure. The nearest trees are 10 yards west and over 100 yards east and 10 yards north and 1/2 mile south. We wanted early morning sun and afternoon shade. The shadows begin edging into the patio at 3:30 and sunset is at 6:30. We find ourselves moving our chairs out to find sun during those three hours because the shade is just a little too chilly.
We set up at about noon. At around 4:30 I was enjoying the warmth of the sun and a good book. I looked up into the wooded area to the west. Now, I can't say I have been under any particular stresses or pressures lately, but at that moment, when I looked into the forest, I heard whatever stress I had fall to the ground beside my chair. The message made by the falling stress hit my consciousness as "We're here."
After that I became aware of the squirrels, birds, flowers, trees, sunlight and shadow. We're here.
The plan is to stay three weeks this time. Then those pesky appointments and commitments require a return to Tucson.
White Mountains, Arizona
Two miles from AZ Hwy 260, .5 miles from FR 117 on the edge of an enormous meadow. Spruce, blue spruce, fir, aspen, and ponderosa pines marking the forest edge. Our trailer is oriented East/West putting our patio on the south for maximum sun exposure. The nearest trees are 10 yards west and over 100 yards east and 10 yards north and 1/2 mile south. We wanted early morning sun and afternoon shade. The shadows begin edging into the patio at 3:30 and sunset is at 6:30. We find ourselves moving our chairs out to find sun during those three hours because the shade is just a little too chilly.
We set up at about noon. At around 4:30 I was enjoying the warmth of the sun and a good book. I looked up into the wooded area to the west. Now, I can't say I have been under any particular stresses or pressures lately, but at that moment, when I looked into the forest, I heard whatever stress I had fall to the ground beside my chair. The message made by the falling stress hit my consciousness as "We're here."
After that I became aware of the squirrels, birds, flowers, trees, sunlight and shadow. We're here.
The plan is to stay three weeks this time. Then those pesky appointments and commitments require a return to Tucson.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
