A Little Hiking

On my final day in New Mexico, I finally found a park with hiking trails that allowed dogs. This park experienced a major fire last year but has been spared this year from fires raging in New Mexico and Colorado. I went early in the day in hopes of making several of the trails before the day heated up too much. I arrive to find only two trails open. All the others were long walks through the scorched earth (only to be scorched earth themselves with “hike at your own risk” signs posted at the entrances and exits). Little of the wildlife viewing that they promised was available due to the fires the year before.

I was able to do the most historical, though least pleasing as far as nature hikes go, trail up to the caved in entrances to old coal mines. The trail wandered through the streets of the old mining town with little more than foundations remaining of the buildings that housed the miners and businesses that supported the mines. They were well identified with signs and photos from the heyday of the town and mining operations. The trail had clear markings and while there was quite a rise from the trailhead at the visitors center to the mouths of the mines.

I do have to wonder why they paved most of the trail with crushed black stone. Did they want the visitor to consider the black pits of the miners? I cannot say for certain what their motivation was, but it made for a blistering hot walk even in the relative cool of the morning. It made the walk especially uncomfortable for my dog and he regularly changed sides of the trail to walk in whatever shade the scrub-oak provided.

 

While the trail made only minimal promise of wildlife spotting, I did manage to look quickly enough toward a commotion in the brush and glimpse a black bear fleeing to the other side of a ridge through the low brush.

No - the bear is not in the picture, but the photo is where it would have been had it stayed still

A short distance up the path we found more proof of the bear and the answer to the question: Does a bear s*!# in the woods?

No. It does it in the middle of the trail.

Despite the discomfort of the trail, it did give me a chance to enjoy a bit of wild New Mexico up close. The next time I come to New Mexico (big if on that one) I will come on my own and find a place with more outdoorsy things to do and some trails that are actually functioning. 

 

Greenbelt Hike - Dandelions

Easter Sunday afternoon I took the opportunity to go for a hike on one of my favoirte trails, the Barton Creek Greenbelt. The weather presented such a perfect day and with the recent rains creating a nice flow in the creek, I  knew there would be hundreds of people on the trail and swimming in the creek at the various swimmin' holes.

I was not disappointed in the crowds; however, the majority left the trails vacant so I was able to stroll slowly and stop whenever I wanted to photograph any sight that caught my eye.

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The field of dandelions was one sight that caught my eye, with the fluffy seed pods ready to disperse and create havoc in some conscientious gardener's yard.[[posterous-content:pid___1]]I have rarely seen so many dandelions in one spot and enjoyed the view they created.[[posterous-content:pid___2]]This many dandelions, combined with the common wild onion which are also plentiful in the area, would make for a good salad. I took an afternoon hike, so I had already eaten, but if I had planned it carefully, I could have had my very own vegan picnic with the wild plants I found.[[posterous-content:pid___3]]Not since I moved away from the farm, have I thought so much about the presence of wild foods around us.[[posterous-content:pid___4]]And not only is it nice to know that the wild foods are around us, they make for some beautiful sights in our outdoor adventures.

March 2012 McKinney Falls 1

This post includes a few of my favorite shots from my hike at McKinney Falls State Park in Austin. It is only a few minutes from my house and just miles from downtown Austin, yet in that place one has no idea that an urban area is nearby.

I was thrilled at how this shot of wild onion blossoms turned out.

 And this shot of a bluebonnet just blew me away with its brilliance.

 These yellow flowers (probably a weed) were taller than me. They created for a nerve-wracking experience as I walked through them. I spent the day looking for snakes, but found none. I was certain as I made my way through these plants that I would surely hear the rattle of an unseen snake.

 I also enjoyed the bluebonnets against the stone jutting out from the ground.

Whenever I need a mental health break or a quiet time waliking away from the crowds, I make my way over to the park and spend a couple hours with my camera in the quiet.