Bear Drama

 

The new-to-us family.

All light blond.

Triplets (yearlings) and their Mama. 

No numbers...just appeared.

The huge drama was the boar we had started calling Stressed Boar...who attacked most everyone and was the bear suspected of injuring Chunk so badly.

At the end of last week he meandered out to the (human area) fishing spit.

There he stood full length on his hind legs just feet from a fisherman...challenging him. 

Over 9 feet tall!

Thinking quickly, the man hurled both his fishing equipment and his fishing chair at the angry beast, and made his escape. 

Rangers were notified and the rogue bear was tranquilized and relocated.

If he were to make it back to the area he will be euthanized.

...can't have bears eating the tourists...

And so, life is back to quiet at Brooks Falls.

 Chunk is doing better...gaining weight from all the scraps and healing.

 

The last protruding canine jutting out...

appears to have finally fallen out and seems to give him some relief...as now he is eating better.

He can close his mouth completely!

This year's salmon run has been (and continues to be) remarkable. In 6 years I have never seen this many. The river is boiling with salmon.

Everything is eating well!

 

 

 

Virtual AZT: Walnut Canyon

Beans...back after a week off sick...

Better now!

Look at this place...like entering another world.

Passage 31 is 20 miles long, and I'm still moving slowly...so it is all we will see today.
 

It is outstanding!

Red rocks, pine and oak forests and gently rolling greenness. 

After so much of low scrubs and Arizona desert...this is an oasis!

Including the remains of stone buildings

The cliff dwellings built in 1100 by the Sinagua (pre-Coloumbian).

Interestingly, the name means without water in Spanish, and these people were experts at living in the arid landscape and at drought management.

Descendants of the Sinagua People.

Anyway...trails to hike...ruins to explore...and a campsite to find.

Tonight we will be 10 miles to Flagstaff which we will stay in for the weekend.

See Everybody Friday!

"Beans"   

 

Catching Up...

 Kind of a rough week, last.

 

Feeling much better!

 

Caught up with the boys.

James and Jess...who took the kids on a camping vacation before school resumes.

And James just put out a new album...available everywhere. Love it...very Pink Floyd vibe...

and they have been doing more tye-dye.

 Now including pants!

Lennon is still sick...and pretty sure it is the latest version of Covid

(...razor blade throat...) 

Slowly recovering.

Chris, Tina and the little guy are great!

 Walking and hiking with Dad!
 

Who has also been back on the music scene, recently!

 

 

And, apparently, the Kitten Distribution System is alive and well...because...this guy

Now named Shadow...just showed up and joined my sister's menagerie.

We had to cancel our Sister's Day on Saturday...but are rescheduling soon. 

 

Tomorrow, hoping to get back to our Virtual AZT.

 

Will catch up with Bear Drama in a day or so...

Love,

(...slowly recovering...)

Carla 

Virtual AZT: Passage 29 Mormon Lake

 

An outstanding week at Moqui Campground.

Even bought a couple of Moqui Marbles.

These are known as Shaman's Balls...are male or female...denoted by the ridging...are said to have mystical properties...and are basically iron ferrite that has encapsulated sandstone balls.

So..off we went...to Mormon Lake.

 

This passage was only about 15 miles.

Hiking was comfortable and easy.

Pine strewn trails...flat and even terrain.

 And the Mormon Lake Lodge...which is beautiful...but we have miles to go.

 

And so onward...

Passage 30...to Anderson Mesa.

The trail here is flat and easy. 

It has stayed about 75 degrees today!

The pine trees provide shade...gentle breezes and the scent of Christmases past.

This is a perfect spot to camp...and tomorrow we'll head to Walnut Canyon.

Catch Everyone on Wednesday!

                         "Beans" 

 

Trump Update

 ...yeah...it's a lot like this...

 

SIGH!

 

For those of you keeping track...today marks exactly 6 months.

It feels like 6 years.

Well...not me...but some of you.

So much has happened in the last month it is hard to know where to begin.

 

...the BBB passed...after a lot of late nights and wheeling and dealing...but Billionaires got their tax breaks...so that was important...the stock market has been up and down like a roller-coaster at Coney Island...and people with retirement accounts are looking a bit green around the gills...he was going to release the Epstein files...then he wasn't...then he was...then they released the jail tape...but it was missing a minute...or two...or three...and the meta data showed it had been spliced...edited...then Levitt took off her cross...and suddenly the files on Bondi's desk disappeared...then Trump berated his supporters...and some Republicans and blamed Comey...Biden and Obama...and called people weak...and said it was a witch-hunt and a HOAX...and than we should all just SHUT UP  ABOUT EPSTEIN!!!!! ...and...well...it is all anyone has discussed since then...

 

 Yeah...we know.

 And that doesn't even begin to encompass the gulag he built for migrants down in the Florida swamp...

 

Anyway...ONLY 42 months left to go.

Hang in there. 

 

 

 

Virtual AZT: Passage 26 Highline to Passage 28 Happy Jack

 So...here we are...the end of the week...we've surpassed the 500 mile marker...hiked through some beautiful pine forests...not had to constantly worry about water...

It has been a great week!

 

 Through Blue Ridge Passage 27...

with the sounds of rushing water and waterfalls!

And now at Happy Jack (Passage 28)

 Instead of weekending in town, we will be taking our zero days at the Moqui Campground...

 

 

Spacious campsites with showers and running water available!

 

Flat ground...other campers to share with/talk to...

 

And we will head on up to Mormon Lake on Monday!

 

 

Later,

"Beans" 

 

 

Virtual AZT: Red Rock Passage...

 

But first, a word about Jerome...and Room 32...

 

.

A town that time forgot.

Less than 1000 people...and kitsch abounds.

A relaxing...uneventful...weekend with no specters...flashing lights...running faucets...or paranormal happenings.

...the propriator insists these are a thing...

The lighting in 32 and throughout the Inn is low...creepy...as is the antique elevator, which moans like the damned and clatters...but I wouldn't go so far as to say haunted.

That stairway is bleak looking and creepy...but falls short of demonic.

The whole hotel is an old hospital which has been turned into an Inn with few modifications...old...creepy...but certainly not The Shining Overlook.

...in short...a hot bath...good meals...a comfortable bed...no ghosts...

 

Now we are back on the trail.

The first 10.8 miles will be through Red Hills.

 At an elevation a bit less than 2000 feet we gradually slope downward until we reach the lush Ponderosa pines and greenness of the East Verde River Valley. 

.

 

It is like stepping into an oasis after the dry, aridness of the Arizona desert. All around there are signs of life.

A section hiker, stopped to refill his water, says he has already seen a black bear out this morning!

And we begin Passage 25 (Whiterock Mesa)

The Passage is a little over 20 miles.

 

The trail here rapidly climbs and it rocky and more difficult.

 

 Many scrub junipers and thorny cacti border its sides.

I bought a new pair of hiking boots in Jerome...and am glad I did.

 

A sign along the way indicates that I am now 457 miles from Mexico...and after breaking the half-way point I really think I am going to make it!

But not tonight.

Tonight we camp on Whiterock Mesa...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catch Everyone further up the trail!

Love,

 "Beans"