A Day Visit to Rocky Mountains National Park

 Hello, everyone.

The weekend we spent in Denver--a family visit--included a really interesting side trip to Rocky Mountains National Park.

The park is about 2 hours' drive from the big city. Understandably, it is very popular with both the local folks and the tourists. We were there before summer travel season got going and there was still about an hour waiting in line at the entrance gate.

We got to view various wildlife while creeping forward in the entrance line: some deer, some rodent-sized creatures. (Memory fades just which small four legged things, but they were interesting. Not beaver, not chipmunk...)

It would be my recommendation that if one is visiting from out of the area, one should make some effort to do the visit to the park on a week day. And get on the road over there early. (Leave Denver before 0700 if you can!) The way is partly freeways and partly scenic.

We viewed snow--okay, okay, many people wouldn't cross the road to see the stuff, but we live in South Texas. Snow is a Thing here--which was at the end of its season but not completely, as we learned a few days later. The flowers weren't really into action yet, but some were poking their little green stems up from the soil. We were there at the end of April, so spring was still beginning in the area.

There are many pull-off spots with small parking lots and trail heads and generally interesting sights. We didn't go to the Glacier viewing trail as that parking lot was already completely full, but we did go to a couple of others.

The first one has a small loop walk around a pond. 

I was fascinated by a species of low growing shrub that was scattered around at the bases of trees. This is one of the larger ones. It was growing alongside the walking trail.

The ducks were on the lake already--note that there is still ice on the water as well!--and they were engaging in duck style social life. Which looks like chasing each other around. It can be hard to tell whether the ducks are trying to claim good areas and chase each other away from them or thinking romantic thoughts.

This pair of mallards was having duck nap time right next to the trail. I noticed that the female was sleeping with one eye open. Possibly the male (the green-headed one) as well. When the wild creatures are resting, one should not disturb them.

The trail crossed over some snow, but I was too busy trying not to fall down to take any pictures of the white stuff. 

We left that place and drove about looking at the views and stopped at another small parking lot. Following a trail that didn't seem to go anywhere led to an open meadow and, off in the distance, a herd of deer eating their mid-morning snack. The photo has been cropped, it might not be obvious that it was taken on the biggest zoom on the camera; we didn't want to disturb the wild creatures while we were looking at them. After we watched them for a while, some other people came along with a dog, hiking. From probably a quarter mile away the deer noticed and discreetly left for more solitary parts, before the dog even knew deer were around.

Rocky Mountain National Park has a lot of visitors, but it is still an interesting place to see. They do have at least one glacier. Because it is near Denver, it is more convenient to air travel than many of the scenic parks are.

The park has a web site. They recommend that people who want to take their dogs for a hike go to one of the nearby National Forest areas as the park is more focused on wild natural areas. While we saw a couple of dogs, there were not a lot. I would personally suggest that in a natural wild or remote place the dog should be on a leash so he doesn't get lost for good and all. 

A pre-Christmas stroll in nature

 Hello, everyone!

Last week, taking a break in those last few days before Christmas, a group of us went for a small hike at El Sal del Rey. This is a very historic salt lake in the north part of the county. 

Long time readers may remember Sal de Rey being visited in the past. This was a return visit, and an introduction for the younger members of our party. We were four adults, two children (both under 10 years) and 3 dogs. Truly it was an expedition! And everyone in the group, even the youngest, finished the walk under his or her own power. 

A view of the lake and the sky that day. The area that looks like trampled snow is the salt. It was not a bright crystalline display that day, even though the conditions were very dry and the water level of the lake was low. We concluded that there had been a small amount of rain in the area recently.

The path from the parking area to the lake was just about 2 miles one-way. As some of the party were dogs, and some were children, we took it easy and enjoyed walking along the trail and over part of the salt to the edge of the water. 

The oldest puppy in the group, truly an elderly lady, finished up her four miles with no problem. As y'all can see, she even had a big smile on her face at the end, after having a few sips of fresh (bottled) water from the doggie dish.

Pets are allowed at Sal del Rey if they are on a leash. As it is a wildlife refuge, allowing our pups to run wild after any rabbit or javelina they see is not appropriate. (Some of the wildlife could injure the pups, too.) 

Cool weather has arrived in South Texas

Hello, everyone. After a reasonably warm winter mostly, it's February and the cool fronts are showing up. This morning it was mid-40's in this area.

We've been walking, mostly on the Hike and Bike, where we did 4 miles on Monday and 6 miles on Tuesday, plus taking the critter for her survey of the neighborhood beforehand.

Last week we commenced on buying new trees for the place: avocadoes to keep the one we have company and improve the fruit set.  While we were out and about hunting them down, we were near South Padre Island, drove over to the end of the paved road and strolled a bit on the dunes in the chilly weather.

South Padre Island National Seashore view

The other direction had a few hardy tourists, also strolling, and all of us wearing jackets and long pants and sometimes headwear.

I've gotten no interesting bird pictures on the Hike and Bike this season, there was construction where the water ditches cross (one over the other) and the birds haven't come back to that place yet, plus there are a lot of folks these days walking, running, and biking on it.

There appears to have been a bot posting comments with a link in several of the posts in the last few months, I know my readers will know better than to click on the link and so I merely mention it as an advisory.

Walk report: Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Hello, everyone.

This is the last of the walk reports from our drive to California. On our way home, instead of clinging to I-10, we cut off at El Paso to visit GMNP. This was our first visit to the park.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park is one of the wilder parks in the system. They have a small visitor's center with bathroom. They have some camping facilities. There are no concessions with food, drinks, gasoline, etc.

A number of the visiting trails are convenient to the front entrance. We picked up a map and headed out onto a short-to-medium length hike: The Devil's Hall Trail.This is an out-and-back trail, not a loop. The whole trip is somewhere around 4 miles. (About 6.4 km)

Approaching the park on the highway. The day was coming onto pretty warm, as the hard blue sky and isolated white cloud show.

We carried water bottles with us and were glad we remembered. We had not brought our hiking poles, but they would have come in handy a couple of times.

At the start of the trail, a marker naming the various trails that connect to this point. Where trails diverge, there is a marker indicating which goes where.

After following the trail for some winding about between hills, we found a metal sign advising us that the trail continues on in the dry wash (the creek bed) and I wondered if they close the tail when there's a big rain in the area.

We saw an interesting tree whose roots are going into the rock between the layers of stone.

The wash became extremely rocky. There was some clambering around. (We missed our hiking poles!)

At the end, there was a rock formation called a natural stairway.

 It was layers of hard rock, eroded to somewhat resemble a steep marble staircase. As one might expect from the location and kind of rock, the surface was somewhat slick. Past the first little "stairs" there was a pothole, a pool that appears to have no outlet, with some water in it. Proceeding past the pothole, there were a few more steps of "stairs," wider to walk on this time, and then we reached the "Devil's Hall."

The Devil's Hall is a very steep-sided canyon with walls that resemble dressed stone. The park administrators had closed the area beyond the entrance due to "sensitive wildlife," presumably nesting creatures of one kind or another. It is very important to conserve the beauty of the park by not going into prohibited areas.

 On the way back, we discovered that the little trail mark symbols we remembered from youth came in very handy to find the return route. Oddly enough, the way back didn't look quite like the way out! If you visit, don't disturb the little rock stacks. They are an important part of making the park enjoyable for anyone who can walk the trail.

Trail mark, meaning "go straight ahead here." The only really tricky part of finding our way back to the parking lot was picking up the trail where the way leaves the wash and goes onto the hillside again. These little rock markers are invaluable!

Due in part to the climbing over and around the various boulders and rocks, the trail took about 2 to 3 hours. At the car, we pulled out a snack (Dukes links) and drank some of our newly refilled water bottles and headed on down the road.

This park is somewhat off the beaten path, and one must fill the gas tank and get drinks/snacks before going as there are no facilities at the park entrance, but it is very enjoyable and well worth the trip.

Walk report: Joshua Tree National Park

Hello, everyone.

Sorry about the hiatus in posting. I forgot. And there is, as usual, a wait list on sewing projects.

During our recent trip to visit family, we did a few walks. South Mountain Park has already been talked about.

Today I will mention that we also visited Joshua Tree National Park. This park is adjacent to Interstate 10 and just west of the California state border. (For those who remember, the infamous state ag department plant checkpoints don't appear to be staffed any more.) There are very few services in the area, as it's remote. Plan of bringing water and snacks with you if you're wanting to do a long walk. Also, of course, the usual desert area clothes should be worn as appropriate to the season.

The cutoff to the park entrance that one comes to while driving west looks like nothing. Take the exit, it's the only one as far as we could tell. It's straightforward, in that there are almost no crossing lanes between the highway and the park.

Part of Joshua Tree is in the low desert, and well furnished with such typical plants as ocotillo and some saguaro. The other part of the park is in the "medium" desert, neither low altitude and hot enough to be "low" nor high altitude and potentially cooler so as to be "high." The medium desert zone has as its famous plant the park's name plant, Joshua trees. These are an extra large species of yucca.

Another desert plant that grows in flocks in some parts of Joshua Tree is cholla cactus. This little thing that looks so cute from a distance is related to prickly pear cacti. Like them, if you touch it you will most likely get a flock of large and small (glochid) spines. In some places people plant cholla as a defensive hedge.

(We once had a prickly pear (nopal) hedge, it was pretty in bloom but a menace to beginning bicycle riders. It hid a huge cutter ant colony, too. Until we took the hedge out to put in a fence, we had no idea where the many, many attacks on our trees and shrubs were coming from.)

Cholla Garden cacti

There is a lovely short stroll near a cholla patch. They have helpfully placed some parking there. If I remember right, the park calls this the "Cholla Garden" as there are tons of chollas close together there.

Jumbo Rocks jack rabbit, with rocks

Farther on, we stopped at a rock outcrop called, I think, the Jumbo Rocks. I think they're granite, much eroded and really "neato" to look at and walk around. This area also has a parking area, and a couple of little tables to eat lunch at. (Bring your own picnic. And *pack out your trash.* I think I may have seen a restroom there. Check on the park map for restroom locations, campsite locations, entry gates, etc. There are no concession shops.)

Among the many very large rocks, and the amazing blooming cacti, there was a jackrabbit.

We got to Joshua Tree around 9 in the morning, an ideal time for strolling in the warm/hot desert. By the time we left, after a couple of strolls and reading some interpretive signs, it was nearing noon. We left by the gate at 29 Palms, a small city in California. I think there were about 20 cars and 30 motorcycles in  the entrance lane.

This is a really nice park for people who like to walk in the desert--some walking trails are rather long and you're supposed to sign the board at the trail head before you head out on them--and view nature.

This year was an exceptional year for the spring blossoms in the California desert. One final picture from Joshua Tree National Park:

Walk Report: Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park and South Padre Island Boardwalks (birding center)

Hello, everyone.

As promised, a walk report for today.

The morning was beautifully cool yesterday...by South Texas standards at least. About 70F when we woke up, so we threw clothes on, gave creatures a little bit of fresh air for necessity, and jumped into the truck to go walk.

First stop, the Texas Welcome Center in Harlingen, where we got more detailed driving info for the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park. Friends, this is one of the national parks with no entry charge. (Enjoy it while you can!) We picked up pamphlets there, including a map of the Historic Battlefield Trail through Brownsville. Palo Alto is one of the end points of this approximately 10 mile long trail that goes from downtown Brownsville out to the battlefield along the old, abandoned railroad right-of-way.

At the battlefield, on Paredes Line Road (FM 1847), we found a lovely, clean visitors center with a park ranger in attendance, interesting and informative displays about the battle and its context, and a small, but clean, restroom facility. The restroom is accessible from outside--though I'm fairly sure they lock the front gate at the road when the park is closed.

Shaded picnic benches at Palo Alto Battlefield Nat'l Historic Park. The clumps of grass in the foreground grow on all of the higher ground in the area.

View along the Mexican Army's lines--pennants in red, white, and green for the Mexicans. On the other side, pennants in red, white, and blue for the Americans. The Mexican lines were actually on somewhat higher and drier ground--note the yuccas.

19th Century "shock and awe"--US Army large cannon--this view is from the American lines toward the Mexican lines.

 An overlook with shade and interpretive signage has been placed out in what was the "no man's land" of the battle.

Tracks of some of the many animals that live in the park. 

 We saw tracks and scat of various animals--javelinas, nilgai, possibly other deer, and some burrows that might have been homes for snakes or for crayfish. The ground is low and tends toward the swampy.

It's not easy to pick out at first, but the Rio Grande River was adjacent to the US Army lines at the time. (Or possibly it was already a cut off oxbow, called locally a resaca.) Where the old river bed was, there are no yucca plants or large grass clumps. It has defined banks that are concealed in the natural brushy cover, but the plants growing in the old bed are grayish and short. The plants on the former river banks and general area include Spanish Dagger yuccas, large clumps of pokey-leaved grasses, prickly pear cactus, and assorted wildflowers.

After visiting the park (about a mile or so stroll) we drove down to South Padre Island and strolled on the nature-viewing boardwalks at the Convention Center.

A heron looking for his lunch.

 We have heard that there is at least one American Alligator living in the mangroves and grasses and small water channels here, but we didn't see any.

A crab hiding in the roots of the grass. (The boardwalk is on the Laguna Madre estuary side of the island. No waves to speak of, and generally smooth water.

 While I didn't get any photos of them, there were quite a few diving ducks on the water of the Laguna. They were making splashy sounds when they dove under the ripples to fish.

View toward Laguna Madre.

 We didn't cover all of the boardwalks at the Island on this visit. We had gone over some very muddy, unused, rough road between Brownsville and Port Isabel and needed to clean the undercarriage of the mud gathered en route. Old Port Isabel Road is apparently only used within the city of Brownsville. Going toward Port Isabel, it's basically an unused track. Four wheel drive vehicles strongly recommended. Avoid this stretch if the weather has been wet, as the road surface was low-lying and full of ruts and mud pots even in dry weather when we went.

If you visit the battlefield and then want to go toward the beaches of South Padre, we recommend that you return to the expressway to get to Highway 100 to Port Isabel, or ask the park ranger if driving north on Paredes Line Road will give a good surface all the way to 100.