Barn Owl-Shot of the hike

The dogs flushed this critter on our evening hike yesterday. They chased it for two laps around the canyon which was enough time for me to get a great shot as it passed by with my new "nifty 50" lens.

Boston Hill Trails

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Boston Hill is a unique place. It seems vast even though it it quite finite. It's an area which used to be an old Silver Mining site which is a maze of trenches left over from miners following silver veins with shovels and dynamite. The trenches which were left behind offer a unique rather easy hiking experience right within the city limits of Silver City, New Mexico.

There are three entrances that I know of to this rocky wonderland: between the High Desert Humane Society and the Catholic Cemetery on Cooper Street, on Market street near its intersection with highway 180, and on the bypass road which connects hwys 180 and 90. All three are easily accessible from paved roads.


Dogs hiking in this area are required to be on leash and under control, though that doesn't necessarily mean that they are. There isn't a reliable source of water available here, so if you're planning to explore at any length, you're going to want to bring water for yourself and your dog. Another thing to watch out for in this area is the wildlife. Last year there were multiple instances of rabid fox in the area, so it's not a good place to hike with an unvaccinated animal and wildlife encounters should be avoided if possible.

Gila River Trail Hike

Gila River Hike

Yesterday, we loaded up the truck with retrievers took a much needed trip to the river for hours of fun and about six miles of hiking up and down the Gila River Trail. The dogs and humans had a blast. Once again, we took along our Lab buddies, Pete and Jed, as well as their owner, Bonnie.

The drive to the trail had the truck exhibiting more than a couple of new rattles, but it hung together and we all made it there safe and sound.

Jed and the girls started out the hike demonstrating their agility by climbing a sycamore tree, then all the dogs got down to the serious business of playing in the river. The girls were in fishing mode, while Pete concentrated on picking up rocks from the bottom and carrying them to the bank. Jed was on critter patrol and unfortuantely for all involved, he did manage to find a skunk towards the end of the hike. Thank goodness the dogs were not riding home in the cab of the vehicle!

Everywhere you turned there was another stunning scene. The colors were lush and the landscape breathtaking. All of the cacti were blooming and we were treated to a spectacular sunset.

Lake Roberts Swim and Evening Walks

Last Friday, I loaded the girls into the pickup and headed out for the Gila. There wasn't really a plan, we were just looking for a good place to hike. We saw lots of flowers growing on trees/bushes along the way. I was actually thinking about going to Sheep Corral Canyon, but the truck pulling a horse trailer in front of us turned down that road and I really wasn't in the mood to share a trail, so we kept going. All of the campgrounds along the way had at least two campsites set up, so we kept driving...

We ended up at Lake Roberts. Even on a weekday the summer crowds were filling the campgrounds. This time of the year if you're looking for solitude Lake Roberts isn't the place to be, but the girls were really up for a swim so I headed for the parking lot near the boat ramp. Luckily we were able to find a semi secluded inlet where I could toss a bumper for the girls to fetch in the lake without disturbing any fishermen. The girls had a blast! They really needed to get out and do something.

Now, since I've been slaving away at work and the girls are left to their own devices most days, I'm making an effort to get them out for an evening walk around the neighborhood. I have a new "tangle-free" leash which allows me to have both dogs on one handle that attaches to two leashes with a swivel d-ring. It sort of reminds me of a really heavy duty piece of fishing tackle. It allows the girls to get out to the end of the leash and twist and twirl around each other without staying tangled, as the swivel immediately untwists the two leashes.

We're enjoying our little evening jaunts, even if they aren't hikes per se. The nights are still pretty cool around here, so it's refreshing and it is getting me away from the laptop and outside getting my pulse up.

Springtime in the Gila National Forest

For those who've never visited the Gila National Forest in the springtime, knowing a few things before heading out hiking or camping could save some frustration. Spring is not my favorite season for hiking here, for two simple reasons, weather and water.

Take today for example, it's a sunny, warm 80º F afternoon and gorgeous. Great! let's go camping! Not so fast little trekker. Tonight temps will probably dip into the low 40º range, and they are predicting the possibility of snow for tomorrow. That's OK if you've got the right equipment and two or three retrievers, or another person, to snuggle up with for warmth. Layers are a must. You can have all four seasons in the span of a couple of hours sometimes in the spring. This changeability of the weather is probably why I mostly dayhike instead of backpack these days. My creaky body likes its creature comforts after a day on the trail. Click here for an hour by hour forecast for the GNF from the weather channel.

Another weather issue in the springtime is the wind. It can be brutal once it starts to blow, and it seems to blow, often gale force winds, from the beginning of April through the end of June continuously. The wind can be avoided by only hiking in the mornings or in the evenings after it dies down to a breeze, if that happens before it's too dark to see the trail.

Issue number two with spring hiking here, water. Always call ahead to check the weather and water conditions before heading out for any extended hiking. Once you're away from the river, it's pretty hard to find water in the spring. You've got to pack it in and if you've got dogs, you're going to have to pack it in for them too. Retrievers like their water, lots of it. Doggy packs for water are a must if you want to pack anything other than water.

One nice easy trail where you will find water is the Catwalk Recreation Area, near Glenwood, New Mexico. Any of the trails along the Gila River itself will also have plenty of water, but also will involve multiple stream crossings, which could be uncomfortable in colder weather.

I try to pick my trails based upon the availability of fresh water for the dogs. That way, I avoid having to deal with carrying in lots of water. But, sometimes a trail calls and there's no choice but to load up the water bladders and go.

Backyard Hiking Again

On Sunday, Ranger, Ceilidh, Sue and I hit the trail just up the street from our house for the first time since October. The guys were jazzed to get out for a run and checked out all of their favorite places, looking for treasures.

For about half of the hike the dogs enjoyed a rousing game of "Follow that Sue", in which Sue goes tearing around the woods and the other two try to keep up. On the back side of the hike Ranger and Sue disappeared and I couldn't hear their tags. That usually means that they are up to something. When I whistled them in, Sue appeared, smiling and smelling quite musky. Ranger was a little tougher to call in, but when he did come he presented me with a nice javelina leg. They had both obviously been rolling in the carcass and were in a state of stinky high heaven.


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The Remnants of Deer Season

Bow season ended a couple of weeks ago, and we're still running into some of the remains of field dressings on our hikes. Today's treasure was a nice section of lower leg. Honey carried it for almost three miles, before she absentmindedly left it behind.

Can a dog look any happier than this? I swear her smile is almost from ear to ear.