Retrievers Hiking the Gila

Fall Colors

2011-09-27T16:50:00.001-06:00

Ranger surveys his domain

The night-time temperatures are getting cooler now and fall is definitely in the air. It's time to start thinking about good hikes with opportunities for viewing the fall colors in the Gila National Forest. The leaves are just starting to turn here, so prime color time is probably a couple of weeks away, but it never hurts to plan ahead. One of my favorite fall color trails is the Hillsboro Peak trail which has it's trail head at the Emory Pass overlook. The Sawyer Peak trail which also has its trailhead at Emory Pass is also good, but I think the views are better on the Hillsboro Peak Trail.

Another good place to see fall colors will be along the Crest trail from the Sandy Point trail head. Check to make sure that the Bursum road is still open before heading out on this one. The road is generally closed between October and April, depending upon the weather. Currently, the road is open. This year the forest service has set up a fall colors hotline and web site which will be updated every Friday until the colors are gone. More information is available at this link

Predator safety

2011-08-27T08:44:00.000-06:00

It seems as though every day lately, somewhere in New Mexico, someone has an encounter with a bear, not only in the forests, but also in our cities and small towns. Here in the high country of southwest corner of the state we share our forest with numerous large predators, bears among them.

A couple of weeks ago on our weekend hike in the Burro mountains, we encountered some bear scat on the trail. Thank goodness we didn't encounter the bear itself, but the bear sign was a reminder that when hiking around here, it's not like taking a walk in a city park. Safety precautions need to be considered when the possibility exists that the dogs may encounter dangerous wildlife.

There are two commands that every dog needs no matter where they walk: "Leave-it" and "Come". Owners need to be able to call their dogs off of anything they encounter that might not be good for them or that might just be unpleasant.

I work informally on recalls, or the "come" command every time we hit the trail. We make it a game and fun, but my motivations are serious. I need my dogs to drop what they're doing an come to me without hesitation. If they can't do this one thing, then I can't have them off leash in the forest. Another thing I try to do is really be aware of everything in my surroundings. If I see the wildlife before the dogs do, it's easier for me to ensure that we avoid an encounter.

But, what should animal owners do if an encounter with wildlife actually does happen? Here's a great post from the Life with Dogs blog that addresses what to do with a few of the more common predators a hiking dog could encounter in the wild.

Quiet 4th, Monsoons on the way

2011-07-05T10:34:00.000-06:00

This may have been the quietest 4th of July with respect to fireworks that I have ever witnessed in my 22 years in New Mexico. No one was shooting off fireworks anywhere where I could see them or my dogs could hear them. This is a testament to the dryness here in Gila country right now. Even the town of Silver City elected not to put on its usual fireworks display.

Here in Grant county we have been at stage II fire restrictions since the Quail Ridge fire at the beginning of March and that is still the case today; but, there is some good news. The humidity levels have finally risen above the single digits and the welcome sight of afternoon thunderhead buildup is finally visible. There still hasn't really been much in the way of rainfall, but we are getting spotty amounts here and there in the afternoons now, and the promise of the monsoon season doesn't seem so empty anymore.

Hiking with the dogs, I have encountered extremely dry conditions in the forest. Packing along water is a must unless you are hiking along the Gila river itself, as that seems to be the only water around. On trails not near water, the dogs need to be monitored for signs of heat stress, kept well watered, and if possible, hiking along shady trails after about 9:00 in the morning, as my dogs don't have the sense to stop themselves from overexertion in hot, sunny conditions. Another consideration for dogs on sunny trails is that the ground can get hot enough to cause them discomfort if there is no vegitation to walk on, which there mostly isn't right now. I've been limiting our hikes to before 9 in the morning or after 5 in the afternoon and the dogs are still ready for a cooling dip in their pool by the time we get home.

The ground is so dry that it is the consistency of wheat flour right now. The pin oaks seem to be mostly in hibernation mode, with only the larger trees having any leaves at all. The daytime temperatures are currently in the high 80s to low 90s and nighttime temps are dropping to the low 60s. Chances of any rain are spotty for the next week or so, but forecasters are placing them at 30% each day this week rising to 60% by July 13th.

2011 NM Fires Timeline

2011-06-17T13:18:00.000-06:00

Found this cool timeline of this year's fire season in New Mexico created by krqewebdesk. She's got a few other cool timelines relevant to New Mexico at her site as well.

Miller Fire

2011-05-28T09:01:00.000-06:00

For the last few weeks or so the Miller Fire has been a major issue in the Gila. As of now it has burned over 87,000 acres in the Gila Wilderness. Smoke from this and other area fires hangs over Silver City, and the never ending winds are starting to be supplemented by hotter daytime temperatures.

According to a forest service news release, April 27, the fire is now 68% contained. The good news is that forest officials have reopened previously closed areas for the holiday weekend. Open areas include:

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Visitor Center and Cliff Dwellings.
Grapevine Campground
Forks Campground
Upper and Lower Scorpion Campgrounds
TJ Corral
Woody’s Corral

Trails at TJ and Woody's Corrals remain closed due to the fire.
The Gila National Forest and Gila Wilderness are still under stage II fire restrictions.
PDF Map of closed Trails due to the Miller Fire
PDF Map of the Miller Fire

It's a dry, dry, windy, windy world

2011-04-15T12:37:00.001-06:00

I desperately need to get my guys out for a good hike. We've done a couple of short hikes close to the house, but the weather has been so windy on the weekends lately that I just haven't wanted to be out in it for very long. It's looking like this weekend my be a little calmer, but it's still super dry here in the Gila. In fact, there have been several fires in the Silver City area recently, one big one a couple of weeks ago, and two separate fires just yesterday.

This brings up a topic that probably needs to be covered, fire safety and spring hiking in the Gila.

Fire Safety
Since one of yesterday's fires was near a popular hiking and picnic area and has been determined to be human caused, here are a few rules from New Mexico Fire Info:
Fire Restrictions on State and Private Lands

Right now, recreational forest users need to be extra vigilant about fire. With the wind as bad as it's been any heat source is a potential disastrous fire. This includes motorized vehicles. The Quail Ridge fire was caused by a catalytic converter catching dry grass on fire. Another of our NM fires was caused by someone using a grinder to cut parts off of a salvage vehicle. Common sense should prevent intelligent folks from flicking cigarette butts out of car windows or burning weeds under these conditions, but I am constantly amazed by the lack of common sense people seem to exhibit.

Water
On the topic of common sense, if you are planning to go hiking anywhere other than a trail along the Gila or Mimbres rivers, it's a really good idea to pack water for both you and your dog. It is super dry here right now and chances are if you are away from the rivers you are going to need lots of water. If you are carrying your own gear and water, things can get pretty heavy having your dog's too. Luckily, there are lots of new hydration packs for dogs available now, ranging in price from under $20 to almost $130. On longer hikes requiring packed in water, you are going to want your canine buddy to carry its share of the load. If you calculate your hiking and water consumption accurately you will take your last sip just before you get back to your vehicle.

We interrupt our hiking for this brief product review

2011-01-07T12:39:00.001-07:00

Three Tollers, one living room, & one doggy door vs one iRoomba 530.

It’s Friday, and I don’t have a half-inch of debris on the living room floor. That’s a good thing. Usually, by this time of the week things are getting pretty deep in my living room, thanks to three Tollers and a doggy door. Lots of outdoor things get tracked in along with the inevitable dog hair which seems to be never ending though heavier at times during the semi-annual sheds. I really don’t have the time or energy to vacuum every day, which is really what my living room needs. I give things a good going over on the weekends, but once a week just isn’t enough.

The iRoomba 530 is my new electronic maid. I turn it loose every morning while I am making breakfast for myself and the dogs or in the evening while I’m making my dinner. It caroms around the room, sweeping up the worst of the day’s accumulation, unsupervised, and for the most part unimpeded. I like my little Roomba, especially since I got it for free.

So, what are the relevant details for the pet owner? Well, for a vacuum, it’s more of a sweeper. In fact, that’s the category I would put it into. If you are looking for the power of a full-size vacuum you are not going to get it here, but if you are able to live with something as powerful as a carpet sweeper, then you might like the Roomba. iRoomba does make a model for people with pets, but I have not tried that one, so I can’t comment on its efficiency.

Shortcomings of the iRoomba: One reason mine was free was because the running time of the machine was only 10 minutes or so, and it was more trouble than it was worth for the previous owner. I was able to fix this by resetting the battery. The rechargeable battery develops battery memory and like other appliances with rechargeable batteries, it needs to be completely drained once in a while, and if possible reset to get longer runtimes off of each charge. My reset battery is now lasting about forty-five minutes to an hour. I forsee more battery resets in the future. I could also purchase a new battery for about $70 or so.

Another problem, as a pet owner that I have is that after about 5-10 minutes or so of working my Roomba asks me to “Please remove and clean Roomba’s brushes”. This is due to dog hair gumming up the works. I have to do this about 3 or 4 times in an hour of cleaning, and that cleaning is happening on a floor that is now getting Roombaed daily and vacuumed with the big vacuum once a week. From what I’ve read this is not as big of a problem on the pet models, but the brushes still require cleaning and I’d just do it as a part of daily maintenance. This can be done whenever you empty the dust bin on the Roomba. I find that the brushes need cleaning more often than the dust bin needs emptying, but my life is just that kind of messy. The Roomba also takes longer to clean a room than a person pushing a normal vacuum would, but the whole point is that the person doesn't have to push the Roomba around the room. It's slowly working while the person is doing something else.

For what it is, I like my little Roomba, but I'm not giving up the Kirby.

Ft Bayard, Dragonfly Trail

2010-12-23T22:42:00.000-07:00

View Dragonfly Trail, Ft. Bayard, New Mexico in a larger map

One of the great things about the Silver City area is that there are so many really great trails. One gold mine of trail networks is Fort Bayard. Just off of Arenas Valley road there is a parking area and trailhead that is barely off of the blacktop. This is where the pack of Labs and Tollers met for a great short hike on Dragonfly trail to Twin Sisters Creek. This is a relatively high traffic trail area, so be mindful of horse and bike riders as well as other hikers you may run into.

We did meet some horseback riders at the trailhead, but they were loading up as we were getting ready to head out. Other than that no one else shared the trail with us.

Ceilidh had the best time on this hike. At ten, she is still quite active, but doesn't run around as much as the young dogs. This trail was easy enough that she was pulling at the leash as much as the younger dogs, and running around like a puppy at times.

This is a great place for late fall, winter, and spring hikes, but can be a little warm in the summer. The hike starts out in dry open juniper country and then works its way down to the creekbed where cottonwoods and water are a welcome relief for thirsty dogs. Another great thing about this area is that the trail itself doesn't seem to have that many stickers along it, though there are cockle burrs in areas where there is water.

Once the trail hits the creek bed if you turn left there is a great swimming hole not to far up the bed where even after nine weeks of no moisture of any kind there was enough depth for the Labs to do more than just wade.

Mater showed off his water entry skills by getting big air and jumping in over and over. Pete had a blast as well, moving rocks off the bottom, swimming and generally enjoying being wet, despite the harassment from Jed.

The Tollers enjoyed the water as well. Everyone took advantage of the chance to go for a swim. Even Sue, who normally doesn't like cold water, went for a swim around the hole. All of the Tollers screemed for sticks to be thrown into the water for fetching.

Along the way we ran across lots of elk tracks but no elk. The dogs did manage to flush a couple of cottontails, which made for a fun chase, though the retrievers weren't anywhere near fast enough to actually capture one.

Merry Christmas!

Coronado National Forest- Bootheel of New Mexico

2010-11-28T10:38:00.002-07:00

Bronco Sue, Ranger and I, along with a couple of friends and their dogs went on an excursion deep into the bootheel of New Mexico looking for quail. Sadly, the birds were in short supply, but the scenery was great and it was a nice day out with the dogs anyway. This part of the country is quite close to the border with Mexico and is frequented by smugglers. However, the only other folks we saw were in Border Patrol vehicles. A BP helicopter even swooped down behind the truck as we were driving to check out our license plate.

I'm proud to say that out of the four hunting dogs on the trip it was the Tollers who found the only covey, a small one of about twenty Gambles, on our trip. We did quite a bit of scrambling up and down canyons and through washes, but the birds were holding tight in the wind and we didn't get any.

The German Shorthair, did manage to point and then provoke a skunk, much to our dismay, but that's why we have a topper on the pickup.

The weather is great, wish I could be there

2010-09-20T20:08:00.000-06:00

Fall is my favorite time for hiking in the Gila. The temps are mostly tolerable and there's usually water available for the dogs. Unfortunately, this fall life has gotten in the way of my favorite hobby. I've only been able to get in one short dog hike so far this month.

It was a great walk down an arroyo across the highway from my housing area. All things yellow seem to be blooming at the moment, which doesn't really help the allergies of both myself and a couple of the dogs. Along with the flowers a variety of butterflies in all shapes and sizes could be found around just about every turn.

The dogs managed to flush three nice-sized coveys of quail on the hike. Hopefully, those guys are a good sign of things to come in November.

Caution Snakes are out and Active

2010-08-29T22:32:00.000-06:00

August/September hiking in the Gila is a time where dogs and people need to be wary of snakes. My dogs have all had snake aversion training, so they avoid them when possible, but this year seems to be a really good year for rattlers and that makes me cautious about hiking in unknown areas.

An acquaintance of mine in law enforcement says he is encountering many snakes on traffic stops along the highway. I've also heard reports from fellow hikers and from friends on ranches that they are seeing snakes out and about. With the abundant rains this year it seems that the snakes have had a good food supply and are flourishing. This time of year is a time for more snake activity anyway and with more snakes being more active caution and care should be taken to limit your dog's exposure to danger.

Dogs first encounter with hot, hot, hot sand

2010-06-26T22:18:00.003-06:00

I took the dogs and some kids up to the Turkey Creek area on the Gila River for a nice river hike on a hot weekend. We ran into an unexpected obstacle for the dogs, really hot powdery soft sand.

I parked the truck about 75 yards from the water's edge and we had to walk from the truck to the river before we could get going on our hike. When I first let the dogs out they ran of like crazy fools so I had to whistle them back in and leash them up until we got to the river.

Once on leash and walking at a slower pace the dogs started fussing and checking their feet like they were picking up stickers or getting bitten by ants. Turns out the sand was really, really hot on their pads. I hadn't even considered that happening. Luckily it was just a short walk and there was enough vegitation for the dogs to get some relief on the way. Once down at the river all was well. I'm going to file this experience away so that it doesn't happen to us again. Usually on our hikes, because of the time of day or year, we don't run into sand that is this hot.

First River Hike of the Season

2010-06-03T12:33:00.009-06:00

View Gila River Hike-Off Bill Evans Rd in a larger map

On Monday, the dogs and I joined our hiking buddy Bonnie and her Labs, Pete and Jed, for a casual hike down the Gila River. My dogs spend a lot of time on the Gila either hiking or hunting, but it had been a while since we had been out for some serious exercise. They were ready for some off-leash, out of the yard, recreation. There were many lizards to chase and the current in the river was still pretty strong, so water retrieves required a good bit of effort on the part of the dogs.

The dogs also had a blast chasing whiptail lizards. They never catch them, but sure do enjoy the chase. Ranger optimistically tried digging the little critters out.

All in all it was a great afternoon with enough exercise to wear the dogs out for a day or two.

If you are planning a hike in the area that involves any river crossings, at this point the current is still pretty strong. The water level has fallen from spring runoff highs, so navigation is not as difficult as it was in April, but still requires taking care and paying attention. The deepest channels we crossed on our hike were about 4 feet or so and not too wide. The smaller dogs had to really work hard crossing the river when we were going upstream, but all were able to make all crossings without any help.

The dogs were not intimidated by the current at all. All were willing to fetch as many times as sticks and other objects were thrown with no hesitation.

Walking the dog

2010-02-22T17:03:00.007-07:00

Last Saturday, thanks to the blogger Hare-Brained at Home I got to attend what I would describe as a field test for sight hounds. This was a hare hunt. I've been curious about sight hounds and their working abilities. You can read things online, but until you actually see them live and in person, you really can't fully appreciate what and undertaking the event is.

All I can say is, WOW! Those dogs are fast!

I figured that it would be similar to Retriever tests/trials in some way, the participants run their dogs and the gallery hangs behind watching, and a few folks help to facilitate the actual test/trial. Boy, was I wrong. In the world of sighthounds, the gallery are full participants in the event, acting as flushers for the game, and the game is where you find it, not purchased ahead of time from a game farm and/or planted. Everyone lines up equally distributed on either side of and behind the designated hunting group in a nice line and walks along until a there's a flush.

I was handed a dog to walk, and joined the group purposefully trudging back and forth and hither and yon quartering the desert for elusive jackrabbits. They're not as abundant as you'd think. Willow, the dog, and I must've put in what felt like at least a million miles, along with all of the other folks with their dogs. I know the next day I felt like I do after a long day in the backcountry with my hiking buddy and her Labs, scrambling across rocks or through the river. Based on my aches and pains, the relative flatness of the terrain was augmented by the unending distances it seemed that we walked.

Once a rabbit is flushed, someone yells "rabbit" and the huntmaster yells "Tallyho!" and the dogs designated as the current hunting pack are released to the chase. Again I say, WOW! They flatten out and quickly zig and zag and before you know it they're out of sight. My 135mm lens was far from adequate for the task of capturing the moment.

Saddlerock Canyon

2010-02-06T14:47:00.004-07:00

Saddlerock Hike

Last Sunday, we loaded up the dogs and went out for a jaunt off of Saddlerock Canyon road. Most of the hiking was spent just meandering around off the beaten trail. It was great to get out, the weather was great and a good time was had by all.

Hiking & Hero dog updates

2010-01-04T17:06:00.006-07:00

After two weeks of walking the woods every other day it's time for a long delayed update. The Gila is beautiful right now. Depending upon whether you are on a north or south facing slope you are either trudging through some long awaited snow or on nice not quite dry trails.

The snow I've seen hasn't been deep enough to really impede progress, but did get me thinking about the possibility of getting out the X-Country skis and looking for some deeper areas.

On the south facing trails it's been temperate and lovely hiking weather. Layers work well and it's been comfortable for some nice long day hikes. There are still patches of snow for dogs to enjoy a cooling roll after a nice run. I noticed tents in spots so those who don't mind the colder nights are venturing out to enjoy a refreshing tent camping experience

I've also seen plenty of camping trailers, a sign that the current bow season for deer is ongoing and it's wise to have dogs clearly ID'd with some sort of blaze orange markers.

Sunday, January 3rd, we ventured up to the Gila Cliff Dwellings and while it was uncomfortably, face and finger freezing cold along the canyon floor in the morning, the temps at the dwellings themselves were wonderful, and by the time we got back down to the canyon floor it had warmed up a bit. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they had a Junior Ranger program with a nice activity book to help focus youngsters along the hike. It kept my goal oriented 8-year-old hiking buddy nicely occupied and attentive all along the way. (Note, dogs are not allowed on the Cliff Dweller trail itself which also costs $3 for adults to explore. There are some kennels at the contact station where you can leave your dog at no charge for the hour or so it takes to explore the cliff dwellings and there are other trails in the area where your dog is welcome.)

I wanted to update folks on Zulu the hero dog. She has still not been found. Searchers need to be mindful of private property and also should know that area residents are also keeping an eye out for her, so there is no need to knock on doors asking if folks have seen the dog. From what the paper is reporting it sounds like if locals see the dog they know who to contact. Also, folks should be respectful of private property while out on mercy missions.

From personal experience, I can tell you that local folks around here do go the extra mile to help reunite lost dogs with their owners.

Follow the Buddy System

2009-12-06T23:29:00.003-07:00

On Friday, after six days of being missing in sub freezing weather in the Gila National Forest, 67-year-old El Pasoan, Robert Sumrall was found barely conscious, but alive, thanks to the help of Zulu, his lab mix dog and hiking buddy. When found, Zulu was lying on top of Sumrall's body. I'm sure that without the extra body heat from the dog Sumrall would now be dead.

Zulu, who ran off when rescuers approached Sumrall, is still missing and is now the new focus of search and rescue teams. Hopefully she will be found alive and well soon.

All of this brings to mind that old rule about the buddy system. I often hike solo with just my dogs for company, but I never hike solo without my dogs. Do the dogs qualify under the buddy system rule, I wonder, or should I be rounding up human friends to come along on my jaunts? Probably a little of both. Recent lost hiker stories have gotten me thinking about how safe I am in the woods. My self-assessment has turned up some risky behavior.

I often hike with just the dogs for company. I also often go for hikes without letting anyone know where I'm headed or that I'm headed out at all. Maybe it's time for a change.

Barn Owl-Shot of the hike

2009-08-06T08:08:00.002-06:00

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

2009-07-30T10:49:00.004-06:00

View Larger Map

Boston Hill is a unique place. It seems vast even though it is 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

2009-06-18T23:00:00.004-06:00

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

2009-06-09T23:04:00.006-06:00

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

2009-03-19T16:58:00.009-06:00

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

2009-03-17T05:36:00.003-06:00

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.

View Larger Map

The Remnants of Deer Season

2009-02-15T22:27:00.006-07:00

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.

View from the Trail

2009-02-01T09:01:00.006-07:00

Honey's second off-leash hike on the CD Trail

2008-12-31T17:23:00.002-07:00

My new camera arrived today, so we headed back out to yesterday's hiking spot for some pictures. Honey again did well off-leash. I was even able to whistle her in from chasing a jack rabbit. As you can see she had a blast.

Honey's first off-leash hike

2008-12-30T17:42:00.003-07:00

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Honey has been here for almost two months now. Today, I decided it was time to see exactly how bad she would be off-leash on a hike. I had been warned not to let her off leash because she would bolt and wouldn't come back. I've been working on recalls with her in the yard, in the house and on a 40 ft. long line on hikes and she'd been doing pretty well. With the pack along, and the relative success I had observed on the long line, I decided the only way to truly test her progress was to unsnap the lead.

We hit what I call the Lucky Irishman section of the CD trail here in NM. Its a short section just south of Jack's peak that parallels NM 90 along the SE face of the Big Burro mtns. It's a pretty easy section that goes up and down arroyos and along some interesting terrain with lots of neat rock formations and a variety of vegetation. The terrain isn't too strenuous and the trails have recently been revamped by summer work crews.

Honey did really well! She ranged out pretty far, but she also checked in regularly and came in when I called her. I was happy with that. She stayed close to the pack, if not exactly right in the middle of them. She ran and explored and played, but she also made sure that she knew where I was.

I play hide and seek with my guys on hikes to encourage them to keep an eye on me. If they get too far out of sight, I look for a good hiding spot and wait for them to find me. Usually Ceilidh always finds me first, because she's my tracking dog and she also tends to stay a lot closer to me than the younger dogs. This was still the case on this trip. Ceilidh found me first, then Ranger, then Honey and last of all Bronco Sue. I was happy with the result. I didn't have to go searching for any dogs and at the end of the hike I didn't have to chase anyone. I tolerate quite a bit of ranging and independence with my dogs. The distances I let them range might make others a little nervous.

"Sport" is Back!

2008-12-25T20:55:00.003-07:00

No pictures this time, just an expression of my joy at finally getting "Sport" AKA the '93 Dakota 4x4 back. I'd loaned it to someone in need, and finally it has come back to the nest. In celebration of the event I took it in for new shocks and an alignment. Now to start exploring the back roads with the dogs again. There are only so many trails you can get to in a Scion xB.

South Side of Jack's Peak trail

2008-11-30T13:15:00.008-07:00

It was a great day for a hike in the sun today, so I took the pack to the south side of the Jack's peak section of the CD trail.

We do this section quite a bit in the fall/winter because it gets quite a bit of sun and is nice and warm in the cooler months.
The rocks soak up the heat from the sun and radiate warmth which feels great on a cool day.

In the spring it's too windy and in the summer it's too hot. Right now, it's just right. The dogs had a great run. Honey, the rescue continues to learn about coming when called. She's still not ready to run loose with the pack, but she's getting better about paying attention, listening and staying with the group.

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Honey's first hike on the CD Trail

2008-11-23T15:22:00.004-07:00

Today, I took the gang, along with our new foster dog Honey, for a hike along the Deadman's Canyon section of the Continental Divide trail. I'd been warned not to allow Honey off leash in an unfenced area, so she got to run around on a 40 ft. purple tracking line from Palomine Lines.

She had a blast, but I can see why I was told not to let her off leash. I think she could’ve easily run off into the wilderness if I’d let her go. She used every foot of the line and was asking for more. She probably would’ve stayed with the pack, but I wasn’t in the mood to spend half the day trying to find her if she didn’t, so we played better safe than sorry.

The rest of the pack ran loose and enjoyed being in the woods once again, after quite a long absence. We came back with coats full of seeds and lungs full of fresh air.

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Dogs for Ducks

2008-10-29T18:52:00.003-06:00

Here's a nice article in Field and Stream about several dog breeds, including my favorite, that are good for hunting ducks.

What we saw on our trek Sunday

2008-10-28T08:34:00.004-06:00

We ran into this little guy while out on the Gila river Sunday morning. As you can see by the pictures Sue did not listen when told to "leave it" and once again had to learn the hard way. Luckily, there was no actual dog/bobcat contact.

Bobcat

The Power of a Thank You

2008-10-20T12:22:00.003-06:00

I've been thinking a lot about the fact that I got my dog back and about how it seems as though in today's world fewer and fewer people voluntarily go out of their way to be helpful to others. I was so thankful that the rancher chose to save, rather than shoot my dog, that I made sure that I sent him a thank you card from both me and the dog. (corny I know, but I wanted him to know a little about the critter he rescued, and it comes better in "her" voice).

That got me thinking about thank yous in general. How often do we thank those who make our days work? Do we mostly just expect that they will do what they do without any verbal acknowledgment? Even if someone gets paid for what they do, a thank you is a way that a person can express their appreciation and acknowledgment of a job well done. Common courtesy seems to have gone by the wayside in the 21st century. We seem to go about demanding rather than asking these days. Life in general seems to be more confrontational than conciliatory.

I've noticed even my own behavior is affected by thank yous. I find myself volunteering less and less in areas where gratitude is given infrequently, if at all. Instead, I focus my volunteer efforts in areas where I can tangibly feel the appreciation of others. Knowing this about myself, I am trying to show appreciation for the work of everyone I encounter in my daily life; the grocery store clerk, the mailman, the secretaries and janitors at work, my neighbors, my family. These are folks who often see the ugly side of people and noticing their efforts on my behalf is the least I can do.

One helpful group who often gets overlooked is young people. It's amazing how much energy they can focus into a project for the simple reward of a thank you. I recently wrote a letter of appreciation to a school official in California as an absence excuse for a 15-year-old who worked his butt off for me for two days at a dog event. We ran his legs off, going from here to there, helping in all sorts of areas. He did it all with cheerfulness and patience, never losing the smile on his face or his sense of humor. He sold raffle tickets, and solved technical problems. He hauled stuff around for others and generally made himself useful.

The funny thing is he's not unique. Most teens will work like this if you just ask them politely for their assistance, rather than commanding them rudely. Just the acknowledgment that they have something positive to offer can motivate most teens to move mountains. I know that around my area teen work crews are responsible for the maintenance of many of the trails I enjoy on the weekends. They do some really great work!

When looking for alternative energy sources lets not forget the power of a thank you or the untapped power of teenagers.

Dove Season Opener a Mixed Bag

2008-09-08T13:27:00.008-06:00

The first day of dove season was a much anticipated event which ended up being a mixed bag of excitement, joy, guilt and fear. I like to use dove season as a tune up for ducks. It sharpens my aim and gets the dogs out and working.

The dove migration hasn't quite gotten into full swing yet, so the hunting was relatively light. Our spot was on state land, just outside of some private property with a nice stock pond. It was a perfect spot for the birds to come into in the evening. The birds were coming in gradually as singles, or pairs every fifteen minutes or so.

The dogs were rusty from the long spring and summer of not hunting, but I was generally happy with their work for the first hunt of the season. I had taken all three dogs. Ceilidh had indicated that she might be overcoming some of her fear issues. If only I could hunt birds using a bow or other silent method, she's the dog that is both my birdiest and my most biddable. It really breaks my heart not to be able to use her in the field. I was hoping that we were getting beyond her issues.

She worked well initially, even helping to motivate Ranger to bring the birds to hand. While the hunting was light, Ceilidh was fine. She gave no indication of having any problems, and I was really hopeful that we were actually getting somewhere with her. I was hoping that just being in the environment of hunting and being able to actually fetch birds might help her to get over her fear. This appeared to be the case until the birds really started coming in.

As dusk started falling, the rate of birds flying by, along with the number of birds in each group, increased. My hunting partner and I got wrapped up in shooting at birds and working dogs, and lost track of the one dog we needed to keep an eye on, Ceilidh. When the dust finally settled and we were assessing the day's results, we noticed that instead of three little red retrievers, we could only locate two. Ceilidh had bolted.

We spent the next two hours stumbling around in the dark, calling and whistling, with no luck. The next day, we took shifts searching the area. My hunting buddy's wife and a friend went down in the afternoon, looking but with no success. I went back in the evening and walked fence lines and arroyos for two hours with no luck.

Wednesday morning, I got a call from the High Desert Humane Society asking if I was missing a dog. Much to my relief, the rancher who owned the land by where we were hunting had found Ceilidh, safe and sound, sometime in between our searching shifts. He had taken her home and had called in after checking her tags. Bless Him!!!

4th of July in the Burro Mtns.

2008-07-05T12:00:00.005-06:00

Fourth of July 07

The dogs had a full 4th. They started with a dip in the kiddie pool in the yard and then off to our favorite close hiking spot in the Burro mountains. It's a little forest road that winds around just below the continental divide trail. I often take them to this spot because my car can easily get there and frankly, it's a pretty easy terrain for hiking with usually no one else around.

The monsoons have finally started here and now there are nice little mud puddles for soaking in when the dogs get hot. There are lots of tall pines in this area and we've run into all sorts of critters here as well. The dogs and I had a great time on our morning jaunt before coming home for the usual illegal fireworks displays in the evening.

The things you find on a hike

2008-06-22T20:45:00.003-06:00

Yesterday, I took the dogs for a short hike behind our housing area. We often do this little two mile loop and often we find interesting things on our treks. This time, we found what looked like what was left of a wild turkey carcass and a couple of coveys of quail. We were down to the last 1/2 mile of the hike when we ran across a Husky on the trail.

I saw her before the dogs did and figured that the owner was somewhere near. I leashed my guys up and prepared to go on with the end of the walk. But, there was no one anywhere about. The dog was obviously well fed and had recently been brushed, so I figured she was being a typical Husky and had gotten out and gone for a walk on her own. I was able to get all three Tollers connected to one Flexi-lead and used Ceilidh's leash on the very thirsty Husky. Luckily she had tags on with her phone number and I was able to quickly get her back to her relieved owner. I'm always glad when there's a happy ending.

Mandatory Spay Neuter Essay

2008-04-16T14:36:00.002-06:00

This is a great essay on the UKC site about why we need to fight mandatory spay/neuter law.

Hell's Half Acre Hike

2008-03-27T10:57:00.015-06:00

Hell’s Half Acre Hike
This hike has to be one of the most spectacular day hikes I've ever done. There were eight people and six dogs out for this trek and all had a great experience. Water was scarce on the trail, so it had to be hauled in for both humans and canines. The weather was relatively cool, so for me a two liter hydration bladder kept both me and my dog well watered. At higher temperatures I think I would bring at least twice that amount.

Great Hike off of C-Bar Ranch road

2008-02-21T19:16:00.003-07:00

Hiking/Climbing Dogs
We got together with our Lab friends Pete and Jed and their owner Bonnie for some exploring NE of C-Bar Ranch Road. It was a great hike with lots of easy rock climbing and great sights for everyone. A particularly cool part of this hike was the pictographs we saw on the rocks.

Ranger's first live shot water retrieve

2007-09-02T22:16:00.001-06:00

Gomez Peak Trail systems

2007-07-04T10:45:00.000-06:00

This was a great hike just outside of Silver City in the Gila National Forest. Ranger and I went out early on the 4th of July for some solo hiking time. I was surprised by the quality of trails. There is an extensive trail system connected to the Gomez Peak and Little Walnut Picnic areas. There are a couple of loops and the trails also connect with the Continental Divide Trail.

A couple of warnings for dog folks. These trails get pretty heavy usage and are close to well used picnic areas, so if you don't have a really reliable recall it's probably best to keep your dog on lead. Since Ranger is still quite the wild child he was on leash for this one. Another caveat, there's not much in the way of water to be found in this area, at least in the summer anyway, so bring plenty for you and your dog.

Water and leashes brings up the highlight of our hike. I had stopped to give Ranger a drink and was just putting the water and his bowl back in my backpack when I heard a rustling in the woods off to our left. All of a sudden, a young red fox burst out of the underbrush and stopped in shock not six feet in front of us on the trail. His expression was priceless. It seemed to say, "who the heck are you guys?!"

Of course, Ranger immediately started screaming and struggling to start the chase. With the screaming, the fox ran off into the forest. I was sure glad that I had the dog on leash, but also was kicking myself for not having the camera with me on this hike.

Dutch Salmon's awesome spay/neuter column

2007-03-02T09:10:00.001-07:00

Here are some excellent arguments against manditory spay/neuter legislation. While well meaning, basically bills of this type are poorly thought out, and miss the mark on solving the problem they are addressing. In my opinion politicians grab on to these thinking they are a good PR ploy without understanding the underlying issues at hand. Fellow Grant countian Dutch Salmon wrote an excellent column about this issue from the perspective of owners/breeders of hunting and working dogs. Much thanks to Stephen Bodio for posting it on his blog.

TRAPPED!

2006-12-25T20:48:00.000-07:00

A nice Christmas day hike in the Burro Mountains was ruined for us when Ranger got himself caught in a leg-hold trap just down the road from where this photo was taken.

We were hiking along our favorite road near the Continental Divide Trail. The dogs were running scent trails back and forth across the road, as they usually do, while I was making my way along the road. All of a sudden from off to the right I heard a snap, like a branch breaking or an animal crashing through the brush and then one of the dogs began screaming as if they were in extreme pain. I had seen a herd of javelina in the area just two days earlier, so my first thought was "Oh no, they ran into the javelina!" I couldn't tell by the sounds whether the dog in trouble was Ranger or Sue, but I knew that one of them was in a bad situation.

I raced towards the sound and found Ranger hopping around and digging at the ground about 15 yards from the road, behind a fallen log. My next thought was "I hope that's not a badger", but since I've never seen any sign of badger in this area and I wasn't hearing any noise other than my dog screaming, I soon realized that wasn't the case. As I got closer, I discovered what the issue was. Ranger had a leg-hold trap attached to his left front foot.

The adrenaline helped me to have the strength to remove the trap from his foot. I did get bitten in the process, but since he was in pain, I didn't mind the nip. As soon as he was released, Ranger raced off seemingly unharmed. Upon further inspection later I determined that the trap had hit his head first and then ended up on his foot. He received cuts above his left eye and along the left side of his muzzle. Needless to say, I was not happy and I will be choosing my hiking areas a little more carefully until trapping season is over.

Monsoon season in the Burro Mountains

2006-08-19T19:26:00.000-06:00

by snplmcdo

Today, my guys and I went on a short hike in the Burros with our hiking buds, Pete, Jed and their owner Bonnie. After two weeks of being cooped up in the house everyone was ready to hit the trail. The dogs loved wallowing in mud puddles and chasing after rabbits and lizards. Everyone got to run off a good bit of energy.

It's been raining here for about a month now and the wildflowers are blooming everywhere.

by snplmcdo

Hillsboro Peak Trail-

2005-10-30T21:11:00.000-07:00

Hillsboro Peak sits in the Black Range overlooking most of SW New Mexico. The trailhead is relatively easy to get to as it's located adjacent to the Emory Pass overlook parking area on NM highway 152. Travellers often stop here to enjoy the view and make use of the outhouse without ever venturing off the trail. This is a pretty high elevation trail, starting at about 8,000 feet and gradually climbing to over 10,000 feet.

There's not a lot of water to be found on this trail so we were hauling plenty of water for dogs and humans on this hike. Jed got to test out his doggy back pack and carried a couple of litres of water for his use, while the humans hauled in lots of water for all of the other dogs and more for Jed. The back pack didn't seem to slow Jed down any as he was off exploring much of the time and had to be whistled in from time to time so that he didn't end up in Texas or Mexico before the hike ended.

By far the best time to do this hike is late fall. The temperatures are quite tolerable and with fall colors on display the views are spectacular in every direction. The reds and yellows really highlighted the rich red coats of my girls.

Poking around "The Lucky Irishman" with Pete and Jed

2005-09-03T20:02:00.000-06:00

The "Lucky Irishman" mine site is just a short 15 minute drive from our house. It's a wonderful abandoned mine workings not too far from the Continental Divide. The scenery is grand and there are interesting rocks galore. From the highway it looks like a big scar in the side of a hill, but up close it's a fascinating geological wonderland.

My hiking buddy, Bonnie, is a geologist and she was in heaven. We followed a classic fault line all along a quartz wall and saw all kinds of different rocks and cacti. Pete, Jed and Ceilidh all had a great time exploring along with their humans, as well as chasing rabbits and lizards.

It was a really nice day for hiking, cool and cloudy, but dry, with a slight breeze. The dogs all had a blast, and the cherry on their day was when, on the way down, they discovered a small cave filled with about 18 inches of black, stagnant, stinky water. They delighted in romping through the cave and then racing around the humans to share the joy. Baths for all when we got back.

Doggy Hike along Meadow Creek Trail

2005-08-21T19:47:00.000-06:00

Today's hike took us along the Meadow Creek trail along with a motley crew of beasts and their owners from the Wilderness Kennel Club. Our Lab buddies Pete and Jed were there along with a nice shepard/hound cross of some sort, a Schipperke and a German Shepard. The trail was pretty nice but a continual downhill trudge. The dogs enjoyed running up and down hillsides and chasing the odd rabbit. The Schipperke didn't seem to have any trouble keeping pace with the big guys and was quite entertaining.

Ceilidh and the GSD don't get along very well so she stayed pretty close for the first part of our hike. It was pretty stressful for both of us trying to keep an eye out to avoid trouble. About an hour in we turned and headed back toward the trailhead while the others forged on. On the way back we were able to relax and enjoy the scenery, while also dodging mountain bikers left and right. We had unknowingly decided to hike right on part of the course for the Signal Peak Challenge. Since the section of the course we were travelling on was an uphill battle for the bikes, it wasn't too hard for us to get out of their way in time. I was very pleased with the way Ceilidh responded to hand signals and direction indications off-lead. Our clicker agility work is starting to pay off in many other areas. She's really turning into a finely tuned young lady.

Hiking the Middle Box with Pete and Jed

2005-08-01T20:29:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, we headed out early for a hike along the Middle Box Canyon of the Gila River in Grant, County, New Mexico. We had done this hike about a month previously in gorgeous weather and crystal clear water. I had gotten some great pictures of my girls against the scenic river canyon terrain. Things had changed drastically for this hike. For one thing, monsoon season has finally started and the crystal clear water of a month ago has been replaced by cappuccino-brown water swollen by the heavy rainfall on Saturday.
The second change was to our hiking pack dynamic. My hiking buddy, Bonnie, has rescued a young lab named Jed. He's about four inches taller than her other rescue Lab, Pete, who is our usual hiking companion.

Jed had been rescued literally an hour before he was to be euthanized by Lab Rescue of Southern New Mexico. He had been living on the economy for quite some time before he was picked up as a stray near Clovis, New Mexico. He was pretty skinny from his adventures, but is starting to put on a little weight. The estimate was that he was about a year old. Despite his size he was just a huge gangly teenager. He went galumphing around clumsily, but really took a shine to the Tollers. Even Ceilidh, the fun police, deigned to play with him a little bit.

Jed had only been to the river one time before, and wasn't yet comfortable with swimming or staying with the group off leash. We were planning to work on his hiking manners and reliable recalls while also bolstering his water confidence. He'd only been at Bonnie's for about a week so we weren't sure if we would be able to let him off leash, but we were hoping that his constant need for human attention would translate into no need for the leash. After a shakey start we were relieved to find that of all of the dogs, Jed stayed closest to us. He also immediately seemed to form an attachment to both of my girls.

The Toller girls tolerated Jed pretty well. I had some concerns about what Ceilidh's reaction to Jed would be, but she seemed to sense that he was just a big doofus and after an early lesson in trail manners in which he was oh so contrite, she even offered to play a little with him. Sue enjoyed romping with Jed and running back and forth along the trail at top speed. This took the pressure off the "adult" dogs, Ceilidh and Pete, who could just enjoy the river without having to deal with the youngsters.

Jed eventually figured out that swimming wasn't so bad. After awhile he appointed himself Toller lifeguard. Every time my girls got into swimming depth water, Jed would charge in and try to "save' them by grabbing them by the neck to pull them to safety. In the process there were quite a few dunkings as Jed is about three times as big as my girls. I was so proud of Ceilidh for her high tolerance of this behavior. She mostly just tried to dodge away from Jed in the water, but she did shoot me some "Can't you keep this idiot from trying to drown me?" looks. Eventually, even Sue got fed up with being saved so she invented the "Let's ditch Jed" game, where she would lure him into chasing her and then would scramble into some tight spot where Jed couldn't go.

We ran into two very healthy coyotes on our hike but managed to distract the dogs before they noticed them. The coyotes managed to vacate the area pretty quickly, so we didn’t have any incidents. By the end of the hike Jed was coming reliably to my "come check in" whistle and he was very comfortable with the water, just not obsessed with it like Ceilidh or Pete.