As you likely know, this is the time of year for touring southeastern Arizona. The nights are chilly, just right for sleeping, and the days are perfect for hiking. I found the best campsite near Cochise Stronghold and was pleased to hand it off to a couple from Alaska.
My new used camera from Ebay was defective so all I have are navel gazings. And we all know how interesting they are.
Still, for the record, the weather is fine, the gin is slo. Now if only some fast women would show up....or maybe just one, even?
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Whole Lotta Poopin' Goin' On
UPDATE 3/4/15: Mary Katherine Ray of Trapfree New Mexico thinks the berry-laden scats are from coyotes. She said coyotes eat a lot of juniper berries in the winter. Ms. Ray is New Mexico's leading advocate for banning traps on public lands. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help support her efforts.
It was about 20 miles south of Silver City, New Mexico on highway 90 that I chanced upon the Continental Divide Trail trailhead. I stopped at the part in the Burro Mountains in the Carson National Forest between Silver City and Lordsburg. The small blue symbol in the lower right of the image below is the "brand."
It was heavily littered with scats. I'm not an authority, but judging from the formative remains, I'm surmisaling they're bear...small bear, but bear nonetheless.
And while I'm demonstrating the manly quality of conjecture, I'll further postulate that this one (below) is cat.
I like to think the frequency was the animals' way of teasing the hikers. It certainly put me on alert.
And it went on for over half a mile. As Jerry Lee Lewis was wont to say, "A whole lotta poopin' goin' on!"
It was about 20 miles south of Silver City, New Mexico on highway 90 that I chanced upon the Continental Divide Trail trailhead. I stopped at the part in the Burro Mountains in the Carson National Forest between Silver City and Lordsburg. The small blue symbol in the lower right of the image below is the "brand."
It was heavily littered with scats. I'm not an authority, but judging from the formative remains, I'm surmisaling they're bear...small bear, but bear nonetheless.
And while I'm demonstrating the manly quality of conjecture, I'll further postulate that this one (below) is cat.
I like to think the frequency was the animals' way of teasing the hikers. It certainly put me on alert.
And it went on for over half a mile. As Jerry Lee Lewis was wont to say, "A whole lotta poopin' goin' on!"
Friday, February 20, 2015
Spring on the Rio Grande
I surmise this road's only been here a couple of decades. There're dead trees on the sides of the hills that look as if they may have been drowned; and what's here looks less than twenty years old.
The hill I took the picture from looks like a sand bar left over from before the day when El Paso won their water suit. It was then that Elephant Butte Lake went from delusions-of-grandeur to just another southwestern puddle. A BIG plus was most of the power-boaters went away.
 |
| The Shy Bees |
There's a whisper of green that disappears if you look straight at it, but it was the droning of the bees swarming o'er the tender buds proved it. And the coyotes were feelin' so fine they sang again at noon. It's Spring!!
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Backpack on Wheels
I enjoyed hitch-hiking and backpacking in my youth but was, on occasion, stymied by distances into the wilds where water was scarce.
By retirement, the solution had appeared...a backpack on wheels. And although my choice is more a matter of aesthetic, when I read this article I had to nod in agreement.
Eggbert!
1999 Chevrolet Metro 3 cylinder five-speed. 217,256 miles. With street tires mileage varied from 43.7 - 51.2 mpg depending on load and prevailing winds. Now, at max GVW and with snow tires (much better traction) he gets a rock-solid 40.0.
Lately, I've gotten even MORE a.r. (anal retentive) and began using the Ferrari method for warmup: let run for one minute; switch off for one minute then idle to operating temp. His latest set of shoes, Cooper Weathermaster ST/2, have been the best so far.
Demise: On or around May 2, 2016 I made my first mistake in over 45 years when I turned in front of an oncoming Dodge RAM 2500. We were in a residential neighborhood going slow so no one was hurt, but Eggbert's right side was crushed beyond repair. After driving him back to Albuquerque, I donated him to the Make a Wish Foundation. The proceeds of his sale will benefit the New Mexico Chapter.
By retirement, the solution had appeared...a backpack on wheels. And although my choice is more a matter of aesthetic, when I read this article I had to nod in agreement.
Eggbert!
 |
| Outstanding in His Field!! |
1999 Chevrolet Metro 3 cylinder five-speed. 217,256 miles. With street tires mileage varied from 43.7 - 51.2 mpg depending on load and prevailing winds. Now, at max GVW and with snow tires (much better traction) he gets a rock-solid 40.0.
Lately, I've gotten even MORE a.r. (anal retentive) and began using the Ferrari method for warmup: let run for one minute; switch off for one minute then idle to operating temp. His latest set of shoes, Cooper Weathermaster ST/2, have been the best so far.
Demise: On or around May 2, 2016 I made my first mistake in over 45 years when I turned in front of an oncoming Dodge RAM 2500. We were in a residential neighborhood going slow so no one was hurt, but Eggbert's right side was crushed beyond repair. After driving him back to Albuquerque, I donated him to the Make a Wish Foundation. The proceeds of his sale will benefit the New Mexico Chapter.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Coyote Killing Contests - New Mexico Leads the Nation
FINALLY!!! New Mexico Senator Mark Moores & Representative Jeff Steinborn introduced a bill to outlaw coyote killing contests (more info here). The Southwest Environmental Center (SWEC) in Las Cruces, New Mexico sent a notice prompting the following email to my contacts...
On Sat, Jan 31, 2015 at 1:55 PM, Wahnfried wrote:
One of the folks I sent the above to wrote back...
If I'm gonna kill something, it'll be something that is causing harm to someone else in the way of life threatening shit... I have killed animals, but it ain't my deal. If something was endangering someone or something I would.
My father is the "great white hunter". He, in fact, roped a mountain lion and brought it in to town alive to collect on bets, and then killed it for the bounty. I thought it was a big kitty and wanted to pet it.
This is not the same one. There were A LOT of them. Well, it IS my dad. There is only ONE of HIM.
DECADES LATER:
Yeah, that's me and dad with a stinky dead lion.
I (MFH) hadn't thought about this for many years, but while looking at the above picture I recognized his grin from my teen years in the South. It was a common sight on (white) peoples' faces as they egged on the police in the race-riots of the '60s. They thought the police were performing a public service.
Update 6:29 p.m. 2/4/15
I pulled this excerpt from an online post about recent developments. “These coyote-calling contests are a management tool,” said Phil Bidegain, a rancher from eastern New Mexico. “I think God did give us dominion over the animals.”
It's not clear if Rancher Bidegain advocates killing coyotes or just calling them. But I, Wahnfried der Nomad, disagree with him. And while I respect his right to his opinion, be it calling or killing, it's time we stopped "letting" God take the responsibility for behavior that the majority of mere mortals deems no longer acceptable.
Remember Horton & the Who's!!
Trap Free New Mexico works to enact legislation banning trapping on public lands. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution in support of their efforts.
On Sat, Jan 31, 2015 at 1:55 PM, Wahnfried wrote:
My apologies to any of you who may be annoyed by yet another societal entreaty.
Killing contests, contrary to what one might think, have little impact on coyote populations. They ARE however, an obscenity and affront to human dignity. Do you know anyone who would stand and proudly announce their participation in this activity? And the days when wanton killing in the name of sport can be tacitly condoned by the state are long past.
As you probably know, I've spent much of the last five years travelling throughout the west. It isn't a new activity and in the '80s and early '90s it was common to hear coyotes, especially in the single-digit hours before dawn and again around sunset. Now however, it's a rare treat. Most of the blame can be laid on cattle ranchers and the focused removal of any animal that competes with cattle forage including the billions of mice that are the mainstay of a coyote's diet.The predations of cattle ranching are far removed from coyote and other wildlife-killing contests, but the contests are often "sold" as a nuisance abatement and public service...for ranchers. Regardless of who or what's to blame for the dawn and dusk silences, this legislation is a no-brainer. And, contrary to the implications in the paragraph that begins "If you live in New Mexico....." I think hearing from you out-of-staters might give them REAL pause for thought. After all, tourists are a large part of our economy. That said, I find it incredible that we're a leader in contests to kill what is probably our most beloved icon.Happy New Year!!MFH
One of the folks I sent the above to wrote back...
If I'm gonna kill something, it'll be something that is causing harm to someone else in the way of life threatening shit... I have killed animals, but it ain't my deal. If something was endangering someone or something I would.
My father is the "great white hunter". He, in fact, roped a mountain lion and brought it in to town alive to collect on bets, and then killed it for the bounty. I thought it was a big kitty and wanted to pet it.
This is not the same one. There were A LOT of them. Well, it IS my dad. There is only ONE of HIM.
DECADES LATER:
Yeah, that's me and dad with a stinky dead lion.
I (MFH) hadn't thought about this for many years, but while looking at the above picture I recognized his grin from my teen years in the South. It was a common sight on (white) peoples' faces as they egged on the police in the race-riots of the '60s. They thought the police were performing a public service.
Update 6:29 p.m. 2/4/15
I pulled this excerpt from an online post about recent developments. “These coyote-calling contests are a management tool,” said Phil Bidegain, a rancher from eastern New Mexico. “I think God did give us dominion over the animals.”
It's not clear if Rancher Bidegain advocates killing coyotes or just calling them. But I, Wahnfried der Nomad, disagree with him. And while I respect his right to his opinion, be it calling or killing, it's time we stopped "letting" God take the responsibility for behavior that the majority of mere mortals deems no longer acceptable.
Remember Horton & the Who's!!
Trap Free New Mexico works to enact legislation banning trapping on public lands. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution in support of their efforts.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Sounds of the City - ABQ
Ah, there's nothing like a barking dawg tuh send yuh scrambling tuh Pandora. One of my favorite stayshunz is: Barkin' Mad Radio.
Seven days a week the dog at 10005 Los Arboles Ave NE barks from 8:15 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Albuquerque's noise ordnance requires complainants to identify themselves. The info is available to the dogs' owners who, although they couldn't have cared LESS about their neighbors BEFORE, are amazingly swift at post-complaint "discovery."
Their vengeance is swift too. Over-the-years I've admired their stealth: flattened tires, keying (an awl-time fav) and dents that mysteriously appear in otherwise vacant parking lots. And over-the-years I've grown increasingly curious about who decided the City & State should aid-and-abet dog owners' criminal actions.
On January 17, 2015 I wrote all the city councilors asking why city policy requires disclosure. Now, after more than a week only one, Trudy Jones, has responded.
Below is my email to the Councilors:
From: mfh
Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2015 12:28 PM
To: Sanchez, Ken; Benton, Isaac; Pena, Klarissa J.; Winter, Brad D.; Lewis, Dan P.; Garduno, Rey; Gibson, Diane G.; Jones, Trudy; Harris, Don
Subject: Barking Dogs
Dear Councilors:
I'm writing to ask about the history of the noise ordnance pertaining to barking dogs. Can you tell me how it evolved, especially the requirement that complainants identify themselves?
In an earlier effort toward enlightenment, I spoke to an Enforcement Officer. He said disclosure was required in case the complaint went to court. I can understand that at some time disclosure might be necessary, but his answer does not satisfy the question of why it is required to file a complaint. Nor does it address the begged question of why the complainant's name is available to the dog owner.
I look forward to a better understanding.
Sincerely,
MFH
Here is the one reply (with my name misspelled)....
To: mfh - Jan 21 at 1:11 PM
CC : Jones, Trudy
Hello Mr. Hermann, please see the email below from the Animal Welfare Department. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Aziza Chavez
Policy Analyst-Councilor Trudy Jones
Albuquerque City Council District 8
Phone: (505)768-3106
Email: azizachavez@cabq.gov
www.cabq.gov/council/councilors/district-8
From: Ludwick, James W.
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2015 12:05 PM
To: Chavez, Aziza
Cc: Bruin, Barbara
Subject: Barking Dogs
We encourage mediation as a first step toward dealing with a barking dog problem. Obviously, mediation is out of the question if the person making the complaint is unwilling to come forward.
Barking dog cases can be difficult to prosecute. It is not unusual for a case to be dropped because an officer has not personally heard the dog barking. We need cooperation in these cases right from the beginning, and normally we do not check on anonymous complaints about barking dogs.
As I said yesterday when we discussed this by telephone, nearly all of our records are open to public inspection and we are not allowed to withhold them from people who want to see them. This is a matter of state law. Our department receives many requests from dog owners who want to review complaints about their barking dogs. We provide copies of those records in accordance with New Mexico law and city government policies. END OF MSG
I know I'm not alone in this. In fact, I've heard complaints from people throughout the West. After all the years of barking you'd think our politicians would've come up with a better response than the bureaucratic one above. I mean, we do Rocket Science in this town...it's not as if there's a lack of brains.
Perhaps they, like the dog owners, just don't hear it.
You can find out who your District Rep is here. Or you could, like me, figure it's something they ALL should be interested in and email your suggestions to each of them. Their emails're below.
Ken Sanchez - District 1 - kensanchez@cabq.gov
Isaac Benton - District 2 - benton@cabq.gov
Klarissa J. Pena - District 3 - kpena@cabq.gov
Brad Winter - District 4 - bwinter@cabq.gov
Dan Lewis - District 5 - danlewis@cabq.gov
Rey Garduño - District 6 - :reygarduno@cabq.gov
Diane Gibson - District 7 - dgibson@cabq.gov
Trudy Jones- District 8 - trudyjones@cabq.gov
Don Harris - District 9 - dharris@cabq.gov
Good luck!!
Seven days a week the dog at 10005 Los Arboles Ave NE barks from 8:15 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Albuquerque's noise ordnance requires complainants to identify themselves. The info is available to the dogs' owners who, although they couldn't have cared LESS about their neighbors BEFORE, are amazingly swift at post-complaint "discovery."
Their vengeance is swift too. Over-the-years I've admired their stealth: flattened tires, keying (an awl-time fav) and dents that mysteriously appear in otherwise vacant parking lots. And over-the-years I've grown increasingly curious about who decided the City & State should aid-and-abet dog owners' criminal actions.
On January 17, 2015 I wrote all the city councilors asking why city policy requires disclosure. Now, after more than a week only one, Trudy Jones, has responded.
Below is my email to the Councilors:
From: mfh
Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2015 12:28 PM
To: Sanchez, Ken; Benton, Isaac; Pena, Klarissa J.; Winter, Brad D.; Lewis, Dan P.; Garduno, Rey; Gibson, Diane G.; Jones, Trudy; Harris, Don
Subject: Barking Dogs
Dear Councilors:
I'm writing to ask about the history of the noise ordnance pertaining to barking dogs. Can you tell me how it evolved, especially the requirement that complainants identify themselves?
In an earlier effort toward enlightenment, I spoke to an Enforcement Officer. He said disclosure was required in case the complaint went to court. I can understand that at some time disclosure might be necessary, but his answer does not satisfy the question of why it is required to file a complaint. Nor does it address the begged question of why the complainant's name is available to the dog owner.
I look forward to a better understanding.
Sincerely,
MFH
Here is the one reply (with my name misspelled)....
To: mfh - Jan 21 at 1:11 PM
CC : Jones, Trudy
Hello Mr. Hermann, please see the email below from the Animal Welfare Department. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Aziza Chavez
Policy Analyst-Councilor Trudy Jones
Albuquerque City Council District 8
Phone: (505)768-3106
Email: azizachavez@cabq.gov
www.cabq.gov/council/councilors/district-8
From: Ludwick, James W.
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2015 12:05 PM
To: Chavez, Aziza
Cc: Bruin, Barbara
Subject: Barking Dogs
We encourage mediation as a first step toward dealing with a barking dog problem. Obviously, mediation is out of the question if the person making the complaint is unwilling to come forward.
Barking dog cases can be difficult to prosecute. It is not unusual for a case to be dropped because an officer has not personally heard the dog barking. We need cooperation in these cases right from the beginning, and normally we do not check on anonymous complaints about barking dogs.
As I said yesterday when we discussed this by telephone, nearly all of our records are open to public inspection and we are not allowed to withhold them from people who want to see them. This is a matter of state law. Our department receives many requests from dog owners who want to review complaints about their barking dogs. We provide copies of those records in accordance with New Mexico law and city government policies. END OF MSG
I know I'm not alone in this. In fact, I've heard complaints from people throughout the West. After all the years of barking you'd think our politicians would've come up with a better response than the bureaucratic one above. I mean, we do Rocket Science in this town...it's not as if there's a lack of brains.
Perhaps they, like the dog owners, just don't hear it.
You can find out who your District Rep is here. Or you could, like me, figure it's something they ALL should be interested in and email your suggestions to each of them. Their emails're below.
Ken Sanchez - District 1 - kensanchez@cabq.gov
Isaac Benton - District 2 - benton@cabq.gov
Klarissa J. Pena - District 3 - kpena@cabq.gov
Brad Winter - District 4 - bwinter@cabq.gov
Dan Lewis - District 5 - danlewis@cabq.gov
Rey Garduño - District 6 - :reygarduno@cabq.gov
Diane Gibson - District 7 - dgibson@cabq.gov
Trudy Jones- District 8 - trudyjones@cabq.gov
Don Harris - District 9 - dharris@cabq.gov
Good luck!!
Friday, January 2, 2015
Suzan, Tumco and a Kit Fox for Christmas
I joined Suzan for a couple of days of camping as we commuted into Yuma, Arizona for provisions and such. Here she is with her new Christmas stove and foldout table.
We camped next to a wash about 5 miles north of Interstate 8 on S34, also known as Ogilby Rd. The lack of "forage" for cattle means there are few flies.
That wee yellow sign in the center of the image above marks the entrance to the ghost town of Tumco.
Below is looking West.
We camped close enough that Fort Trevor was able to regale Eggbert with tales of his travels.
One night while cooking a fox visited. It was the first wildlife, other than a few birds and deer, I've seen in years. We negotiated for one-time rights, but in the end I had to borrow from the web.
We camped next to a wash about 5 miles north of Interstate 8 on S34, also known as Ogilby Rd. The lack of "forage" for cattle means there are few flies.
That wee yellow sign in the center of the image above marks the entrance to the ghost town of Tumco.
Below is looking West.
One night while cooking a fox visited. It was the first wildlife, other than a few birds and deer, I've seen in years. We negotiated for one-time rights, but in the end I had to borrow from the web.
The Desert Kit Fox Project
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