Month: August 2016

Clear Creek Trail

ruminator
On Thursday morning, the Girl and I hiked the lower part of Clear Creek Trail, out in the Jacks Valley Wildlife Management Area. What a great trail and one we'll visit again, Lord willing.
On Thursday morning, the Girl and I hiked the lower part of Clear Creek Trail, out in the Jacks Valley Wildlife Management Area. What a great trail and one we’ll visit again, Lord willing.

Yesterday, the Girl and I hiked about eight miles along Clear Creek Trail. We didn’t make it all the way to Knob Point, which was about two miles farther than our turn-around. In the end, I’m glad we stopped when we did.

The trail was wonderful. It was a little warm on our climb away from the staging area with the morning sun on the east side of the hill. But the grade was easy and we kept the pace up.

The Girl hunted for lizards, ground squirrels, and rabbits. She’ll chase a cottontail rabbit, but knows that the jackrabbits can easily outrun her. She might take a few steps in pursuit, but it’s always halfhearted and she breaks off quickly. I love to watch her and I keep my eyes and ears open for rattlesnakes. I’m confident in her aversion training, but I want nothing to happen to her because of my inattention.

We passed a couple of draws and I marveled at the cool air flowing down from the ridgeline. It was cool in the shade of the granite outcrops and a nice contrast to the warm morning air.

The view from Clear Creek Trail.
The view from Clear Creek Trail.
Before long we passed our first pine tree. Soon we were in a pine forest near the north end of Jacks Valley. The ranch below was beautiful in the morning light.

We hiked on another mile or so. When we were about two miles from Knob Point, I decided to pause, drink a little water, offer some to the Girl, and turn around. We were four miles out and that would make an eight-mile hike, which would be our longest to date. I didn’t know how either of us would feel on our way back. The prudent part of me thought it best to turn around. The adventurer part of me wanted to go on to the point.

The prudent won.

So we started back. Along the way, I paused a couple of times to look around. I found a benchmark hidden (sort of) in a cluster of boulders. I’ll bet it was difficult to setup a tripod over that mark. I’m confident that electronic surveying methods were used, but it was still a difficult setup.

When we were about a mile from the rig, the Girl started showing signs of heat. She will pause, paw some sand up under a shady sagebrush, and lie down to cool off. It was about 80F, but I think the combination of temperature and sun get to her. She’d had water, so I knew she was hydrated. She was just hot.

So, we double-timed a good part of the last mile. She doesn’t like me to get ahead of her when I’m moving. Heh… So off we went.

It took us about 15 minutes to make the remaining distance back to the rig. She drank the water I offered. Then she hopped into the back and crashed in the furniture blanket I use to hide the contents of the rig. It was OK.

This not-quite-a-selfie (that's my shadow) view of Clear Creek Trail and the north part of Jacks Valley caught my attention. What a great hike.
This not-quite-a-selfie (that’s my shadow) view of Clear Creek Trail and the north part of Jacks Valley caught my attention. What a great hike.
We made eight miles yesterday… our longest hike yet. I think I had another mile or two in me, so I know that I can make the Knob and back. But, I also know I’ll have to wait for cooler weather or we’ll have to start much earlier to avoid the heat. The Girl just can’t handle the heat and I want to protect her from heat exhaustion.

What a great hike and a great day. I’m thankful.

Dawn on the Mountains

ruminator
Walking along Carson River is such a blessing early in the morning. I'm blessed to see such sights and appreciate the time with the Girl.
Walking along Carson River is such a blessing early in the morning. I’m blessed to see such sights and appreciate the time with the Girl.

When we’re walking early by the Carson River, I’m sometimes startled by the light on the Prison Hill ridge. On this morning, the puffy white clouds provided a counterpoint to the warm sunlight on the mountains. It was enough to capture my eyes and my heart.

I’m truly thankful for such sights as these. I’ll never tire of seeing the sunrise on the mountains.

Carson River Walkies

ruminator
The Girl and I were out early one morning for walkies. We were greeted by a beautiful sunrise over the Carson River.
The Girl and I were out early one morning for walkies. We were greeted by a beautiful sunrise over the Carson River.

The Girl and I are out and about almost every morning. At this time of the year, the best time to walk is very early. When we get out at dawn, the temperature is in the mid- to upper-50s. It’s chilly to start the walk in shorts and a t-shirt, but I do. Of course, the Girl is practically naked (Naked Girl!!!), but she’s always on the move and doesn’t seem to mind her nakedness.

I’m blessed by the cool morning air, the exercise, and the opportunity to see the sunrise. On those mornings when there are a few clouds, the sight can be breathtaking. The morning I made this capture is one such morning. I was listening to my morning meditation while walking along with the Girl. My steps provided a cadence for focus. My eyes were up and looking around at God’s creation, thankful for witnessing the waking of the world.

Lanyard Making

ruminator8 Comments
I made a lanyard (turkshead knot with a diamond stopper knot) for my Marlinspike. I enjoy working with cordage and lanyards are useful additions to many pieces of equipment.
I made a lanyard (turkshead knot with a diamond stopper knot) for my Marlinspike. I enjoy working with cordage and lanyards are useful additions to many pieces of equipment.

A few weeks ago I started playing around with paracord. I always have a bit of paracord on my person. It’s one of the Five C’s.

Lanyards are useful for keeping gear attached to one’s body or kit. I decided to make one for my Marlinspike, even if I don’t normally carry it in my kit. It was my first lanyard and I enjoyed the Zen-work of making it. I learned a few things in the process, as well.

I need to make some lanyards for my multitool (which I do carry in the field) and a fixed-blade knife that stays in my field kit. I might try a three-bight design of the turkshead knot. There are many other patterns as well.

This is good for me. I like it.

N.B. and Edit: A friend pointed out an error — it’s a Marlinspike, not a Martinspike. I can only attribute my error to old eyes, which sometimes have a difficult time reading what I see on the screen. Or, perhaps is just that I’m old. [grin]

There’s an useful article on Wikipedia about the Marlinspike. I bought mine through Amazon (that evil empire) from a favorite vendor, Bored Paracord.

Little Buck

ruminator
One morning when the Girl and I were on walkies, we came across this little buck.
One morning when the Girl and I were on walkies, we came across this little buck.

The Girl and I love our morning hikes. The last few weeks we try to get a full five miles in before the sun warms too much. There’s a nice loop we walk out by the Carson River. We walk from Riverview Park up past the north end of Empire Golf Course, take a break up by the Carson River access, then hike back.

One morning this guy came wandering up toward us. My guess is someone else (or something else) spooked him. Of course, Ki had to give chase and I couldn’t get her stopped fast enough with my attention diverted trying to get this capture.

I really don’t want her to chase deer… ever.