Wild River Country

I just got back from another trip. This time a little higher up in elevation to the upper reaches of the Rio Grande Del Norte Gorge. It's pretty close to the southern Colorado border. Another fabulous outing (and training session:)) . It always amazes me how much wildlife exists in the high desert with almost no visible water. I had to hike into the gorge on the second day to refill my water bottles, 6 quarts. There was no trail so I had to go to the canyons rim and figure out the easiest way down w/o killing myself. I survived, obviously, but it was "hairy" at times. There are numerous ways to hurt yourself, none having to do with wildlife. Of coarse, there's that too:) I found the remains of a black bears' hips and femur bones. REALLY old! A few feet from that, a coyote skull, which had nothing to do with the bear as it was not that old.

Snakes are out everywhere. As you walk the trails, their sign is apparent. (I've been looking straight ahead a lot more than just last week :) ) As far as other wildlife, I saw ravens, hawks (too far away to identify), buzzards, several smaller song birds, a mockingbird, one golden eagle, several mule deer sightings, two groups of elk, a horned toad ( with big red ants crawling on him. thought he was dead but took right off after I took his picture:), a gopher snake, American Widgeon ducks (once I made it to the river), signs of beaver activity (gnawed willow sticks) and bats at night.

The desert is beginning it's annual wildflower bloom. I don't think I'll get too see it in it's finest dress because my time is running short here, but what is there now is beautiful. Gotta go tend to town biz! Later! ( Hopefully, my pics will be up tomorrow:)