PECOS WILDERNESS/ BILL'S TURN

9/28
Wednesday we packed up some some food and water, cameras, etc and drove into the Pecos Wilderness for a hike.This from Bill:  

"We-- Doug, Susi, Xian and I-- took a walk in the Pecos Wilderness. Nice well marked trails. We were in the head waters of the Pecos River, altitude of 8000 + feet. A number of streams merge into the Pecos confluence. Fishermen abound. An apparently moribund upscale fly fishing resort/school "owns" or posts about a mile of the waters. A state fish hatchery down stream from this 'school' and situated near the village of Pecos ensures part of the waters are stocked to keep all content and gay.
  Our trail walked beside and above Cave Creek. The well trod trail took the high road on a terrace open forest and shrubs. But, choice had us struggle along the stream's edge through willows, alders, small roses and Toxicodenron radicans. Oh, that's Poison Ivy. Yup
it's here too.

We followed where stalwart 'trouters' had made a passage; narrow, often on shale or muddy slippery slopes over fallen trees, under dense willows, and ever along.  Cold clear water tumbled over rocks, rills, logs to course under shrubs, fallen trees and banks. Many were the hiding places for wily trout . From high points we saw trout down in the pools. Do you suppose they thought they were not visible. Some were big! 12 inches at least. Susi has a photo of one. Its spots are clear.

 

Doug leading the way and first over a pool saw many. I followed along on my three legs: left, right and walking stick. (It was made from a small dead red spruce I cut one day years ago on a hike in the Adirondacks. My rod was back in the camper unlimbered, unstrung. What a waste! Clearly this segment of the stream and going higher is more difficult to walk and fish than many care to attend. No casting of a line here. The places for rods were few and those were small openings in the over arching brush. They were like the kind of places I used to fish in Maine.
   Over our heads towered the forest of Douglas fir, Colorado Blue spruce and Ponderosa Pine of heights 60 to 80 feet. Aspens, 50-60 foot in stature, stood silver straight their leaves beginning to turn to gold.

Along the trail came two horsemen, Tom and his son, Adam. Their garments matched the 1861 Army clothing Manual (Tom did Civil War reenactments.) Tom, a leather worker, made saddles gauntlets, chaps, boot/ stirrup guards, and bridles. The bits and decorative metals were also made by him.  He rode under the brim of a Civil War Union Officer's issue hat of dark blue or black western style with broad brim sporting around the crown a gold braid with tassels. A huge smile on his face, and in his right hand a cold can of beer that clearly was not 1861 Army issue. Such is the world. Enjoy the day."

    And did we ever enjoy the day. The smell of sun-warmed pine and wood was intoxicating. We probably walked about 4 miles, give or take, ( much of it at a slant at first) but according to Doug and his GPS, we spent 3 times as much time in non-motion as we did in motion!! That statistic doesn't apply to Xian, who was in motion most of the time!!