Javelinas en el silencio de Navidad

Christmas Day afternoon I spent out at Hueco once again. It was warm, sunny, and extremely quiet. The rock was warming to the touch and unyielding in its strength. At the most there were 4 other people on the mountain.

Perfect.

On my way off of North Mountain I heard rustling in some bushes and turned to investigate fully expecting to come across a silver fox. I was greeted with a deep grunting and two large, dark animals jumped with a start through the bushes. I froze and moved atop a small boulder to get a better look and for protection thinking maybe I had come across some wild dogs or perhaps some dogs that some unseen hikers had let off their leash. The continual grunting and spiky hair I could see through the bushes shattered that though.

It was a couple of Javelinas. Javelinas are like small wild boars. These two were the size of large German Shepherds. I moved off the small boulder I was on and into an open patch of desert to get a better look at them... and there they were. One of them grunted at me again and stomped on the ground which made me freeze once more. The only weapon I had at hand were my climbing shoes hanging from a carabiner and of course my feet for kicking. The Javelina grunting stood broadside to me looking at me sideways. After examining him for awhile I backed off slowly. The moment I moved backwards he quickly turned to face me full on and continued to stare. I slowly turned and walked away, watching him for any sign of a charge. Javelinas can be fierce like their legendary cousins from Homeric myth minus the tusks.


I have never seen Javelinas at Hueco in all the years I have been going there. It seems the conservation plan is doing a great job of not only bringing back the flora of Hueco but also creating the ecosystem that Javelinas can live in once again.

An interesting encounter with new wildlife at my home.

An Afternoon at Hueco

Today I was back home at Hueco Tanks. Trying to relate what its like to go back to a home like that is hard.

The feel of the rock, the sun, the mesquite, the cactus, the octillio, the sand, the wildlife, the history, the memories.... the quiet. The awe. There is only place in this world that I would consider sacred to me and that is Hueco Tanks.

Its hard to explain to people on the East Coast the overwhelming desire to be in the open desert and amongst nature and sky. I thrive on the eco-system of the Southwestern desert. It formed me.

Natalie and I spent a few hours this afternoon doing our traditional bouldering circuit before the sun went down. It was wonderful. I'm not going to want to leave although I know I must.

We'll be climbing every other day while we are out here.

Hopefully in the next 6 months I can take some weekends to come home and climb.

I need it.

Hueco Tanks and Mi-17s

Flying in to El Paso yesterday afternoon we were greated with clear, bright blue skies.





We flew directly over Hueco Tanks which from the air looked so small and isolated in the middle of the desert. Natalie and I heading there right now to boulder this afternoon. Its is again warm and sunny outside without a cloud in the sky.








As we landed yesterday I saw two Mi-17s sitting at Biggs Army Airfield.

And the mountains.

Oh the mountains. It was majestic to see the Franklins as we flew in and then to wake up this morning at the base of them looming against a blue desert sky.

Its good to be home.

Snow is for the Mountains, not where you Live

It snowed all day Wednesday. Huge, fluffy, white flakes all... day... long.

Spent the day in Tyson's Corner and Alexandria and just watched the snow continue to fall.

If its going to snow there better be mountains close by to snowboard on. But no. This is the East Coast. No mountains, only tiny little hills.




Oh well, at least its wintery gorgeous around here.