Carr Peak with Zeke

This past month has been especially hard on me.  I've been especially worried about Chip, the widower of my friend Carol who died August 1, 2015.  He's been having mini-strokes since July and has been hospitalized multiple times for them since.  I have tried to visit him once a week on Thursdays for companionship but will confess that I didn't go one week because I can't always deal with his deep depression, anger and his alcoholism. (He has started drinking again since Carol died.)  All he wants to do is drink, and that's not good for his diabetes.

Two weeks ago he had his latest stroke and was sent to Oro Valley Hospital.  I didn't even know about that until I drove to his home last Thursday to check on him.  His three little dogs were gone and the house was silent.  One cat, a ten-year-old FIV+ cat was missing, which had me concerned.   Then I saw the smashed-in windshield of his 1998 Toyota pickup and the damaged grill. Oh god I thought, is Chip dead? I have been supporting him in the sidelines, but his old friend from the Tombstone shelter has been checking on him daily. When I posted this news of the missing cat and damaged truck on Facebook, that's when I learned about his latest stroke.

Last Saturday I met several other cat volunteers from the Tombstone Small Animal Shelter (TSAS) at 10am.  They knew more about Chip's condition.  Chip even called the house while we were there.  I talked to him briefly and he gave me four names of pets he wants to keep.  One of them was Staney, an aggressive MinPin that was taken to the TSAS along with two chihuahuas.   I didn't have the heart to tell him that the dogs were taken to the shelter without his permission by one of the other volunteers and is now listed as up for adoption.  Shit.

Chip was supposed to come back to his home in Tombstone last Thursday, but I haven't seen him. I went to his home twice this past week to tend to his cats.  I even paid his overdue water bill.  When I call him now, all I get is "This number is no longer in service."  What is going on?!

Chip has repeatedly mentioned suicide, even to his social worker. He had the local sheriff deputies, a social worker, a legal expert come by daily as part of the county's "Are You OK?" program, but he seems to take offense to all that.  His anger repels others, as he has at times me.

He hasn't killed himself yet because of the promise he made to Carol to tend to the animals.  He has .repeatedly broken down in tears while I was there.  I don't know how much that is exasperated by his drinking. He's told me several times he knows exactly how he's going to end his life and even I am not privy to that.  He has held me emotionally hostage since coming back from Alaska.

I care for Chip like I cared for Carol.  But there is only so much I can do.  There are 19 cats living in that big home and seven tortoises in the back yard.  They will all need homes unless they are taken to the Cochise County Animal Conrol where they most likely will be destroyed.  Chip is in arrears with his electric, digital TV, credit card and water bill and I'm sure that means the mortgage, too.

Today I just had to get away and hike up Carr Peak. I only took Zeke.  I wanted to give Sadie a break. We started at 1:15pm. I hiked up at a steady pace.  It was a meditative hike.  I only met one couple at the start, and they had an excitable Yellow Lab mix.

I had a steady pace, but my emotions called for me to rest.  I was so deep in thought, I didn't even notice some of the usual landmarks like the intermittent waterfall (which was dry today). I'm losing my love of life, too and it's not always easy now to deal with other peoples' quirks.  I've secluded myself from others because I worry too much about Chip.  He's 72 years old.  Our health care doesn't worry about old people, so he's cast aside and he feels neglected.

It was my emotional depression today that made me stop a few times.  Otherwise, I could have trekked up to the peak in 1:30 hours.  I needed time to clear my mind from my demons.  Damnit, suicidal people can be so selfish with their desires to end their life, refusing to listen to their friends and family and just wanting to plaster everyone with guilt.  Those who are there to help in turn have no recourse. Non-profits and especially churches will do nothing unless they get something in return.

Weather and wind were calm today.  It was 70F at the peak.  Zeke and I rested for 15 minutes.  I ate some salted almonds and he had some dog food I had carried for him.  I sat at the peak and just enjoyed the hazy valley view.  We were alone. There were no clouds. Who knows how many more times I will be able to enjoy this hike and this view? My own health is failing.  I have been fearing a return of cancer for several years.  Maybe it's all in my mind.

Many of the trees were barren.  The only wildflowers left were blue fleabane, with an isolated Red Cardinal Flower and one lonesome blue clover.  Life is coming to an end.  I hope this isn't a metaphor.

The only wildlife I saw were ravens overhead. They are a joy to watch because they are very vocal and dramatic in flight, gliding along thermals while looking down.  In a few weeks the cold wind will start blasting, as it has every November.

I just need to hear from Chip to know how he's doing.  I can't continue to live in this uncertainty.

Tompson Ridge

I've been spending my fall break reading all the newspaper articles on the Northern California fires. The death and destruction is heartwrenching.  So many of the now 41 dead are seniors, people over 50 years old.  Most are from the northern Santa Rosa neighborhood of Fountaingrove. Most were evacuated in the middle of the night, under smoke and darkness.  How frightening that must have been.

The one joy is reading happy-end stories of pets and animals that have survived.  While one woman lost 12 dogs (mostly Bernese Mountain dogs, a gentle breed), others return to their homes with their tail-wagging dog waiting for them, even if there's nothing left of the home. But I'm sure there are many more dead pets and wildlife when these fires have been extinguished.  There are still 100s of people unaccounted for.

I loved my years living in Pacific Grove, CA (1996-2000) and have a soft spot in my heart for the greater Bay area.  The temperate climate, the live oak-studded hillsides, the stucco homes and the flora all entice people to move there.  But one bad fire can ruin one's dream.  Maybe the news stories are bringing back the fears Kevin and I felt back in 2011 when we had to evacuate with three dogs and two cats?  The only survivor of that fire is now Sadie.  But she's not talking.

It was another mild day.  I didn't need a windbreaker at all. At 3:41pm I took off with all four dogs for a hike up Tompson Ridge.  Here's where the fun began. Past the dry creek crossing and around the tightest curve on the road (which limits visibility to oncoming traffic), I had to break hard for a blue Honda pickup coming right at me.  I swerved to the right but my wheels hit a rocky edge that made my truck lean sideways.  I had to go in reverse to allow the Honda to pass me.  The woman passenger thought this incident was funny (what was she smoking?!) but the male driver looked serious.  My truck's hood would have been damaged and that would have been the end of my 15.5 years with my 2002 Ford Escape had we collided.  It's been a very reliable vehicle all these years and I intend on keeping it for as long as possible for these drives up trailheads.

We started the hike at 3:54pm.  I could see a full-size Border Patrol SUV up the trail at the gate.  Was there a group of illegals the USBP was picking up?  Normally the illegals come across before dawn or after dusk to evade capture.  I held the dogs close to me and stood off the side of the trail when the SUV came back down the hillside, but in the last minute the dogs broke loose and ran TOWARD the vehicle, with Sadie in front of the front left tire.  The agent couldn't see her and I screamed: "STOP!"  Nothing happened to Sadie and I thanked the agent for stopping, but that was a close call again.  I had to stop and calm down after that incident and the dogs appreciated the break.  The shaded sections were refreshing, but it was still very warm in the higher, exposed parts.  The dogs drank 3/4 of a gallon at one of my breaks.

I didn't stay at the top for long.  It had taken me an hour to get uphill and now it was already 5pm. Winds were calm. Going downhill wearing my Keen water sandals was no easier than the trek uphill. My two-year-old sandals have lost all traction and I've slipped a few times.  Time to get my hiking boots out! There was no one else around.

But then the drive down Ash Canyon Road was as exciting as the drive up.  A couple, perhaps in their 40s, was walking their two dogs offleash on the road.  I slowed down for them, but the two dogs then bolted from the couple and ran after my truck as I continued downhill.  This got all four dogs barking loudly.  After a good half-mile I had to stop because the dogs were still coming after me down the road. I had to let the owners catch up to their dogs before I hit SR92 and traffic.  One of them looked old and stood up to my driver's window to greet me.  His demeanor reminded me of our late Sammy.  The other dog, also older, was a brownish Aussie.

Needless to say, I was glad to be safely back home at 6pm with all four dogs.

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/12-Bernese-mountain-dogs-two-dachshunds-lost-in-12274310.php
http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/fires/article178886656.html

Carr Canyon Road to the middle falls (4.6 miles) up

The last time I did this hike was before my Alaska road trip, perhaps in the spring.  Today's morning weather was cool and breezy.  It had to have been in the low 50s at 8am start time because my cheeks were chilled.

There were eight of us, several of whom I didn't recognize.  Nina had signed up for this hike but was 30 minutes late and the group was 2/3 up the falls when she joined us.  I chatted with KimG, Lynn R and Kim C-F at the start, but ended up talking to Rick, Steve (a new Steve!) and David on the hike up the road before the guys slowed down and I was up front but behind the fast gals.  I brought Zeke along.  Kim C-F brought her LabX Bentley along.  Both were on leashes going uphill.

I made it to the middle falls in 46:37 minutes.  This was no PR but I also wasn't aiming for one, which would have required power walking uphill in 41 minutes.  I took Zeke down to the water before the falls and was disappointed to see stagnant water covered by waterbugs.  We desperately need more rain.  The trees are starting to turn yellow, too.  Fall is here!

There was no memorial for the most recent waterfall plunge fatality in late July: 16-year-old Jaidee Austin fell 300 feet to his death July 28th, trying to prevent a 9-year-old from slipping off the slick rock.  He would have been a high school junior.
http://www.myheraldreview.com/free_access/carr-canyon-fall-claims-buena-high-student/article_945834ac-7416-11e7-a037-af6e6f039f36.html

It is the custom on this hike to linger by the middle falls and chat.  I don't mind chatting for ten minutes, but today we were at the falls for a good 30 minutes standing around. For some reason, I just didn't feel a part of the chatty crowd today.  Whenever I wanted to join in, I overheard terms like "killing deer" and I'm not much of an advocate for killing anything that isn't a fly or mosquito. It seems like killing animals is a repeated theme among these hikers.  And while I don't mind "hunting for food" or killing in self-defense, I do mind it being a constant conversation among the hikers.  I've been away from this group for so long, I've lost touch with the "in" crowd.

Sometimes talking about more thought-provoking themes like the recent solar eclipse or our regional water shortage is more to my liking.  How about the devastating wildfires destroying California's Wine Country this past week?  With three deadly hurricanes terrorizing Texas , Florida and Puerto Rico since late August, we have had our share of natural disasters.  And now the deadly fires that have claimed at least 17 in California is getting to me.  I have friends and family in the Bay area!

Our post-hike lunch was at "My Place," a Vietnamese-American-Mexican restaurant off Fry Boulevard with an ample menu.   I had never been to this place and drove twice around the block before finding it. I ordered a Curry Chicken Stir Fry that was quite good but could have used more curry sauce.  I had a double-shot cappuccino that ended up costing me $5.99 (!!) but it, too was quite good.  

Close call

At 5:26pm I started my 3.7-mile walk with all four dogs along the dirt road near the Coronado National Forest Maintenance shop off SR92.  This is an approved walk for Minnie, since only half of it is on pavement.  It's flat and rather nondescript, along an abandoned housing area owned by Castle and Cook.  Desert Broom, mesquite, prickly pear, sotol and other common Chihuahua desert flora are found here.

Minnie does fine for the first two miles, then tires and slows down.  This, in turn, slows me down. I'm starting to wonder if she is suffering from something more detrimental than weight gain, like perhaps Cushing's Disease, an endocrine disorder that shows itself via panting, obesity, increased thirst and lack of sleep.  These are all symptoms that Minnie has shown over the years.  She will be seven years old on November 10, so she qualifies as a geriatric dog.  Of our four remaining dogs, she is the least healthy.

There was nothing exciting on today's walk.  The waning full moon hadn't risen yet, there were no other walkers nearby, and no signs of wildlife like in owls or coyotes.   Even the sunset was rather dull due to lack of cloud cover. The young coyotes we heard earlier this week were silent tonight (I hope they weren't killed off; they were still pups!).  The sky was clear of any clouds and the temperatures were in the mild 60s. It was eerily quiet tonight.

But just .1 mile from the end, nearing the truck, a pissed-off rattler began its loud hiss. I recognized the sound immediately and screamed at Sweetie to back away.  She was walking near the edge of the dirt road along the grass line. The rattler was well-hidden but that loud warning hiss was an indisputable rattler. It didn't even phase Sweetie that she was near danger.  Minnie was about 20 feet behind Sweetie along the edge of the road and she, too, didn't seem to notice.  Luckily neither dog was attacked by the snake that I never saw but loudly heard.

Tonight was just a reminder that most rattlers I've encountered have been in the fall and I must not let my guard down. The dogs' snake vaccine expire next March and April (the latter for Minnie and Sweetie), but the vaccine is only guaranteed to slow down the venom; it is not a 100% preventative.
http://www.mapmyhike.com/workout/2508665573
The walk took us 58 minutes.  It was dark when we got back home.  The dogs did not realize how close to danger two of them got.  I shared the news with Kevin and went on to my nightly chore of reading, relieved that one more day was guaranteed for us all.  In another month the rattlers will go into hibernation and I will be able to enjoy the upcoming colder months for another reason beside my own comfort.

Hereford bridge along the river north

Today I took all the dogs and headed to the Hereford Bridge, this time going north along the river.  We started at 4:25pm. As expected, Minnie came on this walk as she loves the water.  All four dogs jumped in several times, even Sweetie who prefers to stay dry and elegant.  Minnie enjoyed fetching sticks I'd throw in the water for her.  No one else was around.  The only thing we came across was a dead fawn that looked just a few days old.

We walked north until it got too snaggy or muddy.  The sun was low and provided for golden light, but after almost a mile I turned around to find the official trail.  We walked on that for ten minutes north until the trail intersected with the old river trail, which is an old dirt road.  We took that road southwest until it intersected with Hereford Road, then walked .4 miles off the pavement back east to the truck. This formed a triangular route of three miles.