Wild raspberries do not produce fruit every year. But, last year we found a good crop in Wild Cattle Canyon, and the evidence for this year was solid, too. So, I went up there the other day and, this time, I carried a tub. In the event, the fruit was very tiny. It took a lot of picking even to cover the bottom of the tub. The best spot for larger berries was in the creek—a more humid environment.
We've been benefitting from a monsoonal flow over the last week, which often means afternoon storms. We just missed one yesterday as we started up the Candland Mountain Trail. In the aftermath, it was cool and cloudy, which improved the hike along the ridge above Electric Lake. In the woods we found some aspen carvings. This one (below), seemed at first glance as though it came from 1881, but after further study, we decided it was from 1924. Still, that makes it a hundred year event.
There has been too much sun and too many flies. It is the time of year for hiding under the bed. But, yesterday, I went up Horse as far as the beaver ponds. It may have been in the 80s but the sun was hot. And the flies were bad. I was sorry. Even worse to consider, both of the girls are working outdoors every day. Difficult duty.
While I was on the plots today, I inadvertently angered a pair of redtails. While they screeched lower and lower, I cowered beside a piece of dead wood. I figured that if they came to talon my eyes out, I could try to dodge around the tree. There was a mass in a nearby snag that appeared to be a stick nest, but I could not see or hear any fledglings, so I'm not sure why they were so agitated. In the event, they let me keep my eyes.
Today we walked out Castle Valley Ridge. The lupines were blooming and we were clear of the holiday traffic. There was a steady breeze to discourage the flies and to keep the sun from getting hot. All in all, a nice afternoon.
It was a very nice day out there today. I was working in the dead wood again—fire killed. One thing I think is beautiful is the pattern that the fire makes in the stem of a burned tree. It is almost topographical.
