50 Year Trail

About an hour to the northern part of Golder Ranch in the Catalina Mts lies the 50 year trail.  The 50 Year Trail area is an extensive network of horse trails, old ranch roads, and game trails that have evolved into singletrack. There’s no specific route to be followed here, as Marc & the group found out, after turning about a 3 hour ride into 5+ hours.

Coming "UP" the Chutes
a short section of roller coaster ups & downs

The group consented to let Marc take out the 'book' to see if they could figure out where they were.  The ride is about 'orienteering,' they say.  With mixed singletrack, doubletrack, and a few dirt roads, there's some sand, some sharp rocks, and lots of opportunities to roll over fallen cacti - Marc found a cholla clump to run over.  The slime tubes really work!  Amazing - no flat. 


Evening in our 'back yard'

With our cooler evenings and close to sunset, no one is one the trails.  But, we have learned a few things about life around us (things we have not yet seen).   Marc stepped out the other night and quickly came back to tell me he just saw several coyote eyes in view of his flashlight (right by the motorhome).  A neighbour said they have  had to scare javelinas out from under their RV as they tend to 'nest' underneath at times (or rather, hide).

Kylie pursuing Tazz - far 'around' the cactus

 Kylie & Tazz have pretty much figured out the nastiness of the cactus; they will stand there when they get a thorn and do not try to pull it out themselves.

BUT with this wind we have had, today we took them on the trails and Kylie got a prickly pear spike under her lower jaw, just sniffing by a rock (the prickly pear not close).  Then, the trail was FULL of jumping cholla clusters - while Marc was trying to use the fine toothed comb (yes, it works, as do pliers) to pull about 6 barbs out of Kylie's leg, he had three clusters stuck to the side of his shoe; then the tire of the bike was spiked with about 6 more thorns.   We finally got out of the patch.  You can NOT kick them off the trail - they have been known to go right through your shoe and into your foot.  

A bouvier (in this RV park) apparently wasn't so fortunate yesterday when he tried to pick up a cluster in his mouth yesterday. The owners weren't able to get the thorns out from his mouth & tongue and over $500 later, they vet was able to control the situation.

Beautiful to look at and it makes one wonder how the desert critters manage their lives in such an atmosphere.