I've recently starting hiking on Thursdays with an incredible group of women and their dogs. We've hiked Dove Mountain, the back side of the Catalinas, the Southerland Trail, and the Catalina State Park Trail. It's a different location each week. My friend, Katie, whose second home I occasionally stay in at Pagosa on my way up to our place in Colorado, is the one who pulled it all together. She and I worked together for years and have known each other for 30+ years. Anyway, everyone becomes a friend in Katie's circle. When she meets someone interesting, she invites them to hike, or go on their boat, or go for a horseback ride (she is an avid rider) or fly to Pagosa, or bike ride, or something. Little by little, this hiking group has come together and we look forward to a new 5+ mile hiking adventure each week. Sometimes there are only 3; sometimes there are 7; sometimes it's something in between. Sometimes there's 1 dog; sometimes there are 2 or 3; and the most I think there have been is 5. We don't have a dog, so I know I won't be taking one! At any rate, we tromp around the desert soaking in the gorgeous views, breathtaking rock formations, and indescribable desert vegetation as we work our way from one end to the other. Sometimes it's a loop; sometimes we put cars at each end and go from one end to the other and drive back. But it never really matters because the time flies and everyone chats and tells stories and chimes in with their opinions about whatever topic is on our minds.
The dogs are as varied as the women: some herders, some scouts, some just along for the great outdoors.
People we meet (as well as the cows we find, I guess) probably wonder about our little group, most of whom have long legs and a stride that keeps us vertically-challenged folks trying to catch up from start to finish. This last Thursday we picked up a stray (man) along the trail whose wife had stopped some mile or two back to rest. He called us his harem of trail tramps and jokingly said that his wife of 54 years might be wondering about him when he showed back up with 7 extra women! I reminded him he "might have some 'splainin' to do, Lucy!" He joined right in with the chatter, telling us all about his recent trip to Switzerland and Italy and their home in Boulder. We left him off with his wife to amble back and made our way onward.
Lunch this week was as relaxing as it could get on big slabs of rock overlooking a stream and deep pools of water in 70-degree sunshine. The trees above were mostly bare but for a few clusters here and there of yellowing leaves. The dogs played in the water (too cold for the humans!) and let us know when it was time to get back on the trail.
And so to Katie, Elaina, Jane, Debbie, Carol, and Kay -- not to mention Gus, Tucker, and Kiernan - thanks for another memorable hike. Can't wait to see what's next!
