Pot Luck Ramblings

July 30th, 2009 - Some pictures posted earlier this week at http://picasaweb.google.com/MaiersInAfrica/COCampPix20090726.

Been quite a while since I wrote anything and many thoughts have gone through my head in that time. I actually find myself during the day thinking in terms of blog stories. How the current situation is mildly entertaining to me and what spin I can put on it.

I told my dad about the pictures I posted and he wrote back commenting on how some looked like parts of Oregon, which is true. His last comment was ‘don’t get lost’. Unfortunately I was delayed in seeing his e-mail and couldn’t take his advice.

Yesterday I went wondering and got disoriented and lost within the first 90 minutes and spent another 5 hours trying to find my way back to camp. After talking to a couple of people I now sort of understand where I was and how I ended up there. But at the time I was completely turned around.

The plan was simple enough – hike up to the ‘Top of the World’, take a right to hook up with a trail I thought I heard about and wonder out to one of the camp sites used by the kids. I did make it to the Top of the World okay and I did find a trial, but probably the incorrect one. I followed the trail for a while, then just started cutting through the pastures and tree stands in what I thought was the correct general direction I wanted to go.

I kept going up to the peaks of the hills and looking for rock outcroppings to climb up as they generally give the best vast views as you can see over the trees and into the various valleys. I kept doing this, going peak to peak hoping to spot something I recognized. I knew I wasn’t to far lost as I kept seeing signs for the National Forest Boundaries, which Sanborn land butts up next to. About 10:15 I looked at my watch and thought, boy, this is going to easy, I’m going to complete my agenda and be back at camp in no time. I sat down to some snacks and tried to call Morgan about 11:30, but realized that I had no cell service. I had a couple of snacks while sitting at the corner of the National Park fence, next to one of the boundary trees. About this time I thought I should start heading back, may I could catch the end of lunch. I got up and headed uphill to a point I thought I’d get a good view of the camp and be able to meander my way back to camp. On my way I ran into a herd of elk, about 200 females and yearlings I finally determined later in the day. As I approached they would see me and take off and I could watch dozens through the trees making a get-away. I’d run into this herd many times during the day, pushing them one way or the other.

At the time I thought, this is cool, another herd of elk, different from the one we see driving home occasionally. And this one is just over the hill from camp – I’ll have to ask others if they have seen it. In fact I think I’m pushing right towards camp, wouldn’t it be neat if they ran right through camp.

Oh, by the way, all morning, since about the time I started my adventure I’d been hearing thunder from many different directions.

As I headed up to a ridge, I felt the wind pick up sharply, a promising indication that a storm was just about to sweep through the area. I’d already been hit by a couple small rain showers, nothing much and nothing to hide from nor put on my rain jacket. This one was more serious and the thunder had grown louder and the dark clouds were directly overhead. Fortune had it that the rocks here were good size and I quickly found a nice over hang to hide from the large drops of rain. I did find it odd that this spot was close to a set of rocks I recognized from climbing over them just a few minutes prior. I didn’t realize that I had backtracked to the same point I had previously been.

As I was hanging out I decided to call my son Nick and see how he was doing. Might as well make use of the time. I caught Nick, it was about 1:30pm – I’d definitely missed lunch, but could raid the frig still, and I mentioned to him I wasn’t quite sure where I was, but thought at least part of camp was over the next ridge, I thought I had just spotted a piece of a road I knew, but I had thought this about the last 3 ridges as well. ‘So’ he said, ‘does this mean this is the last time I’ll be hearing from you?’ referring to the fact that I’d probably was more lost than I knew and would never be found. As I chatted with Nick the hail started, being the size of marbles. It came down with such force that Nick mentioned he could hear it over the phone. I was glad to have the rock overhang and only got hit by a few rebounding hail stones. We were fortunate as other areas in the county got golf ball sized hail that day.

I had misinformed Nick, the camp, nor any thing else I knew, laid over the ridge I was making my way to when I was caught in the brief (15 minute) storm. Well, not a problem, there was another ridge and what looked to be another good overlook just over there. I’d make my way over there and have a look-see, surely I was close to discovering where I was. This happened a few more times, and I kept spotting sights I seen before and thought I was moving away from. Remembering about seeking shelter and being surprised to see some of the rocks I had previously past over, I was beginning to wonder if one leg was shorter than the other and I may be walking in circles without know it. I’d also wish I had a tracking unit on me so I could see the route I was taking – it would be quite entertaining to see the zig zaggy, curvious line I was meandering.

Shortly after this I went to wet my whistle again, from my 2 liter “camel pak” and came up dry. Oh c--- I thought, not good. But that meant I had already downed 2 liters of H2O so I should be well hydrated. And I’m just about to be back at camp anyway. I also thought about whether I’d do another Survivor application, to add to my half dozen or so previous ones. I’ve told myself a couple of time that this was the last app I’d do for the game. I’ve thought about this a few times in the last 8 months of life – six of those in Kenya and a couple in Colorado or wondering the country. I’m not sure I want to be placed in a semi desolate place for 39 days, I think I’m starting to appreciate a nice bed and food variety more than I realized. And being stuck in a strange land, at close quarters with a same people and being extremely bored and frustrated at time, I noticed how my attitude degraded and how hard it was not to bite off some one’s head all the time.

Lunch break --- (almost) Another storm is passing though, this one came up quickly and did have the hail with it. Not being native Coloradoans, I don’t know what normal is, but from the comments of the locals, this is not it. This morning I put on a long sleeve t-shirt under by long sleeve shirt and topped it with a Sanborn sweatshirt Ashley had given me. The most I’ve put on in my time in Colorado, and this being the end of July. This morning was actually a little like Oregon as we woke to a fog filled view and chilly weather. It wasn’t that crisp Oregon chill, letting you know it was going to burn the fog off and have a nice sunny day. It was a damp chill, letting you know that you better dress for another day of crappy weather that you are already tired of. Great start for all the over night trips that headed out this morning – that canoeing should be a blast.

Joyce has been having a pretty good time leading the crafts. Earlier this week she drove out to an over night event that was on camp property. She was glad the site had an old cabin, the Tie Cabin, at it as they needed to retreat to it for crafts as the rains came. A number of the crafts that she has introduced are quite popular, such as the mask making, the gourd bird houses and bowls and the Fimo clay covered light switch covers which she just introduced yesterday for the first time. She has mentioned that she is ready to be home, as am I. With just a couple weeks until camp is over, we are starting to wonder more and more what the future holds as she has no job and I haven’t had any significant work leads since our return.

We may be having a full house. Ashley and Travis are coming back to Oregon when the fall school weeks program (outdoor school) is done and bring along at least one other camp friend with them. Not certain yet if they and dog Kevin, will actually be rooming with us, But Morgan, Nick and possibly one other stray will be there.

Lunch is over – another exciting meal – turkey or veggy wraps, grilled cheese sandwiches, plain potato chips and corn chowder and tomato soup. Not as good as it sounds since it is mass produced, but at least there is variety so I’m not bored with eating it, as I was in Africa, so I’m eating too much of it. I am up 15 pounds from my post Africa weight.

Back to the lost story. I kept looking for Pikes Peak, knowing that this was east from any location I could possible be at. I never was able to spot it until late in my hike. So I was using the sun as my direction indicator, know that it rose in the east and set in the west, give or take a few degrees, and knowing it was morning or afternoon, I generally knew what direction I was headed, when the sun wasn’t covered up with clouds. I did find my short leg caused problems, as I seemed to veer off course constantly and upon the next directional check was often traveling 45 degrees off my intended route, usually to the east.

I did finally stumble along a “major” dirt road that was well maintained that was lined by fence. And to my delight from the fence hung signs stating that this was outdoor education activities and cautions no hunting of small kids were permitted (or something like that). There were 2 versions of the sign and one plainly stated that this was Sanborn property. Great, at least I hadn’t wondered off the 6,000 acres of ranch land, but what was this road I did not recognize – it looked to wide to be a camp road I didn’t know about, but it could be, but I wasn’t aware of any county road in the area I thought I was traveling. I decided to follow it a ways to see if it lead to a spot I recognized. Along the way I found a camp trail that looked fairly recently marked with nice orange sun with rays placards in the trees and skinny dead trees in the open meadows. Taking a bearing with the sun I headed off in the direction of the trail head. I soon realized that this was a horse trail because of the horseshoe prints. After not to long a time I came upon the end of the trail at a dysfunctional spring tank. No sign of recognition of the area however and a little further one I found a fire pit that looked as if used in the last couple of days. Great, pretty certain now I didn’t head towards the trail head. I reversed course and figured the other end would be my saving grace.

I easily followed the suns and streamers for quite a while until I hit the top of a hill. No further orange to follow, but hey, there is the elk herd, so I rambled toward them. I thought this was a strange place for the trail to end, but maybe I was at a well known spot I didn’t know. The elk soon sensed me and took off. But I got a good look though a break in the trees and realized that it must have been close to 200 in the herd.

With the elk no longer distracting me I thought I maybe should go back to the spot I lost the trail and search again for its continuance. I didn’t, and wondered a while until I came upon the road I didn’t recognize again. And I spotted a big grey van going down it. It pulled into a side road that was gated and stopped. I considered whether or not to ask it where I was, being I really wanted to pull myself out of my situation by myself. But my growing concern that I’d still be wondering well after dinner won out and I approached the van full of boy camp campers. I asked if the camp was the way they had just came from. Of course not, that was the direction of Lost Lake they were at. They other way was towards camp – passing by Witcher Ranch and Leo’s maintenance sheds. They asked my if Vulture rocks was just up the road. I had to hold back my laughter as I knew nothing of the rocks they spoke and they never would have asked if they knew how long I’d been wondering without a clue as to where I was. But Witcher Ranch, no way I thought, by my astute calculations I should be well on the other side of camp from this place. Witcher ranch is half way back to where I’m living. I’m on the other side of camp from there. But it was Witcher ranch. Fortunately not long before I drove out to it out of curiosity of the Withcer Ranch rocks used for rock climbing. The ranch and rock hills did indeed seem somewhat familiar. I head down the road toward the ranch and decided it would be best just to head back home for the day, call camp to leave a message for Joyce I was at home and not wait for me at camp. I knew from driving by the cutoff for Witcher Ranch daily about where the road from home to camp lay. Know the raod wasn’t the most direct, or adventuresome route back I angled off to a point that at worse should take me to the road I drove daily. Maybe I would still head for camp. As I worked my way through the trees, looking for rock bluffs to check my bearing, I wondered how I could have missed camp during my wonders as I was sure I had been on the other side of camp from Witcher ranch and not having passed over any dirt roads didn’t leave a lot of area to slide around camp and end up here. I must have gone in more circles than I could even imagine.

Anyway, I should be seeing signs of familiarity on one of these bluffs soon. I’m feeling pretty good, not noticing having run out of water a couple hours before. I still had snacks, good thing I raided the Out Camp food snacks before I left. But point after point I did not spot anything that sparked memories other then ones from earlier in the hike. I finally broke down and got out my binoculars. Maybe some of all those building I saw in the distance were really camp buildings I didn’t recognize from this distance. Maybe there were many more building around camp than I imagined. Nope, didn’t recognize any of them, not even close to similar architecture. May I find a place with cell reception and try to track down Travis and see if he can tell me where I’m at based on what I can see. No, not time that that yet. I have to be coming to the road soon.

More meandering and I look around, actually beginning to worry I might not make it anyplace by dinner time. How could I be wandering about not recognizing anything still and not keep wondering for a very long time. Glad I got that last call into Nick. Not really concerned about never making it out, but it does cross one’s mind. I decide to head up another hill and soon spot a crest – I see the top and sky through the trees and its not rocky here, so it is probably not a rock outcropping, must be an open field, should still give me a good view. As I approach I see a larger and larger ridge line with sky above it. Strange for this area, having such a large open area on the top of a hill. Hadn’t seen many of these today. But I had seen one, at the beginning of my trip, at the Top of the World. But that was nowhere near me nor the path I was one to my commuting road. I emerge and scratch my head as I’m within 25 yards of the stump and log that marks the top of the world. What the h----, how did I get here, boy maybe the sun doesn’t set in the west around here.

I’m glad none the less. I see parts of camp and, yap, that is A-bluff I’ve been up several times. Camp is just down the hill – just keep A-bluff on my right. I reward myself with my Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, knowing I don’t need to keep them for supper in the wild.

Suddenly I flash back to the night before, when the topic of a Sanborn ranch map come up and Travis hands me one. A topographical map with landmarks hand written in. If dawns on me that if this map is oriented in standard fashion, north being at the top, then home and Witcher ranch are south, not east from camp. Have I really been off 90 degrees all day on which directions spots are really laid out around camp? A talk with Lottie and looking at her accurate map I have to conclude I was totally disoriented most of the day with nothing being in the direction I expected or headed. Maybe I should carry a compass and review the map more to know where the major landmarks really are from each other.

On to other items – that was really a longer story than I expected.

Joyce’s mom and sister were out last week for 4 days. Joyce had 2 of the days off. I was elected to pick them up in Denver. Fortunately the flight was not in to early, so I didn’t need to get up early. Met them at the airport just fine and got to see Bob and Robin Fossum from home who were on the flight, coming out to vacation with friends.

Since Joyce had to work the day of arrival, I took my time getting back to camp. We stopped for lunch and drove through Garden of the Gods. Garden of the Gods is some spectacular rock formations. Susy had a good time taking many snaps. That night Joyce, mom and sis all got toasted on gin and tonics. I’m sure the elevation didn’t help the impact in Ruth and Susy and at least in part attributed to the rough night they had.

We spent most of the next 2 days off camp seeing the local sights. Hit Cripple Creek gambling town for the 49 cent breakfast – which Ruth bought for us all with the winnings she had already amassed before we even got to the table. After breakfast and a little more gambling, we head to American Eagle Scenic view point. The only way to it was through mining operations – watch out for the huge truck, which the signs warn you do not stop.

The next day it was off to Fairplay to visit Kent, a cousin of Joyce and Susy. Great views that day of the continental divide. We made a side trip to take a closer look at Horseshoe Mountain, where Joyce had her overnight trip. We were hoping for some good wildflower viewing and did get some.

That night was dinner at home with some other camp parents. A good time.

Ruth’s sister happened to be coming into the area to visit her son, Kent we had just visited. So after breakdfast we took off to head back to Denver so they could have lunch together before catching their flight. Having plenty of time, we drove through Manatu Springs and Garden of the Gods again. I must have missed a sign as we didn’t hit the road to the freeway when I expected to. I didn’t manage okay this time, I just headed downhill and kept the Rockies on my left and eventually met up with I-25.

On the way back I decided to stay off the main road. Unfortunately, the road from point a to point b I was planning on using was closed for construction and I got an extra 90 minutes of scenic tour.

I have been sign up to help lead a Saturday Special – an activity that happens for 3 Saturdays. It’s a pottery art special. The first Saturday I pulled out skills of 30+ years ago to help the 1camper who signed up to throw pots on the wheel.

A Nija squirrel just snuck into the camp store – probably out for another Snicker bar.

Enough already I quite for today.

Over and done from Colorado,
Paul