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5) You mention that "We left the trail and wandered the expanse of the meadows" I'm sure that fits in with the local trail etiquette, and I am surprised to hear it anyway. Leaving trails in the Canadian Rockies leads to permanent "braiding" of the trails or plant/flower damage. What is the thinking/situation where you are?
Vic, this is a great question. If there is a trail to where you are going - and most times there are - stay on the trail. Do not widen it by walking side by side. Do not cut switch backs. Do not create short cuts. In pristine areas and we're going cross country - we spread out so not to beat in a new user trail and we stay on hard surfaces as much as possible. We do our best to leave no trace. The Leavitt Meadows area is heavily used. There are several user created trails dropping down to the West Walker River. We do our best not to create new impacts. Much of our wandering was along the gravel bars on the river's edge. We pay attention to vegetation and also wildlife's needs, so as to impact as little as possible with our travels. Great question that brings to the fore the ethical side of our travels.
6) Finally, I had to laugh when I read "Breakfast was simple back at the camper - goatmeal, fresh peaches from our trees, and granola." Seriously, is goatmeal a custom version of oatmeal that you make, or a term of affection, or????
goatmeal is oatmeal. We love the stuff with fresh fruit and granola. It gives Julie the energy to climb like a mountain goat so it became goatmeal. Just like liquor is called "loudmouth", and budweiser is called "buttwiper," and binoculars are "see mores," pronghorn are "speed goats" (William Clark came up with that one), coyotes are "song dogs," rattlers are "buzz worms." And so it goes.
By the way, how are the eyes?
Remarkably well. I am very lucky, thankful, and pleased. The eyesight will be forever different, but the brain adapts and adjusts. I'm learning to live with what I have and getting along fine. Julie has noticed I'm spotting birds in flight and identifying them. One early morning on our Oregon backcountry trip in June, we were walking. I stopped the Lady and said, "Use your see mores. About 250 yards out in the brush against the cliff, I believe there is a large animal just inside the brush. It just turned its head." Julie confirmed it was a coyote. That was the moment I realized I'm doing pretty darn well.