10000ft

 More like 9500ft, but 10000 just sounds better. Off for a long Independence day hike! Here's a few more pics of my home for the last few weeks......

 Smoke rollinf in from a fire down near Globe.

 Seen a few Elk, Deer, Turkeys, and plenty of cows

Log Dog

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

Los Burros Trail

Currently up at 9500 feet, but heres a hike I did a few weeks ago while at Los burros campground loop is 14 miles moderate inclines, and there is a shortcut if the whole loop is to long. Cutting the distance down to 9 miles.

 Mere minutes on the trail I ran across a man claiming he had just come across a wolf, then moments later another guy who had just seen a mountain lion chase down a elk. 

Couldn't help but think these two fellers were in cahoots trying to scare a green horn outta the forest. It almost worked, but got to thinking my drive into town is probably 10 times more deadly then a hike in the mountains. In the end I made it! Not without some aching feet. Heres a few more pics

 Very old corral

 Old non functioning wind mill used to provide water for game at one time

First time Ive come across these wild strawberries. Very Tasty

 Honey suckles use to eat these as youngin growing up in the sticks in rural MN

Use to eat these in my younger years too, but had a much different affect then the honey suckles. will save that story for another day.

Happy trails

Mountain Lake Lookout hike

Picture from the trail with tower barely visible. Trailhead leaves Los Burros Campground about a 7 mile hike unless your following me turned out to be about 11. Someone had knocked over the sign pointing the way dam vandals. Eventually ran into a group of ATV'ers who put me on the right track. Elevation gains about 550' . Heres a few more pics....

 Robin eggs

 The black Mesa in the distance is the same one that can be seen from my property. With a good set of  binocs you could zoom right in.

 48ft tower. Not a fun climb for those afraid off heights

Well worth the views though

Good Day!

Back to Burros

Been many many moons since I been back to Los Burros. One of my favorite spots just never able to get internet. This being my first year up here with my Yagi Antenna figured Id give it a shot. Success!!! Not blazing 4G, but I was able to muster up 3 bars of 3G enough to feed my internet addiction for a bit.

Los Burros was the Ranger Station back in 1909-1910 Ranger rode his horse daily to the top of Mountain Lake Lookout to check for fires. Not sure how they battled forest fires back then. Considering we struggle today with all of our modern equipment. Took the 3 1/2 mile hike up to the look out, but will get to that in a later post. Heres a few more pics of Los Burros

Horse Corral

Rangers Station

Campground host. Pretty neat lil set up. Ill try to grab a few more pics when he returns

Coyote that came into camp. Ginger did plenty of barking, but didnt chase, which is a good thing. Often times they send one coyote in, then the dog will chase them back to the pack.

Ginger displaying her acrobatic abilities. She get cruising on downed trees much smaller then this on a hikes. Talking mid 80's even up here at 8000ft, so heading to higher elevations in the morning.

Good Day!

Thanks for using my Amazon Link!

Crazy People

My stay at the Mesa has finally come to a end. After 2 months of unseasonable weather I've sat through snow, rain, and sleet. The temps are finally driving me to the higher altitudes. Spending most morning's hiking across, what seems to be a almost forgotten part of America. One can't help but wonder where is everybody? Land can be purchased next to nothing. Zoning laws seem almost non-existent, and a mere 20 mile trip to almost anything one could desire.

Yet on a recent trip to town I mention the location of my property to a local. Why would you wanna be out there with all the crazies? Do you have water? Is there electricity? To which I replied "Yup got both of them, and as far as the crazies, there everywhere, that just depends on your perception of normal". I then received a blank stare followed by a chuckle further back. Perhaps if I were belly up to the bar I would I have tried to explain a life outside the box, but since my last item had been bagged I simply said" Have a good day!" Heres a few pics......

Old Cabin,Hut, Shack. Found while out hiking.

Tons of Antelope this year

Ginger running down one of hundreds of Roads that have been cut but never developed.

Ginger hunting Antelope

May Expenses

Phone Internet Netflix  141.49
Food 131.17

 Thats all folks Total $272.66

Thanks to all who used my Amazon Link! 

Off to Greener Pastures! Good Day!

Home on the Mesa

 When I arrived back to The Mesa on April 2nd the days were sunny, and creeping into the 80's. Since then its been a slow decline, with at least a few drops of rain each day, then finally waking up to this ^^^^ just this morning. Which is great the mountains up here need it, keeps the forest service happy as well.

I've spent the last 5 weeks making plans to build a off the grid compound,or home, but compound sounds much cooler. Complete with shipping container home, green house, 1500 gallon water catchment system, farm animals, and enough solar to run the whole operation. Many phone calls and days later the whole set-up would cost about 7 to 8 thousand. Not to bad for a compound.

 The whole idea seemed fantastic until reality crept in, or maybe the beer wore off? Either way,that trip into the mountains, or down to the desert would become a 1 week hassle instead of a 3 month adventure. That's when this quote bubbled into my melon.

"Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don't need to escape from."

                                          -Seth Godin

So yup pretty much ixnayed the whole idea for now. One day perhaps when my feet ain't so itchy, but for now I can see my summer hideout up near 10000ft from the Mesa, and i'll be on my way if it ever warms up. Heres a few more pics.....

 Ginger in disbelief. All this white crap wasn't here yesterday.

 Had another load of cinders delivered. Will get a youtube video once im done spreading them.

 Family came to visit to celebrate my 40th year on this big blue marble.

 Mom made fancy new curtains for the Turtle, with storage pockets a must for any vandweller.

 Built a mail bucket. Although the post office wont deliver I did manage to get UPS and Fed Ex out here after several days of trial, and error.

 Antelope checking me out.

 Birds building a nest in the Turtle Top. Ixnayed them too

 Can we keep him? This lil fella followed me home one day. Started to get a bit nervous when he didn't wanna leave. Eventually his mom showed up. Turns out Louie doesn't look so clever, and keen, but he is quite the escape artist. 

Gingy hanging out at the reservoir.

April Expenses

Grocery 193.22

Misc 28.02

Gas 41.72

Ginger 31.96

Propane 14.62

Hot Spot Phone Netflix 141.49

April expense = 451.03

Thanks to all of you who used my Amazon link, and Thanks for visiting! Good Day!

Busted!