Arriving at the southern terminus of my adopted section of the Continental Divide Trail at mid-morning, I start hiking trail-south, and clear drains and remove downed trees from the trail.
Piñon (a variety of pine) are all brown, either from an exceptionally dry winter and summer, or from some disease. Here you can see the bands of brown and green on the mountainside, the brown being piñon and the green juniper. Are the piñons dead, or will any survive to next year?
Over the years of maintaining my section, I have mostly cleared piñon, and juniper has tended not to fall and block trails. Gradually the percentage of juniper along this section of trail has greatly increased.
When piñon falls here, it is usually a break at the base of the tree at ground level, and does not pull up a root ball.
The southern terminus was in good shape, and just needs a few cairns added to mark the way. I hiked until late, and reached the terminus at dusk, and set up camp.
Twenty five drains were cleared, and 46 blowdowns removed— a full day.
All of the water sources that were running when I first adopted this segment are no longer functioning, and I am not sure cattle are grazing anymore. I will need to pack in my own water, or cache water somewhere, on future visits.
Hiking back the next day to the northern terminus, I proceed to Pie Town. My slice this visit is apple pie New Mexico style, with piñon and mild green chile.
