A group of eight of us made the run to Fort Cummings through Massacre Canyon on Thursday. Those of you who read the blog regularly know that this trip is a popular one here in the park.
We had five rigs, two people to a rig except for Mike and me. Each of us drove our own side by side. Got over there just fine and Mike and I started home by way of the Powerline Trail. The others were spending more time at the fort and then were going back the way they came.
The trail to get to Powerline has suffered some damage over the summer from all the rain we've had. Part of it is washed out and we had to find alternate ways to go. Mike shut down his Yamaha Rhino to scout ahead. When he returned, the Rhino wouldn't start. Hhhhmmmmm....same problem he had several weeks ago.
 |
| Dead Rhino |
 |
| Mike and Steve jump start the Rhino. |
All the rigs are equipped with HAM radio transmitter/receivers so Mike radioed to the others that he was disabled. They came promptly, jump started the Rhino, and we started back toward the fort. And then the next problem: the CHECK ENGINE light came on and the radio quit. Immediate cause for a halt. We considered shooting the Rhino, the way you would shoot a broke-down horse.
After consulting with the others, the decision was made to tow the Rhino to Highway 26 while I drove back to the ranch, hooked up the Jeep to my trailer, and drove out to pick up Mike and the rig. Whew! While I was getting out to the Fort Cummings road, Mike called the shop which had said it was a battery problem and he had a lively discussion with them. In short: they gave Mike a refund for the new battery, re-installed the old one, and started looking for the real problem.
Parts are ordered but it will probably be late next week before the Rhino is operational. The two times it has quit, we've been places where we could actually get out easily and return to base. I should not complain, as there are other spots (such as at the top of Fluorite Ridge) where we would have had great difficulty with a disabled vehicle.
On another topic, there have been reports on javelinas inside the park perimeter. Neither of us had seen them until yesterday. Mike was at the front of the porch and saw a javelina run out past my carport. Then I went out at night and (presumably) the same beast ran behind me and up the lane. We walked the dogs together this morning and saw it again near the storage lot. Here's why it's concerning: Javelinas
The one we saw is likely the male. There is a female, who is probably pregnant, living near the cattle guard entrance to the wash where lots of people walk dogs. (In an earlier post, I talked about how the generous rain this year is leading to lots and lots of wildlife babies. Javelinas like it, too, apparently.) Now is when a lot of people who are not desert-savvy are coming into the park. This poses risks to them and to their dogs, as the javelinas will win unless the human is packing a .45. One of the guys suggested I walk the dogs with a shotgun on my shoulder!
It's very important to be properly attired and accessorized on our desert rides.
The proper headgear is essential: a floppy wide-brimmed hat with a chin strap will allow the wearer to turn up/down the brim as required and the chinstrap keeps it from heading to Mexico.
A thrift-store man's long-sleeved shirt protects delicate skin from the desert sun. Shorts are required on the hot days to prevent overheating.
Cowboy boots protect feet and lower legs from cactus spines, rocks, rattlesnakes, and 4x4 injuries.
And now the accessories:
Aviator super-dark sun glasses spare eyes from the glare of the New Mexico sun.
Around my neck I am wearing a Garmin GPS system, useful for finding one's way back to the ranch when all the terrain looks the same.
A .38 caliber pistol loaded with snake shot provides a measure of insurance that the curious rattlesnake will not survive to bite.
And of course no outfit is complete without three dogs....
