Avoidance and Encounter

Dead tree along the Grand View Trail

We got a late start on the Grand View Trail this morning, but we saw nobody on the outbound leg.  On the way back, however, we spotted a man and woman with a dog running ahead of them.  Sure to bump into them on the narrow trail ahead Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I chose discretion and bushwhacked into an area we've explored in the past.

When the hikers with canine had passed we started back up to the trail, but noticed two other hikers headed our way.  We held back from the trail until they walked by, a young man and an older man with walking stick.  We exchanged greetings and went in opposite directions.

Fortunately we encountered no other outdoor enthusiasts before getting back to the CR-V.

This and the next:  White Sands from the Grand View

This and the next:  I think it's a female Hairy Woodpecker

This and the next 3:  female Northern Flicker

Pine tree where a bird is singing musically

It's a Townsend's Solitaire

This and the next:  Four-wing Saltbush

This and the next:  same raptor

This and the next:  Hedgehog Cactus in rock

The rest:  area we hiked into to avoid hikers with a dog