Good Old Grateful Dead ...

I'd be remiss in not posting that I'm a long time Deadhead. I listened to the Dead, probably, for the first time, sometime in either 1967 or 1968, when back "home again, in Indiana," on convalescent leave from Army hospitals. I was badly wounded in Vietnam and either was sent on convalescent leave from an Army hospital in Pennsylvania, or, later, when I was hospitalized with malaria, while in Kentucky.
Smoking pot in those days wasn't a big deal.
By the time I was discharged from the Army, I was a confirmed Deadhead. I had bought the first album somewhere in there, and was later to get the classic, "Anthem of the Sun," which had the standard Grateful Dead Acid Head long jam kind of playing that I loved so much. It was the beginning of a long, long relationship with the Grateful Dead.
Even today, I listen to a program named "Deadpod," which provides some superb Grateful Dead concerts (some of the 2400 or so shows the played). I'd recommend that Deadheads with iPods, or iPod Classics,or iPhones, go to iTunes Store, and go to "podcasts," and down load all of those Dead shows the "Professor," plays every week.

Hiking In The Eastern Organ Mountains of New Mexico

Here are several photos of the Eastern Organ Mountains, north of Mesquite, NM.
It's my belief that these mountains were frequented by the Mescalero Apache.
The distance from where we hiked to the current Mescalero Reservation must be 150 miles, even on a straight line route.
The distance from where we hiked to El Paso, TX, is most likely 30 miles. As we hiked, and climbed, I took photos to the east. Several appear to be the ranges of Ft. Bliss, U.S. Army base, near El Paso. I also got several long distance photos of very tall observation towers that overlook the base ranges. I would guess this is part of the very TOP SECRET security features that surround the complex of White Sands Missile Range and Ft. Bliss, Texas. There is also, apparently, a Doña Ana Army National Guard reservation or range to the east of these mountains. My guess is that thrown together with several other large tracts of either New Mexico or Texas territory, which are connected in some way with the military, and there must be an area, in total land mass of several millions acres.

Here are some additional photos from the trip to Chihuahua Pass and the "Rocky Mesa" battle site. It is in the south central Chiricahuas, approximatey 20-25 miles south of Rodeo, NM. Take the Rucker Cañon Road west for another 20+ miles. At the first major road intersection headed right (north), take that road until you are nearly at the end of that dirt road. Red Cañon road is unimproved, and in some cases/times, four-wheel drive would be needed. If you can navigate to within a half mile, in a regular truck, that will bring you close to the site, which is about 100 yards from the last pullout on that four wheel road.

The ascent up the Rocky Mesa, or, as I call it, Rimrock Mesa, is several hundred feet. There are agave (century plants); cholla, prickly pear, some barrel and also pin cushion type cacti; Spanish Bayonets or Daggers; soap tree yucca; some other types of cacti like Englemann Cactus; mesquite; acacia; cat claw; a fair amount of dead juniper or scrub oak, and much loose rock. The slope is steep, and one is likely to stumble and fall more than once. As you reach the first line or rimrock, you realize there are several more "rimrock layers," to penetrate. Sometimes this requires real climbing and scrambling over the rocks. In the summer, the place is most likely alive with rattlers. Reaching the top took me well over an hour, as it was 80º even in October.

The area where Lt. Lafferty was most likely wounded was to the far right of the right side panel (as you read the "map"), and perhaps 50 yards up slope. The mesa is steep, and so if you have knee problems coming DOWN such a feature, be forewarned. Take plenty of Motrin if you're over 55.

Imagine carrying 10 - 20 lbs distributed in a rifle; ammunition; rifle kit; canteen; perhaps a few extra items associated with the rifle, including a bayonet. One of the most difficult military movements is attacking up a steep hill, carrying normal combat load, under heavy fire. It's no wonder Col (then Captain) Bernard's men failed. They hadn't a chance in hell, looking back on the event.

Friends & friends: I was in the Floridas, Wednesday, and saw these mountains covered with snow, and hiked all day to where water was running. One of the most impressive experiences of the SW NM desert is when it has lots of water flowing. There was a bit of wind, but there was also lots and lots of water. I hope this year could duplicate the 2005 wildflower season, which was "off the scale" in beauty. I normally go to the Floridas a lot between now and March. These mountains are rugged and a favorite haunt of Victorio's Apaches. The water coming down from the snow covered mountains would have sustained the Apache much longer than might be expected, since there was just much more water available in their time. The ability of these people to live in such rugged country is astounding, but I hope you'll see how beautiful the snow melted water is as it comes from everywhere on a day like Wednesday. Hopefully, you'll find some peace and serenity in these images. There was even snow on the "Little Floridas," which Cheryl's mother owns. I was surprised by that. There is a spring on the east side of the Little Floridas that perhaps Cheryl's mother would let us visit, if people were interested. The water's probably stopped running there by now, but I'll keep my eyes open for another serious snow storm or rain (changing to snow) down there in the next few months. It's not really all that cold if you're in the sun. Tentatively, speaking @ Friends of Rock Hound State Park in January. If anyone wants to see some of the incredibly beautiful wildflower photos I took in 2005, let me know. That was a year that was just beyond belief in desert beauty.
May You All Be Held In The Light Today.