Monday, April 19, 2010

Field Season (finally)

Hello, it's me Miley who has finally gotten Mommy to work on the bloggy again.   The past month has been quite busy with the arrival of warmer temperatures and getting back into the field again.  I've been hiking around with Mommy in another bentonite mine.  We both need to get back in shape after the cold winter and being shut out of the field by snow (then slick clay roads) for about 3 months.  I have four paw drive and can maneuver the steep slopes much easier than Mommy and her walking stick. 


We did find ourselves on a steep, narrow ridge trying to find a way back down to the truck one afternoon.  The steep (60-80 degree) slopes consisted largely of highly tilted, rock outcrops and near vertical clay beds.  After searching, we found a little drainage channel filled with very loose clay and washed down rocks.  Needless to say, we slid down the channel nearly side by side.  Usually I don't slide (Mommy slides well) but I was sinking into very loose clay for several inches.  Of course, Mommy had to stick her hand and her leg into some prickly pear cactus when we "landed" at the bottom.   Happily she only had about 4 little cactus spines to pull out while I waited on her. 

Fortunately (for us) , it has been dry lately.  Although we are a little concerned about a dry spring leading to an overly active fire season on the forests in the mountains.   I've been getting a lot of exercise lately. 



Hugs, Miley