Last week we returned to camp in the Gila National Forest. This was a very different visit. There were very few other people in the mountains. Bow hunting season had ended, but rifle season was not due to begin until October 10. So, there were no hunters at all. A few hunters had left their camp sites set up because they expected to be back for rifle season, but we saw only one other couple who were camping. Otherwise the woods were empty. 

 

Unfortunately, the wildlife was all still quite stressed by the hunting, so we saw very few animals. And the fall migration was clearly under way - a cold front had blown through 2 days earlier - and most of the birds had moved on too. 

 

There were long periods of time in which we did not see or hear anything but the forests and the wind. It was quite calm and lovely: like a meditation retreat. 

 

 

Sunset

Moon rise - just a few days before it was full

There were still a few flowers

Showy Goldeneye

Wright's Buckwheat

Alligator Juniper limb

But Autumn was beginning

We hiked along the Wolf Hollow Trail just north of the Gila Wilderness

But we did not see any of the wolves

We did see a Great Blue Heron

And we came upon a single bull elk - with very distorted antlers

And we had campfires each evening