[pct-l] Bovine mystery

[Jim Banks]

Ron, we did some trail maintenance on that section on November 23rd.  There
are always cows in that area.  It is BLM land, but there is a grazing
permit.  The cows do walk up and down the trail on their own and we spent a
lot of time repairing damage they had done.  The soil in this area is very
loose and we have a hard time keeping the soil from sloughing off onto the
trail.  There is very little vegetation for the cows to eat so they have to
keep on the move in search of food.  My personal opinion is that they have
very much over grazed this area and the grazing permit should be eliminated
or suspended for a period to allow for recovery.

I-Beam  

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Ron Graybill
Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2013 11:40 AM
To: pct-l
Subject: [pct-l] Bovine mystery

There are doubtless many places along the PCT where hikers encounter
evidence that cows have shared the trail, but this instance thoroughly
mystifies me.  We hiked yesterday from Cabazon (actually Interstate 10 at
Mile 209.5) up to the Whitewater Preserve (Mile 218.7).  We had scarcely
left the neighborhoods along the freeway when we began to notice hoof prints
and cow pies along the trail (just before the Mesa Wind Farm).  The evidence
suggested several cows had been walking along the trail, and the freshness
of the evidence showed this had happened in the past couple of weeks.
Incredibly, this interpid bovines continued up and over the summit of the
box canyon at Mile 215.2 and down through the switchbacks on the steep,
steep canyon wall northward of that point.  I know cows are stupid
creatures, but I can't imagine they would wander up this trail on their own
in search of food or water.  So there must have been a herdsman driving
them.  But why?  They were headed northbound, so they couldn't have been
heading for a slaughterhouse.  This area is completely and utterly devoid of
any green grass or other nourishment for cows, and bone dry the whole 9
miles (we didn't even see lizards).  So why were cows heading northbound
along this stretch of trail?
Ron "Slo Charger" Graybill
P.S. Hoping to hike with the Trail Geezers northward from Warner Springs in
a couple of weeks. Just skipped ahead to this piece near Cabazon because we
wanted to also visit friends out there.
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