Bear and I stopped in a lovely spot for a water break on a warm spring afternoon. We had the trail to ourselves so I lingered, not ready to let the moment pass, I had been back at work a couple of months and missed hiking with him each day. As we finally gathered up to leave I noticed someone left a colorful shirt on a boulder, I didn’t have a trash bag but if it wasn’t too disgusting I was going to pack it out.
Except the shirt turned into a Gila monster, only if someone let all the air out. We had a great view as it tentatively explored its surroundings, climbing up and down nearly vertical rock faces. I had my telephoto with me and we spent half an hour watching it until I filled up my memory card and besides, we needed to get back before closing.
Given its thinness I thought it very young or old or sick, my impression was its slow movements were from uncertainty rather than infirmity. I found it hard to believe even a young monster could be that big but I consulted my big lizard book when I got home and it said hatchlings average over 6 inches long.
There are days on the trails that fill your soul, moments you remember all your life, a joy and a blessing just to witness.
Boolie 