Footprints of Awareness: A Journey into Tracking
My First CyberTracker Track & Sign Evaluation
The morning began with a rendezvous at the Pueblo Montaño Picnic Area, where I shook hands with a few of my fellow participants. As everyone arrived, crawling out of their cars with coffee or tea in hand, we geared up for an exciting day ahead within the Bosque of the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (According to Wikipedia, bosque is a Spanish word for "forest" and refers to a type of gallery forest along the floodplains of rivers and lakes in the southwestern U.S. (Wikipedia).
Before diving into my experience, I want to take a brief moment to map out how I got here.
In 2023, following a multi-year immersive journey of personal self-discovery, I felt a strong reconnection with a primal part of myself—my inner wild man—while in the backcountry of New Zealand. I detail this reconnection in Chapter 13, Rewilding, of my book, A Path to Self-Discovery.
At the time, I was devouring the work of Boyd Varty and his book, A Lion Tracker's Guide to Life, and I could feel his stories coming alive within me. As I read, I continuously thought, "Yes—this is it. He provided the language for something I had long felt but never fully articulated—the deep connection to nature I had as a child when I spent countless hours outdoors, dreaming of a career in Wildlife Biology or Wildlife and Fisheries Management.
That book marked a pivotal point on my journey of rediscovery—uncovering who I am, what my gifts are, and how I want to spend my time on this planet.
Without much effort, as if guided by fate, the next resource miraculously appeared, much like a track revealing itself to the seeker. This next "track" was Tom Brown Jr.’s book, The Tracker, which my uncle loaned me after it caught my eye on his bookshelf. Needless to say, I devoured it within a week and immediately reread it.
Meanwhile, I immersed myself in Boyd Varty's podcasts and his first book, Cathedral of the Wild, growing ever more enthralled with the experiences that await us beyond the hum of modern life—on the edge of the unknown, directly engaging with the mystical world of Mother Nature, our home and birthplace.
Since then, consuming writings on tracking and learning about its ancient art form has ignited my imagination with incredible thoughts and visions, instilling in me a deep sense of wholeness and understanding that I had been seeking.
Although I have realized that I have always been "tracking" in some form, often without full awareness, this CyberTracker Track & Sign Evaluation was my opportunity to experience tracking firsthand with a certified tracker.
The Evaluation Begins
As we gathered in the scrub brush of the river bottom that morning, we introduced ourselves. Many participants had met at previous evaluations across the country, and I was immediately struck by the strong communal ties this practice fosters.
Our lead tracking evaluator, Casey McFarland, provided a brief introduction for those of us new to CyberTracker. He shared how Louie Liebenberg encountered tracking in Africa through the San people of the Kalahari and developed a system to preserve and teach wildlife tracking as a means of economic security. This system has since spread across the world.
Casey emphasized that tracking is a process of mutual discovery—both externally in the natural landscape and internally within ourselves. He also spoke about the significance of this practice in today’s world, as society drifts further from nature and our ancestral roots.
I was primed and ready to go. We began with three practice questions.
We started with some hair on the ground and were asked: Whose hair is this? Then, two more questions followed, focusing on a large mound of dirt leading to a fairly big hole: Who dug this hole? and Did it happen before or after the rain?
My answers: Coyote, Badger, and After the rain (judging by the semi-dry state of the dirt).
Once everyone finished answering, Casey invited individuals to share their reasoning. He emphasized that expanding our repertoire of questions when interpreting tracks and signs opens up new levels of awareness. He summed it up in a simple yet profound statement: "Questions guide our eyes."
This was how the next 53 questions over the next two days would unfold.
I correctly identified the Coyote hair and Badger dig, but I was incorrect about the timing—it had actually happened before the rain.
This process of getting some answers right and others wrong was humbling but also deeply engaging. As the evaluation continued, we observed and analyzed numerous signs from various animals, expanding our knowledge of the world around us.
We examined fresh dirt mounds from pocket gophers, the sporadic array of Desert Cottontail tracks known as "Rabbit Dancing," and a plethora of Porcupine tracks, scat, and sign—including a live sighting! We also broke down the different gaits of the Coyote, learning to recognize their movement patterns and the number of individuals along a trail.
We ended the first day by the river, observing shorebird tracks and plenty of Beaver tracks and signs. During one discussion, a Coyote swam across the river right in front of us, moving along the opposite bank—a thrilling live encounter after a day of tracking its footprints.
Walking away from that first day, I felt completely hooked. The experience was immersive, engaging, and a beautiful form of mutual learning.
Day Two: A Deeper Dive
The second morning took us east, into Juniper and Piñon country. Our meeting point was the Ojito de San Antonio Open Space.
Here, we traded the soft sand and cottonwood bottoms of the Bosque for sticky red clay and the scent of pine. Having an idea of what to expect, I felt both excited and relaxed, ready to bring my A-game.
One of the highlights of the day was seeing my first series of Mountain Lion tracks. Even more thrilling, nearby, we found a Mountain Lion "scrape"—two parallel lines where the cat had raked back the soil and pine needles to deposit scent, marking its territory.
Track of a big male (aka Tom) Mountain Lion
Following the tracks, Casey identified where the lion had paused to sit and observe the orchard, likely on the hunt. Through tracking, I could see the mountain lion in my mind’s eye, moving across the landscape. Casey reaffirmed that this is the beauty of tracking—a primal technology our ancestors mastered, allowing us to step into the mind of an animal and bring it to life within our imagination and hearts.
As the day unfolded, I lost track of time, fully immersed in the process. When it finally came to an end, I was thrilled to receive a Level II certificate with a score in the 80s on the 56 questions. Though I missed some routine questions, I also answered some difficult ones correctly. Casey explained the evaluation's three-tier question system and how it assesses tracking competence. Overall, I was more than satisfied with the outcome of my first CyberTracker Evaluation.
Jackson & Casey McFarland
The day concluded with shared moments among new friends and the incredible tracker and guide that is Casey McFarland. As I left New Mexico, I carried with me a full heart, new relationships, valuable lessons, and a renewed confidence in my tracking skills.
My Biggest Takeaways:
We all possess the ability to "track" in some way.
Learning to interpret animal sign is often more important than just interpreting tracks.
Tracking enhances ecological literacy and deepens our connection to nature.
It is a grounding practice, pulling us into the present moment.
What we are able to see, and therefore experience within the world is limited only by the number of questions we can ask ourselves ("Questions guide our eyes." - Casey McFarland).
Knowledge of weather events is crucial for interpreting tracks and signs.
This experience was a profound step on my journey, reinforcing my passion for tracking and the wild world. I can’t wait to continue deepening my understanding and connection to this ancient art.