tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60829867831209044242024-02-07T03:23:54.828-07:00My BackyardThis is my attempt to marry two things I enjoy doing: photography and writing. I don't know where this journey will carry me, but for now, this blog refers to things in my backyard, meaning scenes and activities in the immediate area where I live: Los Alamos county, New Mexico. This blog will do some chronicling of trails and sights around my home.Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-21225642838201496742010-11-20T19:12:00.033-07:002010-11-20T20:17:50.522-07:00Finally, a Hike<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngCe7eDyPaLwN8Xv-IK0WsRQ1Jwr1lSiBeTCZF3sHpOnCU0A0PeoYE9ofKSZVHgiNS6K9tgy2Os64PM3lDhJulHagTXCgYXVOZ4OucAV3CtJLZdaAqGpr3cTXv82kPnO57fDe9QejzMtY/s1600/Untitled_HDR2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngCe7eDyPaLwN8Xv-IK0WsRQ1Jwr1lSiBeTCZF3sHpOnCU0A0PeoYE9ofKSZVHgiNS6K9tgy2Os64PM3lDhJulHagTXCgYXVOZ4OucAV3CtJLZdaAqGpr3cTXv82kPnO57fDe9QejzMtY/s320/Untitled_HDR2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541821668504012098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Finally went for a hike today. Have not done much of this all summer for various reasons, except for my vacation in Wyoming (Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks).<br /><br />Today I wanted to hike to upper Alamo Canyon, starting from Ponderosa campground. The map of this 9 mile round trip hike appears below.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcB8Ba1RDyt5yz4injgzAeJ6VYWXt7ooqlTjiDNs0Gtek0nHXsUoes5HrgUETBPgGbigMt4nJvq9Cw8ei_d4kWrVU0L6G95mKb5pX8b6vC9BqJ1ZXp9Okoxgm4RQDZcoY6ZIKG38IHwna/s1600/hike_route.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 159px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcB8Ba1RDyt5yz4injgzAeJ6VYWXt7ooqlTjiDNs0Gtek0nHXsUoes5HrgUETBPgGbigMt4nJvq9Cw8ei_d4kWrVU0L6G95mKb5pX8b6vC9BqJ1ZXp9Okoxgm4RQDZcoY6ZIKG38IHwna/s320/hike_route.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541822574465523042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The elevation profile appears below, and as can be seen this was a pretty simple hike.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDM596eMNwNXUi55OD-u5YMvdUcR9O2VYBlLi_daxPOOHcw-I9erGZTaQk0QoaTbFewLK8LBDBFYXIRDFxj_AvMZ1vBTUu2zag0A4dxiTuwBgAw2dxMYxrLzLiJo_4GCVva9swzU4rEKGC/s1600/elevation.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 105px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDM596eMNwNXUi55OD-u5YMvdUcR9O2VYBlLi_daxPOOHcw-I9erGZTaQk0QoaTbFewLK8LBDBFYXIRDFxj_AvMZ1vBTUu2zag0A4dxiTuwBgAw2dxMYxrLzLiJo_4GCVva9swzU4rEKGC/s320/elevation.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541822581797121890" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The hike begins with an easy, if somewhat unremarkable, stroll through a ponderosa pine and scrub oak forest. The NPS has been thinning trees in this area.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmpM1XK6_y-YHV-1UZoSjY8E64tuRvGe7uGVuhQkbAlasf-1yAWhysgkc-CPCyESbkJvGz3xFCSuEwj_LKCmMmTlnnk_VG7v5Pnv3riVYpG1FUuQ8JS2Bik3Q12u1l4OsIX6mSoXRvBWn/s1600/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-001.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtmpM1XK6_y-YHV-1UZoSjY8E64tuRvGe7uGVuhQkbAlasf-1yAWhysgkc-CPCyESbkJvGz3xFCSuEwj_LKCmMmTlnnk_VG7v5Pnv3riVYpG1FUuQ8JS2Bik3Q12u1l4OsIX6mSoXRvBWn/s320/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541823367832982626" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After bout 1.28 miles, the descent into Frijoles canyon begins.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8eLf0-9ilOXVy0Ji7mbU_zyr-GE_ZsYB0SzSKfTzDVk5cc28cPBbnZ40ZERMuEZBMM-zLkI8pUQGFAYp3J0tXIA-uOCb3Fpdo0Hw8nEOe_qZkhvKtCdFFTA9SiAVPOYYOWp-00D-9A_i/s1600/frijoles_descent.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8eLf0-9ilOXVy0Ji7mbU_zyr-GE_ZsYB0SzSKfTzDVk5cc28cPBbnZ40ZERMuEZBMM-zLkI8pUQGFAYp3J0tXIA-uOCb3Fpdo0Hw8nEOe_qZkhvKtCdFFTA9SiAVPOYYOWp-00D-9A_i/s320/frijoles_descent.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541823869187130402" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There is a sharp decent on this south side into Frijoles to the upper crossing of the creek. <br /><br />Here, continue south to cross back out of Frijoles. If you head east, you will walk down Frijoles to the visitor center (which I did on the "slog" hike I blogged about previously). If you head west, you head toward Apache Springs. I was going toward Alamo canyon, which is toward Yapashi, Stone Lions, and the painted cave.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38-iSYdCJRrnU04WI-aVG_UHcNWN7WGmeehQhXdPCaxyz5BQL3RJvtyAHr0WGOJY2opMHbKXcVx1WIRdFMgx2ofZ6Fvr8ZfMIUef1ZuYsY2aEQJhFEgjFVpMEOhiKd88WTbd3FzxlpYsv/s1600/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-002.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 261px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38-iSYdCJRrnU04WI-aVG_UHcNWN7WGmeehQhXdPCaxyz5BQL3RJvtyAHr0WGOJY2opMHbKXcVx1WIRdFMgx2ofZ6Fvr8ZfMIUef1ZuYsY2aEQJhFEgjFVpMEOhiKd88WTbd3FzxlpYsv/s320/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541827129086903154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The hike out of Frijoles on the south is longer than the decent on the north side, but not as steep. Some photos along the hike out follow.<br /><br />Looking roughly west down Frijoles.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKRUoMsjWapoaTjQ1NqaQyoq_fOocuq743Cl2XcDlVJg2ttOrmdUP1kfv8pxazUi4qibUR7255CryIPj6zTSSuaavvRWxIREICy_CX4hxNapeP8lU9HPg03LcwyecXbYKQFEa8PchwYIT/s1600/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-012.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKRUoMsjWapoaTjQ1NqaQyoq_fOocuq743Cl2XcDlVJg2ttOrmdUP1kfv8pxazUi4qibUR7255CryIPj6zTSSuaavvRWxIREICy_CX4hxNapeP8lU9HPg03LcwyecXbYKQFEa8PchwYIT/s320/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541825902898763746" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Looking across to the south side of Frijoles.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zCOZ3hO1mn-Fi7lruLy1EpzQS6lkm56yjFwMk2LUUCh2u_Dw0TLKDueg7uU7MhP1MWcBpUfkkZ1t5ZBg8iN5O2YJbrYsQy5U2g7iHcmhgGzID6XYJNVPD96Gm70g4SLICcPDY9ckaokW/s1600/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-004.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zCOZ3hO1mn-Fi7lruLy1EpzQS6lkm56yjFwMk2LUUCh2u_Dw0TLKDueg7uU7MhP1MWcBpUfkkZ1t5ZBg8iN5O2YJbrYsQy5U2g7iHcmhgGzID6XYJNVPD96Gm70g4SLICcPDY9ckaokW/s320/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541825891885249810" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Looking due east toward the vistor center. This is near the top of the south rim.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOIfccLEhPDq4f0fZPjeyfBrvNofD7fCKaUX2fk3Lrwykec2EgsCQTN_zSmy63urRWbtomcjjtcnnMQMzvTO5RZPqhoclbgHK6ClRZBQ3aWLZsUpfkTGsbhymuxKhGxEjwUlfEMotV-SF/s1600/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-015.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOIfccLEhPDq4f0fZPjeyfBrvNofD7fCKaUX2fk3Lrwykec2EgsCQTN_zSmy63urRWbtomcjjtcnnMQMzvTO5RZPqhoclbgHK6ClRZBQ3aWLZsUpfkTGsbhymuxKhGxEjwUlfEMotV-SF/s320/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541825932545536754" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Once out of Frijoles, the view opens up.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTvMdjvF-HEgBRoWgY9Y6Wxdq6yBTeuY9XrwG8VspRiBpDFXefSwI6YRy_MQifc1LtP1NJR04EW7_zSvBv0fUszfExVaG7UbQ3I0VpSgc9AU2_s65Lojpm7q0KyA8RndLfdzypU7IearK/s1600/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-005.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTvMdjvF-HEgBRoWgY9Y6Wxdq6yBTeuY9XrwG8VspRiBpDFXefSwI6YRy_MQifc1LtP1NJR04EW7_zSvBv0fUszfExVaG7UbQ3I0VpSgc9AU2_s65Lojpm7q0KyA8RndLfdzypU7IearK/s320/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541828063284389922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On the way to upper Alamo, I encountered the scattered bones of a very large elk.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XtdOILGcy1saDIDB3fIrd4DM-llhfSy01x77SrcN9XaXoCYs8MHMlRE0TXerD-Cc2fnKEO-6g0RPFhl-EwEIny1WfscTklJWbzGWslQltDPdl4Xs5ygfKhgh5xiUtb1yQiKxsKKghu4n/s1600/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-008.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XtdOILGcy1saDIDB3fIrd4DM-llhfSy01x77SrcN9XaXoCYs8MHMlRE0TXerD-Cc2fnKEO-6g0RPFhl-EwEIny1WfscTklJWbzGWslQltDPdl4Xs5ygfKhgh5xiUtb1yQiKxsKKghu4n/s320/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541831069802576258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6Hzunmph2ZgPA0faOh2_Y7QNxooo5ekWevVJ5TEOv2zxDyzVAwRW5j2HqUadDuBHKf-bO0JVKrvxL9gth5GyV2tAz0sJiA7BcwUCEUJUO2nCoP3-_1nird6KJzggSzKCr2VJMdel3mOl/s1600/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-007.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6Hzunmph2ZgPA0faOh2_Y7QNxooo5ekWevVJ5TEOv2zxDyzVAwRW5j2HqUadDuBHKf-bO0JVKrvxL9gth5GyV2tAz0sJiA7BcwUCEUJUO2nCoP3-_1nird6KJzggSzKCr2VJMdel3mOl/s320/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541830735685272482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FgWySqlKlpDohhO5GydwT0xhokljtXgVZ7U5fsMjyrjva1FtT0xP77ST_NxbAZGD8dBHyQCcBpkc1QwVIgerig-5vihzfOibPP5rWGH_UMyCNBnsj2EMnomC1-nx84YI8eUyHEU7f3vz/s1600/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-006.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FgWySqlKlpDohhO5GydwT0xhokljtXgVZ7U5fsMjyrjva1FtT0xP77ST_NxbAZGD8dBHyQCcBpkc1QwVIgerig-5vihzfOibPP5rWGH_UMyCNBnsj2EMnomC1-nx84YI8eUyHEU7f3vz/s320/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541830359148840802" border="0" /></a><br />I say the elk was big because the spinal column was larger around than my fist.<br /><br />Eventually, you arrive at Alamo canyon.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMBUDm8r9YlOGkCM368unsZtY2Vk0ZC0pWKegMglMIP9ja0IK3XVhpYWYbCGAGoK4_5d2kfZRtGEF5cbIaBg5EVryJlgNQ58MUC8ktrXsbeo3yJGmXDPauWKKAXI2O_oPVTDg-KkS-1o8/s1600/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMBUDm8r9YlOGkCM368unsZtY2Vk0ZC0pWKegMglMIP9ja0IK3XVhpYWYbCGAGoK4_5d2kfZRtGEF5cbIaBg5EVryJlgNQ58MUC8ktrXsbeo3yJGmXDPauWKKAXI2O_oPVTDg-KkS-1o8/s320/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541832746146288354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H01-DxJnkwGRxVSNvFYSO3-zKbAECOjzavaXtR1LdrAR7vOl1lqW_YGLz3SSvIvJrO_RRQA8RXb9wCOiCU-aW7pKljuCD4YcN9scftEa_SXrYipNuuLxIlFEgfPeBFkqiNs986JRuu14/s1600/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H01-DxJnkwGRxVSNvFYSO3-zKbAECOjzavaXtR1LdrAR7vOl1lqW_YGLz3SSvIvJrO_RRQA8RXb9wCOiCU-aW7pKljuCD4YcN9scftEa_SXrYipNuuLxIlFEgfPeBFkqiNs986JRuu14/s320/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541834930534693714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKkDEyhTGNXTn5BSxVvwRz498cYIj8ywp4mB-A3zAz9Hcz-jkz6L4mlco3F348mpa145iZp4cGnbjLvcwZ-XQD0OfDtllApIIfzLcq7gupRKHUIfMKF6UVKjzTAyYicbRK3mfcXQmzzS7/s1600/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKkDEyhTGNXTn5BSxVvwRz498cYIj8ywp4mB-A3zAz9Hcz-jkz6L4mlco3F348mpa145iZp4cGnbjLvcwZ-XQD0OfDtllApIIfzLcq7gupRKHUIfMKF6UVKjzTAyYicbRK3mfcXQmzzS7/s320/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-012.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541835181251115314" /></a><br /><br />At this point, I turned around. I will close with some additional images from the hike.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPYr57jAT7zVSdeKCMu2UlaIYeWuNMIlTujwHuvrhobHETyhOQqSWIIgpVaiLGRcEvcnIstjeJZlCKLkNDtYaqu0gE_0-TptyFW4pczSTzGY0zyBmdn11AGSVZmExlHlzjoeUZZGkR1EA/s1600/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPYr57jAT7zVSdeKCMu2UlaIYeWuNMIlTujwHuvrhobHETyhOQqSWIIgpVaiLGRcEvcnIstjeJZlCKLkNDtYaqu0gE_0-TptyFW4pczSTzGY0zyBmdn11AGSVZmExlHlzjoeUZZGkR1EA/s320/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-014.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541836489326530130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLOioPfviSwGGvIC_rvsoT4OBEs4Dui07rJL6PaulhKJ435q5YmCAsnVkGEbqQc3i3IKFX__uBeryiQ1VKszMY1nBOqvWtnVB22p_p5dFXxLYS46rfymwH_BMwRUoUGU8dwrAvkhGQhiL/s1600/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-017.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLOioPfviSwGGvIC_rvsoT4OBEs4Dui07rJL6PaulhKJ435q5YmCAsnVkGEbqQc3i3IKFX__uBeryiQ1VKszMY1nBOqvWtnVB22p_p5dFXxLYS46rfymwH_BMwRUoUGU8dwrAvkhGQhiL/s320/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-017.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541836226873435986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGoYoGKqPH6e0nGn61UW53nDYvoxWC8T_5Nh6n4LoEfaLAWtu7dxJUzdHUuUaFyM18B_r4Yx4CXp0Qx-EEW0_ftCjsJ2zkV1NyzABOHVZgwEmlF2pl_ZhSmrDVpSC1jN0icygF9mVDZ0v/s1600/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGoYoGKqPH6e0nGn61UW53nDYvoxWC8T_5Nh6n4LoEfaLAWtu7dxJUzdHUuUaFyM18B_r4Yx4CXp0Qx-EEW0_ftCjsJ2zkV1NyzABOHVZgwEmlF2pl_ZhSmrDVpSC1jN0icygF9mVDZ0v/s320/10November-new_gtnp_for_calendar-009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541835723803188338" /></a><br /><br />I did not climb out the south side of Alamo, but this looks to be an easier approach than mid-Alamo is (which is what I used to go to the Stone Lions).Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-58977187805212012452010-03-15T09:02:00.012-06:002010-03-15T18:22:41.804-06:00Spring SnowstormI don't remember if March came in like a lion or a lamb, but it sat around in the middle of the month and produced a nice spring snowstorm. A few images taken this morning in my backyard, followed by a similar image about 10 hours later. Spring in New Mexico.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudn6XJVGRR68WM0zpWdqnzoaj36SscA06JUtefPI80FCozmUPIz2nlhhCXl2Qm8mJ5IZXR6fqq1OBMZg5fpK5YaNWFdscNDL61Ds-aQUYAYws44aNT7kp11YVkN1UyeHXzpvdQ_vi4wzn/s1600-h/10March-march_blizzard-029.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudn6XJVGRR68WM0zpWdqnzoaj36SscA06JUtefPI80FCozmUPIz2nlhhCXl2Qm8mJ5IZXR6fqq1OBMZg5fpK5YaNWFdscNDL61Ds-aQUYAYws44aNT7kp11YVkN1UyeHXzpvdQ_vi4wzn/s320/10March-march_blizzard-029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449016323072628274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPP1nQObssoVp4K82Fr0DDeT4bg1EGN0SVzwHZVKbk6KT3z_GKKCBPSINbz5kwqWomGrvI2J-6ArdEzkZRjXabDCtM9iEZrF9GjKKWLaNymtEWXkVFzqN7dg3RwwMLPgdTxnFS3Xwm2LPV/s1600-h/10March-march_snow-002.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPP1nQObssoVp4K82Fr0DDeT4bg1EGN0SVzwHZVKbk6KT3z_GKKCBPSINbz5kwqWomGrvI2J-6ArdEzkZRjXabDCtM9iEZrF9GjKKWLaNymtEWXkVFzqN7dg3RwwMLPgdTxnFS3Xwm2LPV/s320/10March-march_snow-002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448886911983844018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMn_tD3ZYzfYo7aMJR-z6oBKiI_h5xUdYcLp3XNnLfQa3xTDA3PPdbyMckEWsJtwUHZK2lj-7Dx3h-CP_CyBF5Nr-GvtkapejA49kjLAUCf7wQ205im-CUi7hQ9jYnjKcldpmM1rEpKbV/s1600-h/10March-march_snow-001.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMn_tD3ZYzfYo7aMJR-z6oBKiI_h5xUdYcLp3XNnLfQa3xTDA3PPdbyMckEWsJtwUHZK2lj-7Dx3h-CP_CyBF5Nr-GvtkapejA49kjLAUCf7wQ205im-CUi7hQ9jYnjKcldpmM1rEpKbV/s320/10March-march_snow-001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448882467183971586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYkVZJlfkmyrEC-JnSjhxRCcfFAg7iF_FNBoQC8v8oBXNSOXeP-_gcV_5EKE1IjiK7wNM1O3LcWBiUCkZq4tGZM_ZGqvOHiQ99rh6Pj8WqnLjRQxIbSXhvbRQGqjrT8FZb0NHpeWzmBzR/s1600-h/10March-026.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYkVZJlfkmyrEC-JnSjhxRCcfFAg7iF_FNBoQC8v8oBXNSOXeP-_gcV_5EKE1IjiK7wNM1O3LcWBiUCkZq4tGZM_ZGqvOHiQ99rh6Pj8WqnLjRQxIbSXhvbRQGqjrT8FZb0NHpeWzmBzR/s320/10March-026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448882451475150178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AvL3YfpbUpUpYlno7a3q3D8PDe0tD47v5DKPC6R50_KIoh9CEbebRNTJW3yep1UQ5HQCoPDBrqKU1waUNHqegsJkKt52TWzAy64pOSOzruoIy8-aEDr782dSKdsApQjPAEOlhpW29M4E/s1600-h/10March-march_snow-004.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AvL3YfpbUpUpYlno7a3q3D8PDe0tD47v5DKPC6R50_KIoh9CEbebRNTJW3yep1UQ5HQCoPDBrqKU1waUNHqegsJkKt52TWzAy64pOSOzruoIy8-aEDr782dSKdsApQjPAEOlhpW29M4E/s320/10March-march_snow-004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448886939040664034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-0P4FAn77w-HIbRH7d1tdjNuOcylbRHiw3o5iRqpKLbLFr1FeimlAd3ESA3tX_6UgJmw0LwCuRMpM24wU3WlXhfxTNF0mnECL1R11TJTM55FuRo9P2LAHttmuZvSTQVkOkwRbQk4IRRf/s1600-h/10March-019.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-0P4FAn77w-HIbRH7d1tdjNuOcylbRHiw3o5iRqpKLbLFr1FeimlAd3ESA3tX_6UgJmw0LwCuRMpM24wU3WlXhfxTNF0mnECL1R11TJTM55FuRo9P2LAHttmuZvSTQVkOkwRbQk4IRRf/s320/10March-019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448880456518862674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GFe3wtmKANilb6Nm5-0qcJbfuVpTh9cpbrZ0ifv5ngcDiKCCVDNf1kD-nOMh9lpUOhbJg894HD-UDpqM0zowG4vmh99ktNnGOX9pM1cfbdarOrFDfZHz-ZRXA-K2LpQXIqzOCtYHLuyi/s1600-h/10March-march_snow-003.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GFe3wtmKANilb6Nm5-0qcJbfuVpTh9cpbrZ0ifv5ngcDiKCCVDNf1kD-nOMh9lpUOhbJg894HD-UDpqM0zowG4vmh99ktNnGOX9pM1cfbdarOrFDfZHz-ZRXA-K2LpQXIqzOCtYHLuyi/s320/10March-march_snow-003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448886925434766914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaYjpCUhZyIxe9PJA1_fSApTiBGjF-LaWSR04SXvr5nCVFjAVEx2n3GBVP7f8mWytPxmGM3vNQ2gl2JLY8MIBA-00zneRvJyOSnwhNfF1YQVNDn8I8Z_qfRGYzcMhHGQJZPu2hXSWfjuz/s1600-h/10March-march_blizzard-020.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaYjpCUhZyIxe9PJA1_fSApTiBGjF-LaWSR04SXvr5nCVFjAVEx2n3GBVP7f8mWytPxmGM3vNQ2gl2JLY8MIBA-00zneRvJyOSnwhNfF1YQVNDn8I8Z_qfRGYzcMhHGQJZPu2hXSWfjuz/s320/10March-march_blizzard-020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449016316796454962" border="0" /></a><br /><br />...and a few hours later...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemE_Y55NN2Zdeks8ePDEv8Ix1sIYC2Pdg0Lu5Ckdv2jWwB_1ULikuyrG1iiwSoLEHDnPOUciSKvIpovjC4e5DiqIEYHrF9ZLQACBq6_iqcMbfBLlDVfqGAfapYcMK76m-wziUAdvkXt3U/s1600-h/10March-march_snow-001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemE_Y55NN2Zdeks8ePDEv8Ix1sIYC2Pdg0Lu5Ckdv2jWwB_1ULikuyrG1iiwSoLEHDnPOUciSKvIpovjC4e5DiqIEYHrF9ZLQACBq6_iqcMbfBLlDVfqGAfapYcMK76m-wziUAdvkXt3U/s320/10March-march_snow-001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449020017233631010" /></a>Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-61971836504524992222010-01-18T10:55:00.013-07:002010-01-18T19:05:37.663-07:00Recommended: Bosque del Apache<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cLtRfZSLIPq7D3ZhjlIlrcODKUaZ2jNcZ3C1zEExEdUC51sa4GrodvG29NHFESuoDRAU5eVpUhcq-ukH7POH_ekB4y1SySVZtKMA3BNQXZg3yfzpD11aB5bNv0P9eMebFpyrE3a2IYNm/s1600-h/10January-bosque_del_apache-024-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cLtRfZSLIPq7D3ZhjlIlrcODKUaZ2jNcZ3C1zEExEdUC51sa4GrodvG29NHFESuoDRAU5eVpUhcq-ukH7POH_ekB4y1SySVZtKMA3BNQXZg3yfzpD11aB5bNv0P9eMebFpyrE3a2IYNm/s320/10January-bosque_del_apache-024-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428262249881392594" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Thus far this winter, the snow has been a disappointment. This has limited my snowboarding activities. In lieu of snowboarding, this weekend I went down to <a href="http://www.friendsofthebosque.org/Friendsindex.html">Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge</a> south of Socorro, NM (the NM fish and wildlife service also has <a href="http://www.fws.gov/Refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=22520">a web page</a> for this area, but the previous link has more information). Technically this is not in my backyard of course, but it is at most a 3 hr drive from my house. Close enough for the mountain west anyway.<br /><br />So don't ask me why it took me so long to go down there. However, it will be a regular place for me to visit now. It was great. Quite an unexpected oasis in the desert. Somewhat jarring, really -- despite having been born in this state and living here for most of my life.<br /><br />The main attraction for most people to this refuge are the Sandhill Cranes, shown in the opening picture above which I took Saturday morning. Additional images of cranes below. At the end of this post, a link is provided to a full gallery of my images from this trip.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrxZ2JiZ2VfZ1vDRoLXkmjKmCk2LxTv5wC1hvnAf7jfTinkb3pK_rh6waV1QUgGe1u8GzyWmm_H3LQHaK_e7TV6TTIfKM2x4Scg3EDRY5mbIzBG5b5iRMJCxPbi_BSfsRSz7jNQWvnJzb/s1600-h/10January-bosque_del_apache-002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrxZ2JiZ2VfZ1vDRoLXkmjKmCk2LxTv5wC1hvnAf7jfTinkb3pK_rh6waV1QUgGe1u8GzyWmm_H3LQHaK_e7TV6TTIfKM2x4Scg3EDRY5mbIzBG5b5iRMJCxPbi_BSfsRSz7jNQWvnJzb/s320/10January-bosque_del_apache-002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428262689638976882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSBxAbk2fyPccS_EozWz3EkWH1x8RHGnOssOhkscPE5dIdQ_MJ04Wq2WDwjyNoUlGfsdtgeqvO7mHznJUkBaoSy9ijtt1zmzpDKgxd6IZF2AHfjrIdnJnu6CGFOf4Os_dFHzyFbIxoeWz/s1600-h/10January-bosque_del_apache-150.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSBxAbk2fyPccS_EozWz3EkWH1x8RHGnOssOhkscPE5dIdQ_MJ04Wq2WDwjyNoUlGfsdtgeqvO7mHznJUkBaoSy9ijtt1zmzpDKgxd6IZF2AHfjrIdnJnu6CGFOf4Os_dFHzyFbIxoeWz/s320/10January-bosque_del_apache-150.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428262683307735842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihP3JQ4jlh0egLVE9rZRJBgWnbpcbhmNo6FpIbQxgs60hurCb5BEhrLhQzkzz_QHa4Y45ULGbjFsJMPaR4AMEzAHf0GztgmVNS0ACmQkbsPHYmAL2oF8JJAhdZPoF189pw3yycz9RPDATx/s1600-h/10January-bosque_del_apache-025-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihP3JQ4jlh0egLVE9rZRJBgWnbpcbhmNo6FpIbQxgs60hurCb5BEhrLhQzkzz_QHa4Y45ULGbjFsJMPaR4AMEzAHf0GztgmVNS0ACmQkbsPHYmAL2oF8JJAhdZPoF189pw3yycz9RPDATx/s320/10January-bosque_del_apache-025-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428262678977726066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There is much more to the Bosque than cranes. In addition to Snow Geese, Canadian Geese, there are also Blue Herons. See below. I've never seen one of these in NM before.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORBJqm9yk9h8OTASNhCFoja_tD9k3HW_ZVjh0LpMDY-72TdsfjK2QVE5KtlAyOkkzRZgcHAZezZgBas4d8-HGSnWjtT_wKqVqCUWIs7paYeqiV1WDHEdLUSKww_Sh-bgVQT7TBlnzIKS6/s1600-h/10January-bosque_del_apache-119-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiORBJqm9yk9h8OTASNhCFoja_tD9k3HW_ZVjh0LpMDY-72TdsfjK2QVE5KtlAyOkkzRZgcHAZezZgBas4d8-HGSnWjtT_wKqVqCUWIs7paYeqiV1WDHEdLUSKww_Sh-bgVQT7TBlnzIKS6/s320/10January-bosque_del_apache-119-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428263511136378050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzj5XNH866h62KWBjagqflxuL4tYbneOtc2Y8eqsWHPidhoMDfJ97I-HtBC-1KlP15bEGyYBMKEE-IQqR32hyH0w02mQjJ6SNpMnG3aGyoLeVmkYK8-sCaYRhKo1SuS0xNCRWviRRykzwy/s1600-h/10January-bosque_del_apache-051.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzj5XNH866h62KWBjagqflxuL4tYbneOtc2Y8eqsWHPidhoMDfJ97I-HtBC-1KlP15bEGyYBMKEE-IQqR32hyH0w02mQjJ6SNpMnG3aGyoLeVmkYK8-sCaYRhKo1SuS0xNCRWviRRykzwy/s320/10January-bosque_del_apache-051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428264734053221922" border="0" /></a><br />There are also birds of prey such as hawks, harriers, golden eagles, and bald eagles. I saw all of these there as well.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZnCBQxHvNLpcanb5v2ev16zN6hY4oJeXXt326iWDTGdKzqt8zjN0AHaLqF2Y6_pTiUN5ByIC1wbJtsGgzokZIzJF5qTEgzstq5Yd9CfULg0a_UNXuXkFr2gTJLJ0bf9WlSPKCtkdvo7g/s1600-h/10January-bosque_del_apache-058.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZnCBQxHvNLpcanb5v2ev16zN6hY4oJeXXt326iWDTGdKzqt8zjN0AHaLqF2Y6_pTiUN5ByIC1wbJtsGgzokZIzJF5qTEgzstq5Yd9CfULg0a_UNXuXkFr2gTJLJ0bf9WlSPKCtkdvo7g/s320/10January-bosque_del_apache-058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428264261193455874" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There was also interesting coyote activity, with one carrying off a snow goose in the early morning light.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDXqmtDyqDSsYqQpCoUE2HiTB9OhG3BoMnioUpr5RZ1uJDUjNomCoOI5RT5WV3ryCWBsO2lXQIU3LdH0_H3Bsaj2m_lRQHUh7JZ6LJURfaLqcGFH4S3ZoTLcpSQlX4hpENxZqzQ36ROcS/s1600-h/10January-bosque_del_apache-107.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDXqmtDyqDSsYqQpCoUE2HiTB9OhG3BoMnioUpr5RZ1uJDUjNomCoOI5RT5WV3ryCWBsO2lXQIU3LdH0_H3Bsaj2m_lRQHUh7JZ6LJURfaLqcGFH4S3ZoTLcpSQlX4hpENxZqzQ36ROcS/s320/10January-bosque_del_apache-107.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428263984517223698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />For more, high resolution, images from the Bosque del Apache wildlife refuge, see <a href="http://darkglassphotography.smugmug.com/Nature/New-Mexico/9987529_2G4Sz#682793699_XWnhb">my SmugMug Gallery.</a>. Unfortunately, SmugMug does not seem to support nested galleries, and there are a few New Mexico images in there unrelated to the Bosque. It is pretty obvious, though. I will put the same images up on <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/bosquedelapache">pbase</a>, but they may not appear at this link until tomorrow sometime. A smaller subset of these images are also available on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Los-Alamos-NM/Dark-Glass-Photography/193268979570">Facebook fan page.</a>Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-2339960188731036942009-07-11T20:53:00.014-06:002009-07-11T21:40:51.295-06:00San Miguel Fire Update: Visible Flames<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFZIrFfO-JAfbVX5SYJOWWcHPuvLAa6XE27DZqj1XPeEREXbAyNr28yDilzuJh5STYXlRifLRzDNNNAJsdMHGlj9dyiS7Sp93WY5mih2KpeRMDPrynFiF6A8-KeinpX4x0tVbbuDjfStb/s1600-h/09July-wildfire-186.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFZIrFfO-JAfbVX5SYJOWWcHPuvLAa6XE27DZqj1XPeEREXbAyNr28yDilzuJh5STYXlRifLRzDNNNAJsdMHGlj9dyiS7Sp93WY5mih2KpeRMDPrynFiF6A8-KeinpX4x0tVbbuDjfStb/s320/09July-wildfire-186.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357401895743520210" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The <a href="http://www.nps.gov/band/smwildfire.htm">San Miguel</a> fire has been slowly progressing. It is now to the point that I can see the flames from my house as it crawls up toward the Boundary Peak area and towards the Dome Fire of 1996. The photograph above was taken from my backyard with a 500mm lens on a Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera. The fire observation tower is visible at the top of Boundary Peak, as are some flames of course.<br /><br />The two images below were taken from the same location with a 1.4x multiplier on the 500mm lens...hence at 700mm.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttmvL2FEdJR1SlaoHSHfSTQUT5bGMsrI-N1XrBBYRdY-wwNLCx5xF1_eApa_FolWdVQt_z6TXcp04BJYO1kn7i7fD7S_BPbxNe6sFNcTITOUmpykeljJYlt7X_cIkTGmLxZ7yrdYhT5e1/s1600-h/09July-wildfire-188.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttmvL2FEdJR1SlaoHSHfSTQUT5bGMsrI-N1XrBBYRdY-wwNLCx5xF1_eApa_FolWdVQt_z6TXcp04BJYO1kn7i7fD7S_BPbxNe6sFNcTITOUmpykeljJYlt7X_cIkTGmLxZ7yrdYhT5e1/s320/09July-wildfire-188.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357402877233041026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1bFNMcIBb7juToeQOk35A86mkoKhg37DL-8EEIUYQqGVT8aY1-Zez3HSB2Hb7nho5Cjh7XWjG5XmebfM9X9TE_dIXPaYKNdlLXOwkxurOnvlEecuyrskG7bR3ZW9ONFAKdCu0R-Lg8Oj/s1600-h/09July-wildfire-190.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1bFNMcIBb7juToeQOk35A86mkoKhg37DL-8EEIUYQqGVT8aY1-Zez3HSB2Hb7nho5Cjh7XWjG5XmebfM9X9TE_dIXPaYKNdlLXOwkxurOnvlEecuyrskG7bR3ZW9ONFAKdCu0R-Lg8Oj/s320/09July-wildfire-190.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357402881106230834" /></a><br /><br />Finally, the image below is with a 2x multiplier from the same location, hence 1,000mm. ISO was 3200 here due to the reduction of light coming through the optics and the setting sun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivk23wsDDjsG6AAEUvP_FFnlnzLHaYW2fiDHUTAMTycBy3pkR7WYctgDEKTBUMEgnKQjD8RzIczRTHiKQIXSNODz6VTDZtQ-gIzqLq22X6SifGO9-_h0dLo3PrbhXYGkWWV5iNbeOJCh0/s1600-h/09July-wildfire-196.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivk23wsDDjsG6AAEUvP_FFnlnzLHaYW2fiDHUTAMTycBy3pkR7WYctgDEKTBUMEgnKQjD8RzIczRTHiKQIXSNODz6VTDZtQ-gIzqLq22X6SifGO9-_h0dLo3PrbhXYGkWWV5iNbeOJCh0/s320/09July-wildfire-196.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357402887602968018" /></a><br /><br />The fire itself is advancing toward the Dome Fire mentioned above (and if you look closely burned trees from that fire are visible on the ridge above the current fire) and the La Mesa Fire of 1977. More information on the fire is available <a href="http://www.nps.gov/fire/public/pub_firenews_detail.cfm?postid=3482">here</a>.<br /><br />I took the image below just now (9:30pm MDT). It is a bulb exposure (9sec), f4.0, ISO400, at 160mm. It gives a better idea for what has burned and which areas are more active. Also taken from my backyard, but in a different location than the previous photographs.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFGnncQYD7NXXYtdoaYPB2nViVkNdT3PPxLAMD-Lpf7SJkjxJ2CPCzfVJpuMirtI7Yv0HCBiLZAfCfbyInBh2I03rybw7zJJ4wPCORU1etlR_eQlSwRBjxjG8H-PHU3l6EgVHwlMlV8K0/s1600-h/09July-wildfire-190-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFGnncQYD7NXXYtdoaYPB2nViVkNdT3PPxLAMD-Lpf7SJkjxJ2CPCzfVJpuMirtI7Yv0HCBiLZAfCfbyInBh2I03rybw7zJJ4wPCORU1etlR_eQlSwRBjxjG8H-PHU3l6EgVHwlMlV8K0/s320/09July-wildfire-190-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357413454339760834" /></a>Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-47685392377900560972009-07-08T19:18:00.006-06:002009-07-08T19:30:50.715-06:00Smoke on the Horizon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlufpbrzuYKPJNXnAaT3aliioQ2rIKDQpUupdzUSHTqcViVe1Up_5bBPXXaoGtUGrKWEwnMo55WbM2eg3OL3ZPi8-rEcMSuVZ2whZ2HcwLgu8kSw7ErNnG_wQE4UeJIG0AmjGhca7ooPNY/s1600-h/09July-san_miguel_fire-188.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlufpbrzuYKPJNXnAaT3aliioQ2rIKDQpUupdzUSHTqcViVe1Up_5bBPXXaoGtUGrKWEwnMo55WbM2eg3OL3ZPi8-rEcMSuVZ2whZ2HcwLgu8kSw7ErNnG_wQE4UeJIG0AmjGhca7ooPNY/s320/09July-san_miguel_fire-188.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356265446871733666" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As everyone in this area can now see, there is a small wildfire burning within the Bandelier National Monument border. The above picture was taken this evening from the Frijoles overlook. Bandelier has <a href="http://www.nps.gov/band/smwildfire.htm">posted information on this fire</a> and will keep it up to date. The short story is that this is a lightning caused fire that is being managed as a controlled burn.<br /><br />I thought I smelled smoke Thursday night and saw a light smoke plume from my house on Friday. Turns out the fire started Thursday sometime. We had a bunch of rain here which did not completely put it out, as became more obvious today with a much larger plume of smoke visible to all.<br /><br />The fire is burning near the San Miguel ruins. The map below shows where those are in relation to other landmarks in the area (look toward the bottom of the image). It is somewhere between 3-4 miles from Alamo Canyon for those that know where that is.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEUx_3KXz0HknM25B5TmvrOuJrhhQza079OOeSHPWT4wJW80aY_npimzMUrwhK0UDYo4O_M-KsY0EOe9RbJVdohNStPpdI28-Gjff0Hki704VrgkA8vG87pcWzH20Q1IGupcNRd16UPoq/s1600-h/screen-capture.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEUx_3KXz0HknM25B5TmvrOuJrhhQza079OOeSHPWT4wJW80aY_npimzMUrwhK0UDYo4O_M-KsY0EOe9RbJVdohNStPpdI28-Gjff0Hki704VrgkA8vG87pcWzH20Q1IGupcNRd16UPoq/s320/screen-capture.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356265454386718098" border="0" /></a><br />For those interested, follow the links above to keep up with the latest. It is something like 13 miles from the Los Alamos townsite, about 8 miles from the White Rock townsite, and has eyes on. The ranger I talked with said they were happy where lightning stuck, because the area it is burning needs it.Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-8902892985655620282009-07-02T09:07:00.024-06:002009-07-02T10:07:23.216-06:00Potential Change in Valles Caldera Management ApproachSenators Tom Udall and Jeff Bingaman have written to the National Parks Service Director, asking the agency to access the potential to include the Valles Grande National Preserve in the National Parks System. The park has been managed by a self-governing corporation directed by an independent board of directors. Stories can be found <a href="http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/vc-legislation-for-web">here</a> (Santa Fe New Mexican) and <a href="http://vallescaldera.com/">here</a> (vallescaldera.com, which has a collection of stories).<br /><br />To me, the current management model was one borne of political compromise to appease a broad set of interest groups all with a different personal interest in the Valles. The charter has been nearly impossible, as all of these (at times) mutually-exclusive interests seek satisfaction: hunting, grazing, recreation, science, preservation. As is usually the case with politically compromised solutions involving committees of people trying to manage something this complex, little progress is made after the initial conditions are agreed upon. In my opinion, that is what has happened here.<br /><br />I am pleased that the Valles Caldera is as open as it is now, and I am not suggesting that individuals involved in its management are doing a poor job. Under the circumstances, it is probably the best they can do given the compromises and competing interests. I am not in a position to judge them or their actions. However, I do know a poor use of public land when I see one, and this is an obvious example. The potential for this area is incredible, rivaling that of some of our most beautiful National Parks -- many of which I have visited personally and know quite well.<br /><br />So, I am pleased that our two Senators are asking for an examination of this issue. I am under no allusions that my complaints about how this is currently managed are going to magically disappear if the NPS is managing it because I suspect that any change in management will occur with the same political compromise baggage. However, I hope that the experience of NPS managing lands combined with public pressure for access will build a better management model over time.<br /><br />In my opinion, the focus of NPS management should be all about <span style="font-weight: bold;">access</span>. Access, access, access. Do away with reservation-only hiking! Or at least greatly minimize it to what it is now. Perhaps it is needed during hunting season or something, I don't know, but make this a convienient place visit. Not a chore. Provide significantly opened up access to the public in much the same way other national parks are managed, including Bandelier which is directly physically connected. I would also like to see work connecting trails from Los Alamos county to this area, all of which are blocked now. There is no real work to do here in many cases other than remove the man made barriers that block these connections at present. I want to be able to drive up and hike. Not just the few trails around the perimeter, <span style="font-style: italic;">but those in the back country as well</span>. There is no reason I should not be able to simply show up and hike. Roads already exist, so mountain biking should also be allowed as it is in some other national parks in the country with similar roads already in place. At a minimum I should be able to show up and hike up those roads to reach the other trailheads rather than be forced to ride in a van and schedule my hike accordingly.<br /><br />I would also like to see this be a resource with information on the NPS website, just like other national parks, with the same quality, consistency, and information. It would help draw people to the area and help the local economy. If the trails were connected from some of the excellent hiking trails in Los Alamos county, it would be a great way to advertise the area with this as a real connection, not an invented one that requires a 25 minute drive and pre-scheduling activities.<br /><br />I do worry that NPS staffing limitations and whatever initial processes they would have to go through (e.g. NEPA) before they could take it over would actually restrict access more than it is now, at least initially. So the transition would have to be manged such that this does not happen, and also such that there is a tangible opening up of access right away in this transition to build public trust and give the NPS an initial win. The focused intent here should be on public access under the NPS umbrella of resource protection. I have never liked the current management model and have stayed away as a result, with the exception of the trails near the outer boundaries where I can just show up and hike on my schedule. I know many other people with this same view. I hope this study is a sign that this will all change in a relatively short period of time, and not get caught in the political compromise and special interest cycles. That would only serve to provide the same type of access we have now under a different management umbrella.<br /><br />I plan to write these two Senators about this issue, and support the management change with the caveat of focusing on more public access. If you are moved to do the same, you can <a href="mailto:senator_bingaman@bingaman.senate.gov%3C/a%3E">email Senator Bingaman</a> and <a href="http://tomudall.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm">Senator Udall</a> and <a href="https://forms.house.gov/lujan/contact-form.shtml">Representative Ben Lujan</a>.Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-75326701156797826832009-06-25T19:48:00.007-06:002009-06-25T19:56:34.723-06:00Guaje Canyon Hike UpdateI promised to post a GPS trail with topo map once I got the proper maps installed for the Guaje Canyon hike I took last weekend. The maps came today and I installed them. The trail I took is shown on the map below.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjDNqu3OzpjMrhV2Rr7LDOvbeBia-9YPBExHNeGJqe_GA7yRuUV6Rdt1bSyYhcaFd7Jp6xcQsEQ3dHyiV0cparCCqK2GwupNcvGN-7YB8q8o3hnwwQJt1Ju1P6ksfl7NGK_UUI22k_PhZ/s1600-h/trailmap.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjDNqu3OzpjMrhV2Rr7LDOvbeBia-9YPBExHNeGJqe_GA7yRuUV6Rdt1bSyYhcaFd7Jp6xcQsEQ3dHyiV0cparCCqK2GwupNcvGN-7YB8q8o3hnwwQJt1Ju1P6ksfl7NGK_UUI22k_PhZ/s320/trailmap.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351448872617706130" /></a><br /><br />The way points and other information are discussed in the <a href="http://srleebackyard.blogspot.com/2009/06/guaje-canyon-hike.html">post describing the hike</a> from June 13, 2009 (below).Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-72992648868137807232009-06-13T18:01:00.054-06:002009-06-13T21:27:29.131-06:00Guaje Canyon Hike<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ26FZuuZmdTdRXW2sHdVTw1qiCW1Kd9f4KEbmZQ0Zo7M0So00bYuJqsWh5ipqS4cx3lpSRmObzAs8xppy-gMVWvsGnYkTIGmQw8moyli35sacP6bLzQ4XNaKfcJIkOnQdivekVekhYrPm/s1600-h/09June-guaje_canyon-307.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ26FZuuZmdTdRXW2sHdVTw1qiCW1Kd9f4KEbmZQ0Zo7M0So00bYuJqsWh5ipqS4cx3lpSRmObzAs8xppy-gMVWvsGnYkTIGmQw8moyli35sacP6bLzQ4XNaKfcJIkOnQdivekVekhYrPm/s320/09June-guaje_canyon-307.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346990016332481954" border="0" /></a><br />Yes, I am still alive.<br /><br />Now that winter is over and our new horse is settled in I finally had time to go for a <span style="font-style: italic;">new</span> hike today and write about it, albeit briefly, here.<br /><br />Today I decided to try trails closer to the Los Alamos townsite than the White Rock townsite (which is actually where I live). Ironically, all winter long I went to the Pajarito Ski Area to snowboard, but I've never hiked on the trails in that area. Today was the day to change that.<br /><br />This hike starts from the Pajarito Ski Area parking lot (park across from the Aspen lift). The trailhead (<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS:N35 53.759, W106 23.580</span>) is easy to find, just down the hill and to the right from the parking lot. For a variety of reasons, I do not have topo maps for this area on my GPS at this time. I will rectify that shortly. Once I do, I will post the hike route on the topomap here (as with other hikes). However, for now, I will just put the hike profile below.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghE5XqRc0q5z_xRdgp39568UnKljNcT6CqYIT6QKmpZ1zIffeVtvglmvXu8M2F2jO2aIEaiuM8Iq9Nu3d5ap8LnBxrFlL1MHMK2ivEhp-1z2O4Bs9x7_qM2lnUmmSQZA2_dSQGUW_vk75y/s1600-h/hikeprofilejpg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghE5XqRc0q5z_xRdgp39568UnKljNcT6CqYIT6QKmpZ1zIffeVtvglmvXu8M2F2jO2aIEaiuM8Iq9Nu3d5ap8LnBxrFlL1MHMK2ivEhp-1z2O4Bs9x7_qM2lnUmmSQZA2_dSQGUW_vk75y/s320/hikeprofilejpg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346998742495136882" border="0" /></a>As you can see, this is not a particularly difficult hike. Starting elevation is 9,150 ft, and it maxes out at 9,679 ft about 4.2 miles in, a rise of only 529 ft.<br /><br />The trial heads down an old road, which eventually connects to Pipeline road which takes you into the Los Alamos townsite. However, the road is closed to traffic. There are several forks in the trail in which one can take various cross country ski trails up to the Canada Bonito, or you can stay on the road/trail which is the traditional Canada Bonito trail route. The first of these forks is encountered soon after you start the hike, and climb up a short rise (GPS: N35 53.912 W106 23.279). I think most people tend to take the cross country ski trail route, so I chose to remain on the road figuring I would encounter fewer people and the views looked a bit more promising to me. A good view of the Los Alamos townsite is available from here.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwwQiU_e2rczBQFIvFJPKiaEm-7Vy5u6HDR0F93fjUgsyJROdRwPQL1D1TvZJT8S7gX7v0hyVMzDf-SDykYyDDSsNCqBT78Pg2GpsSpGqPMLlImEyBuFZ8_1r3x9JdFIGACkdDYj9MxfQ/s1600-h/09June-guaje_canyon-189.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwwQiU_e2rczBQFIvFJPKiaEm-7Vy5u6HDR0F93fjUgsyJROdRwPQL1D1TvZJT8S7gX7v0hyVMzDf-SDykYyDDSsNCqBT78Pg2GpsSpGqPMLlImEyBuFZ8_1r3x9JdFIGACkdDYj9MxfQ/s320/09June-guaje_canyon-189.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347000759967068978" border="0" /></a><br />In addition, a good view of the Pajarito Ski Area is also available.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UbVYsiuDmGI0wrGv0bqNjklRyJi09apQldvBldxTxkH9bKYAEnMAhbMB0nyDYj0z8sK3aIX7HaMeWH0zPcQPw-25etVW__bB2Y9Dc8BOqHUuP1migrIxHb1A99c-6QOsOP42eVSe9tzK/s1600-h/09June-guaje_canyon-187.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UbVYsiuDmGI0wrGv0bqNjklRyJi09apQldvBldxTxkH9bKYAEnMAhbMB0nyDYj0z8sK3aIX7HaMeWH0zPcQPw-25etVW__bB2Y9Dc8BOqHUuP1migrIxHb1A99c-6QOsOP42eVSe9tzK/s320/09June-guaje_canyon-187.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347001196396073330" border="0" /></a><br />Here, the Lone Spruce, Bunny, and Aspen lifts are visible as are the runs Daisy May, West Mushroom, Lumberyard, Bunny 1&2, and Aspen.<br /><br />Wildflowers were also in bloom all along the entire hike. Due to the early rains this year, there were a plethora. Normally, June is hot, dry, and windy.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TZjgbaNBJX6m1H1hNH3cxs_Gp0pOk9HXi_XY9_pSjSLkwiqcmAlDxSkgPYNb02hr8im_5W3EwCyhw4dGZiaPrIDzFuCp8FeHwpMOjGRCGAcl0nKkh8w0M5Yxv_C2WZ06femEv1f003GY/s1600-h/09June-guaje_canyon-185.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TZjgbaNBJX6m1H1hNH3cxs_Gp0pOk9HXi_XY9_pSjSLkwiqcmAlDxSkgPYNb02hr8im_5W3EwCyhw4dGZiaPrIDzFuCp8FeHwpMOjGRCGAcl0nKkh8w0M5Yxv_C2WZ06femEv1f003GY/s320/09June-guaje_canyon-185.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347003315241729106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWo_lUTf-WKdkomhNPP4WcW5m-dJJeOAHKDQ7NUucywo1o98aF9xM3UG-AM9kKPXb27ljmDwu1eOrdfzBjF10f3TbN5NL1LFvCPzj0CrSWrbdomcXOyRLW88tXO8-_1ekGvmdXaSljEWy/s1600-h/09June-guaje_canyon-184.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWo_lUTf-WKdkomhNPP4WcW5m-dJJeOAHKDQ7NUucywo1o98aF9xM3UG-AM9kKPXb27ljmDwu1eOrdfzBjF10f3TbN5NL1LFvCPzj0CrSWrbdomcXOyRLW88tXO8-_1ekGvmdXaSljEWy/s320/09June-guaje_canyon-184.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347003311553649442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9ZtC8-rV6f9aZYyn5JV_4BAhN_6ZwXrn3sGAm0mSxF2Ia6CtsKu6yNQCdL7fZym3ZwlWlYJfItVUPIfdE8TsTKMvZnxeYlASbneTX0JUmp9KmSswJgIdmfLrSOOFusqJaPFwPPLMnfqE/s1600-h/09June-guaje_canyon-216.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9ZtC8-rV6f9aZYyn5JV_4BAhN_6ZwXrn3sGAm0mSxF2Ia6CtsKu6yNQCdL7fZym3ZwlWlYJfItVUPIfdE8TsTKMvZnxeYlASbneTX0JUmp9KmSswJgIdmfLrSOOFusqJaPFwPPLMnfqE/s320/09June-guaje_canyon-216.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347003318127174258" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The wild iris, pictured immediately above, is one of my favorites. They were quite abundant all along this trail.<br /><br />Before long (about 2 miles in), the Canada Bonito (Spanish for "beautiful glade") comes into view (<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS: N35 54.570 W106.23.512</span>).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7QbxRR_Tapq8Wq5ZnHWtn6MDY_D42chEwaP4wbkoegyjpFgKpbdUAYkgP_bPSxqUmGZ9s6Km4EBjnsksF1oLg6hAOcKUJLu_1ZWdwy9WOsUBUDy_gZuayHyt2p6ZpgRu4ruxhkU3xEpW/s1600-h/09June-guaje_canyon-223.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7QbxRR_Tapq8Wq5ZnHWtn6MDY_D42chEwaP4wbkoegyjpFgKpbdUAYkgP_bPSxqUmGZ9s6Km4EBjnsksF1oLg6hAOcKUJLu_1ZWdwy9WOsUBUDy_gZuayHyt2p6ZpgRu4ruxhkU3xEpW/s320/09June-guaje_canyon-223.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347004647051220754" border="0" /></a><br />This area is named appropriately. It is a beautiful glade, reaching high up on the mountain behind it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9sAuFps6_pD8AnTF_iYUoSCztvkABjzpvDpZVEgpkenBF1pdMAPnZ0KzdaDHswU5HWW6x9lPYK-JA0h3s0h_Fgd79VTKH-tBxGbSi_nvyO38VoX7v-LZo5zfHVD6apIzXDc_9VdqTLnv/s1600-h/09June-guaje_canyon-318.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9sAuFps6_pD8AnTF_iYUoSCztvkABjzpvDpZVEgpkenBF1pdMAPnZ0KzdaDHswU5HWW6x9lPYK-JA0h3s0h_Fgd79VTKH-tBxGbSi_nvyO38VoX7v-LZo5zfHVD6apIzXDc_9VdqTLnv/s320/09June-guaje_canyon-318.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347005630801942178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoroTHcJ4fXP4OU707QKdfsAtT5toAPasprt0R0qWnZggYt3lkKXBId7NsACimhV5ylntIJ0o_dnxr7MTUKq1YfjvJetGVZBoPXeSM93PZpe1c0JI5D5EgHhwynHo0LYw29Nx6GpWFvdtr/s1600-h/09June-guaje_canyon-316.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoroTHcJ4fXP4OU707QKdfsAtT5toAPasprt0R0qWnZggYt3lkKXBId7NsACimhV5ylntIJ0o_dnxr7MTUKq1YfjvJetGVZBoPXeSM93PZpe1c0JI5D5EgHhwynHo0LYw29Nx6GpWFvdtr/s320/09June-guaje_canyon-316.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347005630702879602" border="0" /></a><br />At the end of this glade, the trail makes a sharp right turn. You can see the Valles Caldera Preserve boundary from here, but of course there is <span style="font-weight: bold;">no route</span> to that wonderful resource from this trail! I have complained on my blog before about how the preserve is managed. Having it completely inaccessible from this trail is stupid beyond belief. What a waste.<br /><br />As you hike through the glade, you pass the last cross country ski trail fork that connects to the road (which is actually a single track through the Canada Bonito).<br /><br />After leaving the glade, you climb out and over a saddle and back down, where you encounter the trail head for the Canada Bonito trail on the Pipeline Road side (<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS: N35 55.380 W106 23.636</span>). There is a minimal view of part of the Valles preserve from this area. I also encountered an odd chain link fence and army green gate here, but it was unmarked. I suspected it was a road that lead into the Valles preserve, and so therefore would be blocked down below. However, curiosity got the better of me so down the road I went (it is a simple matter to walk around the gate; it seemed to be present to prevent vehicular traffic). Sure enough, about a half mile or so down the road (and about a 300 ft elevation loss) another gate is encountered with "no tresspassing" signs plastered about. Figures. <span style="font-style: italic;"> Another</span> missed opportunity to connect the unique and beautiful Valles Grande with other well known trails in the area. Pity.<br /><br />Hiking a bit further from the trail head at Pipeline Road, another trail fork is encountered. I believe this is the connection of the Canada Bonito trail with the Guaje Ridge/Guaje Canyon trail and Pipeline Road (<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS: N35 55.456 W106 23.543</span>). I took the left fork here to maintain some closeness to the Valles area. A little further down the trail was a good view of the north western portion of the Valles Grande (<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS: N35 55.487 W106 23.537</span>).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNo4TK9GjWw5kVXjudtnM1DBit0V44YNHHvs1CbiyhYvkd3LqMNrCjsvc78IVl-pFkt6i5BTDZuoXQcdXL4LYeb7E7pSOa7iwMgJBkoE5XX1tMY4YSMLXUjb6q8b0ZKYjWf1cScbLFYOT_/s1600-h/09June-guaje_canyon-268.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNo4TK9GjWw5kVXjudtnM1DBit0V44YNHHvs1CbiyhYvkd3LqMNrCjsvc78IVl-pFkt6i5BTDZuoXQcdXL4LYeb7E7pSOa7iwMgJBkoE5XX1tMY4YSMLXUjb6q8b0ZKYjWf1cScbLFYOT_/s320/09June-guaje_canyon-268.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347010300024333058" border="0" /></a><br />Just a little further is yet another fork in the trail, right staying on Pipeline Road/Guaje Ridge and the left heading toward Guaje Canyon, which was my destination. The sign indicates the canyon is 2 miles ahead, which turned out to be pretty accurate.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5D1n2LaIqogxPGNRefieriB_d1-tySXZhhpgzU_IMzVnXmk8W1eL2G-qoRSpN6nX1_GibAL5Jb7XLtNgE-SVjjG_6x-ceEPyubZjVColuZ7SGzNFfLAMMywtwS6cBv9ZQoMIGq77cVU8n/s1600-h/09June-guaje_canyon-270.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5D1n2LaIqogxPGNRefieriB_d1-tySXZhhpgzU_IMzVnXmk8W1eL2G-qoRSpN6nX1_GibAL5Jb7XLtNgE-SVjjG_6x-ceEPyubZjVColuZ7SGzNFfLAMMywtwS6cBv9ZQoMIGq77cVU8n/s320/09June-guaje_canyon-270.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347010963062901970" border="0" /></a><br />By far the best views of the northwest portion of the Valles Grande on this trail lie about 0.5 miles beyond this point (<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS: 35 56.141 W106 23.755</span>). It is in this area where the image at the top of this blog post was taken, as well as the ones below. On the way back, I perched on one of the rocks on at the top of the cliff and had a snack.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jTbaq7CmpCnssc1DkegX2SCMLeVPASIabUIxvPkLYiA00KNiT2eUONFAf7tMqRvqbGL_4XJxCrycEeiloQIbzgtJy7s-HLAmr-h6r4IbUNXhLqkcD4LhrmyeHlhXjzv1K2b3RAMAKhml/s1600-h/09June-guaje_canyon-303.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jTbaq7CmpCnssc1DkegX2SCMLeVPASIabUIxvPkLYiA00KNiT2eUONFAf7tMqRvqbGL_4XJxCrycEeiloQIbzgtJy7s-HLAmr-h6r4IbUNXhLqkcD4LhrmyeHlhXjzv1K2b3RAMAKhml/s320/09June-guaje_canyon-303.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347012486258047410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSNibVkg-PBjOSOtBVX4KzDYe2kMxw9DwseOEj0CkYg147AMR3iwCsNMF27anq3A_WDdrG-zluZHMrEuTfjjrG-Cuax2TgJaBIPg3I3nJd-nG5H0UWr0O04mz8dehGLVYbDVZ7M0D9dg5/s1600-h/09June-guaje_canyon-299.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSNibVkg-PBjOSOtBVX4KzDYe2kMxw9DwseOEj0CkYg147AMR3iwCsNMF27anq3A_WDdrG-zluZHMrEuTfjjrG-Cuax2TgJaBIPg3I3nJd-nG5H0UWr0O04mz8dehGLVYbDVZ7M0D9dg5/s320/09June-guaje_canyon-299.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347012484223629730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQ6dsJtowYd9wVdELO9aOK7wE20SRy5MuThmMGvBW1ESqPOYKgkNbUdUyM-GMXI-1jfembQd2_fr8WGZl7BG0vnc5foVwG63zUsV6H6hrPvTvrdMQx1B7LHltbnBThkQzf0Kgl8kzoV_a/s1600-h/09June-guaje_canyon-308.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQ6dsJtowYd9wVdELO9aOK7wE20SRy5MuThmMGvBW1ESqPOYKgkNbUdUyM-GMXI-1jfembQd2_fr8WGZl7BG0vnc5foVwG63zUsV6H6hrPvTvrdMQx1B7LHltbnBThkQzf0Kgl8kzoV_a/s320/09June-guaje_canyon-308.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347012482279463106" border="0" /></a><br />From here, the hike to the Guaje Canyon overlook is a nice stroll through the woods, with limited views. However, at the end of the trail (or where I turned around anyway), the overview of the canyon is nice.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijv4O3TWD96HXdXSBK_fQW3S18bvZmd2l5_XkAx8bdQVzgYt7leIyqPTyt2YpmcJDJHebyd5b5NRX1y1eUcxwYYPhehwH8FZyBU6fznWHTc-Ngc4D6sWQ_A3TuWLmlMCemU8HnsqUY_Gsz/s1600-h/09June-guaje_canyon-293.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijv4O3TWD96HXdXSBK_fQW3S18bvZmd2l5_XkAx8bdQVzgYt7leIyqPTyt2YpmcJDJHebyd5b5NRX1y1eUcxwYYPhehwH8FZyBU6fznWHTc-Ngc4D6sWQ_A3TuWLmlMCemU8HnsqUY_Gsz/s320/09June-guaje_canyon-293.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347015100039093762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedWf9GLqCZjXPsX3IosAROPw_9s8fwwPB261fqTlELBfOK9I9IHwU0xajbUdw0Mv95qyZ3-Xq2sdqvO-Ss4v5n9vW0TUaP0cWv8qoZvPkfmzspCsqhTkA3qyS2tFVOJS29CiLjti42PTt/s1600-h/09June-guaje_canyon-286.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedWf9GLqCZjXPsX3IosAROPw_9s8fwwPB261fqTlELBfOK9I9IHwU0xajbUdw0Mv95qyZ3-Xq2sdqvO-Ss4v5n9vW0TUaP0cWv8qoZvPkfmzspCsqhTkA3qyS2tFVOJS29CiLjti42PTt/s320/09June-guaje_canyon-286.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347015094448623234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTC3r1HNvNUYC-bY1WqCFJJ452VXhBognqjSpiyoSnN2udH_o37O1usjzk3JYn4T1g1AVUzcxR6qkFAqTGf8jNj9vTbSUJCOF_6Dzkk5PLNeBxN2nCCY7udsdynAaGrma6vxrfjh59svl/s1600-h/09June-guaje_canyon-281.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTC3r1HNvNUYC-bY1WqCFJJ452VXhBognqjSpiyoSnN2udH_o37O1usjzk3JYn4T1g1AVUzcxR6qkFAqTGf8jNj9vTbSUJCOF_6Dzkk5PLNeBxN2nCCY7udsdynAaGrma6vxrfjh59svl/s320/09June-guaje_canyon-281.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347015092979354562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEDeLy7Op-emv5En5OC9r8doVBqQBqkQJ0fxTT1Csx6_cfx_xmtCdtmw4iSaUwgNPGBMAp1UHxxoY8HpJ3Ptf8zM0gkc_QeJhaax-gxoPDuIPvW5eZTMG-_dQFu40UR3cfY2AY17LY3HA/s1600-h/09June-guaje_canyon-283.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEDeLy7Op-emv5En5OC9r8doVBqQBqkQJ0fxTT1Csx6_cfx_xmtCdtmw4iSaUwgNPGBMAp1UHxxoY8HpJ3Ptf8zM0gkc_QeJhaax-gxoPDuIPvW5eZTMG-_dQFu40UR3cfY2AY17LY3HA/s320/09June-guaje_canyon-283.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347015091584653282" border="0" /></a><br />Note here you can see a mix of burned areas due to the Cerro Grande fire, and areas that were not burned. By the way, I could not find a good translation for "guaje." As near as I can tell, it refers to a gourd in some way (a native squash in the area).<br /><br />It is possible to descend into the canyon from this area, but I decided not to attempt it today. It is a necessary step, however, to reach the Caballo trail (caballo means "horse" in Spanish).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEPtue_BVl79f2u2D9uizq3bWfucoRK_NFDd-QvGcRScs2JRf54i8mbLwbQhJ9ZhswOUPaPAv18-0Mubr0cq0slZrCFXZp-F9fKYU82QqngJXy7Sa5_15BNqwAqfUKGzZx25ar6_sjZ_c/s1600-h/09June-guaje_canyon-285.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEPtue_BVl79f2u2D9uizq3bWfucoRK_NFDd-QvGcRScs2JRf54i8mbLwbQhJ9ZhswOUPaPAv18-0Mubr0cq0slZrCFXZp-F9fKYU82QqngJXy7Sa5_15BNqwAqfUKGzZx25ar6_sjZ_c/s320/09June-guaje_canyon-285.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347015793650773698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Caballo mountain summit (pictured above) is 10,496 ft, but is not accessible as it is on Santa Clara Pueblo land. However, the Caballo trail takes you to the base of the meadow in the above picture, some 2,000 ft above the floor of Guaje canyon. This is a hike for another day.<br /><br />I plan to do more hiking in this area, which I have not explored previously. This was a nice warm up hike for the season, coming late into the season unfortunately.<br /><br />Additional photographs from this hike can be found in my <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/guaje">photo gallery</a> (darkglassphotography.com). I will post the photographs within a couple hours or so after posting this blog entry (it takes longer to process and upload higher resolution photographs).Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-86558904836506056622008-11-15T09:59:00.035-07:002008-11-15T11:21:58.895-07:00Apache Springs Trail<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCDbgRCp0fsPTWkM_8ISCxA0tevlbx5bqMAqo8PsWbRZinmmeDUryUprZNHfwK5Tp1DumX_hDBFvlDYVcdLzcDelEg0DTPzr8HTDudgQvzVExcgPZXNDJWbAXYDJ6b0fjwLNg5d_HU55H/s1600-h/first-image.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCDbgRCp0fsPTWkM_8ISCxA0tevlbx5bqMAqo8PsWbRZinmmeDUryUprZNHfwK5Tp1DumX_hDBFvlDYVcdLzcDelEg0DTPzr8HTDudgQvzVExcgPZXNDJWbAXYDJ6b0fjwLNg5d_HU55H/s320/first-image.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268934682458576946" border="0" /></a><br />This past <a href="http://www.dav.org/">Veteran's Day</a> I went on a short hike on the Apache Springs trail in <a href="http://www.nps.gov/band">Bandelier National Monument</a>. This hike will take you into the upper part of Frijoles Canyon (about 3 miles up the canyon from Upper Crossing). From there, you can hike to Upper Crossing and then either continue to the visitor center, hike out of the canyon to the Ponderosa Camground to the north, or hike out of the canyon to the south and head toward Alamo Canyon or other points south of Upper Crossing. See my <a href="http://srleebackyard.blogspot.com/2008/08/long-slog-in-heat.html">Long Slog in the Heat</a> post for more information on the Upper Crossing area.<br /><br />Today, I just had time to hike to the Frijoles descent. I had never gone down this trail, and I wanted to see what the view of Frijoles was from here. The trail map of the route I took appears below.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUscPSoth76dKbWPYmicq5wy-x90KT5OyQHzr_1cqLDK_4CX1gL8_XTaz0g61HNxR3qoerhPUU4opaRc03OvcwgKgzerlmvcUiA4U6SiB5YnvH-cTgfVXvERrgbAaTJ_teOgXTil1tEAcP/s1600-h/trailmap.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUscPSoth76dKbWPYmicq5wy-x90KT5OyQHzr_1cqLDK_4CX1gL8_XTaz0g61HNxR3qoerhPUU4opaRc03OvcwgKgzerlmvcUiA4U6SiB5YnvH-cTgfVXvERrgbAaTJ_teOgXTil1tEAcP/s320/trailmap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268935853051142642" border="0" /></a><br />The elevation gain/loss was only about 400 ft along this route. The trail head is along State Road 4 inside Los Alamos County (<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS: N35 50.018 W106 22.627</span>).<br /><br />Shortly after the trail head, the trail drops into a small but lovely meadow. I saw a lot of elk tracks and scat in this area, which is not surprising of course.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwp3mT1h-sDsGOJew1WYdsPzxRL4XmNUmnhkKHpNscKuQJaa0h9uD-sgK8DF0H__8jWCbvhh_i68RSl4q3LWQVWPbmyxlpmvr-3xP2EAxXQfkFvyQGMQqECJAnjNE0oVIdlvJnTAII7uMQ/s1600-h/meadow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwp3mT1h-sDsGOJew1WYdsPzxRL4XmNUmnhkKHpNscKuQJaa0h9uD-sgK8DF0H__8jWCbvhh_i68RSl4q3LWQVWPbmyxlpmvr-3xP2EAxXQfkFvyQGMQqECJAnjNE0oVIdlvJnTAII7uMQ/s320/meadow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268936876935951362" border="0" /></a><br />After climbing out of the meadow, I encountered a little snow along the trail. As an avid snowboarder, I can only hope this is a positive sign for excellent snow this winter.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvF8Vwhu6dr8C96N9lK6BT2ag5Q2_DhsjhjHimIGZoGcyyD2-qJkq6fbJSr4M8eZi9L2iTRYGxL0z3zcE2iFC3rmoO_AfSDDPM1B2D828Lpv5o6H2uSj8-eQKcfBO0_U10SgVvkZnuGl64/s1600-h/snow1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvF8Vwhu6dr8C96N9lK6BT2ag5Q2_DhsjhjHimIGZoGcyyD2-qJkq6fbJSr4M8eZi9L2iTRYGxL0z3zcE2iFC3rmoO_AfSDDPM1B2D828Lpv5o6H2uSj8-eQKcfBO0_U10SgVvkZnuGl64/s320/snow1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268937714697245058" border="0" /></a><br />You know I must be desperate for snow if I stopped to take that picture. I would encounter more snow as you will see below.<br /><br />At this point, the trail veers sharply to the right (<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS: N35 49.794 W106 22.643</span>, marked on the trail map above). You are actually walking along a faint dirt road here. There was a very active woodpecker in this area as well. You also get a good view of some of the damage done by the Cerro Grande fire while on this part of the trail.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_g3k2wI8Wq3Hmnoq7jYn4GEbqiCCqXBFIVxiXHU_6uqIvftMI-1XmiFd1lZ_6C0H5Qz7J1uaBFJsPYOcnPjQGHeiHNcaxomahoSRPw_RCx58dg3AipQYfZWm-VjIdoIkAqM656pcFJzmR/s1600-h/cerrogrande1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_g3k2wI8Wq3Hmnoq7jYn4GEbqiCCqXBFIVxiXHU_6uqIvftMI-1XmiFd1lZ_6C0H5Qz7J1uaBFJsPYOcnPjQGHeiHNcaxomahoSRPw_RCx58dg3AipQYfZWm-VjIdoIkAqM656pcFJzmR/s320/cerrogrande1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268938613837625634" border="0" /></a>After making the sharp turn, the trail parallels state road 4 for a while and the road is audible in this area. Occasionally it is also visible in the distance.<br /><br />As I was walking along, I caught the unmistakable odor of a skunk in the area. I looked carefully, but saw no skunk. Soon afterward, I encountered tracks in the snow. As I examined them carefully, there is no doubt that these were the tracks of my friend the skunk.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ua4AYQ9VUpqQjacbJ69TPTu2Rs-brmyVm4OnsJhKFdSurFI6hR_qwWIznhAJoNUMnFSQQjTL4rsySu9WZg7HOkFBuWRWoFktLyhoQh0xhpnaK6gTduDPxJj5_BMA0Oa6fIvGCz4nQ055/s1600-h/skunktracks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ua4AYQ9VUpqQjacbJ69TPTu2Rs-brmyVm4OnsJhKFdSurFI6hR_qwWIznhAJoNUMnFSQQjTL4rsySu9WZg7HOkFBuWRWoFktLyhoQh0xhpnaK6gTduDPxJj5_BMA0Oa6fIvGCz4nQ055/s320/skunktracks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268939797421423234" border="0" /></a><br /><br />One of my favorite things about hiking in a dusting of snow like this is the other tracks you see, such as the mule deer track below.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwlUnMr6KjnMp-PPS16OS6lkG2lFYb5rspiCHMYzbI2ujLQAH85DtFJA61GynpgFJj2TugJrhyXEhR5tKiRMk2CaE_QVXJYi3dkaWHvvHejEufRC9FTKlF84Nkvo8hsEPT9zaC5t-EwtZ/s1600-h/muledeertracks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwlUnMr6KjnMp-PPS16OS6lkG2lFYb5rspiCHMYzbI2ujLQAH85DtFJA61GynpgFJj2TugJrhyXEhR5tKiRMk2CaE_QVXJYi3dkaWHvvHejEufRC9FTKlF84Nkvo8hsEPT9zaC5t-EwtZ/s320/muledeertracks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268939807784793346" border="0" /></a><br />As I continued to walk along, I saw a pair of doe mule deer feeding on the fall grass in the area. I also encountered an odd fenced in area around a grove of aspen trees. There were two other such fenced in spots in this area, not sure why.<br /><br />Eventually, you come to a wilderness sign which is not far from Apache Springs.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowzL1P4StgCYGir9IxQdHtuGBlB431x6L0Se9P9n7qdBN0ZqxRh9LEA2qFeMMjSfMspL5SXmVBbUGxQE0i5e_zCRAxW5WXvGm5m3knSye-ZZFRm8Y8TuxuuVsyKGrkoWmBX33jyP1XjPY/s1600-h/wildernesssign.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 316px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowzL1P4StgCYGir9IxQdHtuGBlB431x6L0Se9P9n7qdBN0ZqxRh9LEA2qFeMMjSfMspL5SXmVBbUGxQE0i5e_zCRAxW5WXvGm5m3knSye-ZZFRm8Y8TuxuuVsyKGrkoWmBX33jyP1XjPY/s320/wildernesssign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268940872942222338" border="0" /></a><br />The trail views deteriorate here, as you are walking through a forest. Still nice of course, but lacking expansive views. The image below was taken at this sign, and is the last open view until you descend part way into Frijoles.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJH9eG4vszNZfB7xIWjyHlIhDKRXbiLeib_ixK09VMpJbWtD1Uz-3EjlB1qN6uxBPJfwU_G3O-XjbwZHwAulSddbKGrNnjKRWshjwwiY9sU_jCZfV5iW2RuHOA3_eh5nl8CEuqCbTQeGc/s1600-h/lastopenview.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJH9eG4vszNZfB7xIWjyHlIhDKRXbiLeib_ixK09VMpJbWtD1Uz-3EjlB1qN6uxBPJfwU_G3O-XjbwZHwAulSddbKGrNnjKRWshjwwiY9sU_jCZfV5iW2RuHOA3_eh5nl8CEuqCbTQeGc/s320/lastopenview.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268941534486404178" border="0" /></a><br />Shortly thereafter, I came to a sign for Apache Springs (<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS: N35 49.478 W106 23.424</span>).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxNCfwrHE3H9_oRTJLjGAH5nxm48gDho_MQBxFEasIO0fGxSKV8lSwRv4McoZ0AOLIYloXn9BV1q01YS37kxuZuyeYQOps9P5Fey_Xgua14u9yaoo3ajFIUF7pJdWx3FUm3n0SkCfEkkP/s1600-h/apachesprings.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxNCfwrHE3H9_oRTJLjGAH5nxm48gDho_MQBxFEasIO0fGxSKV8lSwRv4McoZ0AOLIYloXn9BV1q01YS37kxuZuyeYQOps9P5Fey_Xgua14u9yaoo3ajFIUF7pJdWx3FUm3n0SkCfEkkP/s320/apachesprings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268940874264886914" border="0" /></a><br />From the trail above, I could see the sign (and warning that the water was non-potable), and some sort of concrete structure below. There was no obvious route to the springs from here, as evidenced by the erosion caused by people descending directly to the sign below from this point in the trail. This was not my destination, so I did not attempt to find a route. However, if you go up the trail a little further, you can double back down the draw to the sign pretty easily. This would be preferable to prevent further erosion damage in the area.<br /><br />Past this area, you hike up through the bottom of a small canyon, which was dusted with snow on this trip.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJ9NVUJ5XA89WCb74MKF41CMTU-6qXsBfMSO-1TOnoUJEZLluunBpLxyFFCcumgqimbkxF5vQgaLbLqT5eeFa3zIdRwEdReROCqcC0CAaKp2Td7G9zh2VRmKypa9ywlqYFYOhOhSjeqxu/s1600-h/snowtrail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJ9NVUJ5XA89WCb74MKF41CMTU-6qXsBfMSO-1TOnoUJEZLluunBpLxyFFCcumgqimbkxF5vQgaLbLqT5eeFa3zIdRwEdReROCqcC0CAaKp2Td7G9zh2VRmKypa9ywlqYFYOhOhSjeqxu/s320/snowtrail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268943515006460738" border="0" /></a><br />After hiking out of this little canyon, you eventually come to the begining of the descent into Frijoles Canyon (<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS: N35 49.520 W106 24.409</span>). If you descend a little ways into the canyon, the view opens up nicely.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPpsvE8LQw9VE6hEfrAPLVpjCjI4F6vJ2k9UBAZlH_QRdAqIPTK7I1kX_RLlz5YnkSgXhuFfYccUvJkIn20diaz4XpoFaLeUq98WkKpHzg3E6jHdOVbu1Ot5vt-P_UptHgvJsnE0qohHT/s1600-h/frijoles1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPpsvE8LQw9VE6hEfrAPLVpjCjI4F6vJ2k9UBAZlH_QRdAqIPTK7I1kX_RLlz5YnkSgXhuFfYccUvJkIn20diaz4XpoFaLeUq98WkKpHzg3E6jHdOVbu1Ot5vt-P_UptHgvJsnE0qohHT/s320/frijoles1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268944580456630770" border="0" /></a><br />Here you can see part of Boundary Peak, as well as the Sandias in the background.<br /><br />There are some interesting rock formations in the canyon as well.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuvbVcni_ov79VEi7BYz_WsrAURzZNtRi7QQq0pl7ZB_ZRPrMlDLHkFUWO7omJdIOOIru-GG9_e5cjZtdS-0aeYqW426y1M7jCeiP61Ltd2IYPBTS4mH9AMNUwshVsGOi9ekS4p4zfEkh/s1600-h/rock2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 231px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuvbVcni_ov79VEi7BYz_WsrAURzZNtRi7QQq0pl7ZB_ZRPrMlDLHkFUWO7omJdIOOIru-GG9_e5cjZtdS-0aeYqW426y1M7jCeiP61Ltd2IYPBTS4mH9AMNUwshVsGOi9ekS4p4zfEkh/s320/rock2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268945059925860914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK711Wd5DKJk1skgkZ9qX9USpcfAj1CKU6AQ-jG8CQLci0v0Dl5pFwoWzKimoEyzE4xHxp7va5g0Wl9k0GVoxmfcGkMb9U3ot08cUeDgTFw20mljYhTC4b14BOEuY8d7NGssNhiVkLTJ3F/s1600-h/rock1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK711Wd5DKJk1skgkZ9qX9USpcfAj1CKU6AQ-jG8CQLci0v0Dl5pFwoWzKimoEyzE4xHxp7va5g0Wl9k0GVoxmfcGkMb9U3ot08cUeDgTFw20mljYhTC4b14BOEuY8d7NGssNhiVkLTJ3F/s320/rock1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268945054414733266" border="0" /></a><br />Because I was short on time, I turned around and returned to the trail head at this point. This turned out to be a nice, short (4.9 mile) hike in Bandelier. Sometime I will have someone drop me off there and I will hike all the way down Frijoles to the visitor center. For more images from this hike, see <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/apachesprings">my photography gallery</a> for this hike.Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-59281584408686367212008-10-24T22:35:00.025-06:002008-10-24T23:39:56.439-06:00Valle Grande Trail<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVg1zzznlgl4pGAU0M1lA2rPjcj-PTCDpvRBXui6pErazsOf2oFm1OI96bARN1fRuglAbSyL1_nEIygeGHCpHPmZmb3wL2tOfm4JMjxLLjeWzkO897wKY55lSlCbXPtY4kIL0l32NHamO/s1600-h/vallesgrande-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVg1zzznlgl4pGAU0M1lA2rPjcj-PTCDpvRBXui6pErazsOf2oFm1OI96bARN1fRuglAbSyL1_nEIygeGHCpHPmZmb3wL2tOfm4JMjxLLjeWzkO897wKY55lSlCbXPtY4kIL0l32NHamO/s320/vallesgrande-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260952083629031906" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Today I went on the short <a href="http://www.vallescaldera.gov/about/maps/static/vallecoyote_hike.pdf">Valle Grande Trail</a> hike. This is one of two hikes in the <a href="http://www.vallescaldera.gov/">Valles Caldera</a> preserve that are "spontaneous" hikes, meaning you just show up and hike. You know. Like most of the hikes you ever do. The rest of the hikes require reservations and a van ride to trail heads elsewhere in the park.<br /><br />So I will digress for a moment to go on a small rant. I have never liked how this park is managed and it is no surprise to me that they don't make much money. This is a beautiful area, but <span style="font-style: italic;">it is</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">ridiculously hard to enjoy</span>. There are only <span style="font-style: italic;">two </span>trails that one can simply hike on without going through through a reservation and van pooling process, neither of which are <span>great </span>hikes (although the Coyote Call trail is much better than Valles Grande trail, but that is because you can climb to an elevated position to clearly overview Valles Grande to the west and the entire Rio Grande Valley to the east -- I will blog about this hike sometime in the future). They could be great hikes, and in this 89,000 acre park there are many hiking possibilities that are unfortunately unavailable to the public. Maybe someday the National Parks Service will take it over and perhaps that will improve matters. I don't know. Enough ranting, I guess. Despite what I consider to be a poor management and access process, this is a beautiful area worthy of exploration. I have not yet attempted to go on one of the reservation hikes, but I will someday as they are probably superior hikes. Despite the fact that I prefer solitude which you don't typically get in a van full of other hikers.<br /><br />The Valles Grande hike is a very short 1 mile out and 1 mile back hike, leaving from State Road 4 just outside the boundary of Bandelier National Monument (at the top of the area of SR4 known as the "chute" for those from this area). Most of the hike is rather boring, through the forest with little in the way of views. It drops down to close to the floor of the valley, and offers no views of the valley until you are near the end of the hike. The trail is surprisingly rocky, so despite the short distance, a good pair of hiking shoes is recommended (preferably with ankle support). The trail map is shown below. I did not include a profile because this is a short hike which descends only 200 ft in 1 mile.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-TfD-4IExdn9Z3WFas6KKBcKdewVjMvr9JelgOA8vbtYp_H1HQcWyMTpTNcZpObW01b3E3YdV7iC6YYGeJTWLHMECVG-cl_8amGPo6zpNjWEqDIL6dNe7Nd1KkD0noRO2VN9fz0B38Rg/s1600-h/trailmap.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-TfD-4IExdn9Z3WFas6KKBcKdewVjMvr9JelgOA8vbtYp_H1HQcWyMTpTNcZpObW01b3E3YdV7iC6YYGeJTWLHMECVG-cl_8amGPo6zpNjWEqDIL6dNe7Nd1KkD0noRO2VN9fz0B38Rg/s320/trailmap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260954277934568914" border="0" /></a>The view of the valley is beautiful, but frankly only slightly different from the view along the roadway a mile or so from the trail head. The difference is that this trail takes you down to more of a view level with the valley floor than elevated along the road. However, this trail offers the possibility of seeing elk closer than one might from the road. There were probably O(100) elk in the valley today that I could see through binoculars (too far for my 500mm lens). However, on some mornings there is a good chance they would be closer to the end of this trail. It would be worth hiking this trail at night or in the early morning and sit down there and listen to the elk bugle.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaAbdwGgdmaVwUjGrLvPdCa_TOK5Ermi0PGIfm-bWOmZEtnW5WImUqEoNMuPY1SeHqSuQENm52Vz8bfaHsqPoTSmC9NoMbYWH0kLTx63I3v0QuebpKDjwL0qqNux5-R8cTArHe3xdBnHr/s1600-h/1.24.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBaAbdwGgdmaVwUjGrLvPdCa_TOK5Ermi0PGIfm-bWOmZEtnW5WImUqEoNMuPY1SeHqSuQENm52Vz8bfaHsqPoTSmC9NoMbYWH0kLTx63I3v0QuebpKDjwL0qqNux5-R8cTArHe3xdBnHr/s320/1.24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260956110530222130" border="0" /></a><br />The map above marks the apparent end of the trail, but I wandered around a little bit as it was not precisely obvious where the trail ended. It is disappointing that the trail did not go farther, as it would be easy to construct the trail to continue to the north around the rim of the valley and offer different views unobtainable from the road (and perhaps even connect to trails in Los Alamos County). See rant above. The photograph below was taken at the turn around point in my wanderings after the apparent end of the trail.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RN2oQ7kYPRT0UV8J8fr0Jo7uEzHZYUVUeVSeLnmePihXIiuTBKzeQ4O8iDCkiiOSMWUAxnoP9Pwd-Q1o8RVtxTnfe4122u53wDb7iVHWneVyRL4cTwYhWSSqhCCxsNahcAST2JgdwVeP/s1600-h/1.27.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RN2oQ7kYPRT0UV8J8fr0Jo7uEzHZYUVUeVSeLnmePihXIiuTBKzeQ4O8iDCkiiOSMWUAxnoP9Pwd-Q1o8RVtxTnfe4122u53wDb7iVHWneVyRL4cTwYhWSSqhCCxsNahcAST2JgdwVeP/s320/1.27.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260955729308290274" border="0" /></a><br />This valley is a wetland which wildlife use. Cattle are also run here during the summer.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QVgT0FIGG_51NSOnkrHFx0EGWNn44g35BRyorxfaEP862nn22o7UBKizbw-XEisUl-dEGivlUYrOTgu6USwEqmlwqNxW9QZP2jTARf4qjMywIDGLNKGhNYEZXLZdj0nIpIAMT6wq_LFr/s1600-h/wetland.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QVgT0FIGG_51NSOnkrHFx0EGWNn44g35BRyorxfaEP862nn22o7UBKizbw-XEisUl-dEGivlUYrOTgu6USwEqmlwqNxW9QZP2jTARf4qjMywIDGLNKGhNYEZXLZdj0nIpIAMT6wq_LFr/s320/wetland.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260956664293009730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrKOyhTinXis4iDc-zrJ0N9yWtEKvotNAEQRhAIURBkk8ZUqq7Dpd1isDqE6Jqh5q0ZHSklhuLY8OM3y30PUmsnm7Ovv8OsImpuMFGrd_fbhqoQGek2akQBNfZu9zNRg65m54baLlCOrL/s1600-h/1.21.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrKOyhTinXis4iDc-zrJ0N9yWtEKvotNAEQRhAIURBkk8ZUqq7Dpd1isDqE6Jqh5q0ZHSklhuLY8OM3y30PUmsnm7Ovv8OsImpuMFGrd_fbhqoQGek2akQBNfZu9zNRg65m54baLlCOrL/s320/1.21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260957531940792962" border="0" /></a><br />The Valles Grande is certainly one of the most beautiful areas in New Mexico and I highly recommend a visit there. It is a short drive from my backyard. For more photographs from this hike, including a panoramic of the Valles Grande, see <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/vgtrail">my gallery for this hike.</a>Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-18306518498885198832008-09-28T20:45:00.119-06:002008-09-28T23:31:50.099-06:00Tsankawi: The "Other" Bandelier<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjHkyZUGsFrKvlBTaF4jq_fK3AeBw4z4iFkuLaFutKhv-dMmyWIQbUHfF_j-YC0JaBum3GgZ8_tn6D8ow2sakzDZogmhXf-nYRQh01DsXiqpI5A89GgqevzfVFPvhVvo-7lWju_4YBecz/s1600-h/topimage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjHkyZUGsFrKvlBTaF4jq_fK3AeBw4z4iFkuLaFutKhv-dMmyWIQbUHfF_j-YC0JaBum3GgZ8_tn6D8ow2sakzDZogmhXf-nYRQh01DsXiqpI5A89GgqevzfVFPvhVvo-7lWju_4YBecz/s320/topimage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251277619476509154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On Friday I went for the short loop hike in <a href="http://www.nps.gov/band/planyourvisit/tsankawi.htm">Tsankawi</a> (pronounced "San-Ka-Wee), which is part of <a href="http://www.nps.gov/band/">Bandelier National Monument</a>. I mostly did this because there was a prescribed burn going on in Frijoles Canyon, and I was not precisely sure which trails were open. But I knew Tsankawi was, and I had not been there in at least 18 years.<br /><br />I call Tsankawi the "other" Bandelier because it is a separate unit from the main part of the park, which is some 12 miles from the visitor center in the bottom of Frijoles Canyon. It is located near the busy intersection of <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=bandelier+national+monument,+nm&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=50.157795,114.257812&ie=UTF8&ll=35.863839,-106.214597&spn=0.012642,0.027895&t=h&z=16">State Road 4 and East Jemez Road</a> (East Jemez Road is one of the four routes into Los Alamos County). There are no services at this site, which is essentially just a trail head. There are restrooms there (port-a-potties) and a fee station to purchase an entrance fee to Bandelier that you need to post on your dash (same entry fee will get you into the main Bandelier unit as well; you can also use your national parks pass here). Cars parked there without a displayed pass or receipt will be ticketed as the NPS does patrol this area. On the left side of the trail right after you enter here, there is also a self-guided trail map that is worth picking up before you start out (be sure to drop 0.50 into the slot if you take a trail map/guide).<br /><br />Tsankawi is an interesting short loop trail that passes through the unexcavated Tsankawi Pueblo ruins, and also passes by numerous <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroglyph">petroglyphs</a> and cavates. I have mentioned cavates in this blog before, of course, but in brief, a cavate is a combination of the words "cave" (which is a <span style="font-style: italic;">natural </span>hollow) and "excavate." Therefore, a cavate is a small area carved out of the side of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuff">tuff-encrusted</a> cliffs in this part of the country by ancient inhabitants to protect them from the harsh (summer or winter) elements on the tops of the mesas. This is not a particularly quiet trail until you get up onto the mesa, and then drop back behind the mesa away from the nearby roadways. This can be a popular trail since it is right next to the main road, is short and easy...but it is also true that it is not that well known since it is so far removed from the visitors center.<br /><br />The image below shows the map of the trail that I walked.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXk4pIzP1q3m1AWClLMELkxJidjyN4k-XBp_AAsv0eACV7o98T9AcVsERu-Wyfz0OTLTPKqNwcwiVXnTBGqjeJmwsXsTLOgiEa45een2rtRi_21v_1C0FKATmoRLqIiQugJqzo6kmZ-b68/s1600-h/map.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXk4pIzP1q3m1AWClLMELkxJidjyN4k-XBp_AAsv0eACV7o98T9AcVsERu-Wyfz0OTLTPKqNwcwiVXnTBGqjeJmwsXsTLOgiEa45een2rtRi_21v_1C0FKATmoRLqIiQugJqzo6kmZ-b68/s320/map.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251281396957510658" border="0" /></a><br />The total distance was 1.9 miles with a tiny elevation gain of 173 ft (trail head starts at 6531 ft elevation).<br /><br />After a short walk, you encounter the first ladder (<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS: N35 51.677 W106 13.243</span>, pictured at the top of this blog entry). There are three ladders like this on this trail. If you do the loop, one of them is optional as you will see in a moment. On the way to this ladder, I noted several signs of fall.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhuv8L5YVII2l5KL9z-uLz52P8bX3zieTt9GskrDRI3EPk62oK_kkvUFiZsnAQXkUHxkeTfO7n5w4TmWkGL6SgWP0m7yAAVtyaCa4wKQ5xZ2v-qx7XHGSFlSF9SXzC8JKnq2t77L5yPE7/s1600-h/fall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhuv8L5YVII2l5KL9z-uLz52P8bX3zieTt9GskrDRI3EPk62oK_kkvUFiZsnAQXkUHxkeTfO7n5w4TmWkGL6SgWP0m7yAAVtyaCa4wKQ5xZ2v-qx7XHGSFlSF9SXzC8JKnq2t77L5yPE7/s320/fall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251282538944333666" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This first ladder brings up you to the next level of the mesa, but not to the top yet. A short distance beyond the ladder you encounter a fork in the trail (<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS: N35 51.693 W106 13.176</span>). Bear left here and hike up the well worn path in the tuff.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIkAZJBITeAnlMQmDcsRljy_sqXXt6QzXPJ6Kq1n-ryd9mrSQItKk7en4crWbJiFWghl2DTDQGqmYzympRE-EqRoI9VAGE1HRInkkb-rgbPQDtcOi8Jx0pik9NUoG7rAAR04WLrCD9muh/s1600-h/tufftrail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIkAZJBITeAnlMQmDcsRljy_sqXXt6QzXPJ6Kq1n-ryd9mrSQItKk7en4crWbJiFWghl2DTDQGqmYzympRE-EqRoI9VAGE1HRInkkb-rgbPQDtcOi8Jx0pik9NUoG7rAAR04WLrCD9muh/s320/tufftrail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251284287523997490" border="0" /></a>Many areas of the trial along this loop look like this. This is at "trail marker 4" if you use the trail guide picked up at the trail head, but marker 4 is missing on the trail itself.<br /><br />Once the short climb levels off, you encounter your first petroglyph on the left. It is a well-worn one, a bit difficult to see. In the image below, I adjusted light levels to make it easier to discern.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQMsqzoKkPc2rgNI4l0IgKAe7SeZeAGU4LD9yUcdzscnHRow9NG6X150R6jpTPDLC8cwXV9EBsX5oILHhPHpRFQqQE417EIPTSFb4dmIsrm2at6-wC_o8i96j_gX2QCJxFqIV0P46N-x3/s1600-h/pict-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQMsqzoKkPc2rgNI4l0IgKAe7SeZeAGU4LD9yUcdzscnHRow9NG6X150R6jpTPDLC8cwXV9EBsX5oILHhPHpRFQqQE417EIPTSFb4dmIsrm2at6-wC_o8i96j_gX2QCJxFqIV0P46N-x3/s320/pict-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251286939917594626" border="0" /></a><br />This is at "trail marker 6" in the trail guide and, right around the corner from this point, you encounter another fork in the trail.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdZQcxXQRYFeB-4d4DTbTFF39vqtooibn_1m8ArYvfttMVcXYECWoCs_KEV_Ehpos1y_wsx6CifpvWtTx0DYxcdfmhPLxyxzSuDdSwF34vMyGekVsGbeyPdoi9q5anCLlrdVBMK2XcsiT/s1600-h/trailfork-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdZQcxXQRYFeB-4d4DTbTFF39vqtooibn_1m8ArYvfttMVcXYECWoCs_KEV_Ehpos1y_wsx6CifpvWtTx0DYxcdfmhPLxyxzSuDdSwF34vMyGekVsGbeyPdoi9q5anCLlrdVBMK2XcsiT/s320/trailfork-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251286944618833650" border="0" /></a>Here you can use a ladder to get the top of the mesa or go up the trail carved into the tuff on the left. Of course I chose the tuff route. Either way, this is the last climb on this trail and it is quite short.<br /><br />At the top of the mesa, the view is expansive. Pictured below is what is referred to as "The Y" around here, because the roadway coming up from the valley to the east splits into two here, one going up main hill road into the Los Alamos Townsite, and one going to the south into White Rock (also in Los Alamos County).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kM0HhPulI8z_Z1IDgKoj6afDzZwb6CS6QJ1TlRzYZokvLCT0jZmG3CZQq6aXF4PZwUvQ_NQraKE913c4FyczvrCMrr6e26ZYPujaivM0IozTesHWTPWy1B2nbu3n7wllKPOEWKOh7_Bb/s1600-h/y1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kM0HhPulI8z_Z1IDgKoj6afDzZwb6CS6QJ1TlRzYZokvLCT0jZmG3CZQq6aXF4PZwUvQ_NQraKE913c4FyczvrCMrr6e26ZYPujaivM0IozTesHWTPWy1B2nbu3n7wllKPOEWKOh7_Bb/s320/y1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251288848900547714" border="0" /></a><br />This entire area is well known for its rock formations and mesas, which are quite unique.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq-NnhKdEqPeauk1CbZythuARBbnGhw69x-pdJOW9bVT59DgmxSWD63gtvvw073thga_PeEd7QT_ajcweWbDXTg8MIyfm3lmSPC4grIgF6_wtYA9ImbIw995S2u2IJBqAfLssjsasT3PI/s1600-h/formations.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq-NnhKdEqPeauk1CbZythuARBbnGhw69x-pdJOW9bVT59DgmxSWD63gtvvw073thga_PeEd7QT_ajcweWbDXTg8MIyfm3lmSPC4grIgF6_wtYA9ImbIw995S2u2IJBqAfLssjsasT3PI/s320/formations.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251290188141632642" border="0" /></a><br />Below is a view toward the west, directly toward <a href="http://www.lanl.gov/">Los Alamos National Laboratory</a> and the <a href="http://www.losalamos.com/">Los Alamos</a> townsite. The Jemez Mountains serve as the backdrop.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TdE9C0DTKaKbVPeaDw5eUpGp_8v8pnWGVRejhj6uc3VjsjYrQs391pk17RKP3eFOD3IjzcGXCn_ap1ag7_wHe3-az-ICmuv4VnWDYzIAFRmPvaheb5fD5ATxiD3yTkKa6_vDPYxgysa4/s1600-h/townsite.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TdE9C0DTKaKbVPeaDw5eUpGp_8v8pnWGVRejhj6uc3VjsjYrQs391pk17RKP3eFOD3IjzcGXCn_ap1ag7_wHe3-az-ICmuv4VnWDYzIAFRmPvaheb5fD5ATxiD3yTkKa6_vDPYxgysa4/s320/townsite.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251289874199944818" border="0" /></a><br />In the image below, one can see Boundary Peak in Bandelier in the distance (see my <a href="http://srleebackyard.blogspot.com/2008/07/back-in-new-mexico.html">Cerro Grande</a> and <a href="http://srleebackyard.blogspot.com/2008/04/shrine-of-stone-lions.html">Stone Lions</a> blog entries for more on Boundary Peak).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KZ9UmGFqt_auFl0nksjHDfeTO9ezp_YyeMifyFFb-9hA1YYM1BdnuzipqX-ijP3es3fHIX3xswk3msyXnXxpyuduWZbrXo0pRgZ9IbMiIdAQ5Z3LUWEeOGIs851fzn263n5jtLYwj6AU/s1600-h/boundarypeak.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KZ9UmGFqt_auFl0nksjHDfeTO9ezp_YyeMifyFFb-9hA1YYM1BdnuzipqX-ijP3es3fHIX3xswk3msyXnXxpyuduWZbrXo0pRgZ9IbMiIdAQ5Z3LUWEeOGIs851fzn263n5jtLYwj6AU/s320/boundarypeak.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251291591273825154" border="0" /></a><br />As you continue on the mesa tops, excellent views abound. To the north west of the mesa, one can see "Duchess Castle." I don't know why it has this name.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6-GtZ5zK8X0F2xpe9n2qEByacCLy2C4LvHf2rcz25rQ7PT9KHeprr9n1e_4AusT4tCeKwYHwuyn4i1oqPKFQda2UqcRc7gOBUBKKtgQcFmxr89YQZ6C6gXvfUwy8h_tI6BadoNWcJos0/s1600-h/duchess.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6-GtZ5zK8X0F2xpe9n2qEByacCLy2C4LvHf2rcz25rQ7PT9KHeprr9n1e_4AusT4tCeKwYHwuyn4i1oqPKFQda2UqcRc7gOBUBKKtgQcFmxr89YQZ6C6gXvfUwy8h_tI6BadoNWcJos0/s320/duchess.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251293063606245506" border="0" /></a><br />This is the remains of a building constructed in 1918 by Madame Vera von Blumenthal and Rose Dungan, which was a home and pottery-making school. There are no trails down to this area.<br /><br />Shortly beyond this, you arrive at the ruins of Tsankawi.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHr6bZNgRzuf1FvxCZXiu45X-8l8tbs2RRbZ4K6FseELDtSDArId8WR_C6-HESSeXY-slxDVkOqdcHXdWytgXMW_n3yujJijtxzpmPWKHGD_sQtzSMWMd43nh7n6TzOZO36gJY9fB-LMMg/s1600-h/tsankawi-ruins.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHr6bZNgRzuf1FvxCZXiu45X-8l8tbs2RRbZ4K6FseELDtSDArId8WR_C6-HESSeXY-slxDVkOqdcHXdWytgXMW_n3yujJijtxzpmPWKHGD_sQtzSMWMd43nh7n6TzOZO36gJY9fB-LMMg/s320/tsankawi-ruins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251294087516818802" border="0" /></a><br />This is an unexcavated ruin. If you look around, you will see pottery shards on the ground. In some cases, someone piled them on rocks by the trail so you can see them easily.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHw-WuN4Q_8bB1TTbBlgM0Ob2xbjFE-PLay-W7ovb930UXPDlytQN2poPUxBTbq0GtBhJ2NUrtz1Iof_PPXJuNwPncB5CjvgOoNX8EpHUWn6-I3ajIKwXCfIDaIPI9mg1XQUhmuQu0iMz/s1600-h/pottery1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHw-WuN4Q_8bB1TTbBlgM0Ob2xbjFE-PLay-W7ovb930UXPDlytQN2poPUxBTbq0GtBhJ2NUrtz1Iof_PPXJuNwPncB5CjvgOoNX8EpHUWn6-I3ajIKwXCfIDaIPI9mg1XQUhmuQu0iMz/s320/pottery1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251294957423201426" border="0" /></a><br />This pile was found along the trail a little ways past the sign (<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS:N35 51.727 W106 12.915</span>).<br /><br />Here are some I found just looking around the area, probably unearthed by monsoon rains. If you see any laying around, just leave them where they are.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoaYys9rEKwfuM-Py2gCXp36Ni4usA_VlRkM3x960sM5GF3TX9n5WhisrTh3XmqH3wIDXEUx3G-hR3JcV80clQlWXQ5p0xiFwwk2wzON7VaC79gWs2qUENiwuyXFvrHKB5AxKXx4TP8UB/s1600-h/morepottery.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoaYys9rEKwfuM-Py2gCXp36Ni4usA_VlRkM3x960sM5GF3TX9n5WhisrTh3XmqH3wIDXEUx3G-hR3JcV80clQlWXQ5p0xiFwwk2wzON7VaC79gWs2qUENiwuyXFvrHKB5AxKXx4TP8UB/s320/morepottery.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251295969721644146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here is another pile that someone made near the trail.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63CJQvaT5OJgQqjz61xi-T4es-NkzyBOT9QgPqRnJGteMB2axFqCH03HCiY01fnALSU0pAS8xeMVgi15DlRiLnBlxsFhdu5p1lu9hxkIdkOTTkZWHU1HoVLYzlEc2cBIUev4myVei3Uho/s1600-h/potterwithlizard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63CJQvaT5OJgQqjz61xi-T4es-NkzyBOT9QgPqRnJGteMB2axFqCH03HCiY01fnALSU0pAS8xeMVgi15DlRiLnBlxsFhdu5p1lu9hxkIdkOTTkZWHU1HoVLYzlEc2cBIUev4myVei3Uho/s320/potterwithlizard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251296123761103106" border="0" /></a><br />If you look closely, you will notice something else on the rocks with the pottery.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jP_ZiCBd9ilVvGsgWQgN_06insQm8zYBXWnHhnXL9kKRB1SY3EWkZTzzhyNCwBOFmRjXAE4Hju0RxA3EPywAWN22Vj0fwRL53JO9Dca4_hgNSBrpbF7OegXypOTe3Sp1Tp6jkD70xAWl/s1600-h/lizard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jP_ZiCBd9ilVvGsgWQgN_06insQm8zYBXWnHhnXL9kKRB1SY3EWkZTzzhyNCwBOFmRjXAE4Hju0RxA3EPywAWN22Vj0fwRL53JO9Dca4_hgNSBrpbF7OegXypOTe3Sp1Tp6jkD70xAWl/s320/lizard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251296125523673762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As I said, Tsankawi is a completely unexcavated ruin and, as such, looks essentially like a pile of rocks covered with dirt.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EAD3bnsh1kobw2exKZ9vA3-TPA5wefJZ_nEiL02FBVdXVSKXMes9Ur2h6GhLgYyRfdgcvHBG2RJmSWvOxn0Qrj2erlicui_xOxQAU3NtgubPZAnsOkwWGD5IlJpE5cJu6bYDL3VVYOWB/s1600-h/tsan-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EAD3bnsh1kobw2exKZ9vA3-TPA5wefJZ_nEiL02FBVdXVSKXMes9Ur2h6GhLgYyRfdgcvHBG2RJmSWvOxn0Qrj2erlicui_xOxQAU3NtgubPZAnsOkwWGD5IlJpE5cJu6bYDL3VVYOWB/s320/tsan-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251297044616518338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lcBtqaELTXNFCIdMWL69145HguutQYXSyzqmUgRHgguhsLGvurcn6lRpYd5o6xc1UZcljt3sALpf1izdFHDayfUCAgHpdhHEFwBwhlnHad1V5HKp6dR2mSxtvxuxJQ_9JiMVR2ciIKKI/s1600-h/tsan-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lcBtqaELTXNFCIdMWL69145HguutQYXSyzqmUgRHgguhsLGvurcn6lRpYd5o6xc1UZcljt3sALpf1izdFHDayfUCAgHpdhHEFwBwhlnHad1V5HKp6dR2mSxtvxuxJQ_9JiMVR2ciIKKI/s320/tsan-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251297041762142978" border="0" /></a><br />This is a very dry area and, as I noted in my Stone Lions blog entry, it must have been difficult to dry farm and survive here. Remarkably, the entire ruin contains 275 ground floors and was one or two stories high. The trail passes over and directly through this ruin and, just before you encounter the other side of the mesa (east side, where you climb down a ladder), you pass by a couple of flat buried stones.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYO0x_R8fRI774P1vEH4_32nk7lm-AQ1r0c8PiI8xv3efmv0RGa_wMEoWfULqJQRLyQCTK_dOMrsu1wyI0cHrpVjJ6nYuElacXmHSVosb35jhh88PTICsAirQeNNkHpWU2U4cLG7oECs9h/s1600-h/reservior.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYO0x_R8fRI774P1vEH4_32nk7lm-AQ1r0c8PiI8xv3efmv0RGa_wMEoWfULqJQRLyQCTK_dOMrsu1wyI0cHrpVjJ6nYuElacXmHSVosb35jhh88PTICsAirQeNNkHpWU2U4cLG7oECs9h/s320/reservior.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251298338884444418" border="0" /></a><br />This is a "trail marker 14," and is believed to be part of the remains of an old reservoir. Because it was so dry here, any moisture was a blessing. It is believed that this area served as a small reservoir that would trap rainwater and snow melt off of the roofs of the Tsankawi village immediately uphill to the west.<br /><br />Shortly after this area is the descent off of the east side of the mesa. Once down the ladder, there are a large number of cavates in the area.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_qinmgLLRIpocTEnx-_l-gohFeMN_jjX-9FvWLC-osmBk4IPMUYZ9KNsKehkdBUJnrzzO6Ie1srCBdHK_Q9YL9zkxwlR3d-1vkUCEKeUm71-lhX_69tNZa1qqf_UTZMh7cjcuqcuGiZV/s1600-h/mesadescent.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_qinmgLLRIpocTEnx-_l-gohFeMN_jjX-9FvWLC-osmBk4IPMUYZ9KNsKehkdBUJnrzzO6Ie1srCBdHK_Q9YL9zkxwlR3d-1vkUCEKeUm71-lhX_69tNZa1qqf_UTZMh7cjcuqcuGiZV/s320/mesadescent.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251299189246445394" border="0" /></a><br />This image shows the ladder on the right used to climb down off of the mesa top. The trail is also visible heading off to the south.<br /><br />I went inside a cavate just to the north east of the ladder.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_mAniEkl6GNTxiOkA2LZRIbP5LOK7cT1-hidd105AlO-Vhm5yntCD1LV0-919JYixGqlYkceaeywYXba-5VXNZKByyrOKqysaG9pc8RzZzXYxYU5tkCtf2YKjLeQyLD48oYLeYnTgZlY/s1600-h/inside-cavate-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_mAniEkl6GNTxiOkA2LZRIbP5LOK7cT1-hidd105AlO-Vhm5yntCD1LV0-919JYixGqlYkceaeywYXba-5VXNZKByyrOKqysaG9pc8RzZzXYxYU5tkCtf2YKjLeQyLD48oYLeYnTgZlY/s320/inside-cavate-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251300785590906194" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Right next to it were some carvings in the side of the tuff cliff, probably part of a roof or other structure for storage.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiI06M57zbjJgnJh-CKu8NG8tF1bErFH4mpW9vmmcVAtozTbyjcWLKqyV6o6KPACOBEO_xHgGmHap9XiPi-jxNEZclqpP_TRqQkJ2Qy5e345blLlaaNAvvBPy0A29HuTNwdnsV7H15XVBP/s1600-h/belowmesaeast-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiI06M57zbjJgnJh-CKu8NG8tF1bErFH4mpW9vmmcVAtozTbyjcWLKqyV6o6KPACOBEO_xHgGmHap9XiPi-jxNEZclqpP_TRqQkJ2Qy5e345blLlaaNAvvBPy0A29HuTNwdnsV7H15XVBP/s320/belowmesaeast-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251300783764847010" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Many other cavates are visible from here, as are the ancient paths to reach them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYd6G2gvD1oAdT7i-rWjXLswZATuwwIRnedfx6ZwmdmsSS4OXbcdCcvfhptXoa_CQ5vzI8CmRURDNNH1oa9NgPNNUObijfg7rypb0tVYvb5PF3zjdQGc_fZ-OkwyqAB3V5ZmZNbBsgSFcs/s1600-h/morecavates.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYd6G2gvD1oAdT7i-rWjXLswZATuwwIRnedfx6ZwmdmsSS4OXbcdCcvfhptXoa_CQ5vzI8CmRURDNNH1oa9NgPNNUObijfg7rypb0tVYvb5PF3zjdQGc_fZ-OkwyqAB3V5ZmZNbBsgSFcs/s320/morecavates.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251301160469494690" border="0" /></a><br />These are below the cavate I was standing in, and I did not climb down to them as they are not on the trail. However, these are.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBLH43RYo9qgsE1jb6i8PgwgnasR2-UoVzzQFwzPKOTfLZZRoLhWeXVkTMFBx3zi2r0BEAx34UqpXwknDzAyiAxdttMrjmDkwjmNnaYkhf1PYkF5aZ4RgOZ_8yDZB8SGimyW56Mg5tIqg/s1600-h/cavates-along-the-trail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBLH43RYo9qgsE1jb6i8PgwgnasR2-UoVzzQFwzPKOTfLZZRoLhWeXVkTMFBx3zi2r0BEAx34UqpXwknDzAyiAxdttMrjmDkwjmNnaYkhf1PYkF5aZ4RgOZ_8yDZB8SGimyW56Mg5tIqg/s320/cavates-along-the-trail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251301711274863058" border="0" /></a><br />For more images from this hike, refer to my <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/tsankawi">photography gallery</a> for this hike.<br /><br />As you continue along the side of the mesa in this area, you can see multiple petroglyphs. Particularly near "trail marker 18" (<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS: N35 51.608 W106 12.840</span>).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm6jvl3l45TYsKZELqXok6nL2HJqEUyZuWGJf0UtSSVjpiyGaxFXHyx4Z1DuZu6HuggTnhiAJTVZSzD2-FJAdFmGosZ53ca-SOfXSgL3yoSC4PV7tCscA_Ot-4zsPTch4rSoUOZc0bed6/s1600-h/trail18-pict1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm6jvl3l45TYsKZELqXok6nL2HJqEUyZuWGJf0UtSSVjpiyGaxFXHyx4Z1DuZu6HuggTnhiAJTVZSzD2-FJAdFmGosZ53ca-SOfXSgL3yoSC4PV7tCscA_Ot-4zsPTch4rSoUOZc0bed6/s320/trail18-pict1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251304271681361474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopmrsH5RIICsnizJ15G1eiPHKHLxBeaqkTz8coiHbUddTg1OIeUr0DmcAZnH39vhdg4C12zqUsL286zoZm4ARKvNj_nhTsDe-u_QTh97wrkEx3YwR6WNogwI76CMxdq1C8vxjeUI3Ahz_/s1600-h/trail18-pict2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopmrsH5RIICsnizJ15G1eiPHKHLxBeaqkTz8coiHbUddTg1OIeUr0DmcAZnH39vhdg4C12zqUsL286zoZm4ARKvNj_nhTsDe-u_QTh97wrkEx3YwR6WNogwI76CMxdq1C8vxjeUI3Ahz_/s320/trail18-pict2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251304277578741522" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_iS0GvLbJWJZHUDcE1VvCe-NBL1jamyzMOxQCYFdJuQo91jsrCuW4RJKumL2Cc9kksOCMkt8OouhA1ICQt_sl5WtAY_OdioTqFXIROBuBUSPpqvIPeD1QXVoEYtWpVGfNFwPByukXDPV/s1600-h/trail18-pict3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_iS0GvLbJWJZHUDcE1VvCe-NBL1jamyzMOxQCYFdJuQo91jsrCuW4RJKumL2Cc9kksOCMkt8OouhA1ICQt_sl5WtAY_OdioTqFXIROBuBUSPpqvIPeD1QXVoEYtWpVGfNFwPByukXDPV/s320/trail18-pict3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251304281983523026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZA5uRcegO8lSVmj9miTQDN3ZXVsFUfwFk0_5NJmaXU8-dDkze0LAWunSRmUbTonsCOqIZpGg0a_jy99jrofntCmRdmuTyvsAThLgOAeLesoFPl35EBhIDhKLvourhhM2Bpp257ALSVpJ/s1600-h/trail18-pict4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZA5uRcegO8lSVmj9miTQDN3ZXVsFUfwFk0_5NJmaXU8-dDkze0LAWunSRmUbTonsCOqIZpGg0a_jy99jrofntCmRdmuTyvsAThLgOAeLesoFPl35EBhIDhKLvourhhM2Bpp257ALSVpJ/s320/trail18-pict4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251304281717552146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Finally, the only wildlife I saw on this trail on this day were lizards (and ground squirrels/chipmunks). The one pictured above, and the one below.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1rG7TZ-p3Lxk79Rt60CGlk1kTsnLczVYvCjTxXMT7lLRlzudQXs37pXA5E60c0HZiw4PsIC6cAev4eIrq8sN7d-qIm7dWc8SpgxrtExs4Md6lhK6K4wMNltoAjwr5325aRt8yTjtSdjn/s1600-h/tail-less.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1rG7TZ-p3Lxk79Rt60CGlk1kTsnLczVYvCjTxXMT7lLRlzudQXs37pXA5E60c0HZiw4PsIC6cAev4eIrq8sN7d-qIm7dWc8SpgxrtExs4Md6lhK6K4wMNltoAjwr5325aRt8yTjtSdjn/s320/tail-less.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251302726097991362" border="0" /></a><br />This fellow is growing back his tail which was undoubtedly lost when a bird of prey or some other predator tried to grab him for a quick snack by his tail.<br /><br />This is a very easy hike with some very interesting geologic and archeological features. A nice area in my backyard.Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-88932162259508437992008-08-09T21:52:00.036-06:002008-08-09T23:44:29.091-06:00Signs of a Monsoon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXo-OkZbWE9C3kGAJ1FjXL79iggr5b8eX_M0RwliWHSRYVoNFE_3bWiPrE9adf17XEuv1KwAs6kJOxiGvnN8QpepRFrT4RLHqYzwti4sp2JBD6aAYsH5a2Xi1rggD1Tt3rLRrcV5QaHSq-/s1600-h/upperfalls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXo-OkZbWE9C3kGAJ1FjXL79iggr5b8eX_M0RwliWHSRYVoNFE_3bWiPrE9adf17XEuv1KwAs6kJOxiGvnN8QpepRFrT4RLHqYzwti4sp2JBD6aAYsH5a2Xi1rggD1Tt3rLRrcV5QaHSq-/s320/upperfalls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232740399329546706" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Today was short hike to the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/band/planyourvisit/falls-trail.htm">Upper and Lower Falls</a> in <a href="http://www.nps.gov/band/">Bandelier National Monument (BNM)</a>, this time with some of the Girl Scouts from my daughter's troop. The falls trail is a nice, short, easy hike, about 5 miles round trip and a mere 615 ft elevation loss/gain. If you go all the way to the Rio Grande, it is closer to 700 ft elevation loss/gain. The trail route and profile are shown below.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuRDZGpjs1zl2v149Nd6DcPfs0RtZUw_UGyPeHxH4GP_Vz3CYwigxymzFLnSlJJsGssA_n1pZjqhj2MmCN9pExzF1KPo3o5hAtTZxOn5Zu9Zu8K2sfJjyfIDhDmtaZg80V-6XbJKjGuFK/s1600-h/trailroute.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuRDZGpjs1zl2v149Nd6DcPfs0RtZUw_UGyPeHxH4GP_Vz3CYwigxymzFLnSlJJsGssA_n1pZjqhj2MmCN9pExzF1KPo3o5hAtTZxOn5Zu9Zu8K2sfJjyfIDhDmtaZg80V-6XbJKjGuFK/s320/trailroute.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232736222602875074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRT7zYNrL4_EctvNZlYWkz7FKvVCKLmbC13lnBJJCt6WErNishsjwXKHimYmKTAhHdQ92uCsPxFBIre0Kk7tln5ZgT4jvOJIwBs6X2Zp_3nWQFL23AZjeEq1-ZOFkohVxEaQs-G5KaaiAd/s1600-h/profile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRT7zYNrL4_EctvNZlYWkz7FKvVCKLmbC13lnBJJCt6WErNishsjwXKHimYmKTAhHdQ92uCsPxFBIre0Kk7tln5ZgT4jvOJIwBs6X2Zp_3nWQFL23AZjeEq1-ZOFkohVxEaQs-G5KaaiAd/s320/profile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232736227020623538" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As can be seen from the trail route above, we went to a point past the Lower Falls and turned around and went back. One can continue on to the Rio Grande, but the last time I did this a couple of years ago, the trail was hard to follow past the fence that is the boundary of BNM, and there was not much to see anyway.<br /><br />The hike starts from the back country parking area just past the visitor center (drive over the small stone bridge over the Rio Frijoles and turn left). As we embarked on this hike, we wound up being intermingled with a large group of volunteers (or paid staff, not sure which) with tools to work on the trail. I soon discovered why. The trail more or less parallels the Rio Frijoles, from an elevated perspective. As I walked along, I could see clear signs of a fairly significant flood. This is a narrow canyon in many places, and with the monsoonal flow of moisture into New Mexico at this time of year, we get significant thunderstorms often dropping rain measured in inches in a few minutes. That creates flash floods and, in a canyon like this, a very powerful wall of water. We soon came to the first crossing of the Rio Frijoles, which should have been on a bridge.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_xZe3S1I0MjOKX7MhNMtBIhxTz5BXngYqe5ieCbGvyZcFRMV6dCHQc5n3m-cHDKjhyphenhyphenBOw1Q_c8QquMBBoJ0tpDjYlOljp-D0XRaojjfNOOedXB2hzRt5jl8SNj_JqkI5zccbU2ueOxfs/s1600-h/firstwashout.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_xZe3S1I0MjOKX7MhNMtBIhxTz5BXngYqe5ieCbGvyZcFRMV6dCHQc5n3m-cHDKjhyphenhyphenBOw1Q_c8QquMBBoJ0tpDjYlOljp-D0XRaojjfNOOedXB2hzRt5jl8SNj_JqkI5zccbU2ueOxfs/s320/firstwashout.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232741392572251266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />However, as you can see from the above, the bridge was missing. My wife is crossing the Rio Frijoles after climbing down the steep embankment. You can see the rocks that supported the bridge on the other side. It turns out that on Monday, 7/28/2008, just such a cloud burst and took out this bridge and damaged the trail in several places. A little further along, more damage was evident.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCybXEfbGvTzdd0knnohlketUGUHpxKbihINq6HDekFpBXTtbZelSh7A7BFz2U8VhM-u4r8hDnXmtb8V95l6MbT47a0z3pr5fVOlaeBdjqhXWI-R74bO5XY7rU3X2dw-PeC-qdnuXofB3T/s1600-h/secondwashout.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCybXEfbGvTzdd0knnohlketUGUHpxKbihINq6HDekFpBXTtbZelSh7A7BFz2U8VhM-u4r8hDnXmtb8V95l6MbT47a0z3pr5fVOlaeBdjqhXWI-R74bO5XY7rU3X2dw-PeC-qdnuXofB3T/s320/secondwashout.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232741908005680418" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here, you can see the bridge intact, but torn away from its anchor crossing the Rio Frijoles. If you look carefully, you can see other signs of the torrent of water that went through here Monday. This bridge was still usable, so we crossed using it.<br /><br />The Falls hike is a lovely hike, remaining near the Rio Frijoles and crossing it several times, passing through an open meadow, and then crossing a narrow pass right above the Upper Falls (which is pictured at the top of this blog entry). Below is the view when you top out in the narrow pass, right above the falls to the left. You cannot see the falls from this vantage point -- but you can hear them. You can also see the Rio Grande in the distance.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIogVNu-vONr-fGWG9gp-Lzx3gKquRzorL9zoZpSgxbquonJeWfNwK6snBSVAC_MwcOollZgYYwzg3pG9tRXWp8v0Yl1NyulTBzV3eEcY-i-tdQvmEnJKzCFcclUtzUt1F2dR4Qnsy72Y-/s1600-h/rightbeforeupper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIogVNu-vONr-fGWG9gp-Lzx3gKquRzorL9zoZpSgxbquonJeWfNwK6snBSVAC_MwcOollZgYYwzg3pG9tRXWp8v0Yl1NyulTBzV3eEcY-i-tdQvmEnJKzCFcclUtzUt1F2dR4Qnsy72Y-/s320/rightbeforeupper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232743083098619714" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The falls themselves are pretty, particularly with good flow over them (like during spring ruin off, but I've never made it out here during that time). In the past when I have been here, the falls have been a trickle (and the lower falls invisible). Thanks to the rains, that was not the case this time.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCRTycCuLztypYr7HkGV6GxjTHFkHfTOL3BDxk5zl7t3h4TDjKuhJMIivD2jTT1nE4KIgr5LX-xfI0TWc3kwIRePgZ65baVmRzLXJTv466hXHDGAK1dDoa7qHPXZcECTlpi4TAJV-JKeY/s1600-h/upperfals-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTCRTycCuLztypYr7HkGV6GxjTHFkHfTOL3BDxk5zl7t3h4TDjKuhJMIivD2jTT1nE4KIgr5LX-xfI0TWc3kwIRePgZ65baVmRzLXJTv466hXHDGAK1dDoa7qHPXZcECTlpi4TAJV-JKeY/s320/upperfals-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232744965780390594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />A little further along, the Lower Falls comes into view. The trail is along a canyon wall, and is made up of loose shale. Hike carefully here as it is easy to loose your footing and take a tumble. You also need to watch for poison ivy and rattle snakes along this trail (more on both later).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYEo_PUsvveUmIDVA29l3rx95AAu-OTwrHiyYWSy5YvJVFwIjxZShGXhzH9cCdk64Cg9iA0nPuMP16yRSmSbXjTCh8lHOtWjT7GBcpJWxtRMyHZSjGsIVf0EdAUIY3lK2tyrARCx8UwU5/s1600-h/lowerfalls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYEo_PUsvveUmIDVA29l3rx95AAu-OTwrHiyYWSy5YvJVFwIjxZShGXhzH9cCdk64Cg9iA0nPuMP16yRSmSbXjTCh8lHOtWjT7GBcpJWxtRMyHZSjGsIVf0EdAUIY3lK2tyrARCx8UwU5/s320/lowerfalls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232743668357698050" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I could not help but wonder what these falls looked like during the flash flood that took out the bridges. But I am glad I was not there to witness it.<br /><br />We continued down the trail a little further, with the Girl Scouts, to a shaded area in a significantly washed out part of the trail and took a brief rest and turned around to head back. <a href="http://poisonivy.aesir.com/view">Poison ivy</a> is quite common along this trail, and it can grow to impressive sizes here (and in the upper reaches of Frijoles as well). I took this photograph of poison ivy along this trail.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xZSSJepFGK6FE5_WiMC-lB_Ez7smaCzq3hrn3vhCut9_oa9z2cUxSeFQev31l5e1hwa4zfeYVQtS94uO56wP2RG51FzHlibu48ZwQ6vHQS9AmLD6YlBcZ7OtIwNCssSlMHpQFrSDs_N7/s1600-h/poisonivy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xZSSJepFGK6FE5_WiMC-lB_Ez7smaCzq3hrn3vhCut9_oa9z2cUxSeFQev31l5e1hwa4zfeYVQtS94uO56wP2RG51FzHlibu48ZwQ6vHQS9AmLD6YlBcZ7OtIwNCssSlMHpQFrSDs_N7/s320/poisonivy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232745945305514562" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On the way back, we saw a young skink on the rocks along the trail. I've never seen one of these before.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCm4_HxPNksxQqgVylv_dgxueHxrdTEdcgWuCcB1RJagWAVOE4XNnOwxBzYrrzoc8S5WAa5WWzONuahbNe3WEjCZhzY31epqXYqAShSIJxjzSFq057jSX8f3Fc3yGc36_EwJ3LXyzpSDHm/s1600-h/skank.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCm4_HxPNksxQqgVylv_dgxueHxrdTEdcgWuCcB1RJagWAVOE4XNnOwxBzYrrzoc8S5WAa5WWzONuahbNe3WEjCZhzY31epqXYqAShSIJxjzSFq057jSX8f3Fc3yGc36_EwJ3LXyzpSDHm/s320/skank.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232746941137279474" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After we climbed back past both lower and upper falls, a party descending into the canyon warned us of a rattle snake curled up in the rocks close to the trail. Sure enough, we saw him.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPX-Vs0t_GaPGgdC2E7Frq2TQv281M2JsmxaXvFl4XjxthJeWV8tkyNRHN6PJnSv43B5Q1nvHmbNbjh-B6qUuQtND6-NWzab4cgEPq01RmS15sCxtUwUmtUXEa-1YOQ769idNLz5adlMN/s1600-h/rattlesnake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPX-Vs0t_GaPGgdC2E7Frq2TQv281M2JsmxaXvFl4XjxthJeWV8tkyNRHN6PJnSv43B5Q1nvHmbNbjh-B6qUuQtND6-NWzab4cgEPq01RmS15sCxtUwUmtUXEa-1YOQ769idNLz5adlMN/s320/rattlesnake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232747254153591634" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He was quite content curled up in the shade. He did not even rattle. Perhaps he had recently eaten and was resting digesting his food.<br /><br />The photograph below was taken of us ascending out of the canyon near Upper Falls, not too far beyond where we saw the snake.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgKOxtIAn-RXroqBHT8JSQDnpDvnndXO7O8SI9EbfXD2EtfrNFs_H4jSKG4A1-PfYFTwaSjtzDdKTlxuq0fxTI_6to2l55UzzAT3frVlP2I-OQ-_l4I1rnDz2wuXFDu0pYShmOg_DZoX4/s1600-h/hikeout.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgKOxtIAn-RXroqBHT8JSQDnpDvnndXO7O8SI9EbfXD2EtfrNFs_H4jSKG4A1-PfYFTwaSjtzDdKTlxuq0fxTI_6to2l55UzzAT3frVlP2I-OQ-_l4I1rnDz2wuXFDu0pYShmOg_DZoX4/s320/hikeout.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232747656314729826" border="0" /></a><br />Oh yeah, we also saw some somewhat less exciting wildlife.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxCwx2-vmvWVbD6zTdbF5o9l_1Gfe1STdfGuZCdnpMalJ0X_wGg5UMA0HrPruCuzlO_mLi0gkgkSt0VCptRF3N8GEbZt5VXKR4oBQfaffVlzRe4uZky0sVP1YlPVslh7SnkODVbtenW3P/s1600-h/squirrel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxCwx2-vmvWVbD6zTdbF5o9l_1Gfe1STdfGuZCdnpMalJ0X_wGg5UMA0HrPruCuzlO_mLi0gkgkSt0VCptRF3N8GEbZt5VXKR4oBQfaffVlzRe4uZky0sVP1YlPVslh7SnkODVbtenW3P/s320/squirrel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232749328249327730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There are also interesting rock formations along this trail in several places. Below is an example, taken looking north right at the saddle above Upper falls.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5YymF56UvBPS0THuvzWqKqv34rlfqEIINfn1DYPTKQRFfo2Jq76aiXXdcreUMeHywmgv3hEAb4hDTPX5Kmf9IMS_3-LoYyU3gzjDypNIG6dO4BXYwlrVGOkkew8BjZv2mCgPTgUn5nrD/s1600-h/rockformations.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5YymF56UvBPS0THuvzWqKqv34rlfqEIINfn1DYPTKQRFfo2Jq76aiXXdcreUMeHywmgv3hEAb4hDTPX5Kmf9IMS_3-LoYyU3gzjDypNIG6dO4BXYwlrVGOkkew8BjZv2mCgPTgUn5nrD/s320/rockformations.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232747991317975938" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is a fun, easy, hike and highly recommended. It has large sections that are exposed, and can be quite hot and miserable in the summer so take plenty of water. This is also a very popular hike, so the trail can be crowded. Today it was crowded with hard working folks working to repair the trail and keep it in good shape. So thanks to those folks who work hard to ensure the trail is there for all to enjoy. To see more images from this hike, see my <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/fallshikebnm">companion photography gallery</a>.Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-23005692652437026812008-08-03T09:56:00.139-06:002008-08-09T23:46:01.166-06:00A Long Slog in the HeatOK, actually I went on the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/band/planyourvisit/frijoles-canyon-and-rim.htm">Frijoles Canyon and Rim Trail</a> hike on Friday in Bandelier National Monument (<a href="http://www.nps.gov/band">BNM</a>). At the time I wrote this, there was still a statement on the BNM web page that says the trail is closed between upper crossing and Alcove House due to flash flooding that occurred in the spring. It is not. The NPS repaired this trail and it is open, they have just not updated their web page.<br /><br />As with my other posts to this blog, more photographs are available. For <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/frijolesloop">this hike in particular</a> or for <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/mybackyard">this entire blog in general</a>.<br /><br />A brief description of this trail is that it climbs out of Frijoles Canyon near the Visitor's Center, follows the south rim of the canyon for about 7 miles, drops to the bottom of the canyon at upper crossing, then returns to the Visitor's Center in the bottom of the canyon. When all was said and done, it was a 13.9 mile round trip from my car parked at the Visitor's Center. <br /><br />So why do I call this a slog? I knew it would be a hot day, but I thought I would start early and get to upper crossing before it got too bad, then have a pleasant stroll in the canyon where there would be more shade on the way back, in the heat of the day. I left at 9:15am and by the time I was about 1/3 of the way to Upper Crossing, it was already approaching 90F. I did not leave as early as I intended. Mistake #1. It warmed more quickly than I had anticipated. Mistake #2. Despite hiking a lot over the years, I neglected to pack sufficient water for this hike (!). Mistake #3. Additionally, I also forgot to pack a sufficient snack for this hike. Mistake #4. These errors, combined with a somewhat monotonous trail at times, combined to make this feel a bit like a slog. But I did get to practice my water conservation skills.<br /><br />That is the way hiking goes sometimes...so enough whining! It still beats all day in an office any time. On with the hike description and commentary.<br /><br />The map for the full hike is shown below.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYvgFN6kYZq0mn6qBZN5Co9tVDJaECwiXpXz-V7NPu5m3jXNCD9wsNyOguQR4RstMfQTAzVb6JjtA6C-2ZVsqUq9jTz4tHNhvR911-P4VIPLJdi6-QTgS3exRzzKOoOMlTOIvFdGcULSs/s1600-h/fulltrail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYvgFN6kYZq0mn6qBZN5Co9tVDJaECwiXpXz-V7NPu5m3jXNCD9wsNyOguQR4RstMfQTAzVb6JjtA6C-2ZVsqUq9jTz4tHNhvR911-P4VIPLJdi6-QTgS3exRzzKOoOMlTOIvFdGcULSs/s320/fulltrail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230452994856598802" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The hike does climb 1,416 feet, but it does so in 6.4 miles, so it is a gradual climb. The hike profile is shown below.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyOHLeEk7HAmAI0J3E8sfF009Zzf_zMvCjfuHwCNt_AiOL_xJ8giEEGAhe5ePxOXwtV3ZF2Bw6vuI10kSkhuwTcSxuEAj-IqekuyknrwsQ-0Q22Ko0pud2fp8gIX4Lefisp3nMt_R4JR9/s1600-h/profile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyOHLeEk7HAmAI0J3E8sfF009Zzf_zMvCjfuHwCNt_AiOL_xJ8giEEGAhe5ePxOXwtV3ZF2Bw6vuI10kSkhuwTcSxuEAj-IqekuyknrwsQ-0Q22Ko0pud2fp8gIX4Lefisp3nMt_R4JR9/s320/profile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230452998959000034" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The climb out of Frijoles is the same one I have done dozens of times, and described in the <a href="http://srleebackyard.blogspot.com/2008/04/shrine-of-stone-lions.html">Shrine of the Stone Lions</a> entry. I wondered what would be new on this particular occasion as I climbed out. These guys, for one.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFeevj0oyOLVWS4hgR8EGDL6M2Ew957eVfcV_g36_Sv2q8qjaVWLjQF5rnFUZGT6bzSLf1S0ETVIhahtIwlQUms33KeDMsOfTMuyXLiA6UJMthlEF9saIYE-HejPWhikT4SeXYc3XbEFa/s1600-h/001.027.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFeevj0oyOLVWS4hgR8EGDL6M2Ew957eVfcV_g36_Sv2q8qjaVWLjQF5rnFUZGT6bzSLf1S0ETVIhahtIwlQUms33KeDMsOfTMuyXLiA6UJMthlEF9saIYE-HejPWhikT4SeXYc3XbEFa/s320/001.027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230415708163269666" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These Turkey Buzzards (as I grew up calling them) were my companions for the climb out of Frijoles and for about a half mile after that. Clearly the thermals in the morning in this area were just right for their morning glide. Turkey Vultures may not be the most attractive and majestic bird out there, but they are a common sight around here and there is something peaceful in their silent glide.<br /><br />I also saw a good bit of coyote scat on the climb out, with berries and fur from an unfortunate mouse or pica in the mix.<br /><br />As I have mentioned in other posts, there is a nice view from the top of the south Frijoles rim which many miss as they stay on the main trail near the visitor center. Pity.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAU3ISApKrzgu7hnZhKa9rMF9AGfsuLyg5R_g8UyVD_86WLlvG9AnC06o3MDDAh4YBd2yJEzIO-l3ZuQj1m5eDDwTkLuiG2vuD_ORRwlBtpLRYt00SZdDOlSGbrot8Suq6Ho6pmJ-M3z_A/s1600-h/001.011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAU3ISApKrzgu7hnZhKa9rMF9AGfsuLyg5R_g8UyVD_86WLlvG9AnC06o3MDDAh4YBd2yJEzIO-l3ZuQj1m5eDDwTkLuiG2vuD_ORRwlBtpLRYt00SZdDOlSGbrot8Suq6Ho6pmJ-M3z_A/s320/001.011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230414571563169394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGXAPF6C4LT4sX48AC7F6N8d00NL1GSXhslZnqkgorQi3_oHNKK2bp3aDszIUATdL6OAj4e3JSe31sS0i7ic-3Aqtd6enMi8Xwn_SFxJMbHNtUXrCKkyGAvyRw7_yFD7DbtZLTHL8c2jt/s1600-h/001.016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGXAPF6C4LT4sX48AC7F6N8d00NL1GSXhslZnqkgorQi3_oHNKK2bp3aDszIUATdL6OAj4e3JSe31sS0i7ic-3Aqtd6enMi8Xwn_SFxJMbHNtUXrCKkyGAvyRw7_yFD7DbtZLTHL8c2jt/s320/001.016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230414571820113218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />From the top, you also get a bird's eye view of the Visitor Center.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTdQVqaIB0TrDmXYAeuhuRmNj5SfJDR0cxMki42yi70QCaBh0UAQjvSjPNv1dwJ-5egz9m9mURrbKJLYh6eZ920IvAmwYkKnL3RyXc1wxAW40RiJYe_7w0TSpZjVAYYP8XdGBezH8quhO/s1600-h/001.013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTdQVqaIB0TrDmXYAeuhuRmNj5SfJDR0cxMki42yi70QCaBh0UAQjvSjPNv1dwJ-5egz9m9mURrbKJLYh6eZ920IvAmwYkKnL3RyXc1wxAW40RiJYe_7w0TSpZjVAYYP8XdGBezH8quhO/s320/001.013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230414838365751650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As I hiked along the top of the south rim, I noted that there were many animal tracks in the sand. Sand made by washes from the various rainstorms we have been getting. I noted mule deer, coyote, fox, and human tracks.<br /><br />At the trail fork sign (<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS: N35 47.171 W106 17.217</span>, same fork as taken to the Stone Lions), I continued on toward upper crossing. Here the trail veers away from the Frijoles rim and plods along through an open area. After a couple of miles or so, the trail enters a small draw where there are more trees and shade (<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS: N35 47.445 W106 17.941</span>). A little further along, the trail returns to the south rim of Frijoles where there are better views (<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS: N35 47.692 W106 18.318</span>).<br /><br />Frijoles Canyon looking west.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXtEFqJs2Wn6trRLP7SF2EzOm_rVwDVP8D6yZAzx_SkuZi4e_6oufTPK6gMnuu6alLXL4MJymrGZGdz5gK5WviOGIiWi8vMQVaC2ZvEqR2DeUP7ZpxPivywM1cIitjFIZkRDAFGHBNv9u/s1600-h/001.036.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXtEFqJs2Wn6trRLP7SF2EzOm_rVwDVP8D6yZAzx_SkuZi4e_6oufTPK6gMnuu6alLXL4MJymrGZGdz5gK5WviOGIiWi8vMQVaC2ZvEqR2DeUP7ZpxPivywM1cIitjFIZkRDAFGHBNv9u/s320/001.036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230420260645748290" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Frijoles Canyon looking east, back toward the Visitor Center.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRDWEdHN5NETVg0zUaFk5bhg-FdLuym9wFIlKS1mzUCFIqpEZBYKz3b4NG2KPg6VPx2Ktla-mKp8LdpBiRuEQJMup5RQG1IPAuuZFT-J8YrRbEAmRhJfJeFU3xes6JoTc3TS21yHwHfoN/s1600-h/001.037.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRDWEdHN5NETVg0zUaFk5bhg-FdLuym9wFIlKS1mzUCFIqpEZBYKz3b4NG2KPg6VPx2Ktla-mKp8LdpBiRuEQJMup5RQG1IPAuuZFT-J8YrRbEAmRhJfJeFU3xes6JoTc3TS21yHwHfoN/s320/001.037.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230420251255370690" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Until this point, there is not much for scenery along this part of the trail. Other than some pretty wild flowers now and then. At times along the rim, the flowers were nearly as tall as I am.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aCPetpQllBT7gc8tB-CrcyGDIafj7c3soudrQJOHKQpc99Fd9b7dFs6DtRxMYnnb-ysVX3WOigTZpQhLZef2h7c7sDdWR9LmwGNyAC2Bm8YePnwPHYdOhcioN2VkUgtUynw0G_tnNjK1/s1600-h/001.046.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3aCPetpQllBT7gc8tB-CrcyGDIafj7c3soudrQJOHKQpc99Fd9b7dFs6DtRxMYnnb-ysVX3WOigTZpQhLZef2h7c7sDdWR9LmwGNyAC2Bm8YePnwPHYdOhcioN2VkUgtUynw0G_tnNjK1/s320/001.046.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230422168288147234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5Hg1ym0w-k0mzjwVD_C06__jbN-6Ea7UY60PBm7e1ko7RO18TdEd0yC6QrLwICl9_ukncGeOTGhtArs7SCcwCDtd7Jckld412RZHLyizzJhpMeVGy-IsRSzlhFypWMe2wqsZhyTwrcrf/s1600-h/001.050.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5Hg1ym0w-k0mzjwVD_C06__jbN-6Ea7UY60PBm7e1ko7RO18TdEd0yC6QrLwICl9_ukncGeOTGhtArs7SCcwCDtd7Jckld412RZHLyizzJhpMeVGy-IsRSzlhFypWMe2wqsZhyTwrcrf/s320/001.050.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230424686098998498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1jou68CsTcmJzgqnCru2qA-9WyP2NXR2HQVZavyjncyONXs0VJSckPBDSxC96nL9KIcS1t-FYlngg3tH_P5-15YIq99C4CM7rcBTjUEUZr-EQRdUEdAfo4s9wxFbp7y2j-GBnPQhUkne/s1600-h/001.062.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1jou68CsTcmJzgqnCru2qA-9WyP2NXR2HQVZavyjncyONXs0VJSckPBDSxC96nL9KIcS1t-FYlngg3tH_P5-15YIq99C4CM7rcBTjUEUZr-EQRdUEdAfo4s9wxFbp7y2j-GBnPQhUkne/s320/001.062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230426241626731442" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This type of vegetation would become more prevalent as I approached the mountains of course, due to the increase in moisture, runoff, and improved soil. The acorns were also out on much of the scrub oak in the area.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPS2VRpxC6Sp77WoOGno7CgliQL5k_ZIU4L8AlJqrlQp_xoWWZi2OnVPRNOX_PHf0dAGZn3jR2iSaBIOJ250N902-_8CnYp49OMZjWsat-b6M7eUbYDZAIywBgLAg19os9H5CZuYTyqrMy/s1600-h/001.058.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPS2VRpxC6Sp77WoOGno7CgliQL5k_ZIU4L8AlJqrlQp_xoWWZi2OnVPRNOX_PHf0dAGZn3jR2iSaBIOJ250N902-_8CnYp49OMZjWsat-b6M7eUbYDZAIywBgLAg19os9H5CZuYTyqrMy/s320/001.058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230426969625962386" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At about the halfway point or so along the south rim, I encountered an odd looking hill that looks suspiciously like an unexcavated ruin(<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS: N35 47.936 W106 19.288</span>). Of course I don't know if it is, but it just looked out of place to me. There were a couple of others in this area as well.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xGILmFsE-iPo9fKN8d8PuULHS9yHhpfzAYpuwgzzwFKxE2ztViTIDDsawceQjjwR-WoWBUxc-Hybm9O0b5mSjHLZ5qqCwHUq5XJwqPwlhsAAfGLHBqQ8JhmDHIhjRF7ITdzIyuCCjpsw/s1600-h/001.076.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xGILmFsE-iPo9fKN8d8PuULHS9yHhpfzAYpuwgzzwFKxE2ztViTIDDsawceQjjwR-WoWBUxc-Hybm9O0b5mSjHLZ5qqCwHUq5XJwqPwlhsAAfGLHBqQ8JhmDHIhjRF7ITdzIyuCCjpsw/s320/001.076.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230429400776430498" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After more walking, another trail fork is encountered (GPS: N35 48.140 W106 20.594). Here one can head to the south east to Yapashi (see my Stone Lions hike entry) and Capulin Canyon, or continue due west approaching the descent into Frijoles and the upper crossing. I continued west.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2mfrB_hqGKJUYDCUXjnmKPF5sYtYGYZB6EWk8Hg_PzxD0h67DyNxKwbHwNaUKsfD6U5Vb4GaRgFmsH1HLjdZ0P5CcHXmDlokscFQqOGjhNz2CtImBNYcHwecOuf0dzf4KHzB6hqPl4tB/s1600-h/001.092.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht2mfrB_hqGKJUYDCUXjnmKPF5sYtYGYZB6EWk8Hg_PzxD0h67DyNxKwbHwNaUKsfD6U5Vb4GaRgFmsH1HLjdZ0P5CcHXmDlokscFQqOGjhNz2CtImBNYcHwecOuf0dzf4KHzB6hqPl4tB/s320/001.092.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230431356035118114" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This trail fork is approximately 5 miles from where I started, but it seemed much longer than that when I did it. The trail was noticeably less traveled at this fork. The more popular route is clearly toward Yapashi here. However, being much closer to the Jemez Mountain range now, more geologic features come into view and the scenery is more interesting.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRV6k2uffwb3kT1-h2vKNeDVBtkHCv7LSjPyTsBOqhbTfZixHUxPZi5iGngXWep-CbJIkYR1n85Vi6L8x6dggtHStWJJFDneP84vL4nsq36Is2M1jiJ13aa1Ev-jDBT0pydZP5C3-warT_/s1600-h/001.093.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRV6k2uffwb3kT1-h2vKNeDVBtkHCv7LSjPyTsBOqhbTfZixHUxPZi5iGngXWep-CbJIkYR1n85Vi6L8x6dggtHStWJJFDneP84vL4nsq36Is2M1jiJ13aa1Ev-jDBT0pydZP5C3-warT_/s320/001.093.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230434114145549346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This image of a pair of tent rocks next to the Jemez Mountains was taken shortly before the descent into Frijoles at another trail fork (<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS: N35 48.260 W106 21.098</span>).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-JjJy6DUjRp6wA6B71pTRj_LkfQrZ5UvDHgDlQ0Kxd9Y4R7KDiZHAVEmu_tHEfG5NcLEkSpmrh4kN81WsQEK2nhX8ftzP2vv7WPrp2IoQUnpaCEI72HxWi8-6TckgTYGk0vEHxB4L00b/s1600-h/001.106.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-JjJy6DUjRp6wA6B71pTRj_LkfQrZ5UvDHgDlQ0Kxd9Y4R7KDiZHAVEmu_tHEfG5NcLEkSpmrh4kN81WsQEK2nhX8ftzP2vv7WPrp2IoQUnpaCEI72HxWi8-6TckgTYGk0vEHxB4L00b/s320/001.106.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230435814338680754" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At this fork you follow the sign to the Ponderosa Campground, which is actually on the <span style="font-style: italic;">other side</span> of Frijoles Canyon near State Road 4. It is a 30+ person campsite. But since our aim is the upper crossing of Frijoles, this is the direction to head. I also noted another interesting sign in this area:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpDTgAg9INgNnja7Tyet-djiatBECPvO5x9dbi-Ta0U-I3Gl_aIOsfc7yOCUErdaKYgYkEzcgbZTW1dzxYVRV1vqWg0BDYeVKu-Il4w0ZS6OmDPTGXPTABtLwpCi4yjrfG8KeWbmsvWS6/s1600-h/001.105.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpDTgAg9INgNnja7Tyet-djiatBECPvO5x9dbi-Ta0U-I3Gl_aIOsfc7yOCUErdaKYgYkEzcgbZTW1dzxYVRV1vqWg0BDYeVKu-Il4w0ZS6OmDPTGXPTABtLwpCi4yjrfG8KeWbmsvWS6/s320/001.105.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230437138050427538" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is a well-weathered sign. I do not know if there is any longer such a thing as the "Wednesday Hiking Group" from Los Alamos any longer, but I suspect perhaps there may be.<br /><br />It is here that, as you follow the sign to the Ponderosa Campground, you start a gradual decent into the canyon. Views are limited here. Below is an image taken near this trail fork before the descent, looking due east down Frijoles Canyon (toward the visitor center, some 7 miles away).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Vq9wrQEULyJEAZlSLjH5fS5N5e-8zhbEelL1qhHwiozs5d6RkWRauZVZ8-c9dkoT0_wnsjOQ3OKguUOtS_HFwHjAfk8_9Zws9ZkSqgSsAGyMRs_AVTtCpwMBOpxNvtjCZyTrIa-peg3T/s1600-h/001.110.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Vq9wrQEULyJEAZlSLjH5fS5N5e-8zhbEelL1qhHwiozs5d6RkWRauZVZ8-c9dkoT0_wnsjOQ3OKguUOtS_HFwHjAfk8_9Zws9ZkSqgSsAGyMRs_AVTtCpwMBOpxNvtjCZyTrIa-peg3T/s320/001.110.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230438297857809314" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The descent into Frijoles from here is somewhat uneventful. The gradual descent turns into a steeper one as you move along the edge of the canyon. The biggest issue was the growth on the trail. The plants and wildflowers were in many places grown completely over the trail and taller than I was, severely obscuring my view of where to place my feet. In a couple of places, I had to move with extreme caution to ensure my feet were properly place on the trail invisible to me beneath the leaves of the growing plants. There were few (actually, I think there were only two) switchbacks in the trail descending into the canyon.<br /><br />I finally arrived at the upper crossing of Frijoles Canyon at about 1:00pm (<span style="font-style: italic;">GPS: N35 48.903 W106 21.668</span>).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrvVro3pz_ST7MIykH9Bn1QvyYc2ULhOIOfH680W0eePywYwK_3FOyp4C_Dbt4UbRAMdlvqtZwLgr4yu5lx4tFNlQStDHscvr5wuqC3DOSDTCt5xKUUxJc_rVKBRf6-Wosgnd1IUz1CwS/s1600-h/001.112.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrvVro3pz_ST7MIykH9Bn1QvyYc2ULhOIOfH680W0eePywYwK_3FOyp4C_Dbt4UbRAMdlvqtZwLgr4yu5lx4tFNlQStDHscvr5wuqC3DOSDTCt5xKUUxJc_rVKBRf6-Wosgnd1IUz1CwS/s320/001.112.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230440373194130866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I was pretty hot and tired by this point, but knew the hike would be cooler in the canyon returning to the visitor center.<br /><br />Just past this fork, heading east toward the Visitor Center, I encountered "camping area F." This would be a good place to camp to stage hikes into the Dome Wilderness, or to move on to Yapashi, the Painted Cave, or Boundary Peak. More on that later.<br /><br />The canyon itself is quite lovely, very green and lush. In fact, despite being in a desert, there were times that the growth reminded me just a little bit of the <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/image/88318584">Hoh Rain Forest</a> in <a href="http://www.nps.gov/olym">Olympic National Park</a> in Washington State. OK, it is a bit of a stretch, but it really did remind me of the Hoh at times. Maybe it was my dehydrated, delirious state of mind.<br /><br />I noticed signs of more foot traffic in this area, probably hikers coming down from Ponderosa or other connecting trails. Here are some of the scenes from along this section of the hike.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIJPlAVP34UXTmNcuPO8X_cnFLCqVh8FPSrYrsjAQlbfH8MJymjUQd22bY7CrYTXiv5WRBWvXuREyJ7YKlTE9wnWsr5k_aNb_RqSGM77J1DZExnDtxNy_vZkpR7I0Ysvef8kR9eBmAMqR/s1600-h/001.114.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIJPlAVP34UXTmNcuPO8X_cnFLCqVh8FPSrYrsjAQlbfH8MJymjUQd22bY7CrYTXiv5WRBWvXuREyJ7YKlTE9wnWsr5k_aNb_RqSGM77J1DZExnDtxNy_vZkpR7I0Ysvef8kR9eBmAMqR/s320/001.114.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230443655727087906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58wTl68gEskQEEipWTvxJkbDE8ciduozL7UQW3u9u0XFh0U3YIOcIukQjsf7DwjzG7GcLphzgfqbaV3EjTY6TX8SFTs_LgMQHr1IN7LE73n6hb4XpjNuzPkK1L-wmYgDbRfwnRg5WT3ox/s1600-h/001.122.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58wTl68gEskQEEipWTvxJkbDE8ciduozL7UQW3u9u0XFh0U3YIOcIukQjsf7DwjzG7GcLphzgfqbaV3EjTY6TX8SFTs_LgMQHr1IN7LE73n6hb4XpjNuzPkK1L-wmYgDbRfwnRg5WT3ox/s320/001.122.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230447509202604562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpvWGgcXCUiRgJis22YOlqS22rgJwVqlSemap62zsPIoBwNQYxeK7y9ERXo2OEEZmBDRNXirrJPfFXpA9cLEtkcqGfw0tYwcPhnihoMiMWK07Z9JpqwsijiHXfzSf2qs7ihETQB2rCyS0/s1600-h/001.125.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpvWGgcXCUiRgJis22YOlqS22rgJwVqlSemap62zsPIoBwNQYxeK7y9ERXo2OEEZmBDRNXirrJPfFXpA9cLEtkcqGfw0tYwcPhnihoMiMWK07Z9JpqwsijiHXfzSf2qs7ihETQB2rCyS0/s320/001.125.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230447511159495234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4EXzFnmpJSRl6sU0mjW2xcEmeHxmDzyUuC_gNJFQF-cD5dWENtdTy9tVeMSrP9eEWTuck8uWzw2AuZ3r8y8lWqf_61_xSITrLyr_HBas8v6L1voH4oG9hI7cnCs-gZI9YIp3DqWIKoHf/s1600-h/001.129.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4EXzFnmpJSRl6sU0mjW2xcEmeHxmDzyUuC_gNJFQF-cD5dWENtdTy9tVeMSrP9eEWTuck8uWzw2AuZ3r8y8lWqf_61_xSITrLyr_HBas8v6L1voH4oG9hI7cnCs-gZI9YIp3DqWIKoHf/s320/001.129.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230447514651248882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrbhpXcyRHUhuGggk4JYtBu6F2wFnwU6UWQ3G6wzJYCxb2ecMjLFnKGyqPffi9FZ5LX5Zx-pn2QaJDuUhWhfcUL3mfmLcXjdZgrmyGsCeZyCgnzCDWQezzSjh0Xk9ZsPfDf5lc-5UpGS_/s1600-h/001.134.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrbhpXcyRHUhuGggk4JYtBu6F2wFnwU6UWQ3G6wzJYCxb2ecMjLFnKGyqPffi9FZ5LX5Zx-pn2QaJDuUhWhfcUL3mfmLcXjdZgrmyGsCeZyCgnzCDWQezzSjh0Xk9ZsPfDf5lc-5UpGS_/s320/001.134.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230447516896238722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcveCzo1y7_qadX6WJ9MkmS3mEAzCkxGKQPrNutQfkKRAW8EjFpe0yHh2TbFMGLRD-QuYV0B8mV6LxHrv6BcUx7040TmyVtqmEwT9oAi3VcfgnqYAXeBZJ4e9b3eypnKBgAiZv-UEiHmj/s1600-h/001.135.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcveCzo1y7_qadX6WJ9MkmS3mEAzCkxGKQPrNutQfkKRAW8EjFpe0yHh2TbFMGLRD-QuYV0B8mV6LxHrv6BcUx7040TmyVtqmEwT9oAi3VcfgnqYAXeBZJ4e9b3eypnKBgAiZv-UEiHmj/s320/001.135.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230447520654268962" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is also the section where the flash flooding problem was that I referenced at the begining of this post. However, the trail was in good shape and bridges re-built when I hiked it.<br /><br />I also encountered a deer in this area, rather surprised to see me I should think.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM06fN0Ma8Gs6gS-RlAksx71wFHhazRLR_S19Fpqg1-s25f_3aBvxWIcIPNEkESW4XzCSXX3cKSLYQ_0ZxQRM8LtJLjsdvxkgbYQFogqe6UP7l6AXuJ9lMAMRhwRcAESCMAwiO-tDyZxPM/s1600-h/001.119.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM06fN0Ma8Gs6gS-RlAksx71wFHhazRLR_S19Fpqg1-s25f_3aBvxWIcIPNEkESW4XzCSXX3cKSLYQ_0ZxQRM8LtJLjsdvxkgbYQFogqe6UP7l6AXuJ9lMAMRhwRcAESCMAwiO-tDyZxPM/s320/001.119.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230449046141361810" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The only other wildlife I saw on the entire hike were turkey vultures, another mule deer on the south rim of Frijoles, and various small mammals. I did see what looked like a grey hawk of some sort in the bottom of Frijoles, but I did not get a photograph.<br /><br />The trail back to the Visitor Center crosses the Rio Frijoles many times. I counted the crossings from upper crossing to the Alcove House (the usual turn around point for people that venture from the Visitor Center to explore the ruins in the area). By my count, the trail crossed this stream 29 times. Three were bridged, two were dry (little tributaries of the stream that were not running any longer), and the rest required rock hopping or walking through the stream. It was very pleasant. I soaked my hat in the stream at many crossings to cool my head.<br /><br />I saw not a soul on this entire 13.9 mile journey (until I got back to the main ruins area of the park, about a mile or so from the Visitor Center). Part of the problem might have been the statement on the web page about the trail being closed, or it could have simply been that people had more sense than I did to try this on such a hot day. Whatever the case, I did indeed have the entire day to myself. Knowing what I know now, I would not repeat this same hike again. There are too many areas where there is not much to see. However, the hike <span style="font-style: italic;">up the bottom</span> of Frijoles is nice and would make a good place to camp and stage other hikes. One could also start at Ponderosa (but you can't park there unless you are camping there) and hike down and out of Frijoles and head off to other parts of the park. I would recommend those routes instead (or to even start on the Dome side, which is in the Santa Fe National Forest). There are a number of possibilities here I will try in the future.Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-50923933200053873252008-07-19T13:55:00.030-06:002008-07-20T07:26:48.930-06:00Back in New MexicoI am recently back from a 3 week vacation. After spending a few days visiting family in Rapid City, South Dakota, we spent the balance of the 3 weeks in Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park doing a variety of wildlife watching, day and back country backpacking, and of course photography. These are two of my favorite places on the planet. I have been there several times and never tire of returning (nor will I ever see it all).<br /><br />However, now I am back in my own backyard and went for a short hike in the Bandelier National Monument back country, the Cerro Grande hike. As with other posts to this blog, an image gallery for this hike can be found <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/cgband">here</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkAiY4kSV-78M4Jm8IIgrB51JQXO1vvy7bXG-W_hQ86vGN26cSx_UyLEc2a3AoBJmkgNy9M30kAjWmimZK5crOyNmeqTrZaPvvflUwCvy8fj3SZr_ZfEAm78cmlXxmRdDHq-O2A9Fm1df/s1600-h/001.055.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkAiY4kSV-78M4Jm8IIgrB51JQXO1vvy7bXG-W_hQ86vGN26cSx_UyLEc2a3AoBJmkgNy9M30kAjWmimZK5crOyNmeqTrZaPvvflUwCvy8fj3SZr_ZfEAm78cmlXxmRdDHq-O2A9Fm1df/s320/001.055.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224834106823981714" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That is me at the top of Cerro Grande (Spanish for "big hill"), which has good views of the Jemez Mountain range and the Valles Grande Caldera below (behind me in this photo). Despite the name, the hike is relatively short (4.1 miles round trip) with a moderately steep climb.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQYr1ZJ8eBV8VcoTwUASuMFbdyI2yvvcE5wH2foKWmOq5yigh1AcicimvdCdJUTsNqr4ZGphkAroPXr_rRHH_aEXs2AVhbuRYUlaKbHge27hPfeMmy0XqhS-rmmM1EioKLIg-E-96RqOJ/s1600-h/cerrograndehikeprofile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQYr1ZJ8eBV8VcoTwUASuMFbdyI2yvvcE5wH2foKWmOq5yigh1AcicimvdCdJUTsNqr4ZGphkAroPXr_rRHH_aEXs2AVhbuRYUlaKbHge27hPfeMmy0XqhS-rmmM1EioKLIg-E-96RqOJ/s320/cerrograndehikeprofile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224834114621855810" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The hike starts at an elevation of about 8,857 ft and summits Cerro Grande at around 10,199 ft (a gain of 1,342 ft in about 2 miles; the hike is 4.1 miles round trip). For those not used to altitude, the climb can be strenuous. If you are just old, fat, and out of shape like I am, it can take a while too.<br /><br />The trail head (GPS: N35 50.861 W106 25.316) starts along State Road 4 across from the cross country ski trails next to Dome Road (Forest Road 289). See the map below. The entire hike is within the boundary of Bandelier National Monument.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05eOYGYq-kk1of-tlg8AC6zTF4-Gsx-8Bdm3ZvzMjvGc7Idb-BB2llbZVbGuWpUTI546Bh00wYbbqVmwhjb0z4Uhx5yV6dGK5liMJrdGJpqZlBMzDuPso-QNtjPldj8IvHvvOeUFPLuB0/s1600-h/cerrograndehikemap.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05eOYGYq-kk1of-tlg8AC6zTF4-Gsx-8Bdm3ZvzMjvGc7Idb-BB2llbZVbGuWpUTI546Bh00wYbbqVmwhjb0z4Uhx5yV6dGK5liMJrdGJpqZlBMzDuPso-QNtjPldj8IvHvvOeUFPLuB0/s320/cerrograndehikemap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224834112345381490" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The hike starts with a pleasant walk through a meadow, with some lovely wildflowers in bloom.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreHA4-szpYwhqdQGNrU_kjf_k04EY9XMP0JIEj4rDtO6oB2YbEasAc_xJYbOyxJvfy32KRmp-gTsphu_r-uu-luUZX91LkHsvHPtw5Qh4qts347eh1vV7qp3SFUmWRoWDJq7Ykn3dh7sq/s1600-h/001.006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreHA4-szpYwhqdQGNrU_kjf_k04EY9XMP0JIEj4rDtO6oB2YbEasAc_xJYbOyxJvfy32KRmp-gTsphu_r-uu-luUZX91LkHsvHPtw5Qh4qts347eh1vV7qp3SFUmWRoWDJq7Ykn3dh7sq/s320/001.006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224840754938993266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBCCp-xCXoYrKDQLfk8KC73x-rjCKCgE0HFs0BHRdt3p8-eN5DwqnPMIJrC1IOOLpeULaN_0nA5_AyxNFmEcUvz3FvhzvSATeS_4mFJVVTyZh-r-gQ8H-PR3IFtBbn84-0Jiyz2LmCj5d/s1600-h/001.005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBCCp-xCXoYrKDQLfk8KC73x-rjCKCgE0HFs0BHRdt3p8-eN5DwqnPMIJrC1IOOLpeULaN_0nA5_AyxNFmEcUvz3FvhzvSATeS_4mFJVVTyZh-r-gQ8H-PR3IFtBbn84-0Jiyz2LmCj5d/s320/001.005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224840756878847826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsHn2vcSZoVNlPOX94g6h4KfyNDQVj8qEzTEmI7EFBk1kNBmOe1zkO-CaEKhjinJhhDSp4PFfmXqbFrY0bH1n89KQtQ9dq8Z-7tS42Hu8hnxw1g55g4r5H_Lr7KwtrAKOnBJ8amXUDMG9/s1600-h/001.086.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsHn2vcSZoVNlPOX94g6h4KfyNDQVj8qEzTEmI7EFBk1kNBmOe1zkO-CaEKhjinJhhDSp4PFfmXqbFrY0bH1n89KQtQ9dq8Z-7tS42Hu8hnxw1g55g4r5H_Lr7KwtrAKOnBJ8amXUDMG9/s320/001.086.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224840757814038978" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In the butterfly images at higher resolution on my <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/cgband">gallery page for this hike</a>, you can see more clearly the long tongue of the butterfly. There was also some very tall grass, over 4ft high in some places, in this meadow and in various places along the hike.<br /><br />There was also beautiful red tailed hawk hunting overhead as I started the hike. The chirp of chipmunks is a constant companion in this part of the hike. After about 0.3 miles or so, I encountered a mysterious temporary fence encircling a somewhat large area for no apparent reason.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5D7iybEoz9ERETUocrWYnQDF7fAnGG3RVxbxyqKXiS8wShCdlIe0i-fZvr4DWmhX31cumBZbywq-Sbvt03ydOcS7f-KGZR2IGD9m59iNPha7ivrd6VaGQ3pH9Kv9Vqg1EOjybzO1balg/s1600-h/fence.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5D7iybEoz9ERETUocrWYnQDF7fAnGG3RVxbxyqKXiS8wShCdlIe0i-fZvr4DWmhX31cumBZbywq-Sbvt03ydOcS7f-KGZR2IGD9m59iNPha7ivrd6VaGQ3pH9Kv9Vqg1EOjybzO1balg/s320/fence.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224835418104208322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Perhaps it serves as protection for a recently discovered archaeological site, I don't know.<br /><br />From here, the hike climbs gently out of this first meadow to what amounts to the mouth of Frijoles Canyon (that is, where Frijoles begins, GPS N35 51.572 W106 24.901).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwy5jJbHedcjVEXAB_TEjA0eDtLrXtN9lunOBiwRRoPMb3VQj0CHfWUZ4k3sNafZkNaDO3T7z6-FHj5N-iZZmr903mef6327zKdxNdftdnSCDxNGNay5hejmzqD0vJ9XKU8cYD3xp8YY3F/s1600-h/inauspiciousbegining.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwy5jJbHedcjVEXAB_TEjA0eDtLrXtN9lunOBiwRRoPMb3VQj0CHfWUZ4k3sNafZkNaDO3T7z6-FHj5N-iZZmr903mef6327zKdxNdftdnSCDxNGNay5hejmzqD0vJ9XKU8cYD3xp8YY3F/s320/inauspiciousbegining.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224843428279734194" border="0" /></a>The Humble Beginning of Frijoles Canyon<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJ3zxCIqeIHWsIG6ywNTZsDQBK2T_YiT52Q8swLq929qxdj0DTDrmyhvVf89kjYTJRH80vETwzSqK1nzeAcnJpxl9KjNey3A7opXe5ZtVtuUx-IdMa5TerctYflLOATcMfjeMPO6XxzLH/s1600-h/viewfromsouthrim.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXJ3zxCIqeIHWsIG6ywNTZsDQBK2T_YiT52Q8swLq929qxdj0DTDrmyhvVf89kjYTJRH80vETwzSqK1nzeAcnJpxl9KjNey3A7opXe5ZtVtuUx-IdMa5TerctYflLOATcMfjeMPO6XxzLH/s320/viewfromsouthrim.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224843427778961314" border="0" /></a>View from the South Rim of the Mouth of Frijoles Canyon<br /><br />This area remains within sight and sound of State Road 4, the only paved road through the Jemez.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfGpBf9Guv1ktN5NYKHGCa3bwcxhrpdw8-w8333JaBZWRtE8QirRe1arWZablpsDT1f_rlE-KHfk50nGG0CiHjEW5V8b0YVr_7ihaFDcUUp7zHThpp0o60y2h0i3APhJWn9k0AaMz1mBS/s1600-h/sightandsoundsr4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfGpBf9Guv1ktN5NYKHGCa3bwcxhrpdw8-w8333JaBZWRtE8QirRe1arWZablpsDT1f_rlE-KHfk50nGG0CiHjEW5V8b0YVr_7ihaFDcUUp7zHThpp0o60y2h0i3APhJWn9k0AaMz1mBS/s320/sightandsoundsr4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224843431159141650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At this point, the trail climbs away from the meadow and enters a steeper portion, breaking out into another meadow on the high slope of Cerro Grande.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4ShtzcrJLVf_nQuThqhyphenhyphenufFgXQSweMBsYPyedTr67nZdRmnve9UFAb_zUgPiPpW1Lbume7HbJ5zc1McCuUFzwtUrAtK4ACcjFXdp_FPs0DddH1zZoXz0sSCtAZgLXAZMW1KfYUWM8kfA/s1600-h/highmeadow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4ShtzcrJLVf_nQuThqhyphenhyphenufFgXQSweMBsYPyedTr67nZdRmnve9UFAb_zUgPiPpW1Lbume7HbJ5zc1McCuUFzwtUrAtK4ACcjFXdp_FPs0DddH1zZoXz0sSCtAZgLXAZMW1KfYUWM8kfA/s320/highmeadow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224849437569874162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Along the way, I encountered a tree branch that someone decorated with the spine of a dead elk.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraEgx4F_v-W0iWuiU-GC2gopMyF4kAc1zzlqc7VmsZF57k61ohK1h3mSTspVjLciVWEFqGdPDcI6Mbdak-UyygYdO33BFwQUVkzEKwDadwtHWxz6Yv4A9nh6un_Gt7U428kPZMkba3DRA/s1600-h/dembones.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraEgx4F_v-W0iWuiU-GC2gopMyF4kAc1zzlqc7VmsZF57k61ohK1h3mSTspVjLciVWEFqGdPDcI6Mbdak-UyygYdO33BFwQUVkzEKwDadwtHWxz6Yv4A9nh6un_Gt7U428kPZMkba3DRA/s320/dembones.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224845951633954978" border="0" /></a><br />Although I did not see any on this hike, there are thousands of elk in this area (I saw lots of signs, tracks, scat, bones; please remember to leave bones where you find them).<br /><br />More climbing (GPS N35 51.864 W106 25.064, about 96oo ft in elevation) yields the first views of the Valles Caldera as well as some nice views to the south east, overlooking Bandelier, the Jemez Mountains, and Albuquerque. The first image below has some points of interests labeled. The blue arrow points to State Road 4, the red arrow to Frijoles Cayon (some cliffs on the canyon walls are visible), the green arrow to the Sandia's above Albuquerque, the yellow arrow points to the city of Albuquerque, and the white arrow to the Dome Road (forest road 289). This image can be seen cleanly (without arrows) <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/image/100405033">here</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0oHi_j7iMlqjgFW8idY6_pldQAfocgCMSlzQjUzOgZlbPdn2sV5Pj3jX19PgluS6Wgt_lrFhbGEcgUPBrLODiOJKcEO2-telJiSqQUA_l6oGovAmiOwCDucEmD2Z9iqSoJoUI4VkrBMg/s1600-h/001.034-withtext.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0oHi_j7iMlqjgFW8idY6_pldQAfocgCMSlzQjUzOgZlbPdn2sV5Pj3jX19PgluS6Wgt_lrFhbGEcgUPBrLODiOJKcEO2-telJiSqQUA_l6oGovAmiOwCDucEmD2Z9iqSoJoUI4VkrBMg/s320/001.034-withtext.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224869820761392818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROg5u2rG19mByFU9IilXIvFKSKA3XnvVtMaWUP8PT9B-GXbh-FNVeMJhSxoOY6q0ysNC3x881zf6ch_oLUtIsuDUkjfvDHTmIuMxjpi37R1E0bWJod2MPeamVV9pR1mIcJN1NdUt3Y2IX/s1600-h/001.029-withhikers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROg5u2rG19mByFU9IilXIvFKSKA3XnvVtMaWUP8PT9B-GXbh-FNVeMJhSxoOY6q0ysNC3x881zf6ch_oLUtIsuDUkjfvDHTmIuMxjpi37R1E0bWJod2MPeamVV9pR1mIcJN1NdUt3Y2IX/s320/001.029-withhikers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224850231859277650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Note the hikers in the last image for scale. The Valles Caldera is to the right in this photograph.<br /><br />A nice view of Boundary Peak can also be had from here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxT9jbYtmPo-TkVmbvCvAwP7h-jpIw7mNNMOu0GlAHb6yqOBrlOD1VAutPfocJOIUocQQhKUx6dfnAot2WzEecWMbGr6h5KF-hwFK77LwbPOZNmYO04TNXeuZUOVMrosklmbcU82pyW7E/s1600-h/boundarypeak.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxT9jbYtmPo-TkVmbvCvAwP7h-jpIw7mNNMOu0GlAHb6yqOBrlOD1VAutPfocJOIUocQQhKUx6dfnAot2WzEecWMbGr6h5KF-hwFK77LwbPOZNmYO04TNXeuZUOVMrosklmbcU82pyW7E/s320/boundarypeak.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224850237958799522" border="0" /></a><br />From here, the summit of Cerro Grande is not far. The final portion of the hike is only a little steeper than the previous sections. There are no switchbacks on the trail.<br /><br />The view from the Cerro Grande summit (GPS N35 50.861 W106 25.316, 10,199 ft elevation) is well worth the short journey.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc99gksgC7E9cFVxJOdBcABRSIZp6rfculXcbQHgXj7WtPRR2r5QfZt2gr9xGX_mAN0a-lpQ-ibtIqwYm1zPyQ0kLJjNU6z-mkAWR1QuAsUWuSPM-FOeVgwN2zcV_oJmNvJ81lUeD5O2Vw/s1600-h/viewfromcg-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc99gksgC7E9cFVxJOdBcABRSIZp6rfculXcbQHgXj7WtPRR2r5QfZt2gr9xGX_mAN0a-lpQ-ibtIqwYm1zPyQ0kLJjNU6z-mkAWR1QuAsUWuSPM-FOeVgwN2zcV_oJmNvJ81lUeD5O2Vw/s320/viewfromcg-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224860167209368834" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHXXAqiaYx_kF90fYITcMC8O7Dhj-mUR0f1bFXGImLEMJcBeaJXl6ll-hOh69ZIMWUXBojl3IgFjNcCmAQVoJrIYrN1Cnt3Ie7YCFBOvvR0zRk6ACHCD7Hb2vTZa5gste-k0UiWTPVz47/s1600-h/viewfromcg-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHXXAqiaYx_kF90fYITcMC8O7Dhj-mUR0f1bFXGImLEMJcBeaJXl6ll-hOh69ZIMWUXBojl3IgFjNcCmAQVoJrIYrN1Cnt3Ie7YCFBOvvR0zRk6ACHCD7Hb2vTZa5gste-k0UiWTPVz47/s320/viewfromcg-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224860168659318258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNw7wH2etFANM8tN2rVDN9hMe1KgIqvIxC26ZlCpfRwCjyffyu-4Ge2rWDpq1MN60O7o9_RfAf80QT9X9pohFITq7xBGZNef8BcAt6BG3pw_Fxr_9jTHLt7UOjvsLDOrwc1ALq2OzAHtp/s1600-h/viewfromcg-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNw7wH2etFANM8tN2rVDN9hMe1KgIqvIxC26ZlCpfRwCjyffyu-4Ge2rWDpq1MN60O7o9_RfAf80QT9X9pohFITq7xBGZNef8BcAt6BG3pw_Fxr_9jTHLt7UOjvsLDOrwc1ALq2OzAHtp/s320/viewfromcg-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224860168450971122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcsZ6xJGLL3InPHByjlxDNrX3Ykxns-oiJaVIp2capxlrA4Atmgq7iyUxl9qpJEG0Zk-DqOWihponcbpUayfUehdfnhzGYj0lkNpqxojpgasqbpsnYrdGlkjhp8xt0-CllZD_OzcwrBbY/s1600-h/viewfromcg-4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcsZ6xJGLL3InPHByjlxDNrX3Ykxns-oiJaVIp2capxlrA4Atmgq7iyUxl9qpJEG0Zk-DqOWihponcbpUayfUehdfnhzGYj0lkNpqxojpgasqbpsnYrdGlkjhp8xt0-CllZD_OzcwrBbY/s320/viewfromcg-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224860175017014450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsy5EBcaTmFYkZ4UQ34qEgDPhHK3SwAEZmj2rUx-YrReTgKK6L9jzTsZ0_aMDk_H-pHA4Tj7sttkwbKtMRNNXhyphenhyphen-JYgIqMgoe6wu1kxuiaxviwBMJuVrSH60ndn98H1HHo5pQM6gM2RKG6/s1600-h/viewfromcg-5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsy5EBcaTmFYkZ4UQ34qEgDPhHK3SwAEZmj2rUx-YrReTgKK6L9jzTsZ0_aMDk_H-pHA4Tj7sttkwbKtMRNNXhyphenhyphen-JYgIqMgoe6wu1kxuiaxviwBMJuVrSH60ndn98H1HHo5pQM6gM2RKG6/s320/viewfromcg-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224860176791683842" border="0" /></a><br />I did not encounter many people on this hike. A couple that hiked to the top with their young son, but they did not remain long, and a guy that hiked up barefooted. No kidding. Why someone would do that is beyond me.<br /><br />I very much enjoyed getting away on vacation, but it is good to be back home again.Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-39019141654002993992008-06-11T19:12:00.004-06:002008-06-11T19:23:20.500-06:00Wildfire<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUMvoeaD83_Y-juNbuxQhf9UDUMSWClTg34p8HtReb7ubjkWI5lW6JtcVkphCs0oPotNg0ELZDE46ToIM1iPddy1CFio8nGX2JlZDOCyRcrpodVbbuTJ159Nd8nVPi6XD0yzcm8Img1aj/s1600-h/heli1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUMvoeaD83_Y-juNbuxQhf9UDUMSWClTg34p8HtReb7ubjkWI5lW6JtcVkphCs0oPotNg0ELZDE46ToIM1iPddy1CFio8nGX2JlZDOCyRcrpodVbbuTJ159Nd8nVPi6XD0yzcm8Img1aj/s320/heli1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210798655135947922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A small wildfire broke out late this afternoon on <a href="http://www.lanl.gov/">Los Alamos National Laboratory</a> property, about 3 miles in a straight line from my house. Ever since the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerro_Grande_Fire">Cerro Grande Fire</a> in 2000, everyone around here is quite jumpy about any smoke in the county. I drove out to see where this was, precisely, and it was in Ancho Canyon beyind TA-39 (a name for a location on LANL property). There were fire trucks and activity on the mesa across from State Road 4 about a half mile east of the entrance to Bandelier National Monument.<br /><br />I managed to take a couple of pictures of the slurry bomber making a couple of passes with a hand held 200mm lens from the balcony off of the bedroom of my house.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieeNT2_4-kwGZY-3Dx7fJJGMLbMyens5YnrF_sD9LAxWWndPqjGJ5Fh9eM7bzvolErF6yLZPJA_PDnRGGi20gq4LDMsuxA1IvnpzjHdhEwTmNTalb8knF9InFNiUK-WB4wPGGW4NFLJ8r/s1600-h/slurry1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieeNT2_4-kwGZY-3Dx7fJJGMLbMyens5YnrF_sD9LAxWWndPqjGJ5Fh9eM7bzvolErF6yLZPJA_PDnRGGi20gq4LDMsuxA1IvnpzjHdhEwTmNTalb8knF9InFNiUK-WB4wPGGW4NFLJ8r/s320/slurry1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210798655193917922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXN4kP3lHPLeE0j8e-nm8HKLsdT1lvjau-xITAHeAQMdKalsZT4YHuOOfPKj9MqVzFFHUoBsEfKwQyTJAf_a70dJFUirdsdur1f6i1uVR-CfhG8zwVJfAo2wcH21fkiT2MNSb7bTJqxoJP/s1600-h/slurry2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXN4kP3lHPLeE0j8e-nm8HKLsdT1lvjau-xITAHeAQMdKalsZT4YHuOOfPKj9MqVzFFHUoBsEfKwQyTJAf_a70dJFUirdsdur1f6i1uVR-CfhG8zwVJfAo2wcH21fkiT2MNSb7bTJqxoJP/s320/slurry2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210798656495994034" border="0" /></a><br />At one point there were 3 planes in the sky. What looked like a National Forrest Service aircraft flying high overhead monitoring the situation, a small pilot plane making multiple passes through the smoke presumably to map out paths for the larger slurry bomber to take, and the slurry bomber.<br /><br />By the time I got my larger lens out, the slurry bomber was headed back for Albuquerque. The helicopter with the water bucket at the top of this post and the one below were taken with a longer tripod mounted lens from the same location.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmPsxkwfSturR67hl94wxppm7-ztnmaWKFq_KIgwvNUAiY2mJavaKob1UCJ-vzblpIcvm2lwKzkTticulvlUw9nvGvymGHtZzkSTjPzneGK4tvLHIBeezZktf24HO6ASWDyoj2sv2Y_c5/s1600-h/heli2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmPsxkwfSturR67hl94wxppm7-ztnmaWKFq_KIgwvNUAiY2mJavaKob1UCJ-vzblpIcvm2lwKzkTticulvlUw9nvGvymGHtZzkSTjPzneGK4tvLHIBeezZktf24HO6ASWDyoj2sv2Y_c5/s320/heli2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210798661698808002" border="0" /></a><br />The fire seems to have quieted down now, thanks to the quick action of the firemen on the ground and in the air.Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-66196574247200792832008-06-01T17:35:00.016-06:002008-06-01T18:46:54.402-06:00Pretty Wild Things<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5pv_x3ehL_QCAaBlZycaeZfsR022afIBrhOXEFBkVLOIPo0NUOJLtEN9qOU-mw8-b8uyV9ermkd2SnO9mvYQCV8wrVVf-LUK1Eafi2-7F8E_1z2ZHgxYEyRXUUW1Jd79X-v7EN2GT_2p/s1600-h/barrelcactus-bloom1-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5pv_x3ehL_QCAaBlZycaeZfsR022afIBrhOXEFBkVLOIPo0NUOJLtEN9qOU-mw8-b8uyV9ermkd2SnO9mvYQCV8wrVVf-LUK1Eafi2-7F8E_1z2ZHgxYEyRXUUW1Jd79X-v7EN2GT_2p/s320/barrelcactus-bloom1-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207071094779665794" border="0" /></a><br />Wildflowers and other blooming plants are at their peak it seems right now, at least in my backyard. I spied at least 11 different varieties of wildflowers, pictured below.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZHGvqca0fhi6sFTl-xbcI_NXZNBtv1RBmd96lOK1thyWY_IkAcaCDV2nK30GaX18FBp6lMdVrnDOs0HZuVD6F2CKsPytU-EFOboH1WKYX5ji_4PiTPBN17bK3uffW91o-Tc_QjHlMQ9A/s1600-h/whiteandwild1-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZHGvqca0fhi6sFTl-xbcI_NXZNBtv1RBmd96lOK1thyWY_IkAcaCDV2nK30GaX18FBp6lMdVrnDOs0HZuVD6F2CKsPytU-EFOboH1WKYX5ji_4PiTPBN17bK3uffW91o-Tc_QjHlMQ9A/s320/whiteandwild1-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207072196980569554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCX26osv8GbwRccrOUUCJL-f5nhwWC4GRSbBrE21FFVgjuz2CDUecPxxh97xt8Fba2OAAiUCYXsoLSGrxFQmh-cqjMw3LvzDYBTffOqHQz9ow6uf6yFrybO3h3fWP1fXZdjhU4yy6lSSD9/s1600-h/wild2-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCX26osv8GbwRccrOUUCJL-f5nhwWC4GRSbBrE21FFVgjuz2CDUecPxxh97xt8Fba2OAAiUCYXsoLSGrxFQmh-cqjMw3LvzDYBTffOqHQz9ow6uf6yFrybO3h3fWP1fXZdjhU4yy6lSSD9/s320/wild2-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207072208666644274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-cQjNIijZiHnhrCBvYvNdI8a-bNu-GD98J9M6K522FvKBKis3ZXoPx1Il21ySzaeudDjT_kFFp3qbuxGFR5sxptl_bCLUW2h6IhD-0Th2_V2KoopQZPEPCy-ulWJGxEZAOyOSv5L0v6T/s1600-h/wild2a-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-cQjNIijZiHnhrCBvYvNdI8a-bNu-GD98J9M6K522FvKBKis3ZXoPx1Il21ySzaeudDjT_kFFp3qbuxGFR5sxptl_bCLUW2h6IhD-0Th2_V2KoopQZPEPCy-ulWJGxEZAOyOSv5L0v6T/s320/wild2a-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207072215466823650" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PLCzubL2iexuyM6aA0PJF6kfRMUMmC9dYbFK51jnsz2caR5ll60Jkw_xTnSZSSuCW7RVAYjaRve6qMD7g3-_EMRVkmytORkzMn9ME6nf7bp7zMp7sBDM6g_euuqKYA_RxXHgrOe-Pc02/s1600-h/wild3-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PLCzubL2iexuyM6aA0PJF6kfRMUMmC9dYbFK51jnsz2caR5ll60Jkw_xTnSZSSuCW7RVAYjaRve6qMD7g3-_EMRVkmytORkzMn9ME6nf7bp7zMp7sBDM6g_euuqKYA_RxXHgrOe-Pc02/s320/wild3-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207072229705607506" border="0" /></a>"Twins"<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRnbPKzQaaeltAf1OQVCEnjTCjyHY2GpSjQVZakoGhp34VeM185dvL4rZpODA09M90q1hxz9-GWrTvgAy4SLYbZUuAuFE1Kvlll2Y5N5BI76HPHgokaDtKxZpT8NraOa50LdrAHWylBl9/s1600-h/wild4-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRnbPKzQaaeltAf1OQVCEnjTCjyHY2GpSjQVZakoGhp34VeM185dvL4rZpODA09M90q1hxz9-GWrTvgAy4SLYbZUuAuFE1Kvlll2Y5N5BI76HPHgokaDtKxZpT8NraOa50LdrAHWylBl9/s320/wild4-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207072258365321154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqYonrA4yYv4hJHW7kEEjpfR_f4K1h4UqvVn3B1SnGfI2LhOP496ZntPE6Jga6F6wILXhBJl1Y7Cs8SUwujewBSSGm5-2fA06i3hXV29UqcAB6-xDOZpeExGZg9UBF6AwfrvxT-CzydBG/s1600-h/wild5-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAqYonrA4yYv4hJHW7kEEjpfR_f4K1h4UqvVn3B1SnGfI2LhOP496ZntPE6Jga6F6wILXhBJl1Y7Cs8SUwujewBSSGm5-2fA06i3hXV29UqcAB6-xDOZpeExGZg9UBF6AwfrvxT-CzydBG/s320/wild5-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207072838335197090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZk34Et51qUWbhWrRgy2YXYAhCqXQaijLUqkWoQ-kj7K2sZM_cHSnKV7-TZ4l5_0sm0Jz7giN6gNzyb7TZ6T5nvbGF7BznLowPm47Qp8KRKg4b87VP0j3ZDxgXPJxY4cRLvCgulSVRF34D/s1600-h/wild6-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZk34Et51qUWbhWrRgy2YXYAhCqXQaijLUqkWoQ-kj7K2sZM_cHSnKV7-TZ4l5_0sm0Jz7giN6gNzyb7TZ6T5nvbGF7BznLowPm47Qp8KRKg4b87VP0j3ZDxgXPJxY4cRLvCgulSVRF34D/s320/wild6-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207072843098347282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXFD5nUsz-FlnTvcXbuWKI8FrXE4SJgo-gTKZtf7TGOjvgm0rohH1IAqtFgmcnmmzp9C8A6wV1gCWy_dhBCvP1XEpsJ7roRfDwjN82X7rpBDBrmUsJr-wh4hSzwV53iqFX85xL37EX2ZA/s1600-h/wild7-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXFD5nUsz-FlnTvcXbuWKI8FrXE4SJgo-gTKZtf7TGOjvgm0rohH1IAqtFgmcnmmzp9C8A6wV1gCWy_dhBCvP1XEpsJ7roRfDwjN82X7rpBDBrmUsJr-wh4hSzwV53iqFX85xL37EX2ZA/s320/wild7-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207072848779588946" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsqrDobW9Hy0YjHt0A_0oiAHh9eAZVeBFl-kse2dSwGz8Ju5z4_L1GUvrkbpQWz-oFB5M_f7M0KZ4Zr7LdZTIugf4213tSDw1GimR1B1gy7LHYZYuQCUo10l0K7UwJimwKt8wXY0OZ_T6/s1600-h/wild8-fuzzyhat-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsqrDobW9Hy0YjHt0A_0oiAHh9eAZVeBFl-kse2dSwGz8Ju5z4_L1GUvrkbpQWz-oFB5M_f7M0KZ4Zr7LdZTIugf4213tSDw1GimR1B1gy7LHYZYuQCUo10l0K7UwJimwKt8wXY0OZ_T6/s320/wild8-fuzzyhat-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207072852026787714" border="0" /></a>"The Fuzzy Hat"<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu430LIQlW9ndVzfsxzDgEhyphenhyphenIE579WLnCO2V1eHzRujlVXo-jVK64cf0tUQxYJe1PurgTDAxKr4zDVK7wAQU6I7_KEAVQYoLfVDYDXXFhy0-XaDXX4u6ahmjqfOWjdZq6klmBIExjjM-_d/s1600-h/wild9-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu430LIQlW9ndVzfsxzDgEhyphenhyphenIE579WLnCO2V1eHzRujlVXo-jVK64cf0tUQxYJe1PurgTDAxKr4zDVK7wAQU6I7_KEAVQYoLfVDYDXXFhy0-XaDXX4u6ahmjqfOWjdZq6klmBIExjjM-_d/s320/wild9-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207072850024852194" border="0" /></a>"Bunny Ears"<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPEDRelBwAbi-xqtD92g_wrGfwtfTjpabUHrefhHVtZKjnBvT1NNf3JI4WRHpQQ6Ucnbp6te0rhzdXxoHiwIAVYEdfU-6og_mb1dJqqyBf91B73oOfrZorfv6_Yg7pn_tcsOfhuw9Fxkb/s1600-h/wild10-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPEDRelBwAbi-xqtD92g_wrGfwtfTjpabUHrefhHVtZKjnBvT1NNf3JI4WRHpQQ6Ucnbp6te0rhzdXxoHiwIAVYEdfU-6og_mb1dJqqyBf91B73oOfrZorfv6_Yg7pn_tcsOfhuw9Fxkb/s320/wild10-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207073158945013426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8l2DiFp6xXQmlre2h29rJbfureV8RN5sOMa2ZNZj_ZGlODggw5vbDyzHw3Vb1S_71scPao72a8F9dxvr2JNgZMcPYgTV6gRNiyLoG9WSJJ0VSlc2NVGCo9t5v0Xyec2BgHhBnyeiBf7r/s1600-h/wild-5-fading-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8l2DiFp6xXQmlre2h29rJbfureV8RN5sOMa2ZNZj_ZGlODggw5vbDyzHw3Vb1S_71scPao72a8F9dxvr2JNgZMcPYgTV6gRNiyLoG9WSJJ0VSlc2NVGCo9t5v0Xyec2BgHhBnyeiBf7r/s320/wild-5-fading-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207073172332654978" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Wi3CECLFm3uQhiPH9CXrD7NGzRqBaFEd8X1ZqEIVYEL0GqxqaPIWF4IX1Wk4Zs1KjX9hyphenhyphenMgUtV_WZ8oXnJeJFNiGzSeLCqjH-DhpliKc1qJ16G3IoRYMGZYua8Cn8vv7NIEmBsA6PBs_/s1600-h/wild11-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Wi3CECLFm3uQhiPH9CXrD7NGzRqBaFEd8X1ZqEIVYEL0GqxqaPIWF4IX1Wk4Zs1KjX9hyphenhyphenMgUtV_WZ8oXnJeJFNiGzSeLCqjH-DhpliKc1qJ16G3IoRYMGZYua8Cn8vv7NIEmBsA6PBs_/s320/wild11-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207075023424102546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A couple of cacti in bloom...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWglVfNrYFKuccvcIsPIwaB4FvyV2cOy5039-hNHt5RfHd2VQsOcrgRrblDKAl-2ItaND2uJ_JStPyspnN6_DGkl-fDjs7lkS9XblaX4aMO5mOTjINRmzeI_IijFcAXRJVlVZ17gmuX_0/s1600-h/barrelcactus-bloom2-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWglVfNrYFKuccvcIsPIwaB4FvyV2cOy5039-hNHt5RfHd2VQsOcrgRrblDKAl-2ItaND2uJ_JStPyspnN6_DGkl-fDjs7lkS9XblaX4aMO5mOTjINRmzeI_IijFcAXRJVlVZ17gmuX_0/s320/barrelcactus-bloom2-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207075337271140290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWAxLQPmNbKNqmkfJmQdtOu1v0dK-f6IhirUPKTI3b2ZDCsBedtwN_2u-jWUNI0Zh2KFQwmkLYl_dQQEj0M7kUwv_Aj1gbr1mRh9ok3wlU3p8wkhoGOlmiCeJsd8R1qp5PaPr-W7ss0IG/s1600-h/cactus1-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWAxLQPmNbKNqmkfJmQdtOu1v0dK-f6IhirUPKTI3b2ZDCsBedtwN_2u-jWUNI0Zh2KFQwmkLYl_dQQEj0M7kUwv_Aj1gbr1mRh9ok3wlU3p8wkhoGOlmiCeJsd8R1qp5PaPr-W7ss0IG/s320/cactus1-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207075349260113010" border="0" /></a><br />The little barrel cactus was tiny, only about 2 inches in diameter at the base.<br /><br />New growth on one of the only living pine trees left in my yard (I swear it grows an inch a day)...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNGwfrsdWg-Th2AZbQ0vPaKwYghjz7STPrv66RC3zhkpPMHPK-CxDBHKJRn5v5kRrmO-HT33Zy3G6Bqr95nVm39yIJXudarXn4bWRFaDJxbwHZj_0pQntfYRlHbY6ERchG02Fq6OKjsLo/s1600-h/pinegrowth-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNGwfrsdWg-Th2AZbQ0vPaKwYghjz7STPrv66RC3zhkpPMHPK-CxDBHKJRn5v5kRrmO-HT33Zy3G6Bqr95nVm39yIJXudarXn4bWRFaDJxbwHZj_0pQntfYRlHbY6ERchG02Fq6OKjsLo/s320/pinegrowth-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207076229275222242" border="0" /></a><br />Even the peonies that grow next to my house are getting into the act.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1iV3JZWCwIVSrxXs9iCQOMJ7p5tOxASUaOOLqXcowMb7F_ITuAetRWBBbMIYX8X0S4W_F4s8_a-OQInAF6ZQ8AP6FAtkic-wedg3TJmIglnheZA_fr9IBSk2Xb3y80CQCaWP7b8uQQa3m/s1600-h/peone-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1iV3JZWCwIVSrxXs9iCQOMJ7p5tOxASUaOOLqXcowMb7F_ITuAetRWBBbMIYX8X0S4W_F4s8_a-OQInAF6ZQ8AP6FAtkic-wedg3TJmIglnheZA_fr9IBSk2Xb3y80CQCaWP7b8uQQa3m/s320/peone-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207077412755389058" border="0" /></a><br />Despite this being our hot and dry time of the summer, waiting for the monsoon season to start in about a month, many pretty flowers find a way to shine.<br /><br />I often take photographs of the small, particularly wildflowers. For more wildflower photography, see my <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/wildflowers">Yellowstone National Park Wildflowers gallery</a>, <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/gtnpwildflowers">Grand Teton National Park Wildflowers gallery</a>, <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/ncnp">North Cascades National Park gallery</a>, and <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/onppeninsula">Olympic Penisula gallery</a>.<br /><br />Of course all of the photographs above were taking today of things growing in my backyard.Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-29790663948364891162008-05-15T20:45:00.009-06:002008-05-16T07:35:36.585-06:00May Snow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubcWW85duYsuBksRvrSVyd-6jwzA11Fht_kFgj2GgSHBDIuG8Cqv7ZJGqNbD-LNstpCy_i3kPCCUuSBpjHlZdYH5ckbf4g8B7wM0ALJ-UUALzmdzBSCbCROvu6lhvWj9bupJ3ccu2OGfr/s1600-h/001.019-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubcWW85duYsuBksRvrSVyd-6jwzA11Fht_kFgj2GgSHBDIuG8Cqv7ZJGqNbD-LNstpCy_i3kPCCUuSBpjHlZdYH5ckbf4g8B7wM0ALJ-UUALzmdzBSCbCROvu6lhvWj9bupJ3ccu2OGfr/s320/001.019-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200808494689543122" border="0" /></a>I love weather.<br /><br />I particularly love cloudy, wet, cold weather. The smell, the feel. Today after many weeks without any moisture and plenty of wind (which is typical for this time of year here), we were treated to rain in the valleys and lower elevations, and snow above about 7,500 ft. In the photograph above, you see the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jemez_Mountains">Jemez Mountains</a> above Los Alamos this evening, with the sun setting behind them. The line of snow is indeed about at the 7,500 ft level as the National Weather Service predicted yesterday. I recorded over <a href="http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KNMLOSAL1">0.5 inches of rain</a> at my house for this storm, which is where this photograph was taken (standing on the deck off of the bedroom looking north east, so this is literally a photograph taken in my backyard, not just near my home).<br /><br />A little earlier in the evening, I took the following photographs from Overlook Park in White Rock looking at the Sangre de Cristo (Spanish for Blood of Christ) Mountains to the east. In the first one you can see some of the runs of the Santa Fe Ski Basin.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcYhKwlLpzIBftobte_OV2Jk64GlO3dCC-vBRmyX_bD09MmqDphnze-9DZt5zcplVEr7jrBd7BGbiN3Kp2uavBpvJZmQsZi0ZC8td13aQ5sGSNCRuaTO0Ly6mVbEnUpMzthKgFA7y7M5o/s1600-h/001.005-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcYhKwlLpzIBftobte_OV2Jk64GlO3dCC-vBRmyX_bD09MmqDphnze-9DZt5zcplVEr7jrBd7BGbiN3Kp2uavBpvJZmQsZi0ZC8td13aQ5sGSNCRuaTO0Ly6mVbEnUpMzthKgFA7y7M5o/s320/001.005-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200808477509673906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gW8Bg5TLWfycdk2Xg-pNzH3qCW9dOvAGosSumY11pvO8Mv-PWtHupzBRmIoPZ5Hb2KaYkXJ2VgSHaA-9WEsjEjrdtiuHim2QSnjGGAMTGCphm8U_-762AEozmCiH95HavCDXMeyfUpwI/s1600-h/001.007-lowres.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gW8Bg5TLWfycdk2Xg-pNzH3qCW9dOvAGosSumY11pvO8Mv-PWtHupzBRmIoPZ5Hb2KaYkXJ2VgSHaA-9WEsjEjrdtiuHim2QSnjGGAMTGCphm8U_-762AEozmCiH95HavCDXMeyfUpwI/s320/001.007-lowres.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200808490394575810" border="0" /></a><br />These sort of views and this kind of weather is one of the reasons I love this area. Next week it is projected to climb into the mid-80's F. Back to hot, dry, and windy broken by bits of weather like we had today. In about a month it will be the monsoon season. I look forward to the <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/image/81451775">roaring thunderstorms</a> we often get during that part of the year. The background photograph at the top of my blog was taken June 2007 from Overlook Park.<br /><br />I love weather.Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-15039969335292539782008-04-26T07:49:00.108-06:002008-04-27T12:30:52.303-06:00Shrine of the Stone LionsSee more photographs of this hike at <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/bnmlions">my gallery</a> on this hike.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAF2aR60vZwCphJUGACBSzy5xqNLFdSdCMvxsTwVRccPrn7eZ631TyuMOr8CnKJtsuOWQU7Kx49IvTbd6J8M88E8VUgUjYhyphenhyphenJ9WDndxojqypzdbKobf5xzUzvL-2iI3hyphenhyphenOqSO5_QfiXDr/s1600-h/openingimage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAF2aR60vZwCphJUGACBSzy5xqNLFdSdCMvxsTwVRccPrn7eZ631TyuMOr8CnKJtsuOWQU7Kx49IvTbd6J8M88E8VUgUjYhyphenhyphenJ9WDndxojqypzdbKobf5xzUzvL-2iI3hyphenhyphenOqSO5_QfiXDr/s320/openingimage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193681168229543842" border="0" /></a>I have lived here for more than 20 years and have never hiked out to the fairly well known Stone Lions in <a href="http://www.nps.gov/band/">Bandelier National Monument</a>. I don't know why. However, last Friday (4/26/2008) was my day to change that.<br /><br />I have hiked many times in various places in Bandelier, and I plan to have several blog entries as I go along about those hikes. So this won't be my only Bandelier National Monument (abbreviated BNM from now on) entry, that's for sure, since it is just minutes from my backyard.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Hike</span><br />The round trip distance for this hike from the visitor center is about 13 miles. I did this as a day hike, as many do. However, some also do an overnighter in the back country which makes this an easier hike and also allows for exploration of other areas past Alamo Canyon. Some of the information out there in books or the web will warn you that is is a hard day hike, a real grind, and so on. It is strenuous due to the traverse of Alamo Canyon, but doable. Below is the full map of the hike I did.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbZQuKicHtorFoPbgfMzcbAMwWqEMu2RFGnFWNdBW2YHDB7o-n_e8VdtBp-MICGo0GvhjEWLJ1QOtAUPRdWXK4XFvyrrxm4_FLc0i-bPYqRYCRXrveLk-VZ4U3gGIkF1FSRsRpTWcw33O/s1600-h/entirehike.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbZQuKicHtorFoPbgfMzcbAMwWqEMu2RFGnFWNdBW2YHDB7o-n_e8VdtBp-MICGo0GvhjEWLJ1QOtAUPRdWXK4XFvyrrxm4_FLc0i-bPYqRYCRXrveLk-VZ4U3gGIkF1FSRsRpTWcw33O/s320/entirehike.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193681563366535090" border="0" /></a><br />The hike profile (one way, from the visitor center to the stone lions) is below. I will talk more about the ascents and descents as I get there. As with most of my descriptions, it will be a running narrative with photos from the beginning of the hike.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdhj-KYD4h16Ae4Jqx0avpzZB8Q9ZJRyT48ryszUYTjiXbO8Y3MC8lCHIzTewVBRPGtujJk7xMaMhSgEtGXGz-DYSqIrXI0Of57fU-euDW3yz3uJOjjDVKQikwcc4Y3RoONsmsXOmyqzl/s1600-h/profile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdhj-KYD4h16Ae4Jqx0avpzZB8Q9ZJRyT48ryszUYTjiXbO8Y3MC8lCHIzTewVBRPGtujJk7xMaMhSgEtGXGz-DYSqIrXI0Of57fU-euDW3yz3uJOjjDVKQikwcc4Y3RoONsmsXOmyqzl/s320/profile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193682598453653442" border="0" /></a>I started off at about 8:30am. I did not note the temperature, but it was chilly and I wore a fleece jacket which I did not discard until I got to the stone lions. As usual, I carried my camera backpack with lenses, tripod, water, and so on. As I often do in BNM, I started this hike climbing immediately out of Frijoles Canyon near the visitor center (GPS: N35 46.739 W106 16.326). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopYXsIkJmtQGJddm1Pa1dh9HOxWLwSxUqb9uUVs_vxKBn4FOOcSCAlvorfw2H7sI4hiO9U9V2xWF2sjd018yUN-NeJEvYjp2pt0JxNmTLoHWVDWCsySdIHZo_b9lqSCnCqvMp87bZCDp9/s1600-h/frijolito-ruins.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopYXsIkJmtQGJddm1Pa1dh9HOxWLwSxUqb9uUVs_vxKBn4FOOcSCAlvorfw2H7sI4hiO9U9V2xWF2sjd018yUN-NeJEvYjp2pt0JxNmTLoHWVDWCsySdIHZo_b9lqSCnCqvMp87bZCDp9/s320/frijolito-ruins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193683659310575570" border="0" /></a>This section climbs approximately 467 ft in about 0.63 miles. So it is a nice warm up. Frijoles (Spanish for beans) Canyon is the main canyon in BNM where most everyone goes. This is where the visitor center is, and easy walks on paved trails to various archaeological sites. There are two trails that lead to the south rim of the canyon in this area. One is the direct ascent route and the other is a more gradual pack trail ascent west of the direct route. I prefer the direct ascent. It climbs away from the other visitors quickly and the views from the rim are nice. I did use the pack trail on the return, however. Easier on the feet and knees after long hike.<br /><br />The sign at the trailhead stated that Yapashi Pueblo was 5.2 miles ahead. Yapashi is en route to the stone lions from this direction. None of the newer signs in BNM even mention the stone lions. Only the older very weathered signs do and, even then, don't tell you where they are. They just give general directional information.<br /><br />Once on top of Frijoles Canyon, there are some nice and unique views of the ruins below that few that visit Bandelier enjoy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFslyuS87dJFBEO_TrO9idLbEdDz36ce58XBeSsc4QLBi7nwo9YTApXEplKM8Pd14VQM68Gvr4K_3EF-iW3tf5M_EeLoAnYRBlIJxKn3XSJpyxjCBlk0Fe5iACaO1LWsUh0tRa3Zoyvv9s/s1600-h/frijoles.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFslyuS87dJFBEO_TrO9idLbEdDz36ce58XBeSsc4QLBi7nwo9YTApXEplKM8Pd14VQM68Gvr4K_3EF-iW3tf5M_EeLoAnYRBlIJxKn3XSJpyxjCBlk0Fe5iACaO1LWsUh0tRa3Zoyvv9s/s320/frijoles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193684896261156834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lkXlI34OnaQUODvem-A5_ixlGlcLm_EBRz6JCvTH535BvwMnbJpyArN3QNYCa9lO7hz2TPsv0Ep2AdgCmin1LCEkwq8sur6Y-10VaX2YTcAc3FHS20eWR__XHJeEUE_OSJY21Z3TMkG-/s1600-h/frijoles2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lkXlI34OnaQUODvem-A5_ixlGlcLm_EBRz6JCvTH535BvwMnbJpyArN3QNYCa9lO7hz2TPsv0Ep2AdgCmin1LCEkwq8sur6Y-10VaX2YTcAc3FHS20eWR__XHJeEUE_OSJY21Z3TMkG-/s320/frijoles2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193685991477817330" border="0" /></a><br />There are several places along the rim to view the ruins and canyon walls below along this section of the hike.<br /><br />After about 0.3 miles after ascending to the south rim of Frijoles, you encounter Frijolito ruins (GPS: N35 46.779 W106 16.607). This is an unexcavated area that looks like little more than out of place mounts of dirt. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVte3u3_6ayQcvC7jR2mXn4HVbtCVHIbC9GafVZs_VLCgcsmxmThD2IW3-b4E9HkpGGFKkUsEtrNECsdx-GVZPTxD3pgCNUmZoQXxHM2ajMckkUdNJvM-etuPhNum1k-E-LkidHhK-F8PU/s1600-h/frijolito.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVte3u3_6ayQcvC7jR2mXn4HVbtCVHIbC9GafVZs_VLCgcsmxmThD2IW3-b4E9HkpGGFKkUsEtrNECsdx-GVZPTxD3pgCNUmZoQXxHM2ajMckkUdNJvM-etuPhNum1k-E-LkidHhK-F8PU/s320/frijolito.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193687722349637634" border="0" /></a><br />Once past these ruins, the trail shys away from the canyon edge, so you lose sight down into the canyon at this point. As I continued along, I noticed that the NPS is doing a lot of clearing of bug kill pine and pinon trees in this area. As I have mentioned before, the desert southwest went through several years of drought and that, combined with a serious infestation of bark beetles, <span style="font-style: italic;">killed 90-98% of the pinon and pine trees in this entire area</span>. I live on a little over 4 acres of land which used to be filled with pine, juniper, and pinon. The only trees left living in my yard are juniper trees. The only surviving pine and pinon trees are the ones right next to my house that I kept watered. I could not water the hundreds elsewhere on my property. This >90% mortality rate was seen all over the southwest. Juniper is about the only thing that survived, and is certainly the only living tree type along this portion of the trail.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdG7J8kkMPhu5Jd_reiUdUkj1rbvPvjfw0Bx7HSfaChMr1J6o-4n_ymojzq3wJOgx9WZLdNadFttdmeiRZVw5aJ1KVwstz9bZXzvpWeCctWd6H65ER7nOwxZ-pQeS8FTBRTOoo1R-CU3f/s1600-h/boundarypeak.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdG7J8kkMPhu5Jd_reiUdUkj1rbvPvjfw0Bx7HSfaChMr1J6o-4n_ymojzq3wJOgx9WZLdNadFttdmeiRZVw5aJ1KVwstz9bZXzvpWeCctWd6H65ER7nOwxZ-pQeS8FTBRTOoo1R-CU3f/s320/boundarypeak.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193688577048129554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Boundary peak as seen from the south rim of Frijoles Canyon.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />About 0.7 miles after Frijolito ruins, you come to the pack trail back to the visitor's center (GPS: N35 47.143 W106 17.191). This is the other way you can get to the top of Frijoles in this area, but it misses the views I mentioned above. I took this trail back to the visitor's center on my return, however. It is a more gradual descent. Just beyond this point (GPS: N35 47.170 W106 17.215, labeled "trail fork" on the map above), you come to a fork in the trail. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlQoLlC1C5QZqXZvlxovAM8E_zrAiDg2er9M-DuD2prBH2AUmsfDt1jRtVwQVgBFHiWyojDnxBD3Muk3t5_euunOZO0rhJbyMZeq_kyRGpQpkbeWQKIW__pfe1Qt5drPN4krn_Togwo26/s1600-h/trailsign1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlQoLlC1C5QZqXZvlxovAM8E_zrAiDg2er9M-DuD2prBH2AUmsfDt1jRtVwQVgBFHiWyojDnxBD3Muk3t5_euunOZO0rhJbyMZeq_kyRGpQpkbeWQKIW__pfe1Qt5drPN4krn_Togwo26/s320/trailsign1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193689521940934690" border="0" /></a> Here, you can continue along the rim of Frjoles to upper crossing, or head to mid-Alamo Canyon and Yapashi Pueblo (and the Stone Lions).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Lumis Canyon</span><br />About 1.2 miles past the fork in the trail and the above sign, you encounter Lumis canyon, one of the 4 canyons you must traverse en route to the lions. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJ5spvTpKyqeXA3a9GHRRgK0z_op15KsyZQD08AF-EgRZHIziy20ITP1I-fzq_L_G_yhaw3x0VgipF8Qfn12kSwNDjQGhRZ4-6XwRD4VlCAcR4h8uVIsj3tnOWRUuFpA0nuU2e4Sidoh4/s1600-h/lumis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJ5spvTpKyqeXA3a9GHRRgK0z_op15KsyZQD08AF-EgRZHIziy20ITP1I-fzq_L_G_yhaw3x0VgipF8Qfn12kSwNDjQGhRZ4-6XwRD4VlCAcR4h8uVIsj3tnOWRUuFpA0nuU2e4Sidoh4/s320/lumis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193691849813209138" border="0" /></a>Lumis, at least at this upper end, is a small canyon as can be seen in the map detail. Although small, it is a pretty canyon. I have never seen water in this canyon, but there are clear signs that water is found there in the right conditions. I suspect only after significant rainfall during the monsoonal season or in early spring during snow melt.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here are a couple of pictures of Lumis.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tWTfPXryPRR5QCRd_V0VmLOeUSterlnwtrqceGYvw54oggsf7YvREN1yF7zk1_TbX1fqDYvenCRYpUdocirpqE6dhhD0hpL_a1bHob8j7xov08wVxXp56k_7bV4viho65E21Vz9hvQ8H/s1600-h/lumis-canyon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tWTfPXryPRR5QCRd_V0VmLOeUSterlnwtrqceGYvw54oggsf7YvREN1yF7zk1_TbX1fqDYvenCRYpUdocirpqE6dhhD0hpL_a1bHob8j7xov08wVxXp56k_7bV4viho65E21Vz9hvQ8H/s320/lumis-canyon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193707556508610658" border="0" /><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwBT6mMhdkK1_zeBMpwVzUA2BoIIBqXhKlKYWBP3gfD6aucrDNHJ-yRiUjd98qU3J7Ryvlhu3tkPIHdy5HNad7UuxjEFmWYiRy5cyIfPFvKI1LTPu84RnhrjrpGZWPdG3g-OrPpLKNRrd/s1600-h/lumis-canyon2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwBT6mMhdkK1_zeBMpwVzUA2BoIIBqXhKlKYWBP3gfD6aucrDNHJ-yRiUjd98qU3J7Ryvlhu3tkPIHdy5HNad7UuxjEFmWYiRy5cyIfPFvKI1LTPu84RnhrjrpGZWPdG3g-OrPpLKNRrd/s320/lumis-canyon2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193707741192204402" border="0" /></a><br />In the Lumis area, I also encountered a small group of female mule deer, a common sight in these parts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJDchnPgfQIQNwihPKpM5rJTmuW4CjXqCJ-Ckqxf6DhkEq-mzwfEQlFQINYsf_bnww0vJesCMYh2P_jeACRTbNEjuwrNQS2UobtNPqUxFemXCYhUvfOtQaH3m4mb9932CsIlPF_-J6lB5/s1600-h/muledeer1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJDchnPgfQIQNwihPKpM5rJTmuW4CjXqCJ-Ckqxf6DhkEq-mzwfEQlFQINYsf_bnww0vJesCMYh2P_jeACRTbNEjuwrNQS2UobtNPqUxFemXCYhUvfOtQaH3m4mb9932CsIlPF_-J6lB5/s320/muledeer1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193694100376072258" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjasA4DpgRxc7zHMwoPeZoywCYhXH7q8jhSkvB7TpQJC-YSdO7AXgJYdymxtEYcnB9o4Q-aA6CgHZ3mSLaB03_3EdVbcAE9GoHv5JjlTlCUW2epsHlkFRtebVVsgKDDrIPkNPgnrr-m1T/s1600-h/muledeer2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjasA4DpgRxc7zHMwoPeZoywCYhXH7q8jhSkvB7TpQJC-YSdO7AXgJYdymxtEYcnB9o4Q-aA6CgHZ3mSLaB03_3EdVbcAE9GoHv5JjlTlCUW2epsHlkFRtebVVsgKDDrIPkNPgnrr-m1T/s320/muledeer2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193694254994894930" border="0" /></a><span>Finally, while hiking out of Lumis, I heard the most remarkable bird singing. It sounded like a plaintive cry. It started high and crescendoed down in pitch and volume, and would start over again. Almost like an echo.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alamo Canyon</span><br />Leaving Lumis Canyon, you break out into a meadow. This shows signs of beetle infestation, but not all of the pine trees have died as seen below. Boundary Peak can be seen in this image, and Alamo Canyon lies dead ahead.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQFj4_YW9vr6nuLoVpBv8gro6qFsnFCipN90wWDca8axJJa0_B3i2Vbg38b9CcS9lWnuJ7yu1uOuBlWmySQcwSAUZmExv6BC1_m53GYXH3wtyf42KZx6csaxwB8ygjMGPjy1E6BvotET-/s1600-h/pre-alamo-medow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQFj4_YW9vr6nuLoVpBv8gro6qFsnFCipN90wWDca8axJJa0_B3i2Vbg38b9CcS9lWnuJ7yu1uOuBlWmySQcwSAUZmExv6BC1_m53GYXH3wtyf42KZx6csaxwB8ygjMGPjy1E6BvotET-/s320/pre-alamo-medow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193749522634059906" border="0" /></a>As you approach the north rim of Alamo Canyon, the view opens up. In the image below, you can clearly see the expansive valley beyond Pajarito Plateau, to Sandia Peak to the south. Sharp eyes will be able to see Cochiti Pueblo on the right side of the image, and Cochiti lake and dam in the center.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYDi4k43b7e-E3lAD7zN9TYMmtPIsDmP6_Is488DVMYMXAm4gyBUU7fkw2LN9J2EcSwR6qFDaM5kFUVEQOIrvIh-NjR9AEDUcFm-RJ0k9whWvDQ5_5oUULhPVF70B6T_xha7VShqaP-Ia/s1600-h/cochitiandothersights.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYDi4k43b7e-E3lAD7zN9TYMmtPIsDmP6_Is488DVMYMXAm4gyBUU7fkw2LN9J2EcSwR6qFDaM5kFUVEQOIrvIh-NjR9AEDUcFm-RJ0k9whWvDQ5_5oUULhPVF70B6T_xha7VShqaP-Ia/s320/cochitiandothersights.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193750149699285138" border="0" /></a>The image above was taken near the beginning of the ascent into Alamo Canyon from the north side (GPS: N35 45.974 W106 18.180). Alamo is the hardest part of this hike. The map shows the segment of the hike from rim to rim.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaxwhdP9N67wE1KHL_U-Qj-H0oVBBnRpRdXBxgwGA6MMqp9XGeBOyyty00Vda5YqWF6AI89DS-abkjhq4mQKLhFcYxoN050uGG4kj-fN9WBRjVIh0h5YAM8B_1NiGhHmiLsKVLYxS7bcf/s1600-h/alamo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaxwhdP9N67wE1KHL_U-Qj-H0oVBBnRpRdXBxgwGA6MMqp9XGeBOyyty00Vda5YqWF6AI89DS-abkjhq4mQKLhFcYxoN050uGG4kj-fN9WBRjVIh0h5YAM8B_1NiGhHmiLsKVLYxS7bcf/s320/alamo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193751021577646242" border="0" /></a> Alamo is a beautiful and deep canyon. Even if you don't want to descend into and then out of it to see the sights beyond, it is worth the approximate 4 mile journey from the visitor center to the north rim just to see it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This image was taken on the north rim, looking toward lower Alamo Canyon (approximately south east). If you look closely, you can see the trail leading to the south rim of the canyon in the image below. This is a <span style="font-style: italic;">slightly </span>more gradual ascent than the one to the north rim.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCc8mtQ2p6Eqmi7i58v6Q1ym3Jnz0URFh3HY99cUW4bZfVoXg4XYnR82rlrcccXL3CMSt7GujtlDqKE3xBJ36tVvDIUYGvD85spkKuXe5EDYUIU7veGsKMoXavMT5vyLafOEn3lHDYGLV/s1600-h/alamo1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCc8mtQ2p6Eqmi7i58v6Q1ym3Jnz0URFh3HY99cUW4bZfVoXg4XYnR82rlrcccXL3CMSt7GujtlDqKE3xBJ36tVvDIUYGvD85spkKuXe5EDYUIU7veGsKMoXavMT5vyLafOEn3lHDYGLV/s320/alamo1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193751790376792242" border="0" /></a><br />This image was taken from the same spot, but looking north west, toward upper Alamo Canyon.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrptcTp8h8FjpV9ed5n_rxa-22WbtwnitcoyQPE8Bhk0ALzlZPYVBcd-969XYQi0zIBX_ifVP5iBhPU3lRojru0UnWw1GNJTqm0IHuq5ulI5RG5hNrWRvYX54uw2EnRiWChJvUmI0dT6l9/s1600-h/alamotowardstheeast.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrptcTp8h8FjpV9ed5n_rxa-22WbtwnitcoyQPE8Bhk0ALzlZPYVBcd-969XYQi0zIBX_ifVP5iBhPU3lRojru0UnWw1GNJTqm0IHuq5ulI5RG5hNrWRvYX54uw2EnRiWChJvUmI0dT6l9/s320/alamotowardstheeast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193752258528227522" border="0" /></a><br />This is partway down the descent from the north rim.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6hXdIcKzgCaECCeVNuX80z_v7z1AeXeSAyzgS8sP5nlB4ER_2D4G9N4aUvDtTH5qxqnQnGCU3Fm1ZD3eSIk4hKl-Cn-pMlLS3RBbguyWe5j5VTNo5Q0rczdKY5svVLDc6yJ-gd4TRfsJ/s1600-h/alamoondescent.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6hXdIcKzgCaECCeVNuX80z_v7z1AeXeSAyzgS8sP5nlB4ER_2D4G9N4aUvDtTH5qxqnQnGCU3Fm1ZD3eSIk4hKl-Cn-pMlLS3RBbguyWe5j5VTNo5Q0rczdKY5svVLDc6yJ-gd4TRfsJ/s320/alamoondescent.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193752666550120658" border="0" /></a><br />The bottom of Alamo is not dry until later in the spring or early summer, depending on snowpack conditions. At this time of year, there is running water in the bottom. However, later on in the year, don't count on it. Be sure to bring plenty of your own water with you.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAbrAN4AxomW7zFVcrUO93UEQQnQnK4I4cIkWhQHye1CeCT4iNezFNfZ3v2Ht0Kdyzi1es4kAQm-WHWTizNz0MqjOoXgOgIREQD4eXyBt08DdYD7FKEatyuHTw8-d-Drzp7hibhBm0gxI/s1600-h/alamo2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAbrAN4AxomW7zFVcrUO93UEQQnQnK4I4cIkWhQHye1CeCT4iNezFNfZ3v2Ht0Kdyzi1es4kAQm-WHWTizNz0MqjOoXgOgIREQD4eXyBt08DdYD7FKEatyuHTw8-d-Drzp7hibhBm0gxI/s320/alamo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193754874163310818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pBTCpsFfEniaCbZ9gdXYhDaeZtU3_ObIGYlBOp2jv6lPeR4ptM5Y_gAmJKMMqB69aPubO2mQH1fSR1y4Ja2-m38v2Nq7x3FIdQUHr1w1jOx_eCrR6wNBoESxCNnDmb4Zfgw2PowhxDOY/s1600-h/alamo3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pBTCpsFfEniaCbZ9gdXYhDaeZtU3_ObIGYlBOp2jv6lPeR4ptM5Y_gAmJKMMqB69aPubO2mQH1fSR1y4Ja2-m38v2Nq7x3FIdQUHr1w1jOx_eCrR6wNBoESxCNnDmb4Zfgw2PowhxDOY/s320/alamo3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193754878458278130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXMMisXqyAoUs_12Pe7QQfDdqmNuJ5xLRf1c8FUz44qyt9YPimmfd_-i4RYDv84PKdRd8xyDQLFVfF3Qlsxx77rI0LAEO8DYhXEMRreVMAvRxJ8xbvy2zGBqbHms3AXeAZqt6iXoop8L6/s1600-h/alamo4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXMMisXqyAoUs_12Pe7QQfDdqmNuJ5xLRf1c8FUz44qyt9YPimmfd_-i4RYDv84PKdRd8xyDQLFVfF3Qlsxx77rI0LAEO8DYhXEMRreVMAvRxJ8xbvy2zGBqbHms3AXeAZqt6iXoop8L6/s320/alamo4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193754887048212738" border="0" /></a><span>As you can see, Alamo also has tent rock formations in several places, although they are not as large and impressive as those at <a href="http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/rio_puerco/kasha_katuwe_tent_rocks.html">Tent Rocks National Monument</a>, which is near the Cochiti Pueblo.<br /><br />After descending from the north rim, you walk through the bottom of the canyon, crossing the stream twice, then you ascend to the south rim (GPS: N35 45.517 W106 17.990). This ascent is an elevation gain of about 458 ft in about 0.43 miles. From there, you hike toward Yapashi Pueblo, crossing one more small canyon en route.<br /><br />The south side of Alamo is noticeably more desert like. There are no pine trees to speak of (except for the occasional small pine tree that was beetle killed), more cactus, and not much grass. It made me wonder why anyone would have settled here given the lack of natural resources, including water.<br /><br />Before reaching Yapashi, another fork in the trail is encountered (labeled "Trail Fork 2" in the above map, GPS: N35 45.489 W106 18.481). Here you will find a newer sign that points the direction for Yapashi, or back to the visitor's center<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKCBAEXrnrXrZKLk9mNG2FdhqCQmng3jkWrz4n2BeKPI-E_V8fO6oucj3fATO8kjDvo2vEWX82rvU09wqc6_-HhAauq0vrrCaExCUzv0HaAcG92dE3hZBafJvoV-QNx5tS5ZCHfMUjWdw/s1600-h/yapashitrailsign.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKCBAEXrnrXrZKLk9mNG2FdhqCQmng3jkWrz4n2BeKPI-E_V8fO6oucj3fATO8kjDvo2vEWX82rvU09wqc6_-HhAauq0vrrCaExCUzv0HaAcG92dE3hZBafJvoV-QNx5tS5ZCHfMUjWdw/s320/yapashitrailsign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193761664506605842" border="0" /></a>. However, another trail leads to the south east and an older sign reads "lower alamo trail." This takes you to lower Alamo and eventually back to Frijoles, emerging near the rim of that canyon near the </span>Frijolito ruins.<br /><span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yapashi Pueblo</span><br />Yapashi Pueblo (GPS: N35 45.686 W106 18.932) is another unexcavated site, this time of an entire pueblo with fallen walls covered in dirt and, interestingly enough, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylindropuntia_imbricata">Cane Cholla Cacti</a>. You see these cactus plants periodically along the way, but this is the largest concentration that I saw. I don't know why this was so prevalent in this particular area. Perhaps these people gathered them to use them for various things, thus leaving more seeds in this area to grow once the walls fell. I arrived at the Yapishi site at about 11:30am.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiIAZ4I3atRLhi85vOBYK62FaqI5YKMgu0LIT3MrVgvilp4fwLF_3HhlDsuaSQ9An1srp7jCtvVPaUHjqHEho_c9GjHwHCmO7jZqsPL1GthAFUggKa8faANU6k7X8dRzLzfC_I-YMRUJ5/s1600-h/yapashi1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiIAZ4I3atRLhi85vOBYK62FaqI5YKMgu0LIT3MrVgvilp4fwLF_3HhlDsuaSQ9An1srp7jCtvVPaUHjqHEho_c9GjHwHCmO7jZqsPL1GthAFUggKa8faANU6k7X8dRzLzfC_I-YMRUJ5/s320/yapashi1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193767789129970018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakFxZwoB-EYwHyoTfF2tJBF6NcPgxHoPLyFvDdiW0RamLMX6wB6sNccXOcN94wr2yZoqIy-tPb9S4aQKU6A18Y-08DBNTUm7G16nFhT6r6OdjEBrXbVLFt389ElVpF_hFHuuccqNToTFO/s1600-h/yapashi2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakFxZwoB-EYwHyoTfF2tJBF6NcPgxHoPLyFvDdiW0RamLMX6wB6sNccXOcN94wr2yZoqIy-tPb9S4aQKU6A18Y-08DBNTUm7G16nFhT6r6OdjEBrXbVLFt389ElVpF_hFHuuccqNToTFO/s320/yapashi2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193767930863890802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mXyNjzHH7ci9tDUBxHFF6TEc_W6pYQOFlGp-W0zc0Pc-BIg_SavnIfQt1mlhYcNH6kbAf_XXkAHKMq_EK_9JkJ-IF8LhWbhwpDdSnzFMtkO6njqynixaYKXweaQ37qezsosQRKriq4uH/s1600-h/yapashi3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mXyNjzHH7ci9tDUBxHFF6TEc_W6pYQOFlGp-W0zc0Pc-BIg_SavnIfQt1mlhYcNH6kbAf_XXkAHKMq_EK_9JkJ-IF8LhWbhwpDdSnzFMtkO6njqynixaYKXweaQ37qezsosQRKriq4uH/s320/yapashi3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193768583698919826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As I stood there among the ruins of this long gone pueblo, I could not help but view the Cane Cholla cactus as ghosts of the past inhabitants. Silent guardians of a civilization past.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMWv8qS2v8818Vriq_Yp7DQwcoyotbKn4kL_x9r3ElU5nEMUXXqncauzg9t5B4jtrED80vfg42mD2J_2b-kooaf8GvDJWrluN5biH3nZohuqH68JqQj34Vwrrjb5-nFdX7jvjcLw8joIO/s1600-h/yapashi-faceinthecrowd.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMWv8qS2v8818Vriq_Yp7DQwcoyotbKn4kL_x9r3ElU5nEMUXXqncauzg9t5B4jtrED80vfg42mD2J_2b-kooaf8GvDJWrluN5biH3nZohuqH68JqQj34Vwrrjb5-nFdX7jvjcLw8joIO/s320/yapashi-faceinthecrowd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193768914411401634" border="0" /></a><br />I am looking forward to an overnighter in this area some time so I can get dawn and dusk images, with perhaps some clouds in the sky for an even greater effect.<br /><br />Just a short jaunt (about 0.5 miles) west of Yapashi are the stone lions.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Shrine of the Stone Lions</span><br />There seems to be little information out there about this shrine (GPS: N35 45.921 W106 19.310), its origin, or even its precise location. I don't know why, but I suspect this is a mechanism for protecting it to a certain degree. This is a shrine still in use by some local Native Americans, and<span style="font-style: italic;"> nothing should be disturbed at this site</span>. Please respect it and the people that use it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0D3fyoGQoMHguzIcKVhVFF_yusd_YMslVesStNxuQLepLjRZdMM3oswD7t_67ssasDO1DqSZTLAGdAA9sYchns50mK5gKcbyZzKL2J29SK46qeGr-hO4jZ5eylpj_FX1CulTjRZqbLwA3/s1600-h/lions1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0D3fyoGQoMHguzIcKVhVFF_yusd_YMslVesStNxuQLepLjRZdMM3oswD7t_67ssasDO1DqSZTLAGdAA9sYchns50mK5gKcbyZzKL2J29SK46qeGr-hO4jZ5eylpj_FX1CulTjRZqbLwA3/s320/lions1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193772268780859826" border="0" /></a>I would speculate that the stone lions were carved by the original inhabitants of the area as part of a hunting ritual. Evidence of some use is present today. I found pottery shards, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsidian">obsidian pieces</a>, turquoise pieces, and even a piece of sea shell someone had left on or near the lions when I visited.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckhvDrSxvQTUAmhwbp6xxVGRRdaS1vQQAp1lE-zQ4s-cUmQ7sw2LXzhT7J2rrtbtfhJWd88Pa5lWNo50tqageiIGQAjg4cA5TsCB62hNujWe5cXveP81cFq4uVxk1teedqz4MxvkkBs_X/s1600-h/shellonlion.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckhvDrSxvQTUAmhwbp6xxVGRRdaS1vQQAp1lE-zQ4s-cUmQ7sw2LXzhT7J2rrtbtfhJWd88Pa5lWNo50tqageiIGQAjg4cA5TsCB62hNujWe5cXveP81cFq4uVxk1teedqz4MxvkkBs_X/s320/shellonlion.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193774102731895234" border="0" /></a>The shell (on top of the right lion) looked like part of a common mussel shell. Since New Mexico is over 1,000 miles from the nearest ocean, I don't know what the story is with that "artifact." It obviously meant something to someone.<br /><br />As can be seen in the photograph opening this entire blog entry, the stone lions are surrounded by a ring of rocks with one entrance. I don't know if these rocks were added by the carvers of the lions or not. It is quite a striking shrine, however.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW19ThlMo-MGZeLFxeSebo2U3jSQUneuz_guu8nHFspZexqryJ8GZPVnnD0oEixtmSiP09s84pdVDHdCypz-7E2032nElXOgcqOpJJj0eoCNCZXCG7Zm7jG1u5pq1KKE3MgGj9HyQYaa3C/s1600-h/lions1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW19ThlMo-MGZeLFxeSebo2U3jSQUneuz_guu8nHFspZexqryJ8GZPVnnD0oEixtmSiP09s84pdVDHdCypz-7E2032nElXOgcqOpJJj0eoCNCZXCG7Zm7jG1u5pq1KKE3MgGj9HyQYaa3C/s320/lions1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193777792108802514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhAE3dW0nB2a161Rz9TWqWeA16hjZEEvGTn3HMTI0rtcOy5tAPknjQzpIMU_sT_8E78xDUdZ5IhCac0TGmunNdwUGpsMjg0JjvKQHM-LmUKZmBrKQVKoBEwbvxLf_4U0KCPotdttkB2lf/s1600-h/lions2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhAE3dW0nB2a161Rz9TWqWeA16hjZEEvGTn3HMTI0rtcOy5tAPknjQzpIMU_sT_8E78xDUdZ5IhCac0TGmunNdwUGpsMjg0JjvKQHM-LmUKZmBrKQVKoBEwbvxLf_4U0KCPotdttkB2lf/s320/lions2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193777804993704418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTWA6yswd9Bxswvte0MBeqBJIDyQQhlIVx3uyjuCTVqyaar-vgDWMPK9wiqwtAS3QgAl9o3lLOQ_s4QKpIfQHourq2SQ3ZqUiYMUK7H79IhUpLLueTG_IXRkKxc6_fXW-37KBs-s2XM38/s1600-h/lions3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTWA6yswd9Bxswvte0MBeqBJIDyQQhlIVx3uyjuCTVqyaar-vgDWMPK9wiqwtAS3QgAl9o3lLOQ_s4QKpIfQHourq2SQ3ZqUiYMUK7H79IhUpLLueTG_IXRkKxc6_fXW-37KBs-s2XM38/s320/lions3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193777809288671730" border="0" /></a>The lions point about 120 degrees to the east/south east. The lions are of course quite eroded, but you can still make them out fairly well. The lion on the left has a more defined face than the one on the right. From behind, you can see their tails quite well.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJKwy56FAp6HI2HTIjt81AEcnd8rnZQeYV-G7aea4HGc5wLs2Me8xaeJz0h9E5XZGYVSqfGo3hXmH9C83mQ6hyphenhyphenl3QQ_XjeUDGZurp3k4hAyQeSPcbjUDc9AlUdsXQg0co-MhEALF7Dj9q/s1600-h/lions4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJKwy56FAp6HI2HTIjt81AEcnd8rnZQeYV-G7aea4HGc5wLs2Me8xaeJz0h9E5XZGYVSqfGo3hXmH9C83mQ6hyphenhyphenl3QQ_XjeUDGZurp3k4hAyQeSPcbjUDc9AlUdsXQg0co-MhEALF7Dj9q/s320/lions4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193780880190288402" border="0" /></a>I sat here for a while in the silence and had a snack, and thought about the long-dead civilization that had created this site. I wondered if someday someone would wander around the remains of our civilization and ponder the people that used to live there. Nothing is permanent, no matter how permanent it may seem. Surely these inhabitants thought their civilization would endure forever too, right? What about looking at this in the small? What to the ruins of our own little civilizations say about us? Past relationships, jobs, organizations, teams, projects, and so on. What lessons do we learn from them?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Return<br /></span><span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytqenW0GArlOf6z5kAfc2Rdw1L6V2Duym60-VM45Vm7ozNUmuIi3BZuEtAsOuXSlUJCmHE1ftLFsKtNYGfmb93W_ddWl2ThMVxyFuYJd3WMg8IaKrMB_xY7_yQy_tirIu6sf3QabdUDbC/s1600-h/signatshrine.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytqenW0GArlOf6z5kAfc2Rdw1L6V2Duym60-VM45Vm7ozNUmuIi3BZuEtAsOuXSlUJCmHE1ftLFsKtNYGfmb93W_ddWl2ThMVxyFuYJd3WMg8IaKrMB_xY7_yQy_tirIu6sf3QabdUDbC/s320/signatshrine.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193783710573736482" border="0" /></a>The shrine itself is right at the "triangle," a confluence of the trails in the area. This sign points out one can hike to the painted cave, dome lookout to the south, upper crossing to the north. These hikes will have to wait for another day.<br /><br /><br /><br />Obviously, the main feature of the return hike is the descent and ascent of Alamo Canyon. The ascent to the north rim of Alamo is a steep climb, rising 578 ft in 0.67 miles. The steepest portion rises 515 ft in 0.35 miles. This is a very hot hike in the summer. At the time of year I went, it was comfortable. But be sure to take plenty of water.<br /><br />I arrived at the north rim of Alamo at about 1:50pm, and I stopped there for a quiet rest, enjoying the view of the canyon. I particularly enjoyed the sound of rushing air as the canyon swallows would whoosh by at high speed. They would dart by me, rapidly changing direction before impact with me or the canyon walls. Amazing. After a while, it seemed that they were playing a game of chicken with me. At times, they sounded like rubber bands flying past my ears. If you can imagine that.<br /><br />I sat there for a while. I noticed that I started thinking about heading back and making "good time" getting back and so on. Why? <span style="font-style: italic;">That is not the point. This is not a race</span>. I forced myself to sit quietly for a while longer. It was nice to hear the sound of the wind whistling through the canyon, and the sound of the bubbling stream some 580 ft below me. I looked <span style="font-style: italic;">down </span>on a raven flying high about the canyon floor. I am home.<br /><br />I reluctantly left the north canyon rim. I retraced my steps all the way back to the pack trail on the south Frijoles Canyon rim (GPS: </span>N35 47.143 W106 17.191<span>) where I descended into Frijoles and returned to the visitor center. I got back to my car at about 3:30pm. So with the photography, note taking and so on, it was a 7 hour day hike.<br /><br />Normally I see no one on this hike. At least not to Alamo, which is as far as I had gone in the past. This time I passed someone ascending to the north rim as I was descending it (a solo male, like me). Then I passed a couple descending the south rim as I was ascending. Finally, on my way back, I passed another couple heading back to toward the visitor center after Lumis. This is by far the most people I have seen on this hike. I also passed more mule deer on my way back, again past Lumis. Probably the same group I saw in the morning, just more of them.<br /><br />This was a very enjoyable way to spend a day. For more photographs of this hike, see <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/bnmlions">my gallery</a>.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-41856140467822917442008-04-17T20:11:00.030-06:002008-05-09T12:41:19.542-06:00Mortandad CanyonFor more photographs from this area, see <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/mortandad">my photo gallery</a> from this hike.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSeu-OV-G5zN2q9GBHBrBNvpBX_Vfcah6zMWMbUELjyNEirUQjgb28M4OWaAUNh76ASE213vRBrKYvx3-9AwffMMQuaegHfV1AWvFR0-s8CnPCaeiotKg-epm0_3vYuuqBExUqU8xOt7P/s1600-h/cavate1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSeu-OV-G5zN2q9GBHBrBNvpBX_Vfcah6zMWMbUELjyNEirUQjgb28M4OWaAUNh76ASE213vRBrKYvx3-9AwffMMQuaegHfV1AWvFR0-s8CnPCaeiotKg-epm0_3vYuuqBExUqU8xOt7P/s320/cavate1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190436468214461794" border="0" /></a><center>Cavate and petroglyphs in Mortandad Canyon</center><br />Mortandad Canyon starts inside one of the main technical areas of the <a href="http://www.lanl.gov/">Los Alamos National Laboratory</a> (LANL) at an elevation of about 7,420 feet in the western part of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pajarito_Plateau">Pajarito Plateau</a>. It heads approximately east on LANL property, petering out a couple of miles west of the boundary between LANL and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Ildefonso_Pueblo">San Ildefonso Pueblo</a>. I hike a couple of miles down this canyon occasionally at lunch time since I work in the TA-3 area of LANL. These little lunchtime hikes do not reach the sites discussed here, however, as they are on the opposite end of the canyon (the eastern terminus of the canyon, essentially). The canyon drains onto Pueblo property, and into the Rio Grande basin generally, and is therefore subject to sampling of wildlife and water on a regular basis by LANL, looking for contamination from LANL legacy operations.<br /><br />As near as I can tell, the word "mortandad" is a Spanish word that translates to great mortality implying a number of victims. I don't know how the canyon got its interesting name. However, the canyon contains a number of very interesting cavates with petroglyphs in them from ancient inhabitants of this area. Because this land lies within the LANL boundary, and is completely fenced off, these caves are protected (more so than the Red Dot trail petroglyphs, which are open to the general public year round). Occasionally, the laboratory opens the fence allowing controlled access to Mortandad Canyon area over a weekend. The lab stations employees at the sites to watch over them (and to give informative talks about them), and the public can hike to the sites and examine what is there.<br /><br />In May, 2007, the laboratory did just that -- opened the area for public access for a brief period of time. Despite being here for more than 20 years, this was the first time I entered this area, which is only minutes from my house. The hike is sort and easy. There is a very small climb at the beginning, but the canyon at this end is broad and shallow. I did not have a GPS with me, but I would estimate the round trip distance of the hike to be about 2 miles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOUh8woMNu5CVIAPb9x-C3BOGLBnG4VhOkpwn4ngHoedgwVReljKKTPc9_TxL2GaOA-qSLmb3JfmSchXUpB4udIqmcVA32WQAExERV7jwIj-BvgDaq6bmLqzVRKL0INfMPjZNA3lotZq7/s1600-h/canyonoverview.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOUh8woMNu5CVIAPb9x-C3BOGLBnG4VhOkpwn4ngHoedgwVReljKKTPc9_TxL2GaOA-qSLmb3JfmSchXUpB4udIqmcVA32WQAExERV7jwIj-BvgDaq6bmLqzVRKL0INfMPjZNA3lotZq7/s320/canyonoverview.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190434475349636418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Mortandad Canyon, looking east.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7im7eQ2gLNYo6wVTSONQtrz7twEWLHAY2bl6GxKVoGiX7_9rYxEjHCQ9wnLeYHgwWCz5Bfm1ghCfv5irKqIY-TNxyNLjXmhYYUlu_xrA-r2GNFWKoZb2CZ4s52igan6rOSPnrVyXsnulw/s1600-h/anothercanyonview.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7im7eQ2gLNYo6wVTSONQtrz7twEWLHAY2bl6GxKVoGiX7_9rYxEjHCQ9wnLeYHgwWCz5Bfm1ghCfv5irKqIY-TNxyNLjXmhYYUlu_xrA-r2GNFWKoZb2CZ4s52igan6rOSPnrVyXsnulw/s320/anothercanyonview.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190435192609174866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Another view of the Canyon, with a <a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/resources/health/beetle/index.shtml">bark beetle</a> destroyed pine tree on the left.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />There are a number of cavates in the canyon, some with petroglyphs, some without.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDG7Sdnbje4S0F93l_shDI_Y2Uf8EUCoBhXfTXufkgR0x-53XadI-ix-7YtRi7qiJ9go3ueI8Dq4S8P6ml7f61LX2QP1bJjb5kAB29tn_tDnfnIOsi3JGkR_VI8YF5-4mD67DppH3QJWD/s1600-h/insidecavate.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDG7Sdnbje4S0F93l_shDI_Y2Uf8EUCoBhXfTXufkgR0x-53XadI-ix-7YtRi7qiJ9go3ueI8Dq4S8P6ml7f61LX2QP1bJjb5kAB29tn_tDnfnIOsi3JGkR_VI8YF5-4mD67DppH3QJWD/s320/insidecavate.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190441815448745362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />View of the canyon from inside a cavate (this one contained no petroglyphs).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The cavates containing petroglyphs, and accessible on foot, are protected by a large steel cage bolted to the rock and locked. The five images below are shot through that cage with a flash (there is a large enough hole in the cage to insert a camera, so the cage itself does not appear).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72HfmF72mh2dVetD-o-Ewev9vxKQpfi-WXLcwIW4uM4UVIu5QJol0UvWLB31fWAzOCARN1S7qVOu86uOyRooi14mYQKIpEJ5VTgKfieJev4I0XkjLt0YTMk5ERqq12Y6h7lw8B40QleZP/s1600-h/cavate2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72HfmF72mh2dVetD-o-Ewev9vxKQpfi-WXLcwIW4uM4UVIu5QJol0UvWLB31fWAzOCARN1S7qVOu86uOyRooi14mYQKIpEJ5VTgKfieJev4I0XkjLt0YTMk5ERqq12Y6h7lw8B40QleZP/s320/cavate2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190440995109991794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHw1X2Bf4L9WwPsp0O0bJ029lwXonR6FZ2Gx1iIOw57c6JTrFCfDfbmp71Hy2dvJrUEmCG-CV8Fdb7dCxkcterNq7NHFY1pdTKRXGF_yun3twGbx00nMuagti3stPSWHOhEZzzFbWYAPNx/s1600-h/cavate3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHw1X2Bf4L9WwPsp0O0bJ029lwXonR6FZ2Gx1iIOw57c6JTrFCfDfbmp71Hy2dvJrUEmCG-CV8Fdb7dCxkcterNq7NHFY1pdTKRXGF_yun3twGbx00nMuagti3stPSWHOhEZzzFbWYAPNx/s320/cavate3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190441007994893698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpy_lZlGIXklmYQmOVKvSOfWczBagJgTB_iMiAokdSo8Wslg8e1oOhJewZ7ri4ej95C1GXgs-T83LXc_9CNSpcnN3sJEnriHeNOALVEY5qAXPQtjH3lCek-_nc5hqqct4u3BAhUunczHMO/s1600-h/cavate4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpy_lZlGIXklmYQmOVKvSOfWczBagJgTB_iMiAokdSo8Wslg8e1oOhJewZ7ri4ej95C1GXgs-T83LXc_9CNSpcnN3sJEnriHeNOALVEY5qAXPQtjH3lCek-_nc5hqqct4u3BAhUunczHMO/s320/cavate4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190447209927669170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7svDOAI73f9_ADbd_EMgKlXniF4qt3CxKNzJY5tah-EmVBOLIigWFvsV0q4THAL2PQ-7t4tsUfbwvh-1dCu9SxemlPjO0IyUSKx8xjVFdUZPTeYrj_yWQk8jwLNm6mzL6E-4B4j38atg/s1600-h/cavate5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7svDOAI73f9_ADbd_EMgKlXniF4qt3CxKNzJY5tah-EmVBOLIigWFvsV0q4THAL2PQ-7t4tsUfbwvh-1dCu9SxemlPjO0IyUSKx8xjVFdUZPTeYrj_yWQk8jwLNm6mzL6E-4B4j38atg/s320/cavate5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190447214222636482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6WCx9s2a41ThFs-TgeTqlNCoCxAxR_d5DMJHCXpi5AvSqfS5AINtlEmMmV84NYUeeDvdeIT7p51COg36pyYCz1PbJ5GQbFm_HjghTk266_UB9l369V0kUzrkBxFwaawMeCYd73n4BZ80/s1600-h/001.7+%281%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6WCx9s2a41ThFs-TgeTqlNCoCxAxR_d5DMJHCXpi5AvSqfS5AINtlEmMmV84NYUeeDvdeIT7p51COg36pyYCz1PbJ5GQbFm_HjghTk266_UB9l369V0kUzrkBxFwaawMeCYd73n4BZ80/s320/001.7+%281%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190447755388515794" border="0" /></a><br />As you can see, the petroglyphs here are quite stunning, with lots of detail that has been preserved extremely well. Being inside a cavate, they are not exposed to the harsh sun and other element and are also inside the perimeter of LANL which offers protection from humans.<br /><br />The cavate and petroglyph in the image below (and at the top of this blog entry) is not protected by a cage because it is impossible to reach on foot. I took this image with a 70-200mm zoom lens.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsofMaNVU9chLIYecrBaoGAqSaYiHrxl1WuZVMTMfG5JXlB9C2DAvwKQK6NakxfGxGHfHSA6CAmAUPaOrOBT996qo7KocMN_QlF2BqsOZNpYZhvwzimlf9rjo3R5QjUViipBADJvpj5ic/s1600-h/cavate1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsofMaNVU9chLIYecrBaoGAqSaYiHrxl1WuZVMTMfG5JXlB9C2DAvwKQK6NakxfGxGHfHSA6CAmAUPaOrOBT996qo7KocMN_QlF2BqsOZNpYZhvwzimlf9rjo3R5QjUViipBADJvpj5ic/s320/cavate1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190444731731539362" border="0" /></a><br />In addition to the ancient artifacts, the canyon has a number of interesting rock formations as well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DU83AJMKo8iX4ElboP-Ucc8sA_bil8xCdHhL9dZZtk7F834RD2Yt4sDjnLrwhSkCBk6RXH-Nml0S8_NTuBlaQ9d8i5YW0Np2MPTkx_O4urCb87ZhBRZXyTXSKgdnwh7EEQwc_uATUhN8/s1600-h/naturalarch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DU83AJMKo8iX4ElboP-Ucc8sA_bil8xCdHhL9dZZtk7F834RD2Yt4sDjnLrwhSkCBk6RXH-Nml0S8_NTuBlaQ9d8i5YW0Np2MPTkx_O4urCb87ZhBRZXyTXSKgdnwh7EEQwc_uATUhN8/s320/naturalarch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190448485532956130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Natural Arch<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxQaPYtxfh4FcyrU7meU2vSMol1Wet8qT-3cIvrpLGnn5Tx-oMZ9WBa9-34detXX-Wea2VSCmmvyaZQndnuPmlj9TEX3429MQ16mgg3oZZdc5X2oqPjLYGKTWfgBiBYgFoWQuRNIokwtn/s1600-h/rocks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxQaPYtxfh4FcyrU7meU2vSMol1Wet8qT-3cIvrpLGnn5Tx-oMZ9WBa9-34detXX-Wea2VSCmmvyaZQndnuPmlj9TEX3429MQ16mgg3oZZdc5X2oqPjLYGKTWfgBiBYgFoWQuRNIokwtn/s320/rocks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190448494122890738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Interesting formations<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Mortandad canyon is a very interesting little jewel in my backyard.Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-88741493644458829172008-04-13T16:15:00.001-06:002008-04-27T14:48:29.712-06:00Red Dot and Blue Dot Trails in White RockTo see more of my photography from this area, see <a href="http://www.pbase.com/srlee/reddotbluedot">this gallery</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Introduction</span><br />The Red Dot trail head can be found along Pierda Loop in White Rock. It is a well marked trail head in the middle of a housing development. The trail drops more than 800 ft into White Rock Canyon, through which the Rio Grande runs. Along the trail you can see petroglyphs, springs, a water fall, and the Rio Grande river. The trail connects with the Blue Dot trail which starts at the White Rock Overlook end. See the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Rock%2C_New_Mexico">wikipedia entry</a> for White Rock for more information.<br /><br />I've hiked this trail many times, but the hike on 4/11/2008 is described here.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Trail Options and What I Did</span><br />One can easily start at the Overlook end and hike down to the river and hook up with the Red Dot trail and hike out on the Pierda Loop end, or start on the Pierda Loop end and hike down the Red Dot trail, connect with the blue dot trail by the river, and return to the Overlook end. Unfortunately, either of these routes either require a shuttle car at one end or the other, or one must either walk through White Rock or retrace the same trail (ascent and descent) to return to your vehicle. The distance between the Red Dot trail head along Pierda Loop and the Blue Dot trail head at Overlook is approximately 6 miles or so <span style="font-style: italic;">through town</span> (i.e., not along the trail). If you cannot drop a car at one end and have someone drop you off at the opposite trail head, one option is to place a bike at one end and a car at the other.<br /><br />In my case, neither was an option on this particular day. So I hiked down the Red Dot trail, crossed to the Blue Dot trail, then hiked along the Blue Dot trail until the Overlook was in sight. Then I turned around and re-traced my steps to the Red Dot trail, out of the canyon, and to my car. More on that below.<br /><br />The ascent/descent on the Red Dot trail is much stepper, rockier, and more difficult to find than the Blue Dot trail, on which people on horseback are occasionally seen. First time hikers may wish to start on the Overlook end (Blue Dot) and hike to the falls from there, and return the same way. However, the views are a bit better from the Red Dot Trail end, and the trip to the falls shorter (but steeper).<br /><br />The map below shows the route I took, along with some way points along the way which I will describe below.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzw5coA3qeQYIvPHol5_Ie0fUyat1fceCD0fda89NYNA2dnVIjd9flaWIiqC4GIaoEBq_ynFvy6PgUS3ViYwvOrKxSCFCf6ApujrxDm8J-w3HHcw4wDTVRkPJA3R4D2N_U1XUPp3Le1XTs/s1600-h/fullmap.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzw5coA3qeQYIvPHol5_Ie0fUyat1fceCD0fda89NYNA2dnVIjd9flaWIiqC4GIaoEBq_ynFvy6PgUS3ViYwvOrKxSCFCf6ApujrxDm8J-w3HHcw4wDTVRkPJA3R4D2N_U1XUPp3Le1XTs/s320/fullmap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188863329068118914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Description of Hike</span><br />The hike starts from Pierda Loop<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span>and quickly leads to a beautiful overlook of White Rock Canyon.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8FhWMCbYTYvSwEv0OqbLgK9lxZNi7gC-sV0g1Tu5dAFSc7VQWn1oH-jJY48Ou8siGQqbVdQiruExUZyw0Aa2ubUHfaCt6nBpoUqPjydf_ufSfGA4Qu4fk680727lpnZuBl-fuM4_kjay/s1600-h/attopoftrail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8FhWMCbYTYvSwEv0OqbLgK9lxZNi7gC-sV0g1Tu5dAFSc7VQWn1oH-jJY48Ou8siGQqbVdQiruExUZyw0Aa2ubUHfaCt6nBpoUqPjydf_ufSfGA4Qu4fk680727lpnZuBl-fuM4_kjay/s320/attopoftrail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188868783676584882" border="0" /></a><br /></div>The Rio Grande River is some 890 ft below. As can be seen from the picture above, this is a desert climate. However, the hike actually has quite a bit of water. More so than is apparent when you set out.<br /><br />From this point overlooking the canyon (GPS: N35 48.585 W106 12.043), the hike very rapidly descends toward the river. The hike profile is shown below.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8gN1S91sUDXndmupMn9h1zjdEr9viD_4cw2WcHQavWvBu30944UPL5xSNEXBEX1RT5S4_Igwi3ifWFaGILAk0xiMRpXJSzeGHF9A3K23VOz7YqdDrnUfjdC2aqoQ144v3s7KnjJbdO-x/s1600-h/profile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8gN1S91sUDXndmupMn9h1zjdEr9viD_4cw2WcHQavWvBu30944UPL5xSNEXBEX1RT5S4_Igwi3ifWFaGILAk0xiMRpXJSzeGHF9A3K23VOz7YqdDrnUfjdC2aqoQ144v3s7KnjJbdO-x/s320/profile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188865055644971922" border="0" /></a><br />You will eventually drop 898 feet in about 0.9 miles, but the most rapid drop (and ascent on return) is in the first 0.62 miles, where you drop 770 feet. It is short, but steep (see profile above). The trail is difficult to follow in places, and is marked by red spray painted dots on the rocks along the way (hence the name of the trail).<br /><br />As can be seen from the photograph, there is no shade along this portion of the trail. Bring plenty of water. This is a very hot hike in the summer. The time of year I went it was quite pleasant (in fact, it snowed about 2 inches that night!).<br /><br />The following photographs were taken along the stretch of the hike prior to the falls.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGGZEBk4aa3ckUzXZZjAFwHfskpEuXj7f1lIvjiBQhSRfEU3Vj7VZs3V1njuImB-2vkc6M4q9rT40hQzulUxRx0eFu3Zq-HlxewRc_Nfelz23qEkpIju5XWPxoauG5nOzE240oj1dm9jk/s1600-h/alongthedescent.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGGZEBk4aa3ckUzXZZjAFwHfskpEuXj7f1lIvjiBQhSRfEU3Vj7VZs3V1njuImB-2vkc6M4q9rT40hQzulUxRx0eFu3Zq-HlxewRc_Nfelz23qEkpIju5XWPxoauG5nOzE240oj1dm9jk/s320/alongthedescent.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188938426571289570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhtgMDbFdXmIQ9dMa0nebEbZasK4mklk6jgYfojavsXD591RqB-nzeUkralpBq9FrZNnr0zEUHH4kCaHp63QXjwua_iSvf5eGn4P0xTmkSDPKPlG4z888OHG-RJTq-m2EP3NieMkVs-oT/s1600-h/alongthedescent2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhtgMDbFdXmIQ9dMa0nebEbZasK4mklk6jgYfojavsXD591RqB-nzeUkralpBq9FrZNnr0zEUHH4kCaHp63QXjwua_iSvf5eGn4P0xTmkSDPKPlG4z888OHG-RJTq-m2EP3NieMkVs-oT/s320/alongthedescent2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188938435161224178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMyjM_zx1_ww7WrnrApXikkPAGm9XdHpAUb0WBEAd7nEPEV4mI9NSXcA_o8nSiBQIWR7IXpH83KU9_XXkOLuVabD11Ckesar6fbPmTkIMY9FNuaBz4KDd5_NHL5ctFifygVHSD_htRjck/s1600-h/001.029.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMyjM_zx1_ww7WrnrApXikkPAGm9XdHpAUb0WBEAd7nEPEV4mI9NSXcA_o8nSiBQIWR7IXpH83KU9_XXkOLuVabD11Ckesar6fbPmTkIMY9FNuaBz4KDd5_NHL5ctFifygVHSD_htRjck/s320/001.029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188938439456191490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpIh-DKU5Op0wb8Pra0TQTn335mqmu-jvJBHlRXwMHCzfYpzmieiSc-zF6ghvZnr6BgfE_bXt4cZ_YLpVBFJdlGekMPCjMTAbD0VG_v9HAmhs1D2HiIVFZXliL9uBRkThUFd4dz0u2kQs/s1600-h/001.014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpIh-DKU5Op0wb8Pra0TQTn335mqmu-jvJBHlRXwMHCzfYpzmieiSc-zF6ghvZnr6BgfE_bXt4cZ_YLpVBFJdlGekMPCjMTAbD0VG_v9HAmhs1D2HiIVFZXliL9uBRkThUFd4dz0u2kQs/s320/001.014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188938448046126098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGOmMW6cgP0-IybBE3eXtVyyC2iEUfACV9oLTtstoB2zu_pFxnqu-fEDUheOpSi6hpfwvarj9G_9_o0izUqiSxv5oY12ZeRlpgKfPydE0C2js-uj-kqpx0GszdJIdyXH1ju6Ou9aX5VtY/s1600-h/sisters.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGOmMW6cgP0-IybBE3eXtVyyC2iEUfACV9oLTtstoB2zu_pFxnqu-fEDUheOpSi6hpfwvarj9G_9_o0izUqiSxv5oY12ZeRlpgKfPydE0C2js-uj-kqpx0GszdJIdyXH1ju6Ou9aX5VtY/s320/sisters.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188938452341093410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBNM81LkPW1WsMBkxuBEZpgAfxsY6UayGth_3RaA7Pfj1cQbhwq6cwlbzULtND91In5O3zJrIePGpYSd_t5MG7IDYtqB0tdIhq8KImSUjDXPBpR_Nfa6BywXVOhSa2XKs0HPY5cFvvVnx/s1600-h/001.083.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBNM81LkPW1WsMBkxuBEZpgAfxsY6UayGth_3RaA7Pfj1cQbhwq6cwlbzULtND91In5O3zJrIePGpYSd_t5MG7IDYtqB0tdIhq8KImSUjDXPBpR_Nfa6BywXVOhSa2XKs0HPY5cFvvVnx/s320/001.083.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188939337104356402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhZe-DQfRK06XSnFGEYbEPX6o7uYg066wA_lZMAgqMsxHxnk8j-s8ueW3UidqQaELMwN8xfP6u9TJUoV_MCfQe42Q5tFsDczpf6hCsqQNZ6DnsQs2_NwXBVoCdWxAWQ44e3fSkfmDYsns/s1600-h/001.031.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhZe-DQfRK06XSnFGEYbEPX6o7uYg066wA_lZMAgqMsxHxnk8j-s8ueW3UidqQaELMwN8xfP6u9TJUoV_MCfQe42Q5tFsDczpf6hCsqQNZ6DnsQs2_NwXBVoCdWxAWQ44e3fSkfmDYsns/s320/001.031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188939349989258306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Waterfall</span><br />The waterfall (GPS: N35 48.143 W106 11.722) is small, but beautiful and quite unexpected (if you ignore the sound of rushing water as you approach the falls from behind). The water falls approximately 7 feet and, as can be seen from the pictures below, it is a dual falls.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnTwbsUXl_u_vMD0o4PU29iZZddgcyFkUOGD2kpmYqDPozLu2QqcDViF5ihuCWUNKDrJ_YatJPteExrJQwc8LzHeydTm2dC-BJNpg6RqLOGJAdOxr1nktWoEwoaFGGhtBHKXY_2VxCVKP/s1600-h/falls-and-sky.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnTwbsUXl_u_vMD0o4PU29iZZddgcyFkUOGD2kpmYqDPozLu2QqcDViF5ihuCWUNKDrJ_YatJPteExrJQwc8LzHeydTm2dC-BJNpg6RqLOGJAdOxr1nktWoEwoaFGGhtBHKXY_2VxCVKP/s320/falls-and-sky.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188870905390429122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFwDWgYa35DPloa6xGttTWIZWOYHLQ7zahKcy3O5intmNLEb_auHzPIhn5Z-00ZYHBEzbhhZ2_m_8m1TtfgIN-DGG9pmtkyECgbWvG98rhrEir66QYQDTWFx_PH4664i1qsciLbH5SEjf/s1600-h/falls-closeup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFwDWgYa35DPloa6xGttTWIZWOYHLQ7zahKcy3O5intmNLEb_auHzPIhn5Z-00ZYHBEzbhhZ2_m_8m1TtfgIN-DGG9pmtkyECgbWvG98rhrEir66QYQDTWFx_PH4664i1qsciLbH5SEjf/s320/falls-closeup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188871193153237970" border="0" /></a><br />The Rio Grande lies a few hundred feet to the south east of this water fall.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Rio Grande</span><br />There are several "trails" at the bottom of the canyon. The most obvious one will lead you to the river bank. The image below shows the route from the falls that I took to the Rio Grande. The labeled "fork" in the trail is actually a junction. You pass that junction to get to the river. You take the junction to transition to the blue dot trail. More on this below.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFwo4a2N7VGrQRpYjQumo11g-giXUKtBGVdgtadKv02aTwG_OZvSE_gOZ4uDN1cnQ_hiK-l7DslOuQb35sXz1dOIoCm1DPs27KCGmN8xv7XCFeQu6Hj5741TG0hsS776M_vxdNYdXlM-1/s1600-h/waterforkriodetail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFwo4a2N7VGrQRpYjQumo11g-giXUKtBGVdgtadKv02aTwG_OZvSE_gOZ4uDN1cnQ_hiK-l7DslOuQb35sXz1dOIoCm1DPs27KCGmN8xv7XCFeQu6Hj5741TG0hsS776M_vxdNYdXlM-1/s320/waterforkriodetail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188941905494799442" border="0" /></a>Once at the river bank, you can enjoy the view of the Rio Grande, a muddy river at this point in its journey. Do not attempt to drink water out of this river, even treated. You can drink the water from the springs along the creek on this trail with suitable treatment and filtering, but not from the Rio Grande itself.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVnUJfA1KdIdAOTAoEe7XX-AAwWMUUpRYJ49igEy66Lfgg2Dp_-2vrvq2EvZh-H6KCBeUn7q5nzmNjnka1HULCIGtBj6r0WOXiIKcGYB-lW8wyT16xoTex34Fme4SIhvWkmUraweiUChR/s1600-h/001.054.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVnUJfA1KdIdAOTAoEe7XX-AAwWMUUpRYJ49igEy66Lfgg2Dp_-2vrvq2EvZh-H6KCBeUn7q5nzmNjnka1HULCIGtBj6r0WOXiIKcGYB-lW8wyT16xoTex34Fme4SIhvWkmUraweiUChR/s320/001.054.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188945401598178402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy31OfSdcnUPPIOIw9YuSH-E7KuD_EEVRoJd-vTv6Hi0Nt4XFEV-Qce37nUj7T5s8kP45VIoqY5AOzaU1bodJzSz3NFoQbltwmM8oFAp-MtpQTr8VRn-HUFM0KdbZlS8US7VADqMcGTooW/s1600-h/001.057.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy31OfSdcnUPPIOIw9YuSH-E7KuD_EEVRoJd-vTv6Hi0Nt4XFEV-Qce37nUj7T5s8kP45VIoqY5AOzaU1bodJzSz3NFoQbltwmM8oFAp-MtpQTr8VRn-HUFM0KdbZlS8US7VADqMcGTooW/s320/001.057.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188945405893145714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uF7nSIHOPfQ8D3Jp2VzlV-Sq6rRM5sj17WBWdvxR-xYcl4k5hbrfK-ZhgElZL4K96KlQON3Qds4MqlkiK0PT9pyyS9GveNsAmfESepw3hHTvib2VzvhRTEoJS3on_C4FuMzb8O-MdaL8/s1600-h/001.058.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uF7nSIHOPfQ8D3Jp2VzlV-Sq6rRM5sj17WBWdvxR-xYcl4k5hbrfK-ZhgElZL4K96KlQON3Qds4MqlkiK0PT9pyyS9GveNsAmfESepw3hHTvib2VzvhRTEoJS3on_C4FuMzb8O-MdaL8/s320/001.058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188945410188113026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkm-rLAUJWrAWYGT7BqHeoEWRXGgnMRJ-dLvWKqKINtmvDz1goavrxLN91y3_laEwiz0ZdB5TMwjzdWHJkADGgppibSHkgELoybd1qFp8n1tTI4vu5poT9XCBD5TMQZ1p7yVkCnz7Y7zR-/s1600-h/001.070.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkm-rLAUJWrAWYGT7BqHeoEWRXGgnMRJ-dLvWKqKINtmvDz1goavrxLN91y3_laEwiz0ZdB5TMwjzdWHJkADGgppibSHkgELoybd1qFp8n1tTI4vu5poT9XCBD5TMQZ1p7yVkCnz7Y7zR-/s320/001.070.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188945418778047634" border="0" /></a><br />From here, I retraced my steps to the fork in the trail, at which time I took the fork and crossed the stream and continued along the now <span style="font-style: italic;">blue dot </span>trail toward the east (in the map image above, it is up and then to the right). The upper loop on the trail leading back to the waterfall is the path I took on my <span style="font-style: italic;">return</span>, after I turned around. As I said, there are several crisscrossing trails in this area.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Petroglyphs</span><br />There are numerous petroglyphs along this trail, in particular on the walls of the canyon. Many miss these due to the need to carefully watch footing during the steep ascent or descent. There is one area in particular near the river that has multiple petroglphys that you can walk right up to. This is marked on the map above (GPS: N35 48.392 W106 11.408). Some pictures follow. If you look at the map image at the top of this blog entry, you will see a loop to these petroglyphs. This is not a marked trail and, in fact, is not a trail at all. It is just the path I took to get there.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuHXwWsBEd8z1tFr6zygaaLyca3vudmDwU7h7Vb0MuL9k9VQioSkyWpO0ZKOAIufDsZPjJlLFepimHXypyyk1CZr2xTlBGOuRYiQ3vpG2mydlzgqV68ilASTWmq5dbtIcYbxZagKsmMsxH/s1600-h/001.063.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuHXwWsBEd8z1tFr6zygaaLyca3vudmDwU7h7Vb0MuL9k9VQioSkyWpO0ZKOAIufDsZPjJlLFepimHXypyyk1CZr2xTlBGOuRYiQ3vpG2mydlzgqV68ilASTWmq5dbtIcYbxZagKsmMsxH/s320/001.063.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188949116744889506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnd-4pt47iP4TVpupfmsrmvLup1v5mh71_Bm5gjHiQ26Vi0M3cmJZAV6HD3baYrsIbY_NV0aHsy80FNXBU0dCVr_8HrgJmIMVA-mxL5qsq20yuupdEKP8k3wztNKjK8OugXRd7Gdi17oU/s1600-h/001.064.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnd-4pt47iP4TVpupfmsrmvLup1v5mh71_Bm5gjHiQ26Vi0M3cmJZAV6HD3baYrsIbY_NV0aHsy80FNXBU0dCVr_8HrgJmIMVA-mxL5qsq20yuupdEKP8k3wztNKjK8OugXRd7Gdi17oU/s320/001.064.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188949121039856818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hfdDZ17RrWHuE_Q-unWI_X0rSybxkoD0SGaFumPkwJ5hyphenhyphen6eURnqmGPXIgbDsXHAxrZywM7P_qrAmCM3DZ4VsdkRun27v63XTwLNDzkvQsSbMPxsDTvxI3qpKKFjWeC4ruwoDQ6NdlCdU/s1600-h/001.062.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hfdDZ17RrWHuE_Q-unWI_X0rSybxkoD0SGaFumPkwJ5hyphenhyphen6eURnqmGPXIgbDsXHAxrZywM7P_qrAmCM3DZ4VsdkRun27v63XTwLNDzkvQsSbMPxsDTvxI3qpKKFjWeC4ruwoDQ6NdlCdU/s320/001.062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188949129629791426" border="0" /></a>Unfortunately, some of these rocks now have combinations of people trying to make their own petroglyphs on these rocks as well as those of the genuine, ancient, variety. Careful study of the rocks will indicate which is which. I leave it to the viewer to discern this for themselves. These artifacts are not within the boundary of the nearby <a href="http://www.nps.gov/band/">Bandelier National Monument</a>, so do not have formal protection from the National Parks Service. Too bad, because some of these are quite interesting. I have only indicated with GPS coordinates those pictured above which are mingled with the graffiti. I leave it to the hiker to discover the many others along the trail on their own.<br /><br />Finally, along the bottom of the canyon are many dead and dried up millipedes this time of year. Soon, this area will be crawling with new millipedes. Something to consider when camping in the area (there are several campsites at the bottom of the canyon). The dead one below is approximately 4 inches long, about average. When they are alive, they are a brown color.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVIVnlM5y49C4u-E9utKaFCN_gU6Yk9Xt_qZywJcWr5tAIhH8Y8Pe1Ikt6HViH3IDWHvwB0uLzDbzB5qxBixh7A4TdC46lMd3MgUV3xFJqzBfPc8n9ruhZQY5JIDnTK6U3EjXzNfFTbTG/s1600-h/001.069.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVIVnlM5y49C4u-E9utKaFCN_gU6Yk9Xt_qZywJcWr5tAIhH8Y8Pe1Ikt6HViH3IDWHvwB0uLzDbzB5qxBixh7A4TdC46lMd3MgUV3xFJqzBfPc8n9ruhZQY5JIDnTK6U3EjXzNfFTbTG/s320/001.069.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188950366580372690" border="0" /></a>Rattle snakes are also common, but I spotted none on this hike.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Turn Around and Ascent</span><br />Below I repeated the map image of the entire hike that appeared at the top of this blog entry. The red marker indicates my turn around point.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzw5coA3qeQYIvPHol5_Ie0fUyat1fceCD0fda89NYNA2dnVIjd9flaWIiqC4GIaoEBq_ynFvy6PgUS3ViYwvOrKxSCFCf6ApujrxDm8J-w3HHcw4wDTVRkPJA3R4D2N_U1XUPp3Le1XTs/s1600-h/fullmap.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzw5coA3qeQYIvPHol5_Ie0fUyat1fceCD0fda89NYNA2dnVIjd9flaWIiqC4GIaoEBq_ynFvy6PgUS3ViYwvOrKxSCFCf6ApujrxDm8J-w3HHcw4wDTVRkPJA3R4D2N_U1XUPp3Le1XTs/s320/fullmap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188863329068118914" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The blue dot trail follows along the bottom of the canyon, coming near the Rio Grande in several places, and eventually ascends to the top of the canyon and emerges at Overlook Park in White Rock. Once I could see the Overlook area from the trail, I turned around and retraced my steps (with some other loops taken, such as the one near the falls).<br /><br />The ascent of Red Dot takes scrambling and trail finding skills.<br /><br />Round trip for this hike was about 5 miles.Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082986783120904424.post-58184210520613812792008-04-13T14:37:00.002-06:002008-04-14T20:47:10.171-06:00Welcome to "My Backyard"This is my attempt to marry two things I enjoy doing: photography and writing. I don't know where this journey will carry me, but for now, this blog refers to things in my backyard, meaning scenes and activities in the immediate area where I live: Los Alamos county, New Mexico. Los Alamos county has two town sites: Los Alamos and White Rock. I live in White Rock and this blog will do some chronicling of trails and sights around my home.<br /><br />There are several blogs about Los Alamos, and when I get around to it I will post links to them on this site as well. Most of them deal with the laboratory here, or the politics of the town, or both. None of that sort of thing will appear here. This blog is strictly about the beauty of the outdoors and my ability (or lack thereof) to capture it in prose and images.Stephen R. Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16336423800514491700noreply@blogger.com0