Mitchell Trail-Guaje Ridge Trail Quest

Hiking buddies and I keep scheduling this hike: go up the Mitchell Trail and down the Guaje Ridge Trail to Guaje Pines Cemetery.  So far,  we've not been able to do it because it snows (or threatens to) each time it's scheduled. (Daughter says keep scheduling it and we'll break the drought!!)  This past Monday, the weather seemed good enough that we actually attempted it. 

That morning, we optimistically left a car at Guaje Pines Cemetery and drove over to the Mitchell Trail trailhead and began hiking.  When we got to the top of the very steep Mitchell Trail, 1,500' up, and only encountered one slippery, snowy section, we were encouraged.  We were sure we'd finally succeed in completing the hike!

At the top, we intersected the Guaje Ridge Trail and began descending the north-facing trail.  The two other hikers forged bravely ahead, breaking trail through the snowy patches - some of which were 3' deep in spots. When we got to a dead end cliff, we reconnoitered and determined that the snowy trail continued downhill. Just to be sure, we took out our maps.  At some point, the weather had changed and the wind was blowing so hard, accompanied by light snow flurries, that reading the maps, let alone folding them back up, was frustrating.  Since none of us had been on the Guaje Ridge Trail in recent memory and we couldn't really see the trace of the trail as it continued in the distance, we turned around and retraced our steps back down the Mitchell Trail.    First, though, we had to go back uphill, plowing through the snow banks again, forging upward against the wind and tiny, swirling snow pellets. During this, we felt rather like we were in an epic battle against the weather that had once again foiled our plans!

Before the fires, I could see occasional, stunning glimpses of the mountains and canyons from the Guaje Ridge Trail. Now that most of the trees are sadly burnt, there is the compensation of being able to completely see the astoundingly beautiful and wild country all around!  I fell in love with the view of Caballo Mountain from the Guaje Ridge Trail!  We must go back!!

Bottom of Mitchell Trail in Rendija Canyon with view of Jemez Mountains to southwest

Along Mitchell Trail, dead standing trees - realm of the Harpies - shrieking wind and the trembling tree tops 

First false summit on Mitchell Trail, looking east 

Serpentine meanders of Mitchell Trail

Caballo Mountain above Guaje Canyon, looking northwest from Guaje Ridge Trail

A note:  The National Weather Service prediction was for winds of 15-20 mph. The day started out calm enough but the wind got really wild on the hike back. Since the Mitchell Trail goes through a burn area (courtesy of the 2000 Cerro Grande Fire), we were fortunate that no tree fell on our heads, leaving only our feet sticking out (like when Dorothy's house fell on the Wicked Witch of the East in the Wizard of Oz).

One hiker commented that the wind howling in the trees sounded like Harpies. I looked up Harpy on Wikipedia and generally speaking, they are despicable creatures and give women (and birds) a very bad name.  Hearing the screeching of the winds in the burn area Monday, I could appreciate this quote regarding Harpies:  "They were usually seen as the personifications of the destructive nature of wind."

The article has a quote from Dante's Inferno that talks of harpies as "...they caw their lamentations in the eerie trees."  One section of the Mitchell Trail goes perilously close to the dead, standing trees and it did sound like that and we were happy to pass by unharmed.

A Little Bit of Green

Saw a little bit of green on today's walk on American Spring Road.  True, it's only evergreen but I've enjoyed watching these "baby" ponderosas "grow up" after the 2000 Cerro Grande fire.  Wonder if volunteers planted them here?  They escaped burning up in the 2011 Las Conchas fire. They are a hopeful sign.

American Spring Road is melting out.

"Lost" on Water Canyon Trail 281

Today, we walked up Water Canyon Trail 281 for the first time since the June 2011 Las Conchas wildfire. It looks so different - with less trees to block the view, you can see how rocky the south facing side of the canyon is and the canyon looks so much wider.

The canyon looked so different, in fact, that I thought, in the photo below, that I was approaching the meadow everyone calls Sawmill Meadow, below Red-tailed Hawk Point. Husband parked on a rock while I followed the obvious trail a little further up canyon, marveling at what I thought was a brand new hiking opportunity opened up by the wildfire.

Eventually, I realized I had mistaken the first (south) fork of Water Canyon for the main canyon channel. Truthfully, though, being in the throes of such a delusion is exciting!  I concocted in my mind a brand new landscape, which, when you think about it, is exactly what the wildfire did!

Approaching first (south) fork of Water Canyon 

Rio Grande in Winter from White Rock Rim Trail

On Thursday, I hiked with the Townsite senior center hiking group.  Six of us walked part of the White Rock Rim Trail from Kimberly Lane to Overlook Park.  Very brisk temperatures - our leader didn't even wear a hat but the rest of us sure did!

The walk was a revelation: Since I stopped snowshoeing this winter, I thought all trails would be icy, muddy or both so I mostly confined myself to paved surfaces.  I was so wrong and will rectify the error of my ways and get out more on real trails!  We hiked early enough, starting at 9 am, that the trail surface was either snow-packed, but not icy, or plain, old terra firma (I so love terra firma!)

After the Storm

Our little mountain town spent much of December basking in warm, sunny days.  Made for great hiking but our burnt hills are testament to what happens when we don't get moisture.  On Friday, a nice snowstorm finally brought moisture to our mountain town.

This is today from the Canyon Rim Trail.  Pajarito Mountain is to the right of the tall snag. (Neatly hidden behind the tall snag is an unsightly communications tower!)

Mountain Meadow Dream

Dreamed yesterday that I walked up Valle Canyon and ended up in this little mountain meadow on land owned by the Valles Caldera National Preserve.  It had to be a dream because ever since the United States government in 2000 purchased this land "to provide opportunities for public recreation", among other purposes, there's been no way to hike all the way up Valle Canyon without "trespassing" on this "public" land.

Lummis Canyon from Lower Alamo Trail

Went on a group hike yesterday in Bandelier National Monument on the Lower Alamo Trail (also called the Burro Trail).  This is the view from our lunch spot, looking down into lower Lummis Canyon with the vastness of the Pajarito Plateau on the horizon.

The Pajarito Environmental Education Center, the nature center in Los Alamos, has posted a short survey that seeks input about what stories you envision the nature center should tell about the Pajarito Plateau.

Afternoon Along The Route

Wonderful walk along The Route.  Dillied and dallied picking up sticks and stones, eating my lunch along FR2998, investigating strange construction occurring in woods, collecting pine  cones - Ponderosa and Douglas fir.  All the intense colors of autumn are gone now and the landscape is in its arid winter mode. Yet and still, I'm always struck by the color and texture of the grass in the golden afternoon sunlight - and even by the long shadow of a rock cairn.  How to explain how I felt this afternoon - at peace.

Armstead Spring: Ice Maker

This is looking down into Water Canyon from FR181/American Spring Road, where the road and canyon meet. Armstead Spring issues, day and night, never-ending, out of a rusted iron pipe with its valve box handle permanently open. An ice accumulation is forming from the steady dribble of Armstead Spring.

Cloud Pregnant With Possibilities

Walked up Zero Road East on Pajarito Mountain today. This dark cloud confronted me at the back of the mountain.  Saw a hiker I knew and asked "What's that cloud thinking?" She didn't buy into the possibility that the cloud had anything in mind but I'm positive that cloud was thinking SNOW!!  It was cold enough.  I felt vindicated when on the way back down the mountain, I saw a few snowdrops!  Hey - it's a start!!

Townsight and Lone Spruce lifts finally have their chairs back in place from when the lifts were damaged by the June 2011 Las Conchas wildfire.  Pajarito Mountain Ski Area worked long and hard to make that happen!