Perfect Hike to Cerro Grande

Four of us hiked up Cerro Grande this morning.  What a perfect day - no wind, no looming thunderstorms.  The new route traverses back and forth making it slightly longer than the old, straight-up path but easier.   Lots of wild iris, mountain parsley and dandelions made for a colorful hike!  

A crew of firefighters stationed at Bandelier, both men and women, preceded us up the mountain.  They  hauled up large, rectangular plastic containers (looked like jerrycans) full of water.  On the summit, they practiced walking while holding 20 pounds of water overhead, lifting a container that resembled a giant, round football.  

The spindly trees surrounding the summit are courtesy of last summer's Las Conchas wildfire.   The trees had nicely survived the 2000 Cerro Grande fire.  In many instances, though, what Cerro Grande didn't burn, Las Conchas finished off!

After the group drove away, I sat on a shady log to eat.  Then, it being such a beautiful day, I stalled going home by picking up trash around the trailhead which included a Fosters beer can and plastic bag of dog poop, both which someone had "thoughtfully" tucked into the crook of a tree near the trailhead sign!

Redondo from Cerro Grande

looking north from Cerro Grande's summit

Hillsides of Golden Smoke Wildflowers

Could it be cosmic irony when today I beheld hillsides of golden smoke wildflowers along the Cañada Bonita Trail, in the Las Conchas burn area?

golden smoke (Corydalis aurea) carpets a burnt hillside above Cañada Bonita Trail

looking south from Cañada Bonita Trail at slopes of Pajarito Mountain Ski Area

clouds beginning - thunder rumbles heard on walk back

Enchanted Canyon

I am enchanted by this tiny canyon.  Actually, it's the mouth of the canyon between Kwage Mesa and the Big Rock Loop-Sioux Street area of North Mesa.  It meets Pueblo Canyon right across from the eastern outlet of the Tent Rocks Trail.  So far, I've only gone into the canyon to where the double headwalls are, where the canyon seems to split.  This small chunk of canyon has it all - pumice walls, perched boulders, tent rocks, a sandy arroyo bottom.  It would be worth exploring further one day.

Clouds Seen from Potrillo Canyon Trail Near White Rock, NM

OK, I grant you that Montana is known as Big Sky Country but New Mexico definitely deserves the title too!   It always amazes me that for all our aridity, the most amazing cloud shows fill our skies.

Exciting New Hobby for Recent LANS Retirees

Did you recently take the Voluntary Separation Package offered by Los Alamos National Security?  Do you now find yourself lying on the couch, bored and lethargic from watching too much TV?  Would you  love to take up a challenging new hobby, one with life-changing potential?  If the answer is yes, then please sign up for tightrope walking lessons now being offered in a canyon near you!

More Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail Oddities

Last Thursday, took a jaunt on Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail, starting from the Los Alamos Airport.

The "diving board with handrails all around" is north of the airport terminal.  There are actually two of them, side by side, with splendid views into Pueblo Canyon.  I've wondered for years about the origins of these "viewing platforms and what they were used for.   

The "storm drain pipe from airport fence into Pueblo Canyon" is actually part of the trail, i.e., you have to step across the very top of it.  There is a wooden fence at this very steep drop off along the trail.   I always admire the steep way down but don't think I'll take it.

The "rusted truck chassis" is simply picturesque.

diving board with handrails all around?

storm drain pipe from airport fence into Pueblo Canyon

rusted truck chassis

Pasque Flowers Along Gonzales Road

Another good year for Pasque flowers along Gonzales Road.  Looking for them is like an Easter egg hunt for adults.  At first you see nada but if you look more closely, you'll see scads!

Pasque flowers along Gonzales Road

Barranca Mesa cliffs from Gonzales Road

A Fine HIke on Cabra Loop Trail

Almost didn't go on this hike today because I thought the trail would be plenty sloppy from yesterday's snowfall.  It was wet and slippery in places so I was glad I changed at the last minute into waterproof shoes.  The snow-covered parts were a delight to walk upon, though.

We were a group of 11 undertaking our annual Pasque flower pilgrimage.  We found some beauties but I wonder how many were still buried under the snow.   Saw some perky Sue and Easter daisies too.

This is from Beanfield Mesa looking west across the canyon where the western section of the Cabra Loop Trail travels.  The mesa top above the cliffs is northeast of Guaje Pines Cemetery.

Go Forth and Multiply, Little Aspens!

For several years now, I've followed a path in the woods south of Camp May Road. Every year, I look forward to small group of young aspens turning golden.  I call them my Pet Aspens.  I was happy to see today that even though they are very near trees singed in the Las Conchas wildfire, most look healthy and are producing scads of catkins.  It really, truly is Spring!

Fully loaded with catkins!

More aspen catkins against blue sky.

Mystery Box Along Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail

This mystery box is on the Pueblo Canyon Rim Trail, near the Los Alamos Airport terminal.  Each time I pass this large, concrete box (it even has a lid), I wonder from whence it came?  And why the pipe opening on one side?

Hope it's not RADIOACTIVE!