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!