Deer and Hazard Tree

Walked Camp May Road Trail today, from the Ocean to FR2998.  It's surprisingly trash-free which is pleasing!  Saw another walker near Paint Ball Road.  The trail tread is holding up reasonably well, i.e. not too rutted and easy to follow, even through the weedy parts.

 Deer:  "You looking at me?" 

Hazard tree marked with red flagging this past May in preparation for Jemez Mountain Trail Runs 50K race on Camp May Road Trail.  Several hazard trees were marked thusly along the trail.  Why did they mark them only to leave them standing months later? Maybe so when it falls on you, the flagging confirms it was a hazard tree!

The if-it-falls-on-you-they'll-name-the-trail-after-you tree!

Civic Palaces of White Rock, NM

On Friday, walked the paved path along newly redone NM4 in White Rock.

White Rock Visitor Center grand opening will be September 28 at 11:30 am. Hopefully, the new location won't be as prone to "runaway"cars as the old visitor center on Rover!  

Fire Station No. 3 - purportedly the largest fire station west of the Mississippi River.

Once a Tree

This past Thursday, walked up Pajarito Mountain Ski Area's Zero Road East to the south side of the mountain.  Took a few photos of hillsides of darn yellow flowers (i.e., I was too lazy to identify them).  I don't know how it does it but Pajarito Mountain always lifts my spirits. Maybe it's the heavy breathing!  I kept telling myself "POWER UP!!" on the uphills.

From the number of big trailers in the lower parking lot, the filming of the Lone Ranger (with Johnny Depp as Tonto) may still be going on but they were on the west side of the mountain while I was on the east.

Charcoal totem was once a tree.

Big Muddy Rio Grande

The Rio Grande  is a big muddy river today.  A cloud blocks the sun over Buckman Mesa, transforming it into a "Black Mesa".

FR181 Severe Erosion Damage at Water Canyon

Since my last visit on June 5 to this section of FR181, there has been a lot more erosion damage to FR181/American Spring Road where it crosses Water Canyon.  The upstream log structure, which presumably slows water runoff, has been undercut, causing water to be diverted underneath, thus creating an incised channel.  I don't know the ways of the Santa Fe National Forest but it seems that, until they are ready to permanently repair the road, some temporary repair should be done before this section of FR181 is completely destroyed.

FR181 at Water Canyon. Each time I visit, FR181 is more undercut by storm runoff.

The undercut upstream log structure.

Close-up of log structure showing that debris now flows both over and under.

Clouds Building and Rain Actually Falls

This, taken before noon, is from the North Perimeter Trail, near the Mitchell Trail.  We've had days and days of cloud buildup without any rain.  When I finished my walk without seeing a drop, I assumed these clouds were as unproductive as all the rest.  Boy, was I wrong! This afternoon, we've already had two wonderful rains in the Eastern Area.  Real rains where lots of water pours down unlike our proverbial, southwestern "10" rains" - a raindrop every 10"!  The first had thunder but not frighteningly overhead.  The second was a heavy cloudburst with a smidgen of hail.  I thought our summer monsoon had disappeared but maybe there's still hope!

Sights That Captured Me Along FR181

The contrast between the charcoal trunks of the dead oak and the live, green oak sprouts is startling.   I like how the dead shrubs are so twisted.

I always wonder why these rocks, perched above the road, look layered like slate.

View toward eastern arm of Cerro Grande from along eastern end of FR181.  The young aspens that have not leafed out are probably victims of last year's wildfire on the Pajarito Plateau.  The landscape burns, then burns again but the beauty remains.

Big Green Puddle on FR181/American Spring Road

One Sign Does Not a Closure Make

This sign is at the eastern terminus of FR181 where it intersects West Jemez Road, near the twin water tanks.   The "fine print" verbiage below Area Closed is not easily visible to my aging eyes.  I did a double-take to be sure I wasn't breaking the law by hiking here.

I didn't see another sign like this further uphill forbidding motorized travel downhill but I only walked part of the road.  FR181, also known as American Spring Road, begins just up the escarpment into the Jemez, off NM4, and winds it way down to West Jemez Road.  It gets really rough on the descent; but even so, I've seen vehicles attempting it!  

Valles Caldera National Preserve: X Marks As Far As You're Welcome

Spouse and I walked Valle Grande Trail today.  It's one of only two free trails offered by the Valles Caldera National Preserve out of miles and miles of trails and logging roads, of their total 89,000 acres of publicly owned land.

View toward Redondo/Redondito from endpoint of Valle Grande Trail.  The X reminds you that if you didn't bring your wallet, you're not welcome to go any further - go back home!

The Valles Caldera National Preserve recently released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Public Access and Use.  You can comment on it at their website or at the two public meetings planned.