Red Dot to River Trail to Water Canyon Crossing

So happy to have gone down the Red Dot Trail today with the Wednesday group! I'm the slowest on that steep, rocky downhill but I made it intact to the bottom. The group planned to look at petroglyphs along the Rio but I was mainly interested in going further downstream on the River Trail so I checked out of the hike. I walked as far as the Water Canyon crossing of the River Trail. I especially enjoyed the section just before and above the Rio Grande. The Rio is looking beautiful! On the way back, I ran into the group. They asked what was ahead and I told them about the beautiful section above the Rio which encouraged them to keep going. I kept going too, back along the River Trail and then up the tough "stair climb" on the Red Dot and didn't eat lunch until I was back at the car. Lots of beautiful views of the Sangres and the Rio sustained me on the way up. Every year I tell myself that this will be the last year I go down the Red Dot. I am so painfully slow on the downhill, carefully planting my feet, trying not to torque my knees. Each year, though, I can't resist and do it again!

Fall Hiking Wrap Up

Upper Frijoles XC Ski Trail, with hiking group:

End of October, Cerro Grande meadow from long, orange Upper Frijoles XC Ski Trail, Bandelier National Monument. It had lots of deadfall to step over. The Bandelier trail maintenance staff consists of one-lone-ranger so trail may not be cleared in time for cross country skiing. The short, blue Upper Frijoles XC Ski Trail was in fine condition as of late summer so maybe that will be OK for skiing.

Last of fall color seen along FR181/American Spring Road, end of October. Soon after, all the leaves flew:

Ski Hill to Pipeline Road to Guaje Ridge to Mitchell Trail, November 1, with hiking group:

Left to right, Chicoma and Caballo mountains, north from Pipeline Road overlook.

Looking northeast, down canyon, into Guaje Canyon. I think we were now on the Guaje Ridge Trail. I haven't been on the Guaje Ridge Trail for such a long time and I have missed it! Walking through the tall trees, the remnants spared by the wildfires, was enchanting. Less so were the thorny locust bushes which grow back despite volunteers' best efforts.

More or less northwest, looking up canyon into Guaje Canyon with Caballo Mountain on right. The wildfires left both live trees and charcoal sticks.

A piece of Guaje Ridge Trail in a well-toasted area. This peak is part of the unofficially named Quemazon/Rendija Mountain which is the distinctive mountain with "two peaks" seen from Los Alamos Townsite that has the very steep front with a V-shaped "bowl". It's the highest-looking one between Caballo and Pajarito mountains. Guaje Ridge Trail and Guaje Canyon are on this north side of the mountain while on its south side are Pipeline Road and Quemazon Canyon. If you study this mountain from the south at the Burnt Mesa Trailhead, the effect of the "two peaks" as seen from Los Alamos Townsite is created by two prominences that have a saddle-ridge between them. The rear one is just a little offset from the near one and thus they seem juxtaposed as double peaks from the Townsite.

Second week of November, waning days of autumn on Pajarito Mountain Ski Area jeep road:

The corner of Zero Road East and West Confusion. We all find ourselves here at some time!

A few days before Thanksgiving, FR181/American Spring Road on a drizzly Monday. We were to have a group hike but it was cancelled due to doubtfulness about weather at 7:30 am decision time:

Play of light and shadow on far hillside, beyond upper Water Canyon. Glad I got to see all the fall color here the end of October because it's all gone now!

When I was here the week before, there was a fallen log down below that someone has since, witness the sawdust, cut away from the Armstead Spring piping.

Last week, I walked here on a very windy day. As I got back, I saw this little tree fall  near my car. Then when I headed down NM 4, I had to wait a bit as firemen and policemen worked to clear away a big tree, newly felled by the wind. A small fire truck used a winch to move the tree to one side. I was amazed by the selflessness of the policemen and firemen risking life and limb in the windstorm to clear the road!

Next day, on Camp May Road Trail, aka The Route:

First snow on The Route. I liked the way the trees still had frozen snow caked on the west/northwest facing trunks.

Frijoles Canyon at Upper Crossing

Since Cerro Grande and Las Conchas wildfires, I haven't ventured very far into the fire and flood damaged portions of Frijoles Canyon. Hiking from Ponderosa Campground to Bandelier National Monument Headquarters used to be a looked-forward-to, yearly rite of passage for many local hiking groups. So, last Wednesday's hike from Ponderosa Campground was a happy chance to once again see the canyon bottom at Upper Crossing.

As we descended into Frijoles Canyon, El Rito de los Frijoles looked like a thin, silver ribbon in the sunshine. When we reached the Rito's streamside, we continued south up the impossibly steep-looking Upper Crossing Trail. Or, at least it looked impossibly steep from the Ponderosa Campground side - the optimistic swaths of trail seem to hang on for dear life, as I imagined myself doing! In reality, the trail is now in really good shape, thanks to hard work of volunteers this summer.

El Rito de los Frijoles, Frijoles Canyon, Bandelier National Monument.

From north rim of Frijoles Canyon, looking south across canyon at Upper Crossing Trail. Upper Crossing Trail flows so lengthily back and forth across the burnt hillside that the hike up is not as steep as it looks. (And that was not me you heard huffing and puffing on the way up - oh, no it wasn't!)

The Rito flows prettily, even past this raft of dead and down trees. At one time, this canyon belonged to us hikers, or so we imagined as we trekked downhill from Ponderosa Campground to Bandelier Headquarters. Now, after the fires and the floods, it's revealed itself to be very much a wild canyon and a wild Rito, yet full of beauty despite all the changes!

What a Wonderful Autumn!

Taken Sunday from Camp May Road Trail, aka The Route. It's a cairned route that you can most easily find either from The Ocean Overlook, first dirt parking area uphill on Camp May Road on left, or FR2998, dirt forest road on your left, about 2 miles uphill on Camp May Road, aka the Ski Hill Road.

My pet aspens pose prettily for their annual portrait!

Small, inviting aspen forest near FR2998.

From FR2998 area, east side of Pajarito Mountain Ski Hill in fall colors!

View from Pipe Rack

Take Cañada Bonita Trail 282 from Pajarito Mountain Ski Hill out to Pipeline Road Overlook, the one that looks into Valle de los Posos. Then, turn right and follow Pipeline Road uphill and east toward Los Alamos. The Pipe Rack is noted on the Los Alamos Sky Terrain Map. I don't know the story other than it's a leftover, unused piece of pipe elevated on a rack. Since it appears I won't be hiking Pipeline Road to the ski hill or Rosie's Point/Guaje Canyon Overlook this autumn, the Pipe Rack hike was an enjoyable substitute

Looking south toward the ski hill from Pipe Rack meadow.

East-looking at Quemazon/Rendija Mountain. The soaring bird was a happy accident!

Our Burnt Mountains Aflame with Fall Color

Yesterday, parked at red gate off Camp May Road, took Oxbow Road up, then over to Evershine Ridge to top of Upper Pajarito Canyon Trail on Pajarito Mountain. Walked short distance down trail to get aspen color photos.

Upper Pajarito Canyon, San Miguel Mountains, from southeastern edge of Pajarito Mountain.

Red aspen leaves at Zero Road East corner. Took this road back down to Oxbow and back to car.

Pajarito Mountain Stroll

Never noticed these name plaques on the back of the Yeamans Memorial Bench. Found the Steve's Memorial Bench Cache near here. Opened it up but didn't have anything to leave so took nothing and didn't sign in. Closed it tight and hid it well again. Last time I tried to find it, it started raining and hailing so I gave up and started down the mountain. Beautiful day today!

Woods at top of Rim Run, looking at golden aspen saplings and their dead brethern. I took plenty of photos on the walk, 36 in all, but they were all of the usual suspects whose beauty slays me, again and again - Chicoma, Caballo, the Valles Caldera. This I took more as a photo note to remind me of how beautiful it was right here, right now with the sunlight shining on the golden aspens.

Another photo note. Shadows are getting longer. I took my time, not in any hurry to get back down once I got on top!

Photo note: sky with swirly cloud speckles. Near the snow-making pond.

Cerro Rubio from Valle de los Posos

Last week, in Valle de los Posos, lazing in golden grass, looking up at Cerro Rubio, listening to elk bugling in the woods.