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.