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.