Category: Hiking

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5/5: Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness

Time and natural elements have etched a fantasy world in these shale hills.
A perfect day to wander around all the various formations.
This was a petrified log among a huge amount of petrified wood covering the hills.
This looks like an entire turtle has been turned to stone as it scaled the ridge.
Cap rock formation of sandstone over mudstone. Textures abound!
An entire army of CapRockers advancing, creating shadows.
Was this Antoni Gaudí ‘s inspiration for Casa Milà rooftop garden in Barcelona?
This gateway arch led farther into the badlands for more exploring.
An acropolis: the highest city on a rocky outcropping. 4th century citadel?
De-Na-Zin is Navajo for Cranes. Sandhill Cranes?
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4/5: Datil Wells/El Malpais

We blew across the plains while enjoying fun cloud formations.
Very Large Array had a road stop spot to get a photograph.
Datil Wells was one of 25 watering sites on a cattle drive route across New Mexico.
A very pleasant 3 mile nature loop had enough snow that finding the trail was challenging.
Reward was fabulous views that were worth the effort.
We found one of the hidden rocks a Farmington group was doing – it made us smile.
Such a small spec on the big landscape of El Malpais NM , Joe Skeen BLM Campground.
The Lava Falls trail was similar to Valley of Fire.
Grants and Mt Taylor in the background of our campsite.
Enjoying another outdoor happy hour – our first of hopefully many in 2021.
Official twenty-fifth year celebration.
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3/5: White Sands NP/Organ Mountains NM

The clouds and remaining snow made a revisit to White Sands National Park feel unique.
The gypsum sand does not look so white under the snow.
The winds shifted the clouds into different formations.
It looks dark and stormy over the mountains providing contrast with the sand.
There was some fresh snow at Organ Mountains – Desert Peaks NM but is suppose to warm up.
Test (la) drove a Model 3 and marveled at the design details. Electrifying!
Hiked Pine Tree Loop into the foothills of the Organ Mountains.
Very unusual clouds and sunset lighting as the moisture rose.
The Chihuahuan Desert and all its amazing diversity.
Enjoying the picnic area from our #1 site at Aquirre Spring Campground.
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2/5: Valley of Fire/Three River Petroglyphs

Sotol yuccas grow on Pahoehoe, ropy like lava fields at BLM Valley of Fires.
A collapsed layer gives access to a cave. Lava flowed from Little Black Mountain on the horizon.
The flow was 44 miles long and up to 160 foot depth, and covered 125 square miles.
It is one of the youngest flows in the USA – maybe 2,000 years ago.
Camped looking out over the Tularosa Valley with the entire lava flow.
A wonderful twisted 400 year old juniper.
An afternoon with interesting cloud formations gave us some additional photography fun.
They lingered for us to enjoy a picturesque sunset.
We next camped less than an hour south near prehistoric Jornada Mogollon rock art.
The Sierra Blanca in the back ground is not very blanca today.
There are over 20,000 petroglyphs here at BLM Three Rivers Petroglyphs.
An impressive amount of rock art on the 2 mile hike.
It was fun to find them hidden among the boulders.
Back to Valley of Fires for electrical hookup to sit out a cold and windy storm.
We glamped inside with good food, interesting books, and non stop heat.
Dusting of snow on the Pahoehoe – like a zebra, with no two stripes alike.
The sotols add a nice green to the scenery – quite memorable.
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1/5: San Lorenzo Canyon and Bosque del Apache

  Something different today. On the road heading south into New Mexico!
We pulled into BLM’s San Lorenzo Canyon (PDF), northwest of Socorro.
Very impressive heights – to think a Rio Grande tributary carved this canyon.
Unique rock formations made the slot canyons and hikes interesting.
Fun to contemplate the uplifts and other geological features.
An hour or so drive took us to Bosque del Apache for some birdwatching.
Reportedly 20,000 snow geese winter here. They are impressive.
You can not really quite image the noise as they are very vocal.
They are looking so calm here but there is a lot happening. So much fun to watch.
Sandhill cranes also overwinter here, numbering around 10,000.
They tend to hang around in smaller clusters and are quieter.
For a couple hours we enjoyed this view from our van with windows open.
They eventually flew away and we appreciated the entertainment.
As we headed out on the Camino Real. This is February 8th and warm. Nice!
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8/8: Hovenweep NM / Canyon of the Ancients NM

“Safer at Home and the Colorado Great Outdoors 2020”

We are back in the shadow of the Sleeping Ute.

There were still ruins we had not seen and trails we had not traversed.

Holly ruins can be hiked from Hovenweep NM but we disperse camped at the trailhead.

Amazing how structures are built right from the rock like a medieval tower.

Painted Hand Tower was unique and a pleasant hike.

This is a panorama of the great kiva at Lowry Pueblo.

We hiked both ends of the Sand Canyon and disperse camped here on the upper north end one night with this view of the canyon…

…and these unique structures in alcoves were on the south end.

We walked around Hovenweep NM and marveled at the construction. 

We were here in October 2016.

We appreciated the interesting cloud formations.And were happy to to spot some wildlife with this lizard.

We enjoyed a spectacular sunset from the campground.

We left the Sleeping Ute in the rearview mirror as we finished our 27 days on the road.

 

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7/8: Telluride to Lizard Head Pass, Colorado

“Safer at Home and the Colorado Great Outdoors 2020”

Always a free gondola from center of town up the mountain – spectacular!

Such a view without the hike! We loved doing something so different.

We had never seen so many aspens – let alone all golden together.

A bit of whimsy – it sure didn’t feel like jolly ole’ England.

Priest Lake and the splendid reflection.

Guess we better camp here and really appreciate the view!!!!

We day hike to nearby Trout Lake Trestle Bridge on the historic Rio Grande Southern Railroad route.

This was on the Galloping Goose Trail in recognition of these rail cars.

This is in Dolores by their train depot. It ran from Durango to Ridgeway.

Nearby is a water tower to replenish rail cars for steam locomotion.

We camped a few more nights at the top of Lizard Head Pass to appreciate the wilderness.

We hiked to the headwaters of the Dolores River, which joins the Gunnison, which joins the Colorado before heading to the Sea of Cotez.

One last fill of the unique Lizard Head mountain and cool fall air.

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6/8: Mt Sneffels Wilderness, Colorado

“Safer at Home and the Colorado Great Outdoors 2020”

Perfect. The fall colors add so much to this reflection in the beaver pond.

We said we need to come back in the fall when we were here in July 2016.

The horses seem oblivious to their surroundings but add beauty to the vistas.

We found a great camp spot a bit closer to the trail.

Blue Lakes Trail heads into the Mount Sneffels Wilderness.

We enjoyed a short break at the first lake, wondering where the trail continued.

There is a view after we gained a few feet of elevation.

The upper lake we enjoyed for a while, where we saw a marmot while taking this picture.

And one final picture on the way down – wow!