Day began at 9am and didn't end until 5:15pm. Valle Canyon was beautiful but looking for and helping to measure trees is very slow business. We looked for various trees on Roy's list that Dorothy carried. Admired butterflies and spring flowers along the way. Marvelled that there are still some snow patches along the north-facing slope.
I didn't even feel hungry at lunch and just sat by the stream, thankful that it blocked out all sound.
We went all the way to the Valles Caldera National Preserve boundary and then continued up the south-facing steep slope of Valle Canyon to find two more giant trees - a Ponderosa and Douglas Fir. To find those last trees, we traveled through the burned area, brushing past locust bushes, stepping over downed logs and going through golden bunch grass meadows. Lots of elk poop but no signs of sheds. Saw iris foilage popping out. Cheered by many yellow-gold dandelions. Beautiful views over toward eastern ridge of Cerro Grande complex.
Weather was perfect. Saw 3 joggers and one dog. What a lovely canyon it is and I had much time to reflect on past trips there.
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