In celebration of Los Alamos County's 60th anniversary, two Span the County hikes are offered this summer. I took the first one today. We met at Sullivan Field at 8:45 am where we caught an Atomic City Transit bus to Pajarito Mountain Ski Area. A lot of bikers were up at the ski hill getting ready to ride the lift up and bike back down the jeep roads and bike trails. Looked like a fun day was in store! We all profusely thanked our bus driver as we unloaded. There were 20 people on the hike. We filled all the bus seats and 2 people were standing.
The hike was billed as a 10.5 mile hike, starting on the Cañada Bonita Trail (also called Guaje Canyon Trail 282), going out through Cañada Bonita Meadow, down Pipeline Road to the Quemazon Trail and back to our cars at Sullivan Field. There is more uphill than one may imagine going down Pipeline Road but I was grateful for the uphill sections because all downhill is too hard on the knees!
Lots of couples on the hike - 6 at least. Walked for a while with a man who used to hike with the LL hiking group. He's doing wonderfully - hiking strongly after his hip replacement. Another hiker was a real powerhouse, talking passionately about how the real story behind Cerro Grande should be told. Plus, he was a fount of information about flora that we saw. Saw someone from my photography class that I took in the spring. He told me about Mormonism. He converted to it in the 70's. Enjoyed talking with a couple about all our collective animal sightings we could think of. Talked with another couple - had hiked with the wife to Hilton Cabin in the Preserve several years back. Enjoyed our leader's very wry sense of humor! Was in awe of his wife who was patiently picking up trash here and there.
The weather was perfect - cooler up higher but never got too hot even down lower. I enjoyed looking south across Quemazon Canyon at the green ridges between Pipeline Road and Pajarito Mountain. All of us agreed that we live in a beautiful area and are very, very lucky! It was loads of fun talking with all the different people who all have this in common - they appreciate the outdoors!
Span the County Part II takes place on July 18. It starts at the Roundabout, goes down into Bayo Canyon and then over into Pueblo Canyon, coming out on the Hamilton Trail below the Industrial Park. That will be a very hot hike this time of year!
I'm doing laundry now. The last loads before the trip back east. A neighbor is mowing the lawn. All the windows are open, 81 degrees inside, so the sound of the lawnmower is loud. Our backyard is weeds and we don't even own a lawnmower!
Starving - will eat spaghetti with aduki beans as the protein, roast broccoli (as soon as I roast it!) and fruit for dessert!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Valle Canyon: A Bear and Forget-Me-Nots
Went up Valle Canyon today to check Clothespin tree for Dorothy. She wants to figure out if it's a limber pine or white pine and needs fresh needles and cones to do that. No luck today. The tree looks like it has absolutely not a single cone on it. The lowest branch is about 24' from the ground and the branch hangs down about 18' from the ground.
Right at the beginning of the Valle Canyon trail are loads of tall forget-me-nots. There is something so endearing about that tiny flower - the blue petals are made so much more intense of a blue by the yellow center.
About 1/2 to 1 mile from the VCNP boundary fence, in a wide section of the canyon, I spotted a brownish-blondish bear on the other side of the stream from me. It looked larger than a cub but was not a huge bear. It had probably heard/seen/smelt me before I spotted it. It was peacefully poised above the stream like it was ready to run uphill. In a medium strength voice, I whooped twice at it and opened my golf-sized umbrella. It did scramble to the next ledge above the stream when I walked past across from where it was. On the way back down, I said "Hey, bear!" a lot!
I wanted so much to go up the VCNP fenceline to Pajarito Mountain (anything to avoid encountering the bear again!) but I didn't bring lunch or enough water, plus, a car shuttle at Pajarito Mountain Ski Area would have been nice. Maybe the WI extracurricular group would want to do that in July or August.
I probably started around 10:30-10:45am and was done and on the road by 1:09pm. The VCNP boundary fence was lonely without the WI hikers! The weather was perfect!
I went to the library afterwards and while I was in the used bookstore, I felt something crawling under my pants. A black beetle had lodged itself in my underwear. The black beetles are everywhere this summer. I took it outside and released it. The tick I found crawling on my leg at home got less humane treatment - burial by flush.
Doing three loads of laundry this afternoon.
Right at the beginning of the Valle Canyon trail are loads of tall forget-me-nots. There is something so endearing about that tiny flower - the blue petals are made so much more intense of a blue by the yellow center.
About 1/2 to 1 mile from the VCNP boundary fence, in a wide section of the canyon, I spotted a brownish-blondish bear on the other side of the stream from me. It looked larger than a cub but was not a huge bear. It had probably heard/seen/smelt me before I spotted it. It was peacefully poised above the stream like it was ready to run uphill. In a medium strength voice, I whooped twice at it and opened my golf-sized umbrella. It did scramble to the next ledge above the stream when I walked past across from where it was. On the way back down, I said "Hey, bear!" a lot!
I wanted so much to go up the VCNP fenceline to Pajarito Mountain (anything to avoid encountering the bear again!) but I didn't bring lunch or enough water, plus, a car shuttle at Pajarito Mountain Ski Area would have been nice. Maybe the WI extracurricular group would want to do that in July or August.
I probably started around 10:30-10:45am and was done and on the road by 1:09pm. The VCNP boundary fence was lonely without the WI hikers! The weather was perfect!
I went to the library afterwards and while I was in the used bookstore, I felt something crawling under my pants. A black beetle had lodged itself in my underwear. The black beetles are everywhere this summer. I took it outside and released it. The tick I found crawling on my leg at home got less humane treatment - burial by flush.
Doing three loads of laundry this afternoon.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
FR181 - Always and Forever
I've been plagued by a bum right knee since last Friday. It bothered me then on a hike from the ski hill to Pipeline Road. I started on Kwage Mesa Saturday but couldn't continue more than one half mile because it felt like my knee cap stiffened and became extremely painful. I slowly walked back, doing my best imitation of Tim Conway 's "slow old man"! The problem was triggered by any downhill. A friend said she had the same problem year's back while hiking down Wheeler Peak. She called it downhill knee.
Sunday night, I couldn't walk more than a mile pain-free but could walk 2 miles pain-free on Monday night - just on the flat, back and forth to the airport. Today, because I badly want to go on the Valle Canyon hike tomorrow, I went to FR181/American Springs Road. Amazingly, I was able to walk four miles without pain, even downhill. I used two poles to strategically off load my weight onto the poles on the downhill, I didn't walk fast and, on the advice of my friend, carried a big ACE bandage, just in case. I didn't need it.
Tomorrow, it's supposed to rain. I want to carry my big golf umbrella as well as use both ski poles. On FR181, I found a bungee cord which I've now used to strap my umbrella to the walking stick. I will be prepared!
FR181 tidbits: The NM locust and wild rose lend such a spicy aroma to the road. Some of the rose bushes are so loaded with flowers that I just stopped in my tracks and drank in their beauty. I see that there will be plenty of raspberries along the road this summer. I hope I can devour some. I stopped to look at a party spot - lots of trash strewn around and, oddly, a box full of unopened, formerly frozen, Sysco Fruits of the Forest pies. Must have been some party! Was passed by an open jeep with 3 men/boys and a toddler, fast asleep in his car seat. Saw them having fun splashing through puddles. Luckily, I wasn't near enough to get a mud bath! Picked a plant that might be the Veronica which my friend says grows near American Springs. It got so wilted, it may be impossible to revive and identify it. Also picked a small myrtle spurge plant to throw away - it's an invasive.
Was wonderful to be able to walk without pain. I resolved to walk that road into my 100's! ; D
Sunday night, I couldn't walk more than a mile pain-free but could walk 2 miles pain-free on Monday night - just on the flat, back and forth to the airport. Today, because I badly want to go on the Valle Canyon hike tomorrow, I went to FR181/American Springs Road. Amazingly, I was able to walk four miles without pain, even downhill. I used two poles to strategically off load my weight onto the poles on the downhill, I didn't walk fast and, on the advice of my friend, carried a big ACE bandage, just in case. I didn't need it.
Tomorrow, it's supposed to rain. I want to carry my big golf umbrella as well as use both ski poles. On FR181, I found a bungee cord which I've now used to strap my umbrella to the walking stick. I will be prepared!
FR181 tidbits: The NM locust and wild rose lend such a spicy aroma to the road. Some of the rose bushes are so loaded with flowers that I just stopped in my tracks and drank in their beauty. I see that there will be plenty of raspberries along the road this summer. I hope I can devour some. I stopped to look at a party spot - lots of trash strewn around and, oddly, a box full of unopened, formerly frozen, Sysco Fruits of the Forest pies. Must have been some party! Was passed by an open jeep with 3 men/boys and a toddler, fast asleep in his car seat. Saw them having fun splashing through puddles. Luckily, I wasn't near enough to get a mud bath! Picked a plant that might be the Veronica which my friend says grows near American Springs. It got so wilted, it may be impossible to revive and identify it. Also picked a small myrtle spurge plant to throw away - it's an invasive.
Was wonderful to be able to walk without pain. I resolved to walk that road into my 100's! ; D
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Los Alamos County Hiking Trails Behind Walkup Aquatic Center
Read Accuweather and prediction was high chance of rain and thunderstorms after noon. Ha, ha - it's held a steady state of overcast and cooler but no rain all day. Guess I shouldn't believe Accuweather.
Woke at 9am after not being able to get to sleep until after 1am. Didn't feel like anything epic today so I went to trails behind the Larry R. Walkup Aquatic Center. They hit the spot for close to home and rolling trails on which to do jogging intervals.
Afterwards, hung out at library looking for hiking books. I'm realizing that I should have never gotten rid of my earlier editions of various hiking books because they are invaluable for finding out about trails that are no longer maintained like the Alamo Springs Trail 114 which drops down into Bandelier National Monument from the Sawyer Mesa Road. Hang onto your hiking books - all editions!!
Off to retrieve a huge load of laundry from the washing machine and plunk it into the dryer!
Woke at 9am after not being able to get to sleep until after 1am. Didn't feel like anything epic today so I went to trails behind the Larry R. Walkup Aquatic Center. They hit the spot for close to home and rolling trails on which to do jogging intervals.
Afterwards, hung out at library looking for hiking books. I'm realizing that I should have never gotten rid of my earlier editions of various hiking books because they are invaluable for finding out about trails that are no longer maintained like the Alamo Springs Trail 114 which drops down into Bandelier National Monument from the Sawyer Mesa Road. Hang onto your hiking books - all editions!!
Off to retrieve a huge load of laundry from the washing machine and plunk it into the dryer!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Pajarito Mountain Ski Area Summerfest 2009
Enjoyable day with spouse, daughter, son-in-law at Pajarito Mountain Ski Area Summerfest. We got there around 10:30 am. I immediately headed up the jeep trail walk that winds to the back of the mountain, passing by Lone Spruce and Townsite Lifts. It's the first two miles of the hike called "Pajarito Mountain Ski Area Trails" in Craig Martin's Los Alamos Trails. Cold wind on backside of mountain. Good views of Cerro Grande. On the way down, I met family at picnic table near top of Lone Spruce. Richard, a hiker with the WRSC group had hooked up with them down at the bottom on the Aspen Lift so we all walked down together.
They all bought their lunch at the ski area lodge and also paid $5 each for the beer garden. They had fun sampling the various beers and in addition, their ticket entitled them to a full glass of beer and to keep the glass. I was the designated driver. I brought my lunch from home - curried brussel sprouts with white kidney beans or cannellini.
A band, the Nomads, was playing good music like Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues. The electric guitar playing was really fine! Daughter wanted to dance and so did I! Weather was great. The lift will run again tomorrow but I'll probably just do jogging intervals. I did enjoy, though, being up on the ski hill. I should go more often. What an asset to the community it is! People were having a good time up there!
They all bought their lunch at the ski area lodge and also paid $5 each for the beer garden. They had fun sampling the various beers and in addition, their ticket entitled them to a full glass of beer and to keep the glass. I was the designated driver. I brought my lunch from home - curried brussel sprouts with white kidney beans or cannellini.
A band, the Nomads, was playing good music like Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues. The electric guitar playing was really fine! Daughter wanted to dance and so did I! Weather was great. The lift will run again tomorrow but I'll probably just do jogging intervals. I did enjoy, though, being up on the ski hill. I should go more often. What an asset to the community it is! People were having a good time up there!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Pajarito Trail to Guaje Canyon to Rendija Road and Back To Pajarito Trail
Hike was 9 miles. A real happening was occurring at parking lot in the morning. All these cars pulled up and hikers got out. They were from NASA and mapping in the area along with geologist, Kirt Kempter. They were there yesterday too in the thunderstorm.
Started at 8:20 am from Pajarito Trail 286 trailhead, climbed to Guaje Mountain saddle and then down into Guaje Canyon. Going downstream through Guaje Narrows was easy - some stream crossings but very doable. Cliffs of the Narrows are quite striking towering overhead. Where Guaje Canyon intersects FR416, saw 5 or 6 butterflies close together, could have been mating monarchs. Also saw very large penstemons that in two colors - magenta and lavender.
We continued on Guaje Canyon Road, FR442, to its intersection with Rendija Canyon Road, FR57, which we took west, past the Los Alamos Sportsmen's Club and back to Pajarito Trail trailhead. Got back to trailhead around 1:30 pm. Mappers were gone.
Saw lots of hoodoos in Rendija Canyon and a memorial cross for Terry Putt who was killed down there a few years back in a rollover accident involving teenagers and maybe alcohol. Rained a few drops on the way back which was good because it got pretty hot on the uphill on Rendija Canyon Road.
Indeterminate what next week's hike will be. WI's will do Obsidian Ridge next Wednesday and Valle Canyon the Wednesday after. Could do a long hike as part of the WI hike.
Other hikes to do in today's area are to follow Guaje Canyon Road all the way to NM502 at Totavi and have someone pick us up or do part of hike we did today but at FR416, go up to mesa top north of Guaje Canyon and follow numerous forest roads back to the Pajarito Trail. This would involve a lot of uphill, including hauling ourselves out of Guaje Canyon to the Guaje Mountain saddle. I'd only want to do that one if it's cool next week. However, the downhill one to Totavi could be done even if it's hot.
Started at 8:20 am from Pajarito Trail 286 trailhead, climbed to Guaje Mountain saddle and then down into Guaje Canyon. Going downstream through Guaje Narrows was easy - some stream crossings but very doable. Cliffs of the Narrows are quite striking towering overhead. Where Guaje Canyon intersects FR416, saw 5 or 6 butterflies close together, could have been mating monarchs. Also saw very large penstemons that in two colors - magenta and lavender.
We continued on Guaje Canyon Road, FR442, to its intersection with Rendija Canyon Road, FR57, which we took west, past the Los Alamos Sportsmen's Club and back to Pajarito Trail trailhead. Got back to trailhead around 1:30 pm. Mappers were gone.
Saw lots of hoodoos in Rendija Canyon and a memorial cross for Terry Putt who was killed down there a few years back in a rollover accident involving teenagers and maybe alcohol. Rained a few drops on the way back which was good because it got pretty hot on the uphill on Rendija Canyon Road.
Indeterminate what next week's hike will be. WI's will do Obsidian Ridge next Wednesday and Valle Canyon the Wednesday after. Could do a long hike as part of the WI hike.
Other hikes to do in today's area are to follow Guaje Canyon Road all the way to NM502 at Totavi and have someone pick us up or do part of hike we did today but at FR416, go up to mesa top north of Guaje Canyon and follow numerous forest roads back to the Pajarito Trail. This would involve a lot of uphill, including hauling ourselves out of Guaje Canyon to the Guaje Mountain saddle. I'd only want to do that one if it's cool next week. However, the downhill one to Totavi could be done even if it's hot.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)