On the Third Day, She Hikes Alone

Hiked with all-female hiking groups last two days: 

Monday was the Frey Trail from Juniper Campground in Bandelier National Monument.  In the canyon, we went to Alcove House, by way of the Long House, and some of us climbed the ladders including me.  I was surprised to feel the down-climb in my quads and still do today.  It didn't seem terribly hard when I was doing it although I was so tense on the down-climb - shouldn't have carried my pack up! 

We had started hiking down from Juniper Campground closer to 10:30 am but didn't get back to our cars until 2:54 pm.  Took so long because: one hiker disappeared but didn't inform the leader so all of us waited on a bench and had lunch until she reappeared.  Then, after Alcove House, two hikers who hadn't carried lunch because they planned to buy theirs at the snack bar were now starving. At the snack bar, we ran into German tourists who were on a bus tour of New Mexico. Then, instead of walking back to bottom of the Frey Trail along the Rito de los Frijoles, we walked back on the Ruins Trail which is already becoming congested with tourists.  All day, we ran into crowds of school kids on field trips and it was neat to see them enjoying the outdoors.   

Today, the Tuesday women's group hiked upper Water Canyon to Forest Road 181/American Springs Road.  We followed that road down to the South Perimeter Trail, off NM 501, and then back to our vehicles.  Wildflowers are starting to bloom and we had fun trying to remember their names!  I forget a lot of them from year to year.  The young aspens are finally leafing out and covering the hillsides with the innocent green of springtime.  The morning started cloudy but by the end of our hike, around noon, sunshine predominated with lots of interesting clouds.  We all appreciated the cooler weather and the almost-moist conditions in Water Canyon.  

Grandson visited this afternoon.  I should have been suspicious when he said "Grandma, I'm going to play outside."  The kid is not an outdoor kid.  Turned out he had heisted my magnifying glass to practice fire-starting.  He says he stomped on the sticks as soon as he saw smoke.  I admonished him not to do this in the severe drought we're having.  It would be so easy to accidentally start a fire.