Actually, the title is that of a Stephen Sondheim musical that I saw yesterday with my grandson at the Duane Smith auditorium. We both enjoyed it and laughed a lot.
But, the title also refers to my desire to take little baby steps back into the woods, our local Santa Fe National Forest lands, which are still under lockdown. I won't go into canyons where monsoon rain loosened boulders may roll down to crush me but I do intend to explore some lesser burnt areas here and there. Cripes! I can recognize a burnt out stump hole when I see one and not jump into it! As for falling trees, that problem will be with us for years and I'm willing to take my chances. On last Tuesday's hike, I told someone that I viscerally miss walking on American Springs Road/FR181 and she told me she feels the same way about not being able to walk up Water Canyon to that same road. I appreciated so much that she shared that with me!
I walked the first two miles of Camp May Road today. My pet aspens along the Route have reached their peak and are blazing yellow! That makes me happy. I saw probably the same herd of deer at the same place again today, just a little past a mile up Camp May Road from West Jemez. They browse at the very edge of Los Alamos Canyon.
I now understand how the aspens and gambel oak that were browned by the fire line burnout along Camp May Road will regenerate. The aspens already have small seedlings around their skinny trunks and the gambel oaks too. They will regenerate from the ground up. I'm looking forward to all the new growth next year!
Overheard at the Los Alamos Heart Council's Health Fair Saturday: A man said that the downed logs that prevented travel down Pajarito Canyon from Pajarito Mountain burned up in the Las Conchas Fire and it looks possible to once again walk down canyon from the back of the mountain. I'll have to tell the friskier Wednesday group this and maybe they'll check it out.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Rain, Sunshine and Fall Colors Along the White Rock Canyon Rim Trail
Was to go on Mitchell Trail hike with the vigorous Wednesday group but when I started driving to the trailhead and saw rain on my windshield and dark, dark clouds to the northwest, where I was headed, I turned tail and drove to White Rock since I could see clearer skies that way.
Going down the Main Hill Road, I saw the aftermath of an accident with broken glass still on the road. It's only a two lane road built flush against the tuff cliff and has no shoulder. The accident occurred at the Anderson Overlook blind curve. Very scary road and the drivers are even scarier!
When I started jogging on the White Rock Canyon Rim Trail, I was chagrined to hear raindrops falling on my hat so I unfurled my golf umbrella. It rained steadily but not too long. The green of the lichen that's everywhere on the basalt rocks along the trail really stands out when wet and closely matches the color of the sagebrush.
When the rain stopped, the sun came out making the basalt along the canyon edge and in the canyon below gleam. Far below, I could see that the poplars along the banks of the Rio Grande have turned to gold. Just a little rain and this landscape is made magical! White, furry winterfat adorned the canyon rim along with clusters of lavendar pink verbena. I thought verbena was only a springtime flower but maybe not!
Where the trail makes a right turn above Pajarito Canyon to continue toward Sherwood Blvd., I turned around but instead of continuing on the White Rock Canyon Rim Trail, I followed the short trail on the bench that runs just below the rim trail. This bench is a fascinating place that brings you closer to the basaltic wonderland of White Rock Canyon. Midway, there is even a tiny oasis where I'm sure there must be a spring. I've never seen the spring but the evidence is in the profuse tree growth, including willows, that only occurs in a narrow strip right there and continues to the canyon rim above. The bench trail dead ends in a jumble of basalt. Above are towering basalt cliffs with a talus slope of basalt boulders, large and small. Underfoot there is unyielding basalt. Below the bench, there are more basalt benches and veritable mountains of basalt. There's a spare beauty in the hard steadfastness of the dark basalt.
I backtracked up to the White Rock Canyon Rim Trail and followed it back to my car. Never saw another soul the whole time I was on the trail!
Going down the Main Hill Road, I saw the aftermath of an accident with broken glass still on the road. It's only a two lane road built flush against the tuff cliff and has no shoulder. The accident occurred at the Anderson Overlook blind curve. Very scary road and the drivers are even scarier!
When I started jogging on the White Rock Canyon Rim Trail, I was chagrined to hear raindrops falling on my hat so I unfurled my golf umbrella. It rained steadily but not too long. The green of the lichen that's everywhere on the basalt rocks along the trail really stands out when wet and closely matches the color of the sagebrush.
When the rain stopped, the sun came out making the basalt along the canyon edge and in the canyon below gleam. Far below, I could see that the poplars along the banks of the Rio Grande have turned to gold. Just a little rain and this landscape is made magical! White, furry winterfat adorned the canyon rim along with clusters of lavendar pink verbena. I thought verbena was only a springtime flower but maybe not!
Where the trail makes a right turn above Pajarito Canyon to continue toward Sherwood Blvd., I turned around but instead of continuing on the White Rock Canyon Rim Trail, I followed the short trail on the bench that runs just below the rim trail. This bench is a fascinating place that brings you closer to the basaltic wonderland of White Rock Canyon. Midway, there is even a tiny oasis where I'm sure there must be a spring. I've never seen the spring but the evidence is in the profuse tree growth, including willows, that only occurs in a narrow strip right there and continues to the canyon rim above. The bench trail dead ends in a jumble of basalt. Above are towering basalt cliffs with a talus slope of basalt boulders, large and small. Underfoot there is unyielding basalt. Below the bench, there are more basalt benches and veritable mountains of basalt. There's a spare beauty in the hard steadfastness of the dark basalt.
I backtracked up to the White Rock Canyon Rim Trail and followed it back to my car. Never saw another soul the whole time I was on the trail!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Camp May Road Walk Yesterday - Burnt Mesa Eagle Traps Today
Yesterday I walked the first two miles of Camp May Road, starting from West Jemez Road. Irritated by the stout metal posts, thick wire strand and metal gate that DOE has installed so they can close off Camp May Road in the future. At least I think it's the DOE because they own the land where Camp May Road intersects the West Road bypass. True, it's just a short section but people walk, run and bike up that road daily and there is no shoulder, no room to escape a vehicle, and now there's even less room unless I'm to vault over the thick wire strand to escape a careening car! (They've also installed the metal posts and wire strand further along the West Road Bypass to keep people from driving into the woods that the DOE owns as a buffer zone. Phooey on them!)
Enough complaining. I checked out my pet aspens along the Route - the ones accessed from Shotgun Shell parking lot. They have not completely turned yellow and are not as brilliant as in years past. Maybe they were overheated by the burnout that established a fire line during the Las Conchas fire.
On the way back downhill, I needed to use a side road for a "necessary" visit but I saw an animal browsing. With my eyesight, I couldn't quite figure out what it was and certainly didn't want to surprise a mountain lion or coyote so I waited until the animal raised its head from its yummy meal and then I knew - bingo, deer! I told it "I won't hurt you, darling!" and headed up the road to find a tree but then I was astonished to realize that there were 7 deer, one of which was a buck. We stood there staring at each other until some of the deer decided they'd better cross Camp May Road to "escape" from me.
Today, the women's group walked off trail on Burnt Mesa (even though off trail travel is not yet officially condoned) to visit the eagle traps. Glad we did it. Weather was perfect. While the group had a snack stop at the final two eagle traps, I walked downhill, away from Frijoles Canyon, to take a gander at the unnamed canyon between us and the official Burnt Mesa Trail. It would be nice to go out to the eagle traps and loop back to the official trail by crossing this canyon. It could be done but not with the group of 14 we had today. While I was at the canyon edge, I noticed a stake that archeologists use to mark ruins. Next to it were two rocks, planted on the hillside, facing each other, with their inner edges looking unnaturally straight, creating a small, shallow trench, maybe 4 feet long by 18 inches wide and filled in with dirt so it was less than a foot deep. I took the others down to see it and kidded that this "eagle trap" was to teach the toddlers how to snatch the eagle's tail feathers!
Enough complaining. I checked out my pet aspens along the Route - the ones accessed from Shotgun Shell parking lot. They have not completely turned yellow and are not as brilliant as in years past. Maybe they were overheated by the burnout that established a fire line during the Las Conchas fire.
On the way back downhill, I needed to use a side road for a "necessary" visit but I saw an animal browsing. With my eyesight, I couldn't quite figure out what it was and certainly didn't want to surprise a mountain lion or coyote so I waited until the animal raised its head from its yummy meal and then I knew - bingo, deer! I told it "I won't hurt you, darling!" and headed up the road to find a tree but then I was astonished to realize that there were 7 deer, one of which was a buck. We stood there staring at each other until some of the deer decided they'd better cross Camp May Road to "escape" from me.
Today, the women's group walked off trail on Burnt Mesa (even though off trail travel is not yet officially condoned) to visit the eagle traps. Glad we did it. Weather was perfect. While the group had a snack stop at the final two eagle traps, I walked downhill, away from Frijoles Canyon, to take a gander at the unnamed canyon between us and the official Burnt Mesa Trail. It would be nice to go out to the eagle traps and loop back to the official trail by crossing this canyon. It could be done but not with the group of 14 we had today. While I was at the canyon edge, I noticed a stake that archeologists use to mark ruins. Next to it were two rocks, planted on the hillside, facing each other, with their inner edges looking unnaturally straight, creating a small, shallow trench, maybe 4 feet long by 18 inches wide and filled in with dirt so it was less than a foot deep. I took the others down to see it and kidded that this "eagle trap" was to teach the toddlers how to snatch the eagle's tail feathers!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Two Walks in the Las Conchas Burn
Last week I'd called the Valles Caldera National Preserve to ask if the free Coyote Call Trail was open yet because there was a rumor that it was but the staff confirmed that it remains closed due to Las Conchas fire damage - lots of downed trees. They did tell me, though, that the free Valle Grande Trail would be opening on a limited basis - October 20 and 21 and October 27 and 28 this month. The odd schedule is probably due to the elk hunts going on now in the Preserve.
I tried 3 times before I left home to call the Preserve's Valle Grande Staging Area to double check if the trail was truly open but they're not answering their phones today. They're on their fall recreation schedule where the Preserve is only open to the general public on Friday-Sunday.
Parking was interesting at the Valle Grande trailhead because the state highway transportation department is using the parking lot for their big, orange vehicles while they're resurfacing NM4. I asked if it was all right to park there and they said it would be fine.
At the trailhead, the sign is still up that says "Area Closed". I plan to call tomorrow to double check about the sign and if they plan to open it at all in November. It makes sense, though, that the sign is still up since the trail's only open on such a limited basis.
The wood posts of the people gate where you enter the trail are black charcoal and the barbed wire is on the ground. The first part is in a severely burnt area but it gets better as you walk downhill. They've obviously cleared the trail because you see huge, cut up burnt trees lying at the trail side. They've made water bars of logs, shored up with dirt and stones, diagonally across the road.
At the Valle Grande meadow, I could see aspens popping gold on Redondo, South Mountain and Scooter Peak. I was disappointed to not see or hear any elk. Maybe they're still in hiding from the hunt earlier this week.
After the Valle Grande hike, a mere 2 miles round trip, downhill and then uphill on the way back, I drove to the Cerro Grande trailhead. The Cerro Grande Trail is still closed but Bandelier will reopen it soon. Bandelier's Blue Ski Trail, the short trail of the two Upper Frijoles trails, is open and just across NM4.
First, it was lunch time so I sat in the car and ate a sunflower seed, roasted edamame and salted redskin peanut mix, applesauce and a banana LaraBar. Then, off I headed on the Blue Ski Trail, another easy 2 miles .
I love the first part of the trail that goes through a burned area yet the forest floor is already covered by young, green aspen shoots. It looks like a garden. There's another part, the trail back, that looks more desolate, maybe because it's on such a slope that the summer's phenomenal monsoon just ran off and nothing much has grown back yet.
When I was almost back to the meadow, I thought I saw, almost out of the corner of my eye, the outline of perked up deer ears in the forest shade. I quickly walked backwards a few steps and sure enough, two deer were watching me but they high tailed it out of there when they knew I'd seen them.
Beautiful time to drive into the Jemez Mountains because the aspen are peaking gold right now!
I tried 3 times before I left home to call the Preserve's Valle Grande Staging Area to double check if the trail was truly open but they're not answering their phones today. They're on their fall recreation schedule where the Preserve is only open to the general public on Friday-Sunday.
Parking was interesting at the Valle Grande trailhead because the state highway transportation department is using the parking lot for their big, orange vehicles while they're resurfacing NM4. I asked if it was all right to park there and they said it would be fine.
At the trailhead, the sign is still up that says "Area Closed". I plan to call tomorrow to double check about the sign and if they plan to open it at all in November. It makes sense, though, that the sign is still up since the trail's only open on such a limited basis.
The wood posts of the people gate where you enter the trail are black charcoal and the barbed wire is on the ground. The first part is in a severely burnt area but it gets better as you walk downhill. They've obviously cleared the trail because you see huge, cut up burnt trees lying at the trail side. They've made water bars of logs, shored up with dirt and stones, diagonally across the road.
At the Valle Grande meadow, I could see aspens popping gold on Redondo, South Mountain and Scooter Peak. I was disappointed to not see or hear any elk. Maybe they're still in hiding from the hunt earlier this week.
After the Valle Grande hike, a mere 2 miles round trip, downhill and then uphill on the way back, I drove to the Cerro Grande trailhead. The Cerro Grande Trail is still closed but Bandelier will reopen it soon. Bandelier's Blue Ski Trail, the short trail of the two Upper Frijoles trails, is open and just across NM4.
First, it was lunch time so I sat in the car and ate a sunflower seed, roasted edamame and salted redskin peanut mix, applesauce and a banana LaraBar. Then, off I headed on the Blue Ski Trail, another easy 2 miles .
I love the first part of the trail that goes through a burned area yet the forest floor is already covered by young, green aspen shoots. It looks like a garden. There's another part, the trail back, that looks more desolate, maybe because it's on such a slope that the summer's phenomenal monsoon just ran off and nothing much has grown back yet.
When I was almost back to the meadow, I thought I saw, almost out of the corner of my eye, the outline of perked up deer ears in the forest shade. I quickly walked backwards a few steps and sure enough, two deer were watching me but they high tailed it out of there when they knew I'd seen them.
Beautiful time to drive into the Jemez Mountains because the aspen are peaking gold right now!
Reveling in NM Autumn on Pajarito Mountain
I've gone to Pajarito Mountain thrice this week. Once on Sunday with spouse. He made it to the 4 way intersection at the antenna farm which is good since usually he only makes it to just past the Townsight Lift, at the intersection where a minor side road goes over to Evershine.
The fall colors were much improved since last week. I want to see as much glorious gold aspen as I can so I went again on Monday and again on Wednesday,
On Wednesday, I went up the western side, sticking to the Logging Road. I call it the Logging Road from the ski lodge to Bruce's Blvd., near the Terrain Park and the Mother Lift, but the Pajarito Mountain bike map shows it as Road O from the lodge until it intersects Road 1, a minor side road, and then it becomes the Logging Road. It makes more sense to call it one name from bottom to top since it's one continuous road.
The Logging Road takes you through a badly burnt part of Pajarito Mountain. There were big red signs with white lettering that said "Please Stay Out" but I continued up the road anyway and was soon out of the vertical charcoal. I'm quite sure that last week those signs said "Please Use Caution" which was contradictory since the signs had a hiker, a bicyclist and a horse rider in a crossed out circle. Bet someone made the signs wrong and the ski area now has the correct signs up.
At the top, didn't bother going to the back of the mountain but instead took Bruce's Blvd. over to past the Lone Spruce Lift (the ski area is working hard to get that lift operational after it was damaged by the Las Conchas fire) and then walked on Zero Road East down to my car . Zero Road East appears on the bike map as Lower East Road and Upper East Road but the signs at the ski area say Zero Road East.
I plan to one day walk the eastern side of the mountain, starting up the Oxbow Road and swinging around on Evershine Ridge. I want to walk Pajarito a lot before the snows (hopefully) come.
The fall colors were much improved since last week. I want to see as much glorious gold aspen as I can so I went again on Monday and again on Wednesday,
On Wednesday, I went up the western side, sticking to the Logging Road. I call it the Logging Road from the ski lodge to Bruce's Blvd., near the Terrain Park and the Mother Lift, but the Pajarito Mountain bike map shows it as Road O from the lodge until it intersects Road 1, a minor side road, and then it becomes the Logging Road. It makes more sense to call it one name from bottom to top since it's one continuous road.
The Logging Road takes you through a badly burnt part of Pajarito Mountain. There were big red signs with white lettering that said "Please Stay Out" but I continued up the road anyway and was soon out of the vertical charcoal. I'm quite sure that last week those signs said "Please Use Caution" which was contradictory since the signs had a hiker, a bicyclist and a horse rider in a crossed out circle. Bet someone made the signs wrong and the ski area now has the correct signs up.
At the top, didn't bother going to the back of the mountain but instead took Bruce's Blvd. over to past the Lone Spruce Lift (the ski area is working hard to get that lift operational after it was damaged by the Las Conchas fire) and then walked on Zero Road East down to my car . Zero Road East appears on the bike map as Lower East Road and Upper East Road but the signs at the ski area say Zero Road East.
I plan to one day walk the eastern side of the mountain, starting up the Oxbow Road and swinging around on Evershine Ridge. I want to walk Pajarito a lot before the snows (hopefully) come.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Very Last Bench of Kwage Mesa
Today I jogged to the end of Kwage Mesa. Once on a group hike, I'd seen another hiker go down to the next bench at the end of the mesa. Today, I finally got down to that next level. Then I made it down two more levels to the very last rock bench level of Kwage Mesa. When I say "walked down", much of the time I was using my arms and butt to down climb. The south side of Kwage Mesa is very steep with cliffs plunging into Pueblo Canyon. The north side rises above Bayo Canyon but isn't sheer cliffs.
A friend wants to see if there is a way off the end of Kwage Mesa. This winter, she and I found a rough way up the side of Kwage Mesa from Bayo Canyon but more to the west. I'll have to tell her that it looks possible to go up the side of Kwage Mesa closer to its eastern end from Bayo Canyon and then climb the 3 bench levels to the top. I'd rather go up then down. It looked like a somewhat clear path went west. I followed it until it was blocked by a fallen tree. I could have gone further but that was enough exploring for one day. On the north side of the bottom bench, I saw human shoe prints so someone else has been there.
A friend wants to see if there is a way off the end of Kwage Mesa. This winter, she and I found a rough way up the side of Kwage Mesa from Bayo Canyon but more to the west. I'll have to tell her that it looks possible to go up the side of Kwage Mesa closer to its eastern end from Bayo Canyon and then climb the 3 bench levels to the top. I'd rather go up then down. It looked like a somewhat clear path went west. I followed it until it was blocked by a fallen tree. I could have gone further but that was enough exploring for one day. On the north side of the bottom bench, I saw human shoe prints so someone else has been there.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Pajarito Mountain Two Days in a Row
Yesterday, Tuesday, I walked from the ski lodge up Zero East Road to the 4-way intersection at the antenna farm just west of Townsight Lift. I wanted to check out a trail I'd followed on Ullr Fest from the 4-way intersection over to Evershine Ridge. That trail skirts above Pajarito Canyon (or at least in view of it) and runs above Evershine Ridge, going past yet more antennas, the easternmost ones on the mountain.
I didn't have time the day of Ullr Fest to follow the trail completely. I had to turn around because I was the designated driver who had to drive everyone down Camp May Road.
On Tuesday, since the trail could have been muddy with last week's snow fall on the ski hill and since I'd already walked part of it from the 4-way intersection, I turned left and walked past Townsight Lift, whose quad chairs were all stacked in a row while the lift awaits repair after the Las Conchas fire, and over to where I'd stopped last time. I quickly discovered that the trail didn't go much further. It deadended at Evershine Ridge. I didn't bother checking to see if it somehow continues further down.
The aspens in Pajarito Canyon have turned yellow. Would be nice to check out the aspen activity there but that's in the Las Conchas burn area closure. The aspens that didn't burn on Pajarito Mountain aren't putting on much of a show this year.
Today, Wednesday, I walked up Cerra Bonita, the mountain just north of Pajarito Mountain, on a rocky dirt road through a meadow that had burnt aspens on one side and burnt conifers on the other. I've wanted to do this since summer when I looked at the road with binoculars from the top of Rim Run and, because the Las Conchas fire had burned a lot of trees, could see over the top of Cerra Bonita all the way north to Pipeline Road. I thought maybe if I walked up Cerra Bonita that I could look down into Cañada Bonita meadow and beyond but I discovered today that Cerra Bonita just isn't as high enough to see into Cañada Bonita meadow. The road ended at the edge of a burnt conifer forest that looked too dangerous for me to walk into further.
I started down Cerra Bonita to where I could see a fairly open way to walk through the burnt aspen forest to another meadow. I was hoping to contour above Camp May Park and not lose much altitude. This plan wasn't as scary as the prospect of walking through burnt conifers. When the conifers burn, their roots open up deep, ankle busting holes! The forest floor in the burnt aspen forest has already filled with aspen seedlings, some a yard high with leaves as big as the palm of my hand.
When I got to the open meadow, I was unhappy to discover the blasted barbed wire fence of the Valles Caldera National Preserve boundary. There was even a nasty barbed trip wire at a right angle to the fence. I could have trespassed and walked uphill in that inviting high mountain meadow - the fence is broken down in so many places - but instead I walked outside the fence, carefully watching that I didn't trip on the barbed wire laying on the ground. I saw elk track in the black dirt. I wondered how they deal with the barbed wire. I vehemently cursed the Preserve out loud as I walked along. Why in the world are we not allowed to walk on the rim of the Valles Caldera when we, the people, already own this piece of property? The Valles Caldera Trust is basically entrusted with keeping us out which is extremely irksome!
When I got to the road that goes uphill to the Camp May saddle, I followed it up to the damnable Valles Caldera National Preserve fence and cursed them some more, loudly, casting aspersions on the legitimacy of their parentage! Since Las Conchas fire, the views from Pajarito Mountain into the Valles Caldera have really opened up. I could see all the way to Redondo Peak. I could see the burnt volcanic domes of Cerro del Medio and Cerros del Abrigo in the Valle Grande.
I continued to the top of Rim Run. A sherpa would have been handy to carry my backpack up that steep slope! The ski area is building a log fence along the ski hill boundary. They have plenty of logs courtesy of the Las Conchas fire! At the top of Rim Run, it was already 3 pm. All I'd had for lunch was some grapes. I would have liked to sit and eat a snack, whilst enjoying the views but it was late so I put on my windbreaker and a fleece vest and continued toward the Mother lift. I estimated I'd arrive back at my car at 4:30 pm.
On Tuesday, I saw no other hikers on Pajarito Mountain and on Wednesday, I saw no hikers until I got near the Mother Lift. Then, I saw a lone male hiker heading for the back of the mountain and a couple with a tiny, yippy terrier heading to the top of Rim Run.
I could have walked down steep Rim Run to the Logging Road but I wanted to get my miles up to 4 for the day so I went past the Mother Lift and then walked downhill to the Terrain Park to pick up the Logging Road. But when I got below the Terrain Park, I instead took a minor road that went across the ski runs and backtracked to the east before going all the way back west to I Don't Care Run. I really don't know the western side of the mountain very well and thought this road was a short cut to the Logging Road - HA! At this point, I was practically to the bottom of Rim Run where I knew I could pick up the Logging Road but I, in my brilliance, didn't want to walk any further and thought that I Don't Care looked easy to go down - NOT! This particular run has fooled me before. It starts out easy but then then makes a sharp right where it becomes steep and rocky - ARRGH! I had no choice but to carefully pick my way down. It was either that or roll down! Once I got on the Logging Road, I stayed on it and arrived at my car at 4:33 pm.
Even though the aspens on Pajarito Mountain aren't glorious this year, I did see some enormous red and yellow aspen leaves that had fallen. I looked up but couldn't figure out where they'd come from. Last week's snowfall still hasn't melted yet on the shadowed side of the ski slopes.
I didn't have time the day of Ullr Fest to follow the trail completely. I had to turn around because I was the designated driver who had to drive everyone down Camp May Road.
On Tuesday, since the trail could have been muddy with last week's snow fall on the ski hill and since I'd already walked part of it from the 4-way intersection, I turned left and walked past Townsight Lift, whose quad chairs were all stacked in a row while the lift awaits repair after the Las Conchas fire, and over to where I'd stopped last time. I quickly discovered that the trail didn't go much further. It deadended at Evershine Ridge. I didn't bother checking to see if it somehow continues further down.
The aspens in Pajarito Canyon have turned yellow. Would be nice to check out the aspen activity there but that's in the Las Conchas burn area closure. The aspens that didn't burn on Pajarito Mountain aren't putting on much of a show this year.
Today, Wednesday, I walked up Cerra Bonita, the mountain just north of Pajarito Mountain, on a rocky dirt road through a meadow that had burnt aspens on one side and burnt conifers on the other. I've wanted to do this since summer when I looked at the road with binoculars from the top of Rim Run and, because the Las Conchas fire had burned a lot of trees, could see over the top of Cerra Bonita all the way north to Pipeline Road. I thought maybe if I walked up Cerra Bonita that I could look down into Cañada Bonita meadow and beyond but I discovered today that Cerra Bonita just isn't as high enough to see into Cañada Bonita meadow. The road ended at the edge of a burnt conifer forest that looked too dangerous for me to walk into further.
I started down Cerra Bonita to where I could see a fairly open way to walk through the burnt aspen forest to another meadow. I was hoping to contour above Camp May Park and not lose much altitude. This plan wasn't as scary as the prospect of walking through burnt conifers. When the conifers burn, their roots open up deep, ankle busting holes! The forest floor in the burnt aspen forest has already filled with aspen seedlings, some a yard high with leaves as big as the palm of my hand.
When I got to the open meadow, I was unhappy to discover the blasted barbed wire fence of the Valles Caldera National Preserve boundary. There was even a nasty barbed trip wire at a right angle to the fence. I could have trespassed and walked uphill in that inviting high mountain meadow - the fence is broken down in so many places - but instead I walked outside the fence, carefully watching that I didn't trip on the barbed wire laying on the ground. I saw elk track in the black dirt. I wondered how they deal with the barbed wire. I vehemently cursed the Preserve out loud as I walked along. Why in the world are we not allowed to walk on the rim of the Valles Caldera when we, the people, already own this piece of property? The Valles Caldera Trust is basically entrusted with keeping us out which is extremely irksome!
When I got to the road that goes uphill to the Camp May saddle, I followed it up to the damnable Valles Caldera National Preserve fence and cursed them some more, loudly, casting aspersions on the legitimacy of their parentage! Since Las Conchas fire, the views from Pajarito Mountain into the Valles Caldera have really opened up. I could see all the way to Redondo Peak. I could see the burnt volcanic domes of Cerro del Medio and Cerros del Abrigo in the Valle Grande.
I continued to the top of Rim Run. A sherpa would have been handy to carry my backpack up that steep slope! The ski area is building a log fence along the ski hill boundary. They have plenty of logs courtesy of the Las Conchas fire! At the top of Rim Run, it was already 3 pm. All I'd had for lunch was some grapes. I would have liked to sit and eat a snack, whilst enjoying the views but it was late so I put on my windbreaker and a fleece vest and continued toward the Mother lift. I estimated I'd arrive back at my car at 4:30 pm.
On Tuesday, I saw no other hikers on Pajarito Mountain and on Wednesday, I saw no hikers until I got near the Mother Lift. Then, I saw a lone male hiker heading for the back of the mountain and a couple with a tiny, yippy terrier heading to the top of Rim Run.
I could have walked down steep Rim Run to the Logging Road but I wanted to get my miles up to 4 for the day so I went past the Mother Lift and then walked downhill to the Terrain Park to pick up the Logging Road. But when I got below the Terrain Park, I instead took a minor road that went across the ski runs and backtracked to the east before going all the way back west to I Don't Care Run. I really don't know the western side of the mountain very well and thought this road was a short cut to the Logging Road - HA! At this point, I was practically to the bottom of Rim Run where I knew I could pick up the Logging Road but I, in my brilliance, didn't want to walk any further and thought that I Don't Care looked easy to go down - NOT! This particular run has fooled me before. It starts out easy but then then makes a sharp right where it becomes steep and rocky - ARRGH! I had no choice but to carefully pick my way down. It was either that or roll down! Once I got on the Logging Road, I stayed on it and arrived at my car at 4:33 pm.
Even though the aspens on Pajarito Mountain aren't glorious this year, I did see some enormous red and yellow aspen leaves that had fallen. I looked up but couldn't figure out where they'd come from. Last week's snowfall still hasn't melted yet on the shadowed side of the ski slopes.
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