Grandview Otra Vez

Fire across the valley this morning

Before we got started this morning we spotted a fire burning in the mountains across the valley from the High Desert Research Institute.  Fortunately, it appeared to have burned out later in the day.

We spent the morning hiking the Grandview Trail, one of our favorites in the Sacramento Mountains.  Oddly, though it is Saturday, we ran into nobody.  Neither Dr. K nor Becca complained about the absence of other hikers.  Being the solitary mountain man that I am, I certainly didn't complain.

Clever rock cairn

View from our cabin porch.  Not!

Cactus from rock

The Beckster on the Grandview Trail

Dynamic high desert

Dr. K reads about birds

Flowers and thorns

The Old Cloudcroft Highway Trail

Becca at the start of T-5002

We did a wonderful hike along T-5002 this morning, down the Old Cloudcroft Highway and out to the Mexican Canyon Trestle vista.  We only ran into a few other people.  It was cool and humid in the forest, and it rained a little on our way back to High Rolls.


Mountain greenery



The Old Cloudcroft Highway

Good directions

Becca reading tree rings

Cloud-Climbing Railroad trestle over Mexican Canyon

Tree-ring mandela



Looking down canyon



Osha Redux

Trees, glorious trees

We love the Osha Trail so much, we did it again.  We were not disappointed.  We ran into only one small group of people, one of whom (an elderly gentleman) was wearing Outdoor Research gainters like mine.  He wasn't sure if he had them on the right way, so he checked mine out, then felt good that he had them on properly.  I'm often used as the standard for mountain men to go by.


Becca at work along the Osha Trail



Meadow

Smiley flowers

Rim Trail Redux

Heading out on the Rim Trail

We did a cool morning hike on the middle section of the Rim Trail.  The weather was beautiful--cool and slightly humid.  Toward the end of the hike thunderbumpers were building over the mountains, punctuating the beauty with celestial rumblings.


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Through an Aspen grove



Old-timey trail marker




View toward White Sands




Precious flower



Violet?

8-Mile Post

Indian Paintbrush

The New and Improve(?) Osha Trail

Becca gets a big headstart on the Osha Trail

Today was the first time we hiked the Osha Trail since the construction on the Mexican Canyon trestle took out the original trailhead.  The new parking area is larger, and the new first leg of the trail adds a little distance.  But the original first leg included a strenuous elevation gain that the new one lacks.  The trail is as beautiful as ever, though.  Cloudcroft city council plans to ruin the trail in the future, however, by adding a touristy horseback riding venture.  That will really shit the whole place up.


At the first trail junction




The joys of pollination



Around the mountainb on the Osha Trail

The Mexican Canyon trestle

Construction on the trestle vista area

Highway 82 out of Cloudcroft, New Mexico (White Sands in background)

Forest Opened At Last

Leader of the pack

Dr. K, Becca and I got to do one of our favorite hikes in the Sacramento Mountains:  the Grandview Trail.  So nice to see the Lincoln National Forest finally opened.  Even though is was incredibly humid from yesterday's rains, we thoroughly enjoyed the trek.  It rained again as soon as we got back to the High Desert Research Institute, and it's threatening to rain again now.  Let it rain.


Gazebo in the perfect place along the Grandview Trail



Packrat and Becca in the gazebo



Dr. K and Becca in the gazebo




Spectacular Sacramento Mountains



Leader from start to finish

High Rolls High

A very happy camper

Up in the Sacramento Mountains for a few weeks.  We've already had a good soaking from thunderstorms up here.  Since the Lincoln National Forest is finally reopened, we're looking forward to getting in some nice mountain hikes.


View from HiDRI



Saturday Trek

One content hound

Becca and I made a big loop hike west of Tortugas this morning.  We didn't run into anybody, but there were quite a few hikers/bikers/joggers about.  The temp was in the low 70s, but the humidity was 83%, thereby making the day seem quite muggy.

Rain Day?

Dark clouds over Tortugas

All during our morning hike it seemed as if it could rain at any minute; but it didn't.  Now, at mid-afternoon, it still hasn't rained.  It is quite humid, though, and rain is definitely in the forecast for the evening.  Let's hope we get it.  We need the moisture really badly.

Northwestern side of Tortugas Mountain

Rain near El Paso

Another dirt road



Queen of the hill



The Potrillo Mountains across the fertile Mesilla Valley