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Sunday, June 18, 2017

Rim Trail Out of Sunspot

Nice to have a Jeep Commander in the high country
We decided to drive all the way to Sunspot to do a hike on the Rim Trail this morning, thinking, rightly, that we'd run into fewer people out there.  We ran into nobody else during a two-hour hike.  This section of T105 is one of our favorite trails, and the longer drive was worth it--cooler temps, lots of butterflies, birds and animals.  One drawback, of course, is the longer drive (about 23 miles) on the way back.  Again as we drove down Route 82 we were astonished at the number of vehicles headed the other way up the mountain.
Becca hoping her neighbor buddies will show

Getting started on the Rim Trail T105 near Sunspot

Some type of "Copper"?

Same butterfly

Purple Copper?

Bee

Dr. K taking a . . . photo

Western Wallflower

No wonder the air seems a little thin here

In bear country, so just in case

Moon/pine

Becca in a high mountain meadow

That way to the Cathay Vista

Western Wallflower (Erysimum capitatum)

Wild Turkey tail feather

Closer look at the feather tip

Becca loves the cool temps in the high country

Sun through Aspens and pines

Milbert's Tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti)

I'm going with Weidemeyer's Admiral

Keeping an eye on us

Cute squirrel

Empress Leilia?

Same butterfly

Dunn Solar Telescope at Sunspot

Dunn Solar Telescope at the National Solar Observatory, Sunspot, NM

Prickly Rose (Rosa acicularis)

View of the hazy desert below Apache Point

1 comment:

Dr. K said...

We always seem to see a lot of butterflies on this trail, many of them new to me. It's a great trail to hike.

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