A Convenient Hike

Looking north from the Grand View Trail

It sure is nice having the Grand View Trail just a short ten-minute ride away from our place in High Rolls.  When we have other things to do on a particular day a 1 1/2-hour trek on the Grand View is just the ticket.  After our hike this morning Dr. K, Becca and I drove seven miles up the mountain to Cloudcroft to dump garbage and do some shopping at Family Dollar.  It was significantly colder at 9,000 feet, and the area had remnants from a recent snow.  Regardless of the higher-elevation weather it's always fun to visit this colorful village in southern New Mexico's Sacramento Mountains.

Just getting started

These two sure look like Robins

Rugged territory

Dr. K and Becca pausing for a photo op

I've never seen so many Sotols growing in the same spot

Midpoint ramada

White Sands just a line in the distance

Slightly beyond the midway mark

I see you

Guess I can't get enough views of White Sands

Hægtesse?

Had to do some serious bushwhacking to get this photo

Sotols

All right, all right--White Sands yet again

Midpoint ramada

Juniper and pinyon pine country

The scene that greeted us when we arrived in Cloudcroft