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Saturday, September 30, 2017

Unpredictable Conditions

Could be Fendler's Ragwort
Dr. K, Becca and I were ready to head out for a hike after an early morning rain, and just as we were about to step outside it began raining again.  As a result we didn't get on the trail (the Grand View for the third day in a row--a record) until 9:30.  We had dressed for what we thought would be a cool and perhaps wet trek (long-sleeve shirts, long trousers [I wore my Marmot PreCip jacket]), but the sun came out and began steaming us.  The humidity, not surprisingly, was incredibly high, and it was one of the most uncomfortable hikes we've ever taken on, arguably, our favorite trail in the High Rolls/Mountain Park area.  We encountered no other hikers during our outing.
Not a steer's head, but a chunk of dead tree

Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi)

Townsend's Solitaire

Tree reflected in water on rock

Smooth Spreading Four O'Clock

Smooth Spreading Four O'Clock

White Sands National Monument from the Grand View Trail

Oscura Mountains, beyond which lies Trinity Site

From the Grand View

Headed down the trail

Apache Plume

A patch of Apache Plume

Another view down the trail

Barren tree, White Sands and the San Andres Mountains

Yet another view of the White Sands

There's a huge white structure in the center left of this photo

Anvil-like clouds

1 comment:

Dr. K said...

It is amazing, or maybe alarming, at how close the Trinity Site is to this area.

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