Heating Up on the Grand View

Not long after starting off:  a distant view of White Sands

Dr. K and I started off about 8:55 this morning anxious to encounter sun as soon as possible on the Grand View Trail; we were slightly frozen from a night in our cold cabin here in the Sacramento Mountains.  We hadn't been here in nearly two months, and it usually takes a full day to heat the place to normal.

We didn't bump into any other outdoor enthusiasts during our outing, and we saw no animals other than birds.  Nevertheless we had a nice trek on one of our favorite trails, still missing Becca profoundly, of course.  Having her with us was 75% of the fun in visiting the high country.

Shadow and light off the trail

A nearer look at White Sands

Artistic trees

White Sands from 7,000 feet

This and the next:  two more views of White Sands National Monument

White Sands NM, soon to be White Sands National Park

Mountain Mahogany seeds

This and the next:  scenes from the Grand View

Elk print

Grand View Trail in shadow

This and the next 2:  Western Scrub Jay with a beak full of berries

Grand View Trail (acrylic on paper with palette knife)