Steep, Pre-Flapper Hike

Getting started

We did a strenuous hike in the forest behind the cabin this morning, and, according to Dr. K's watch, we ascended the equivalent of a six-story building.  Now that I write this it doesn't seem that impressive.  Add the amount of bushwhacking we did, though, and it was quite a bit of exercise.  Willow loved every minute.

After the trek I drove down the mountain to both Home Depot and Lowe's in Alamogordo to buy two flappers for the toilets in the cabin.  Oddly, both had started leaking at the same time.  With Dr. K's help I was able to replace the old ones with not too much difficulty.

Willow giving side-eye

How's this for camouflage?

Stump with peeling bark

We passed this way yesterday

Dead tree sculpture

Two crows

Willow on alert

Three-leaf Sumac bush

Late-bloomer (Golden Crownbeard?)

Form

Three-leaf Sumac

Down in the valley

Bushwhacking through

Branches

Almost done for today