Osha Trail Re-Redux

Becca among the tall pines

We did a nice hike on the Osha Trail this morning.  There were about five cars in the parking lot at the trailhead, but we only ran into two people with a dog.  The dog was spotted like a Dalmatian, but had the phenotype of a Pit Bull.  The trail was muddy from recent rains, and we spent fifteen minutes at the car after the hike de-muddifying our boots.  We got rained on a bit, but not enough to really get wet.  The mud and rain did not deter us from enjoying the cool mountain air.

Fire on the mountain

Closer view of the fire



Make like a tree and . . .



The long trail

Looking like rain

Are there bar in these here woods?

View from the Osha Trail towards White Sands

The Switchback Trail

Starting out on the Switchback Trail

We didn't care for the first section of the Switchback Trail because it too closely paralleled Highway 82.  But once we crossed over on the pedestrain bridge, we got further away from the road, and we got a closeup and firsthand look at the original switchback that allowed trains to climb from Alamogordo (elevation approx. 4450 ft.) to Cloudcroft (elevation approx. 9000 ft.).  What a feat of engineering!

The tunnel under U.S. Highway 82



Beautiful section of trail



Fell on its Aspen



New Mexico Thistle and friends



Butterfly and thistle

Butterflies on thistle

Di nuovo

Pedestrian bridge over Highway 82

The bridge head

Dr. K on the Switchback Trail

The railbed for the historic railroad

The Blair Tunnel Project

Picnic

At home in High Rolls

Foregoing a morning hike for a picnic turned out to be a sterling idea--except it was a little chilly at Sunspot (elevation 9,200 feet).  Becca, however, would have preferred a long mountain trek.  Returning to High Rolls we drove through three or four hail storms/thunderstorms that gave us pause.  It was raining pretty hard in High Rolls, too, forcing us to sit in the car for a bit before going inside the house.  A swell time was had by all.

View south from the High Desert Research Institute

Packrat and his mother at Sunspot Observatory

Dr. K and Mae, Sunspot, New Mexico



Serious picnickers



Party of four

Sacramento Mountain High

Ya comin' or what?

A relaxing morning hike in the cool comfort of the Sacramento Mountains cannot be beat.  We did encounter other hikers with dogs, but Becca was on her best behavior.  I have to figure out why and bottle it for future use.

Relaxing stretch of trail

Sacramento Mountain vista



Stumped for a caption



I hear something over there



Quaking Aspen sign



Quaking Aspen

Where in the world is Becca Sandiego?

That second sentence has me scratching my head

Ahhh--



Looking toward White Sands




The Mexican Canyon Trestle from the Osha Trail



Hubba Hubba Hubbell

Commander at the Hubbell Canyon trailhead

We saw absolutely nobody along a long stretch of the Hubbell Canyon Trail this morning.  Nobody was camping near the trailhead.  We saw no one driving along the forest road coming or going.  Just how we like it.  Hope that doesn't sound too anti-social, but Dr. K, Becca and I love our solitude.

Yellow flowers

A very eager hiker



Aspens at the start



Artsy flower photo

A beautiful meadow

Patooey!

Why people love the Lincoln National Forest



Along the Hubbell Canyon Trail



A forested section of the Hubbell

Gorgeous sky with hawk

Taking a ribbing