Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge

8 intrepid hikers faced a sunny, breezy Tuesday morning with courage and optimism. We headed for Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge--some pretty flat land where spring hasn't quite sprung. The visitor center is closed--apparently long-term. We walked the Rio Grande which seemed less than grande. We paralleled the ditch from the Enclosed Basin, carrying supplemental water southward.

We counted birds because it was easy--most of them were huddled elsewhere. The sun disappeared behind clouds that spit iceballs. The breeze became more than breezy. There seemed to be some relief as we approached the protected porch.

Wee huddled in the lee of the building, taking some time for lunch. Then Mt. Blanca and neighbors emerged from the ice clouds, giving us a spectacular, mystical farewell.

•Bill,Marilyn,Linda,Judy,Wayne,Judy,Bob

•the real goose-step /AlaNWR

•Cottonwoods on Rio Grande ANWR

Grotesque trees Alamosa NWR

•Blanca Massif--the sacred mountain to many tribes.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Alder Creek

Linda and John--we hope you didn't get any alarm calls. We started our Monday easy hike at your house. Down to the bridge, we started at the paved trail, walked along Alder Creek to the big fence, then through the gate and on to the Guard Station.

It was nice to have Judy Knudson and Derrick Haskins joining us again. Derrick found few if any fish, despite very careful searches of likely stretches of stream.

Next Monday--easy hike, probably--Agua Ramón road (closed to autos for a while yet)

Next Tuesday--tougher hike probably nearby in lowlands. If snow lets up, we'll climb up part way on E side of Sentinel Mtn.

Both--9 a.m. departure from Visitor Center.

Alder Cr.

New dam on Alder Cr.

fancy lunch stop Alder Cr.

 

Connie, Alder Cr.

Golf Course housing

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Old Spanish Trail hike

Eight wise people accepted a windy, cool start; they enjoyed beautiful clouds, sunshine, fresh air and 8 miles of good walking. Historic journeys brought many people up this long road--some to to wander to places hundreds of miles away and others to settle nearby.

The immensity of this great valley's floor is rimmed by rugged mountains, still holding some of this year's scanty snows. Tiny lichens of at least five different colors are a result of symbiotic union of fungi and algae; the blue hue is unusual.

Next Tuesday, 9 a.m., we'll leave the South Fork Visitor Center for the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge. Bring along your binoculars and zoom camera for bird and animal spottings along the 4-mile (each way) trail beside and beyond the Rio Grande. Bring a good field lunch; we may be home a little later than usual.

--Doug Knudson 873-5239

At the wagon ruts--OST

Man in a rut--Old Sp Trail

Rugged mesa-tops

Strolling among the prairie hills

What a view!

Blue lichens OST WFk

Multi-hue lichen OST RGCo

Monday, April 18, 2011

Beaver Mountain

The day after the April full moon was pleasant but windy. E-hike #2 took 11 of us up a closed road. We studied the 2002 burn from afar, wondering how long it will take to heal. Views in all directions were splendid. Up close, the discards of thoughtless citizens were too evident to leave them lying. It seems that most are related to those who chew, drink intoxicants, and/or have feeble concern for keeping places of common use neat. One of them owns a big Buick. The T-hike (tough but still training) on Tuesday will leave the Visitor Center tomorrow at 9 a.m. Bring rain gear.
Next Monday, 9 a.m. for an easy one, same place.

 

10 of 1:Linda,Bill, WayneX2,Pat,Mayebelle, Kevin, Gail,Connie, Marty

N Beaver Mtn to S of Willow Pk subdiv.

Up road hiking

Discards on a closed road.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Campbell Mountain Hike

Nine of the "Tough Hikes" Tuesday group took a 4.3 mile "conditioning" walk around the middle of Campbell Mountain, just above South Fork. We saw a great mix of conifers and lots of rocks underfoot as we followed (most of the time) an occasionally elusive stock driveway trail.
Coming down the Alder Bench Trail, we encountered seven or eight big down trees across the trail and a trail surface begging for a crew to even out the tread. It is precarious for foot travel and dangerous for bicycle riders (who may have accelerated the gullying between the rocks).

Next Tuesday, we'll continue the conditioning, starting at the picturesque Old Spanish Trail monument on US 160 (after meeting at the South Fork Visitor Center at 9 a.m. We'll follow the trail route south for a few miles, then probably swing SW, W, and NE to get back to the autos in this series of gullies, ridges, and range plants for pronghorns.

For those of you isolated from our beautiful hikes, I thank you for your comments and continuing interest. We look forward to seeing you this spring and summer. The Silverthread Club has decided to have Gentle Hikes on Mondays (Wayne Moulds leading) and Tough Hikes on Tuesdays. I've made up a menu of some of the "tough" hikes I'd like to go on this summer (attached). These will require vigorous preparation, so do your vigorous diligence at home if you hope to keep up with us on these Tuesday hikes. Your comments on preferences among these hikes will guide our choices.

--Doug Knudson 719-873-5239 89 Fir Drive, S.Fork, CO 81154

Bob,Marty,Bill, WayneO,Gail, Linda&WayneM.,Pat

Bark and wood Limber pine.

Rocky tree

Pine Needle Lunch Room

White rocks on 2nd peak

Alder Bench TR impediment (1 of 6-7)

Am. Pasqueflower--one of the harbingers of Spring in these parts--2
weeks before this year's late Easter.

Monday, April 11, 2011

5 Penitente Canyon Photos

Harolena,Connie,Sally, Linda&Wayne M., Harry&Pat,Marilyn, Bill K,
Mayebelle, Gail, Wayne O., Bill L.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

East Bear Creek ATV Trail Work Day

 

There were seven of us who worked on East Bear Creek Trail Tuesday. We moved some rocks, some timber, replaced a sign and found some trash to haul out. We also found the snow about four miles up the trail. We had a wiener roast past the fence and had to turn around because of the snow. It was a fun day and the weather was beautiful. Come and join us next time.

George Powell

Monday, April 4, 2011

Elephant Rock Hike

Thirteen of us enjoyed a leisure hike through the Elephant Rock formations on a beautiful, sunny day. This was a new area for many of us. We want to thank Wayne Moulds for being our leader today. He did a fantastic job. Don't forget that we will begin our 2 hikes next week. Hope to have a good number for both of them.

Harolena