Monday, November 25, 2013

A beautiful late-Fall day in South Fork

After the big snows, eight of us enjoyed one of the most magical, beautiful days ever.  Three hours of snowshoeing on this gorgeous "dwarf forest" of Pinyons and Junipers, just North of the Alpine subdivision.  We packed down a lunchroom around a big pinyon.  Then we watched the splendor of the mountains all around us as we walked back down our recently-made trail. 
 
We are privileged to live in such a place.  Although most of us also ski, it's good to spend at least one day per week experiencing the beauty at a slower pace, making an effort to trudge uphill and well as down.  Rejoice! Thanks to you who shared this experience with us.
 
Next Monday meet at the SF Visitor Center before 10 a.m. for a snowshoe walk (assuming the snow stays with us), led by Wayne & Linda Moulds. 
(On that Monday, I'll be talking about our trees with the Chapel of the South Fork folks who don't go snowshoeing--after lunch at the church. I think I'll take an early morning snowshoe walk on my own just to get warmed up.)

In South Fork we are preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving with the generous efforts of the Kiwanis Club and its collaborators.  We hope all of you in Missouri, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, California, and other states will enjoy a rich day of giving thanks.  When you come here to ski, look us up at home or church and on the slopes.  You are welcome to join us on Monday mornings at 10.
--Doug Knudson

Lucky troopers before Agua Ramon Mtn.

 



Del Norte Peak--across the Rio

 



PiƱon buddies on a hill

 



Juniper "cone" berries

 



Pinyon and RGNForest

 



Well-made resting place

 



Down a snowy lane

 

Monday, November 18, 2013

Walking on the palisades

Just shy of a dozen eased up to the tops of the lower palisades along the county line (Mineral/Rio Grande). We saw a mix of trees somehow growing on, in, and just above what appear to be solid rocks--three species of pine, one of juniper, aspen, and Douglas-fir (the "not-a-fir nor a hemlock" tree). Rocks displayed look-alike Easter Islander, robed priests, a squirrel, helmeted men/women, a scaly giant, and two human-sized climbers in jeans.
 
Beautiful place--often seen only at a distance. It's worth a walk (we did it at 2.7 miles)
 
Next hike or snowshoeing:  next Monday at 10 a.m.
 
Nearly a dozen.

 



Somehow anchored in--for decades

 



trees and rocks

 



See anything here?

 



Tim & Wayne top out

 



Cliff-top view

 



See those big scales?

 



Now this feature looks like …

 



looking back at where we were