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