limekiln Photos

Ten hikers wandered through the watershed of Limekiln Creek, SE of Del Norte.  "Beautiful" was the most-heard word.

"Must have been more than 4.5 miles" was the final opinion of one hiker (correct--Wayne reported 4.6 miles).

 

We visited two lime kilns and heard several questions for which we welcome authoritative answers:  what for? how does it work? how long ago?  how come no smoke marks?  where can we see the results?

 

We enjoyed views of snowy peaks from the volcanic San Juans to the sedimentary Sangre de Cristos, plus many sizes and shapes of little canyons and their variety of cliffs and piles of stones.  We walked on Rio Grande National Forest and adjoining BLM lands; we appreciated the loop bike trail.

 

Next Monday--another foray into another special place, probably at a low altitude (7500-8500').  We should begin to see a few early flowers soon.  Meet at S.F. Visitor Center before 10 a.m. on Monday.

 

--Doug Knudson  719-873-5239

 

 

Bennett Peak -- 2 months away

 

DSC07289

 

We walked through rimrocks and gentle valleys

 

Remains of a lime kiln

 

We stayed below the snow (8,600')

 

Pines, junipers, and distant Sangres

 

Many form in these rocks

 

Intricate rocks 

 

Pillared Cliffs 

 

Elephant Rocks --#2

Early Spring led us back to Elephant Rocks for our second week and a new route.  Two more to go plus English Valley will come after next week's look at the Old Spanish Trail and Limekiln area.  Next Monday, meet at the South Fork Visitor Center before 10 a.m.

 

All are welcome.  These are gentle walks, mostly on trails/backcountry roads; some on open hillsides and plenty of opportunities to explore.   We've been seeing places seldom visited in the summer.  We've met some interesting people.  Come and bring your imagination and tone up your breathing and muscles.  It's a South Fork preventive medical program.  And we don't charge you a thing except having to put up with a bunch of young and old folks who enjoy nature and getting out on the land.

--Doug Knudson

 

Rocky greeter-- a peculiar face in this rock

 

See why they're called Elephant Rocks?

 

Bennett Peak from Elephant Rocks

 

A dozen wandered among the rocks

 

Elephant rocks--turn-around spot

 

Rich display of lichens

 

Lunch room

 

Lunch at a windbreak

 

Big country nice rocks

 

Elephant Rocks and distant Sangres

 

Elephant Rocks Hike

'Twas a perfect day for a hike among the "Elephant Rocks" (aka "Round Rocks"). Twelve fine folks were proclaimed "polite and pleasant" by Mr. John Travis, who joined us for our rest stop and shared interesting information about the area.

 

Join us next Monday at 10:00a.m. as we depart from the S.F. Visitor Center for another pedestrian probe into the always picturesque scenery around our fine little town.

--Doug Knudson

We were a dozen among the rocks

 

Imagine!

 

Valleys between rock ridges

 

Sweeping ledge on a hill

 

Rocky Tor

 

Looking South

 

Two bird rock

 

March Silverthread Club Meeting

 

The Silverthread  Club meeting will be on Tuesday, March 18, pot luck meal 6:30, meeting 7 PM at the South Fork Community Center. Hope to see you there.

 

George Powell, president

Silverthread Outdoor Recreation Club

Silverthreaders Club

Email President@Silverthreaders.org

 

East Alder Creek Hike

What a great day--early March, up E. Alder Creek's road/trail produced sunny views of pines, D-fir, and aspen with plenty of shrubs beginning to look like Spring.  The ground was damp. The "Thumb" was tall and showed off its many neighbors for those who looked closely.  Del Norte Peak and Beaver Mountain rose up on the South side of the Rio Grande Valley.  This 4-mile walk seemed just right for all, so Wayne suggested a 5-miler to help us grow.

Welcome to Dwayne Rue, whose storehouse of  knowledge of this forest will enrich our future hikes.

 

Next Monday, we'll try either snowshoes or boot hike.  Meet before 10 a.m. at the South Fork Visitor Center. Next Tuesday (not tomorrow), join us for the Silverthread Club supper and meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Center

--Douglas Knudson

 

Nine hikers hit the road

 

Linda contemplates an early Spring

 

Forest at rest

 

Once containers for two brains

 

It's a squeeze

 

The Thumb

 

The hand (and more)

 

Beaver Mtn from the other side of the valley

 

Tucker Ponds Snowmobile Ride (3-5-14)

Tucker Ponds---March 5, 2014---11 machines enjoyed a beautiful day at Tucker Ponds.  Come join us on our next ride!

 

Boulder Field Hike

Monday morning dawned sunny and almost warm.  Snowshoe people often think of this as "too bad!" but we found snow and solace near town with some snow half-way up to our knees.  The eight who mushed a little over two miles did not complain when the cars were in sight.

  This is one of the serene strolling places near South Fork.  It features four species of conifers plus aspen and shrubs, as well as big rocks that have tumbled down a high slope, perhaps to give us geology lessons.

Next Monday will probably take us up to the ski area for a snowshoe walk in the woods (on a trail or among the trees). If all is bare, we'll hike without snowshoes at a lower elevation.  Come with flexibility. Leave the Visitor Center at 10 a.m.

(By the way, the skiing this Tuesday morning was wonderful--it was good to see so many of this group there.)

--Doug Knudson 

Boulder field trampers

 

nice snow among the trees

 

Happy  to see us?

 

Peaceful boulder field

 

3-D Image

 

recent? additions to boulder collection.

 

Snowmobile Ride on Wednesday...

Let it Snow...Meet us Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at 10AM at Tucker Ponds for snowmobiling.

                                                                                Jim Patterson