Penitente Canyon

The lucky 13 strolled and climbed through Penitente and Witches Canyons on a beautiful spring day. Strange rock formations, trees growing into the rocks, and the balmy weather made it a special morning. The La Garita "Special" sandwich seemed to satisfy most appetites.
They want more, so next Tuesday, we'll try to surmount the taller of the Twin Mountains. That's a relatively short but taxing climb through the forest, then a walk on lava--wear boots; bring stick. Leave the S.F. Visitor Center at 9 a.m.; pick up valley folks at the Tiger's Den (nee Tin Cup) in Del Norte. There's no restaurant on top, so bring lunch. Keep pets at home, please.

Doug

Cross Creek Trail and Church Creek Trail

Cross Creek Trail is open 2 miles up from Beaver Reservoir thanks to Harry, Chuck, Harolena, and me. We found a few trees down and a lot of snow at the end as you can tell from the pictures. Chuck knew just when to leave. Harry, Harolena, and I went over to Church Creek and found lots of trees and a washed out culvert. Church Creek Trail is open all the way through, but is definitely an intermediate trail. It is not for beginners. There are some pretty rough spots in it. Hope you have good riding.

George and Harolena.

Baughman Creek

Dick Dove led us on a very windy hike, starting at Baughman Cr. over to Seitz Cr. and back down to the Baughman homestead (circa 1870) and the Davis homestead (circa 1880). The round corral was used by Baughman to break horses to ride. The two homesteads are about 1/2 mile apart. From the Davis homestead we hiked back to the vehicle.........

Next Monday we will be hiking in the Penitente Canyon, we hope to find the "medicine tree" again it is one the outer loop; however when we find it we will come back the same way (some of you may remember the other time).

Bring a snack, water and a friend, we will plan on going to the La Garita store for burgers,etc after we finish the hike.........meet at the VCPL and plan on leaving by 9AM.

Dennis

Old Spanish Trail

Today featured about 2 miles of the Old Spanish Trail and 3 miles of westward Ho. Pat, Judy, and Doug are officers of the Old Spanish Trail Association. Next week, we'll go somewhere interesting. Predicting seems foolish with the snow/sun yo-yo we've been experiencing. Tuesday 28. Meet at SF Visitors Center before 9 a.m. Plan on return no later than 4 p.m. Visitors or transients welcome.
--Doug Knudson 873-5239

West Alder walk

Great views of Del Norte Peak and all the land between there and here made us realize that our last Monday hike was special.

We're changing back to Tuesday hikes starting April 14 (not far off). We leave at 9:00 a.m. from the South Fork Visitors Center. We'll try to find a dry, warm hiking site--but then, who knows? Be prepared. Bring lunch or snack plus water.
--Doug Knudson 873-5239

Rio Grande grazing land

We left the snowshoes home for our first narrow-shoe hike of 2009.

Dick Dove picked the route and interpreted the landscape carefully.

The Dove ranch and others use this Forest Service land for seasonal grazing. We learned about grazing rotations, hard-surface water harvest, storage, and distribution, plus cool wind and distant snow, and how long "just 100 yards" can seem.

Next week--English Valley. Meet before 9 a.m. at South Fork Interpretive Center parking lot.

Way over there?

Mr. Shepherd

mini watershed

Water tank

Yucca RGNF

Dick Dove, hiker

Warm winter day in the boulder field

Four hardy women and four manly men joined forces to experience the flatness again. The snowshoes crunched over the frozen trail or sank slightly into 15" of granular snow.

We had little this winter, but it lasted us well. We expect a big spring dump, but who can tell?

Join us, if you'd be so kind on Monday just before nine.

Interpretive center parking lot. Bring snowshoes, snack, and hope it's not hot.

Waning winter

Now, where's that camera

Into the boulder field

Boulder field trudge

Dry spot

Dove Ranch and Rio Grande National Forest

Yes, we have hardy hikers who keep going with bigger than normal shoes and willing, happy, spirits.

Dove Ranch and Rio Grande National Forest showed off gentle hills and lots of pinyons. Thanks to Carol Dove and Mr. Montoya for chairs, cocoa and cider, and huge cinnamon rolls. Thanks to the ten snowshoers for their persistence and good humor.

More snow next week? We'll probably go higher in elevation. Meet at 8:50 a.m. at South Fork Visitor Center. Bring a snack, water, sunscreen, snowshoes, and a warm heart.
--Doug Knudson