San Luis trip March 28

Seventeen climbed the hill of the Stations of the Cross, visited the beautiful chapel, saw the Monument of the Mexican Martyrs, ate lunch at Cafe Mystica Rosa, visited the oldest store in Colorado, studied the Sangre de Cristo Parish church, saw the Commons, saw the state's first (we think) acequia (ditch), visited the outside (sorry about the lock) of the old San Acacio church, looked at the Rio Grande, gestured at the statue of Jack Dempsey, and ate a few blizzards in Monte Vista.

Thanks for the collaboration and the company.

Next Monday, we'll take a more typical hike--it will be beautiful and wonderful, I hope. Leave Visitor Center 9 a.m.
--Doug Knudson

Hike 616-617A

With 3 seasoned hikers inspiring us, ten folks went up road 616, which somehow turned into 617A and took us through the Piñon-Juniper forest above Alpine. We got into an ecotone with the appearance of Douglas-fir and Ponderosa pine and aspen.
he views were vast. Someday, we'll keep going long enough to find the end of this road/trail. Presumably it's somewhere near Bear Cr.

NEXT WEEK SPECIAL TRIP!
We plan to go to San Luis by car-pool, leaving at 8:00 a.m. on Monday. Meet at the Visitor Center before 8:00. We'll climb the trail with the Stations of the Cross sculptures, visit the beautiful chapel overlooking the oldest town in Colorado, and see several other features nearby. It seems that some of our members want to eat at a restaurant, so we'll explore the possibilities. We also hope to visit the oldest standing church building in the state--at Old San Acacio. I'll contact a couple of friends who may be able to talk with us or show us special things.

As you may know, the Old Spanish Trail (east fork of the North Branch) goes through San Luis; we see this town as a major cultural preserver of ancient Hispanic traditions. It's a town of special character. Somehow, as an 8 year resident of two towns in Latin America, I feel quite comfortable in this place. It has a most interesting history and some fine citizens.

Due to the distance, please plan on a longer time than normal.
--Doug Knudson

Octogen hikers 3-11 Mayebelle Gilfillan, Ozzie Wells, Wayne Odom

Linda,Wayne,Eve, Ozzie, Marilyn,Mayebelle,Wayne O., Lloyd/Barbara

Lunchroom

Piñon cones March 2011

617A /D.Norte Peak

Lookout Mountain (a.k.a. D Peak)

Sometimes things we see often Can become something special.

Thanks to the Del Norte Trails Organization, eight of us enjoyed the beauty of Lookout Mountain.

Often bypassed with but a glance, this place has 3+ miles of admirably built foot-trails winding around the base and to the rocky top, revealing splendid views in all directions.

Congratulations and thank you to the team that conceived this and to those who diligently and expertly built the secure trails. Our hikers, from South Fork and Monte Vista, admire your work.

We appreciated the six deer that showed us part of the way.

Thanks to Barbara Graham who resumed her regular ascents and graciously greeted us at the top (our condolences to her).

Next Monday at 9 a.m., we'll leave South Fork Visitor Center for another beautiful place. If the predicted "no snow" weather continues, we'll hike for 3-5  miles. Believe it or not, that will take us 3-5 hours, so bring a snack or sandwich, water, and a friend or two.
--Doug Knudson 873-5239

Lookout Mtn

Two teachers assess the grade

Bennett PK fr D Mtn

•Good trail bed work D Mt

Going down Lookout Mtn.

Monday hike March 7, 2011

Nice Hike. Great views of South Fork. We beat the snow flurries, not the clouds. Mayebelle declared the route was "almost" flat, yet we were above the cliffs. Everybody passed the tree ID test, until we came upon a pinyon pine, only slightly out of place, ecologically.

Next week we may hike with regular boots or we may don snowshoes--depends on the weather. Meet before 9 a.m. at the visitor center in South Fork. Anyone is welcome;come warm and walk safely.
--Doug Knudson 873-5239

Wolf Creek

Beautiful day for a 3+ mile hike up on top of the Wolf Creek area. Some of us were beginning to wonder if we were ever going to get back to the vehicles; but we finally did! Had an enjoyable outing.
Harolena Powell

Palisades

Last week we enjoyed the Doves' hospitality and goodies.
This week we left our snowshoes at home and walked on solid ground.
We tried somewhere new, a place we've all seen but never visited.
The palisades above the county line on Hwy 149
look forbidding, but weren't after we tested several ways up.
Once on top, we had fun finding bear caves and nature's rock sculptures.

So near to the highway, but so different from the familiar.
One layer up in the Rio Grande National Forest
gives another dimension and sense of distance.

Snow is on the way, so they say.
If so, we'll revert to the big snowshoes next Monday.
We'll see you at 9 at the SF visitor center.

Thin Mtn-mahogany with bulky palisade

Yoda?

On the edge-Palisade

atop Palisade over Rio Grande

Down the deer trail

Lobo Point

Lobo Point allowed 7 trudgers to play on its lower levels on Monday. Beautiful scenery, snow of the perfect consistency, temperatures pretty warm without melting. We tried free-lance exploring, then switched to road-work. We were in SF before 1 p.m.

Next week on Monday at 9 a.m. we depart from the SF Visitor Center for another wandering in the forest. Tentative aim—Wolf Creek  headwaters (on solid ground), just across Wolf Creek Pass in the San Juan National Forest. You are welcome to join us; bring a friend.

Lobo ladies

5 on Lobo

Shoes resting

Linda & Wayne Moulds

The venerable Mayebelle Gilfillan

Alligator sleeping in snow

Alberta Peak

Six snowshoers enjoyed: A warm winter day, except for a few gusty minutes. Alberta Peak as a backdrop; Alberta Lake on our left; Making easy trail through the trees. Huffing some on the track back to the carriages. And welcoming Wayne and Linda Moulds, who were spritely and strong-winded, despite their relative youth.

We invite you to join us next Monday at 9 at the South Fork Visitor Center, with snowshoes, a snack, and warm clothing. I'll check Wolf Creek headwaters and Lobo Overlook as destinations.

--Doug Knudson
873-5239

Snowshoes on!

New kids Wayne & Linda, Wayne, Marty, Maybelle

Pretty traffic flow

BriteWhite; dark green

Snowshoe low, ski hi

Boulder field

The boulder field gave us a nice, brisk workout to restart the snowshoeing season. Five of us have experienced some conditioning.

Next week, 9 a.m. on Monday morning. We welcome all who can and have the gumption to show up at the Visitor Center. Bring snowshoes and some nibblings.

Questions? call 719-873-5239. Obviously, we go when it's cold! Snow walking is better then. --Doug Knudson

Little boulders

Middle size boulders

Big Boulders--wrong shoes

Sometimes the winter gets you down.

Beaver Creek trail

The Rio Grande National Forest offered a sunny, pretty warm day with great views. Mayebelle, Joyce, Pat, Marilyn, Wayne, and Doug enjoyed cloudless vistas.

We hiked up, then down, went through a gate that has wheel tracks but says no motorized vehicles.

This was our last hike scheduled for 2010. It's been a busy year for hiking and snowshoeing. Mayebelle's book of the year will soon be available for viewing at the South Fork Library.

We'll convene again at the SF Visitor Center on January 3, 2011. Hopefully for snowshoeing. 9 a.m. Bring a snack or lunch, a friend, and your snowshoes (unless the ground is bare).

Bear Cr. road & the cone

Aspen on a ridge Bear Cr.

Thermal control

#709 and Wayne

Del Norte Peak

Wayne's Tactic of Rapid Descent