Mini Wednesday NM Mountain Club hike, NM, 5/31/17

Penstemon in bloon.

Five-mile hike in the foothills of the Sandias. Started at the Spain trail head and meandered over to the Elena Gallegos Open Space.  By that time it had started to rain and lighting threatened at the horizon.

McPhee Overlook trail, Dolores, CO, 5/28/17

Joined a friend in Dolores, Colorado, for a day hike, which was supposed to be a white water rafting trip down the lower Dolores river.  About a week ago we got word that the planned water release from the McPhee reservoir into lower Dolores was cancelled. Not enough water so no rafting trip. Instead our friend, Brenda, who lives in Dolores, took us for a hike along the reservoir. 

Distance: 7.7 miles. Elevation: ~ 1060 ft. 

 
 Dolores water treatment plant and La Plata mountain range in background.

Plenty of wildlife on this hike: rattlesnakes in the rocky section of the trail - see sign above. No, we did not encounter any today :)  Above, squirrel on the lookout: A most unusual sight! A bird of prey was flying overhead and we wondered if it was an eagle until Brenda spotted several sunning on a log: turkey vultures!

 Jim remarked on the varying terrain:  rocky section, shady forest and open meadow.

Cozy lunch spot.

Cozy lunch spot.