Paliza Canyon Goblin Colony, Jemez Mountains, NM, 3/25/20 - revisited

Covid-19 pandemic hike #2

Off for our Wednesday hike, without the NM Mountain Club this time, since we are under governors' orders not to meet in groups during the coronavirus pandemic.  It took a ~1.5-mile detour to find the trailhead and then almost another two miles to get to the Goblin colony. Ended up having only about 1/2 hour to explore.  Total hike 5-6 miles with very little elevation. 

If you scroll back you will see that this hike is the very first entry of my hiking blog, logged on 2/1/2009. At the time, we explored the canyon with our friends Katy and Marlin on a cold and dark winter day. 

The guide book has the following description: "There are gargoyles, Cleopatra's needles, backs of Triceratops and Stegosaurus dinosaurs, tents, haystacks, exploded solidified bubbles and roller coaster rides." 

The Wild West it is!

Tome Hill, Berry's Path, Tome, NM, 3/23/20

First Covid-19 pandemic hike.

While it is Covid-19 pandemic time and we are practicing social distancing, hiking the vast open spaces of NM so far has not been discouraged. 

Tome Hill located on the Camino Real is not only a historic pilgrimage place preserving the culture of the Genizaros and Penitentes of New Mexico, but also an easily accessible hilltop with splendid 360 degree views of the Rio Grande valley, and the Sandia and Manzano mountains ranges.   

We started by exploring La Puerta del Sol at Tome Hill Park, a large steel sculpture, commemorating the various peoples that traveled the Camino Real for 400 years. 

We started the .5-mile of so rocky ascent (all of 400 ft with two switchback) from the South trail and walked down the much easier .6-mile West trail and then followed the dusty road back to Tome Hill Park.  All in all an almost 2-mile hike.

Snow shoe hike, Sandia Mountains, NM, 1/15/20

Nine of us joined the NM Mountain Club Wednesday snow shoe hike, traveling south east from the 10K trailhead and making a loop going north west and uphill to the 10K trail. After more plowing thru powdery snow mostly uphill, we reached the Ellis trailhead where we stopped for lunch. All in all we covered about 3 miles mostly uphill and breaking trail in the snow.  Hard work! Result: I was too busy trudging uphill to take pictures. 

Snow shoe hike, Sandias, NM, 1/8/20

Very first snow shoe hike of the year.  

NM Mountain Club Wednesday outing: 9 hikers, 4.5-mile loop  from the 10K trailhead up to the tram via Kiwanis meadow and back,  with ~800 feet elevation.

Above, group huddle for snow shoe first aid. 

Arrived at the tram lodge way to early for lunch so someone suggested we go look at "the faces."

After some searching and about 1/2 mile of backtracking, we found two of the three breaded faces. 

La Luz Trail, Sandia Mountains, NM, 1/1/20

New year's day leisurely stroll up la Laz trail.  

Hiked up about 2 miles.  Beautiful New Mexico bright and balmy afternoon.

Perfect activity to start 2020.

Rino District Art Walk, Denver, CO, 12/8/19

Two-hour Sunday morning guided street art tour in the Denver Rino district. 

Little did we know what to expect.... take a look and enjoy!

Aravaipa Canyon Preserve backpack, AZ, 10/24 to 10/26/19

Four day hikers and five backpackers (those with the tall packs) excited and ready for to explore  11-mile long Aravaipa Canyon, and some of its side canyons.  While not exactly a slot canyon with widths from 50 to 300 feet and canyons walls as high as 1000 feet,  Aravaipa canyon is a very impressive oasis in the desert.

Day hikers and backpackers hiked about 3 miles in, wading in and out of
Aravaipa creek just past Javelina canyon. Day hikers turned back and backpackers found a beautiful campsite on a sand bluff 4-5 feet above the creek.  

Very start of the journey before entering the narrower part of the canyon.

A well deserved rest and settled for the nite.

Not before enjoying a meal of fresh green beans, canned chicken and quinoa or couscous.  Forgot the smores.  Maggie took the lead and collected enough firewood to last us for both nites out.

Had a moment of excitement when John (above) lowered our food bag from a tree and scarred a mother and babies of coatis (coatimundis) from the stream.  They clamored up the side the canyon, creating an avalanche of rocks to tumble down.  No one got hurt.  

Ventured another three miles into the canyon after the first nite, past Horse Camp canyon (see map above.)  Didn't manage to explore any of the side canyons.  As you can see, there is no dedicated trail; we made our way along and in and out of the stream, and finding our way over the boulders.  How did we keep our feet dry you ask?  We didn't.  Our companions wore canyon runners that allows for water to stream out, and Jim and I had regular hiking boots with wetsuit booties that kept our feet comfortably squishy wet and warm.  Gaiters kept the sand and small rocks out. 

A great thanks to our companions, Maggie, Pete and John. Hiking Aravaipa  canyon had been on our bucket list for over two years.  Could not have done it without them.