Canyon Estates-Faulty trails, Sandia Mountains, NM, 5/21/20

Covid-19 pandemic hike #10

Banana Yucca

For details about this hike, see April 1 Covid-19 pandemic hike #3.

Today, our NM Mountain Club co-hiker and I set out to redo this loop hike described in 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles.  We got a got early start (9:10 am) and followed the Crest trail to Upper Faulty and then to Faulty without incident. As we walked, we enjoyed the flowers and colors on this beautiful balmy late spring day. Arriving at the Upper Faulty - Faulty crossroad, I did not pay much attention and followed the section of Faulty in front of me.  Over half a mile later we noticed my mistake and retraced our steps, adding 1.2 miles to the hike. Total distance ~ 7 miles with ~1200 ft elevation.  

Mars Court, Cibola National Forest, NM, 5/14/20

Covid-19 pandemic hike #9

We set out reluctantly for this hike as Jim did not have good memories of it when he hiked with the Mountain Club in this area. Only minutes into the hike he said, "This is what I remember," a rather desolate landscape....

About 2 miles on trail 161 we reached a clearing that gave us expansive views of David Canyon and the mountains in the background. The canyon is three miles long and about one mile wide with a 

14-mile network of trails called Mars Court. 

Hiked a bit over 2 miles south and southeast and then turned right on Forest Road 321 that follows the bottom of the canyon to trail 162 which took us back to the trailhead after a 0.8 mile mild uphill. 

All along the canyon bottom with saw burned ponderosa pines, typically licked by flames about a yard or two up the trunk, and often only on one side.

The "pond" appeared to be a rectangular piece of plastic (top right of the sign) with mud and some grass.  A few birds flew away as we passed by on the trail.  Not sure of the purpose of the project. 

  The spring chartreuse colors made this 5-mile loop particularly attractive. 

Crest Trail, Sandia Mountains, NM, 5/7/20

Covid-19 pandemic hike #8

We discussed whether to attempt this hike rated as "strenuous", or go to Tent Rocks, a hike rated as "moderate."  We set off for Tent Rocks about 9:30 am only to discover it is a 110-mile round trip from Albuquerque and our car battery had less than a 100 miles to go.  So, first stop: the Tesla supercharger. One hour later, we drove past Cochiti Pueblo to find the road open to local traffic only and a medical station doing Covid-19 testing at the entrance of the pueblo.  To make sure we got the message, a large sign read "Tent Rocks National Monument - Closed."

Back to our first choice: Crest trail from Placitas, at the northern end of the Sandia mountains.

 With all these miscalculations, we got to the trailhead extra late, just past noon, but still managed to hike just under five miles, in spite of the heat and wind. The Crest trail, which follows the whole length of the mountain, is 26 miles long.  For the first couple of miles however, the trail rounds the northern end of the mountain and runs parallel to the valley, before starting its climb to the crest. 

Found a new app: iNaturalist, a plant identifier. It tells me the flowers above are called Rose-heath or Baby white asters.

Domingo Baca Trail, Sandia Mountains, NM, 4/30/20 - Revisited

Covid-19 pandemic hike #7 

Set off with two MN Mountain Club hikers (with social distancing of course) to explore Domingo Baca canyon, once again. This trail is among the most popular in the Sandias and leads to what is left of TWA flight {that crashed on 1/19/55},before joining the La Luz trail almost at the top of the mountain.  Not surprisingly, the rating for this in-and-out 7-mile hike is "difficult" with elevation of ~3500 ft. Needless to say, we didn't make it all the way up; turned around at ~2.5-mile mark. 

Blooming Texas sacahuista also called Bunch grass or Beargrass

Bearded irises

While the temperature on this last day of April was already in the high 80s, the trail was surprisingly cool  as long as the trail followed the small stream. 

Quiet lunch spot by the stream; only trickle but cool nevertheless.

Baby white aster

Tree Spring Trail, Sandia Mountains, NM, 4/23/20

Covid-19 pandemic hike #6.

Our NMMC hiking companion suggested we hike Tree Spring trail in the Sandias this week; a 2-mile trail with a constant steady very mild incline (880 feet.) 

After this pleasant stroll up, we were rewarded by western views of the valley that no matter how often we see them, continue to instill a sense of awe.

Total distance 4.5 miles, including connecting 1/4 mile trail to the crest.

How appropriate during these times of hardship for so many.

Otero Canyon, Cibola Nat. Forest, NM, 4/16/20 - Revisited

Covid-19 pandemic hike #5

Set out with our NMMC hiking companion to hike Canoncito-Bart's Trail from 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles but found the trailhead locked with dire warnings posted about trespassing on private land.
So we came up with a plan B; hiking Otero Canyon in the Manzano Mountains.
(Note: for very different pictures see Otero Canyons blogs posted on 4/8/18 and 5/28/18.)

Followed Otero Canyon trail to West Ridge trail to Tunnel Canyon trail and back to trailhead: total distance ~ 5 miles, elevation ~ 750 ft.

We had a snowstorm just a few days earlier...

Got some pleasant views following the ridge. 

Nature just waking up and getting ready to put on a show. 

Acequias - Bosque Preserve, Corrales, NM, 4/8/20

 Covid-19 pandemic hike #4

Another Wednesday hike from 60 Hikes within 60 Miles. Again without the NM Mountain Club (NMMC) hikers, except that today we were joined by a fellow NMMC hiker and her husband.  Practicing social distancing turned out a bit easier than I had expected.  

The hike started at the (closed) Corrales Recreation Center and followed an acequia (a ditch used for farmland irrigation) north for about 3 miles. We then turned east and south to join the Bosque Preserve acequia for another 3+ miles back to our starting point on Corrales Road.
All in all a 7.3-hike with zero elevation - a feat in mountainous New Mexico!

We strolled by orchards, fields, horse corrals and vineyards.