Jemez Mountains, May 15, 2015

I decided early this week to go out for another hike, this time up in the mountains.  A few weeks ago we passed through this area on the way to the Rio Cebolla (May 6, 2015 posting).  I saw several locations with groups of aspen just waiting to put on their spring green and thought that waiting a couple weeks would put them in full green.

Heavy clouds and rain are promised throughout the day.  I am willing to dodge the raindrops if and when they decide to come.

San Antonio Creek - May 8, 2015

We are off to the San Antonio Creek for a fly fishing and photography expedition.  The San Antonio Creek is accessible from multiple locations in the Jemez Mountains.  It parallels State Road 4 from La Cueva, NM to Battleship Rock where it merges with the East Fork of the Jemez River then turns into the Jemez River.  There are multiple pullouts along SR 4 for picnicking and fishing.

Weather transitions, April 24, 2015

As usual spring weather is unpredictable.  If you live in the New Mexico you know spring is synonymous with wind.  As we plan our hike we are watching for wind.  I have seen my fly fishing buddies battling the wind and it usually makes for a very long day.

Winter's recession, March 13, 2015

Today’s weather forecast is for a 60% chance of rain.  Will the weather forecaster’s prediction be right a second time?  Last time we hiked we got both rain and snow.  We are going anyhow; it’s warmer so if anything it will be only rain.

We’re going to the Pecos Wilderness just east of Santa Fe.  Our goal is to hike along the Pecos River possibly to the Box then take a look at the Rio Mora.  

Sandia Crest - Feb 27

My story starts the previous Tuesday, “Mark wants to go up to the Pecos Wilderness this Friday”, Byron mentioned to me in my office.  “We’ll check out a couple of the rivers for fishing later this year”.  I thought ‘Hmm, I’m in, but I’m also certain there will be a fly rod or two accompanying us, along with the other necessary tools to ‘wet a line’’.  (I’m picking up on the fly fishing lingo)...

Guadalupe River/Gilman Tunnels

We took advantage of the 60° winter weather, in mid February, to hike around the Gilman Tunnels and Guadalupe River.  We chose a destination close to Albuquerque because of our late start.  With the seeming never ending Bernalillo road construction slowing us down, we arrived at the Tunnels in just over 90 minutes.  The Gilman Tunnels are a short detour off the Jemez Mountain Trail Scenic Byway; check out the website for more information http://www.newmexico.org/jemez-mountain-trail/

Yosemite National Park (part 3, final)

Today is the final day of my workshop/vacation.  Believe it or not I am up at 430 again to catch sunrise from Tunnel View.  I figure I won’t be here again anytime soon so I had better do it now.  The weather forecasters are predicting a front passing through the area with some wind but I’m not counting on anything.

Again, I am the first one set up waiting for something to happen.  There are some clouds in the area but it’s too dark to tell what’s going on up there....

Slow start

One month in and I’m already one month behind.  I have been delinquent in getting out for my monthly hikes; a goal for 2015.  I can use the ‘snow’ excuse since it did ‘snow’, I’m afraid when I show my snow images you will roll your eyes, shake your head followed by leaving my blog, never to return.  I know better than to believe the weather forecasters about precipitation but I don’t want to be two hours away in my little truck without snow tires when they happen to get the forecast right.

Expected departure 720 AM

That’s not my departure; my departure started at 500 this morning.  I have a 90 minute drive to the Bosque del Apache to catch the morning exodus of snow geese.  I have visited the Bosque several times; always catching their return at the end of the day.  It is a sight to see but the return is not as organized as the mass flight out in the morning.  Since my visit to the Bosque two weeks ago I decided to make the extra effort to see the morning flight.

Yosemite National Park (part 2)

Sentinel Dome

430 sure does come around early, especially when one is on vacation!  Yes I did get up at 430 so I could be ready and waiting for sunrise in Yosemite Valley.  I studied the maps so I’d know where to stop. Once you miss your stop it’s a long drive through the park to get back here.

As it turns out I am not the first up and about; as I get out of the car I already see climbers scaling up El Capitan.  In the dark, I could plainly see several groups of climber's headlamps sweeping up and down the rock face as they slowly moved up the mountain....