San Antonio Creek, August 11 - 13, 2017

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“Bad weather makes for good photography”.  One of the many statements uttered from my landscape photo instructors.  Bad weather is promised; rain most of the day Friday and Saturday with partial clearing on Sunday.  How much rain, who knows, somewhere over a half in is promised in Jemez Springs.  I’m going higher so I’m expecting more.

Valles Caldera, July 22, 2017

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“Where do you want to hike???”   “I don’t know where do you want to hike???”  Sometimes that’s how our hiking discussions start, other times we already have something in mind.  We put this question to the new hiker in our mini-hiking group, Nicida.  It is a bit unfair to do this because she is relatively new to the area.  Laurie and I have been hiking/exploring for better than the past year always looking for something different.  “How about the Valles Caldera?”  Valles Caldera (VC) it is.

Valles Caldera, Sept 11, 2015

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We’re hitting the Valles Caldera one last time before it becomes a part of the National Parks System.  We visited the Caldera several times this year when the Preserve started issuing a limited number backcountry passes to the general public on a daily basis.  We like the open area of the San Antonio valley for both hiking and fly-fishing.  We don’t know what if any changes will come of the transfer of ownership.

We know not to expect fall colors, based on previous years they are not due until sometime in mid October.  Since our deluge in July we have gone back to a drier than normal August and first part of September.  We are certain the rivers will be down so we are prepared to make this a photo trip.

Valles Caldera, a week later (June 5, 2015)

The Caldera draws me/Byron like a magnet.  We were here only two weeks ago but we have to go again.  The people working the desk recognize us from our last visit telling us what kind of water levels and fishing conditions to expect. A few people are signing up for the back road passes but there are still passes available.

Valles Caldera, May 22, 2015

The Valles Caldera Preserve, (VC) has recently been incorporated into the National Parks System.  Operating under the new government entity has brought new fees and new access.  Byron suggested we visit before throngs of people take advantage of the new system.  To find out more about the Valles Caldera go to http://www.vallescaldera.gov/

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.

Snowshoeing at the Valles Caldera

South Mountain trail

I have been going up to the Valles Caldera National Preserve, VC, a few times each year for the past several years.  I’ve taken a few of their guided tours and hiked around a bit on my own.  When I received an email announcing a ‘Guided Winter Wildlife Adaptations Snowshoeing Adventure’ I marked my calendar with the hope of snowshoeing.  I have never snowshoed before so this will be an adventure.  Now all we need is snow.

  

Rio San Antonio (part 1 of 3)

Sept 28, 2013

We went back to a river (stream) hike this time.  The Rio San Antonio (RSA) goes through the Valles Caldera and emerges into the Santa Fe National Forest at the west boundary of the Valles Caldera.  We drove up through the Santa Fe National Forest and found a spot where we could hike down to the river…

Valles Caldera hike

Penstemons

Earlier this year I wrote about the Valles Caldera, VC, and how I was going to get back for more hiking.  In late May we had several forest fires go through the area one of which went through a portion of the VC.  The VC closed around Memorial Day weekend and I wasn’t certain when it would open again.  Around mid July I looked at their calendar and saw they had just opened up and they were hosting their ‘Wildflowers’ guided hike.  I wanted to make this hike hoping to see many wildflowers in the VC so I made my reservation….