Ojito Wilderness, Feb 13 and Mar 6

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Ojito is one of my favorite places to hike in the winter.  I have been here at least a half-a-dozen times, even if I hike the same ‘trails’, which are more a suggestion than an actual trail, I always see something different.

On the first trip this year I went with my new hiking companion, Laurie.  She has been here several times hiking in an entirely different area than Byron and I have visited.

Dilemma, January 29, 2016

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My predicament has been a long time coming…  I looked through my earlier postings and see that it started around 2012 with a hike in the Jemez Mountains, the Rio Cebolla in particular.

I have been day-hiking on and off for the last 25 or so years.  I have been enjoying my hikes through New Mexico with different friends and coworkers; occasionally on my own much to my wife’s apprehension.  During the first years it was enough to get out just hiking.

Bosque del Apache, Dec 20, 2015

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‘Not many birds at the Bosque del Apache’ was the word from my friend Byron when he and his wife went down for their annual Thanksgiving trip.

It has been warm around the rest of the country so maybe the geese, ducks, cranes and other birds are taking their chances staying further up north.  I know I don’t care much for flying any more but that’s another subject.

White Sands National Monument, Dec 31, 2015 - Jan 1, 2016

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Total Silence.

After putting on my camera pack then hiking for five minutes I was greeted by total silence.

If you have been following my blog over the past few years you know I have been day-hiking monthly through northern New Mexico.  In all my hikes I have never experienced quiet like this.  Because it’s a holiday Holloman Air Force Base is quiet, there’s no birds, there’s no breeze, no wildlife that I can see, and because I was the second car of three in line to get into the park there’s no traffic or people.  Each people-packed vehicle seems to know where they want to go and go there.  With the monument made up of 275 square miles of gypsum it is easy to get away from others if you want.

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.

Rio Puerco, July 17, 2015

The Rio Puerco; Byron and I have been looking forward to returning here since we got back home from our visit last year.  It is a long hike, approximately five miles, but that makes the fishing and photography all the better.  We only know of a few other diehard fishermen or women that will make this hike for the opportunity to land wild cutthroats in a pristine river valley.  Last year’s visit was the first time I gave fly fishing a try, and was successful at landing a few trout.

Rio Mora, July 3, 2015

It’s the Fourth of July weekend so we are expecting lots of campers, along with campers come fishermen and women.  Since Mark and Byron don’t like to share fishing locations we anticipate hiking some distance to get to a long, empty spot on the river.  This really works into Mark’s plan.  He and Byron have fished the Mora several times and never made it upstream more than a mile or so.  Those of you that have been following my blog know that they rarely make it more than 20 minutes upstream from the last people they see before they have to stop, put together their gear and start fishing.  This time Mark’s goal is to make it to the confluence of the Mora and Bear Creek somewhere between one and a half and two miles upriver.

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/

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.