Work yesterday kicked my butt! I know it was only 24 hours long but it felt longer. Anyway My energy level was so low I decided that I couldn't write anything coherent last night. :-(
Mark Twain said, "Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the things you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
24 July 2006: the trek continues
Ponderosa Pine.
As we hike along towards Visto Grande, we stop every 20-30 minutes for a rest break. Usually a person would lean with their pack against an availabe tree. Not us. Ponderosa pine being an indiginous tree in these parts, we would move close to a ponderosa and put our nose up against the bark and drink in the sweet vanilla-butterscotch aroma which exudes from these trees. It was invigorating, and restorative.
The moniker of Visto Grande was given to this area for the following reasons:
Continuing down to the valley, we crossed the Cimarron River, filling our water bottles as we crossed via a wooden foot bridge.
Of course when you hike down to the river, the next course is uphill again. It was common this far into the trek for someone to comment; "I don't like going downhill 'cause that means we have a longer uphill climb." Climb we did, up Bear Canyon toward Santa Claus Camp. As we crested the mountain and were just about 600 yds. from Santa Claus Camp (we didn't know how close the camp was 'til later) the sky darkened and we were deluged with rain, hail and tremendous thunder and lightening! Well, let me tell you, the last place you want to be in a thunder and lightening storm is on the top of a mountain. For 25 minutes we endured; separated and in the lightening position. Twenty-five minutes never seemed so long.------------------
The storm did pass and other than being soaked and cold no one was the worse for the wear. We all were able to get water proof covers on and over our packs and some of us donned some rain gear.
Next: We get lost again ;-) not too bad really, just a 1/2 hr. out of our way.
Mark Twain said, "Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the things you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
24 July 2006: the trek continues
Ponderosa Pine.
As we hike along towards Visto Grande, we stop every 20-30 minutes for a rest break. Usually a person would lean with their pack against an availabe tree. Not us. Ponderosa pine being an indiginous tree in these parts, we would move close to a ponderosa and put our nose up against the bark and drink in the sweet vanilla-butterscotch aroma which exudes from these trees. It was invigorating, and restorative.
The moniker of Visto Grande was given to this area for the following reasons:
Continuing down to the valley, we crossed the Cimarron River, filling our water bottles as we crossed via a wooden foot bridge.
Of course when you hike down to the river, the next course is uphill again. It was common this far into the trek for someone to comment; "I don't like going downhill 'cause that means we have a longer uphill climb." Climb we did, up Bear Canyon toward Santa Claus Camp. As we crested the mountain and were just about 600 yds. from Santa Claus Camp (we didn't know how close the camp was 'til later) the sky darkened and we were deluged with rain, hail and tremendous thunder and lightening! Well, let me tell you, the last place you want to be in a thunder and lightening storm is on the top of a mountain. For 25 minutes we endured; separated and in the lightening position. Twenty-five minutes never seemed so long.------------------
The storm did pass and other than being soaked and cold no one was the worse for the wear. We all were able to get water proof covers on and over our packs and some of us donned some rain gear.
Next: We get lost again ;-) not too bad really, just a 1/2 hr. out of our way.
posted by rel at 5:12 AM
7 Comments:
Hello Remiman,
I am still enjoying your adventures from the comfort of my little office here and thank you for them..............Your photos have been great and if I reach out I am sure that water is cold! :o)
See you again very soon.
Definitely not a good place to be in a lightning storm! Great photos - thanks for the glimpses into your adventures. And yes, Mark Twain was right - it's the things one doesn't do that disappoint. Luckily, I've done much of what I wanted and don't have those kinds of regrets.
Imagination is a gift from God.
I have cancer and can no longer do the things I loved to do. I am a fighter though. Thank you for visiting me.
Angel Feathers Tickle Me
I've read all of the story of your trip to New Mexico now and it sounds as though you had an interesting time! Some of the scenery is truly magnificent, I'd love to visit some of the states of the Old West one day. So far all my trips to the US have been to New england with a side trip to Washington DC and Virginia one time. Looking forward to the next instalment.
I really don't know how you and the group kept up such a punishing pace during all those climbs up and downhill!! I would have been exhausted the very first day! lol From seeing the pictures, I can understand why it's called Visto Grande...what a beautiful sight!! I was hoping you were ok last night when I noticed you hadn't made a post...see how we get used to each other and worry if one or the other isn't posting?? lol Take care my friend and I look forward to the continuing adventure:-)
I'm with pea. That looked exhausting...
I could get lost in those mountains and be happy about it. So beautiful. Still hoping for a trip there in October to catch the color.
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