Valle Canyon to Cerro Grande

May 28, Annette and I led the hiking group to the top of Cerro Grande on a rather mixed weather day. In the early morning it was foggy and cloudy, cool and breezy. This made for a nice cool hike. Then the clouds broke as we arrived on the high ridge. During lunch the clouds raced overhead, seemingly within reach of our hands.

The red columbines were all throughout the forest as we climbed up to the ridge along the fence line. Bunches of them, spaced about every 20 or 30 feet. The violets were still in bloom and the iris were beginning to pop out in the lower meadows. Valle Canyon is showing recovery from the fire. Aspens are beginning to take over, the stream is pretty with ferns and grasses growing along the banks. The burnt trees are slowly falling down and will soon be covered with bushes and new trees. The mountain bikers are keeping the trail clear of dead fall!

We had a momentous event, a first ascent for two of our hikers, Mahlon and his grandson, Eamonn. Plus, we planned just right, we could fit all of the peak baggers in the one car we had left at the end of the trail at St. Rd 4 and 289. And the rain didn't begin until the drive home.