2010 Mountains and Flowers

The flowers in Colorado were outstanding.

The Jemez in the fall was beautiful this year.

Opening day at Pajarito, January 1, 2011

2010 Hiking with Friends and Family

Hiking in Colorado with Janet near Mt. Princeton.

Burnt Mesa, New Mexico with Marian, Jean, Burt and Janet and John in the autumn.
The largest tree in Los Alamos County is in Valle Canyon, Yvonne, Annette, Marilyn and Kathy are standing in front.

An outstanding trip to Bryce Canyon in April with the hiking group.

Hiking in New Mexico

Annette and I explored the canyons in the South Jemez Mountains, Cochiti, Del Norte and Medio dia. We discovered a ghost town, a private wilderness preserve, tent rocks and beautiful views of the distant Sandias, as well as a dire warning to stay out of a private developement.
We used several maps, and found old abandoned trails and roads to travel on. We hope to bring our hiking group to these places next summer

Bryce Canyon in April

In mid April about 18 of us from the hiking group spent three days hiking in Bryce Canyon. There were beautiful colors and forms that surrounded you at all times. The weather was variable, from warm and sunny to a wind chill factor of 10 degrees the last snowy and windy day. We were all hikers so we enjoyed it all. Milt's knees held up well, there was a hot tub to soak in and recover at the end of the day. Bryce had a big winter and some of the trails were still completely covered in snow. The drive was beautiful also, through canyons and desert. A great southwest experience.

Nambe Lake, almost

June 4, the goal of the hike was Nambe Lake, at around 11,000 elevation. Annette and I forged on ahead of the group of hikers to see if it was possible to make it that high. Early in the hike we were postholing through drifts of snow, walking on wet mud and soggy bogs, but we soldiered on. Till finally it was wall to wall deep snow. The only way to go forward was on a steep talus slope. We decided that with just two of us, we would not try anything risky. But there were a couple of lovely meadows, with flowers, rushing streams of water everywhere. Summer will arrive, maybe next month we'll try for Nambe lake again.

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.

Skiing at Vail, 2007-08 season

Lots of snow at Vail this season. We were there in December, February and April. Not many sunny days and lots of powder days. No complaints from us. We had fun with friends and family and enjoyed this epic winter.

December and February slide show
April slide show

Can you see how spring just didn't sprung!