We took a break from sheet-mulching new garden beds and headed up to the Manzano Mountains to see Fall in action. We hiked about 2 hours on the 4th of July Campground Trail which led us along the edge of a canyon that provided wonderful acoustics for making echoes. (At 44, I still love doing this).
From left to right: Maggie, Tree and Tessie
Wow, Jen let me take her photo.
Looks like where we used to live in the Catskills, NY.
Yesterday Jen and I took the dogs on a 2 hour hike around the Albuquerque Volcanoes which stand in the horizon of the West Mesa – about a 15 minute drive from the fertile fields of the South Valley. The five cinder cone volcanoes are approximately 140,000 years old and are the product of a series of fissure eruptions that coated the surrounding landscape in a basalt caprock.
We climbed to the top of the Black Volcano which offered a great view of the Sandias across the mesa. Even though you are right outside the metro area, you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. You gotta love the geographical diversity of New Mexico.
When we lived in New York City, we used to drive up to the Catskills and camp and hike on a regular basis. Once we moved there, however, it was a different story. I think we did only one hike – the Diamond Notch Trail – during our almost 8 years living in Olivebridge. Maybe it was because we had so much property right outside our door. Between our woods and the 2 adjacent parcels, there were over 100 acres to roam. The dogs and I created a nice loop of trails that I hope the new owners are enjoying as much as we did.
We’re determined to get back to hiking now that we are in New Mexico. The Sandia Mountains, which seem to me like silent sentinels watching over the hubbub of the Albuquerque area, beckon. Jen bought a couple of maps and hiking guides that we plan to work our way through. Our inaugural hike was a short one, a quick trip to the old Juan Tabo Cabin and back, a distance of about 1 mile. Here are some photos. It’s obvious that Maggie and Tessie had a great time.
Juan Tabo Cabin is a historic landmark at the western foot of the Sandias. It was headquarters for a Civilian Conservation Corps camp that included a number of buildings back in the 1930’s.
Why is it that Jen is always behind the camera?
