Dear all: Debby and I spent part of today walking along a most pleasing arroyo that leads to the west side of Sierra de la Cruz. Most of the time we walked on the red sandstone but here some areas were just full of those circular reduction spots in all different sizes (see attached photo). Also we found lots of evidence of spring flowers getting ready to bust out in bloom. We figure it's 2-1/2 miles to the south saddle of the Mt. from the starting point which is ~45-50 minutes drive (ordinary cars are OK).
Please meet us at 8 am, Saturday April 10 at the usual Socorro Consolidated Schools parking lot (or 8:15 at Escondida Bridge if that's easier for you). Bring snacks, water, etc. and cameras.
Bob and Debby
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
February 6 Hike
Bob Merkel writes:
This past Saturday ten of us saw a brand new (to us) part of the Quebradas. I'm already wanting to try a different route in that very interesting area sometime in the growing season later this year.
Sierra de la Cruz near the SE corner of the Sevilleta Refuge is a domed mountain that is visible, northeast from the Socorro area, to the right of the Cerrillos del Coyote. The route to there is from Escondida, across the Rio Grande, up Johnson Hill, and several miles beyond the site of a hike we did last fall.
It will be another new exploration with a round trip hike distance around 4 miles from the closest road to the east. The top of the dome is just shy of 6400 feet. If you want to try this one out, plan on being at the Socorro School Admin. parking lot at 9 am dressed for the weather and with some lunch. Bob
PS There is a "Sierra de la Cruz" 7-1/2-minute topographic map available from the Bureau of Geology at NM Tech.
This past Saturday ten of us saw a brand new (to us) part of the Quebradas. I'm already wanting to try a different route in that very interesting area sometime in the growing season later this year.
Sierra de la Cruz near the SE corner of the Sevilleta Refuge is a domed mountain that is visible, northeast from the Socorro area, to the right of the Cerrillos del Coyote. The route to there is from Escondida, across the Rio Grande, up Johnson Hill, and several miles beyond the site of a hike we did last fall.
It will be another new exploration with a round trip hike distance around 4 miles from the closest road to the east. The top of the dome is just shy of 6400 feet. If you want to try this one out, plan on being at the Socorro School Admin. parking lot at 9 am dressed for the weather and with some lunch. Bob
PS There is a "Sierra de la Cruz" 7-1/2-minute topographic map available from the Bureau of Geology at NM Tech.
Monday, November 16, 2009
December 12 Hike
Bob Merkel writes:
We didn't want to do this hike during mosquito season but that's long past. The Save Our Bosque Task Force has developed, over the past few years, a very pleasing hiking/biking/horseback-riding trail along the west side of the river that runs all the way from San Antonio to San Acacia. There are about fifteen picnic areas with concrete picnic tables and firepits along the way. There's even a handicapped-accessible section of it between two of the picnic areas.
This is a hike of 3 miles or so that will be one-way with a convenient short car shuttle. The starting point for the hike will be at the "Sandbar" picnic area a couple of miles north from the east end of Otero Street and the ending point will be Escondida Bridge. The road along the Low Flow Conveyance Channel is "smooth" gravel but high clearance vehicles will be helpful.
Let's meet at the Socorro Public School admin. bldg. on Franklin St. at 9 am as usual and dressed for the weather, whatever it might be that day.
We didn't want to do this hike during mosquito season but that's long past. The Save Our Bosque Task Force has developed, over the past few years, a very pleasing hiking/biking/horseback-riding trail along the west side of the river that runs all the way from San Antonio to San Acacia. There are about fifteen picnic areas with concrete picnic tables and firepits along the way. There's even a handicapped-accessible section of it between two of the picnic areas.
This is a hike of 3 miles or so that will be one-way with a convenient short car shuttle. The starting point for the hike will be at the "Sandbar" picnic area a couple of miles north from the east end of Otero Street and the ending point will be Escondida Bridge. The road along the Low Flow Conveyance Channel is "smooth" gravel but high clearance vehicles will be helpful.
Let's meet at the Socorro Public School admin. bldg. on Franklin St. at 9 am as usual and dressed for the weather, whatever it might be that day.
Monday, October 19, 2009
November 8 Hike
Because of a conflict I have on Saturday November 7th, I'm planning a hike on Sunday, November 8th, at Bosque del Apache (the following weekend is just before the Festival of the Cranes). In the last several months a good deal of work has been done in the vicinity of the boardwalk on the Marsh Loop in the Refuge. I want to start and end at the boardwalk parking area, follow the trail beyond the boardwalk, up to an elevated site that overlooks a wonderful recently-flooded area that's been hosting all sorts of waterbirds, and around a loop back. It's a great opportunity to see some of the winter wildlife that the Refuge is famous for.
We'll meet at 9 am at the Socorro Public Schools Admin. Bldg. parking lot on Franklin St. to carpool down there. Bring binocs if you have them. Unfortunately, the now-famous Buckhorn in San Antonio is closed on Sundays but we should be finished in time for lunch back home. Bob
We'll meet at 9 am at the Socorro Public Schools Admin. Bldg. parking lot on Franklin St. to carpool down there. Bring binocs if you have them. Unfortunately, the now-famous Buckhorn in San Antonio is closed on Sundays but we should be finished in time for lunch back home. Bob
Thursday, September 24, 2009
October 10 Hike
Bob Merkel writes:
This past Saturday, Debby and I hiked up to a wonderful and bizarre area beyond Johnson Hill northeast of Escondida. Part of it is covered with a layer of gypsum rock on which only some very specialized plants will grow. I'm attaching a photo of our "Chimney" destination, some pronghorns we saw, and two of the plants.
This place is so interesting I want to take folks there next month. Let's meet at 9 am Saturday, October 10th at the Socorro Consolidated Schools parking lot on Franklin Street. Water, snacks, sun protection, etc. are recommended. I also plan to show you a VERY funky abandoned house on the way back.
Bob
This past Saturday, Debby and I hiked up to a wonderful and bizarre area beyond Johnson Hill northeast of Escondida. Part of it is covered with a layer of gypsum rock on which only some very specialized plants will grow. I'm attaching a photo of our "Chimney" destination, some pronghorns we saw, and two of the plants.
This place is so interesting I want to take folks there next month. Let's meet at 9 am Saturday, October 10th at the Socorro Consolidated Schools parking lot on Franklin Street. Water, snacks, sun protection, etc. are recommended. I also plan to show you a VERY funky abandoned house on the way back.
Bob
Monday, July 6, 2009
July 11 Hike
Bob Merkel wrote:
Sort-of halfway up the road from Water Canyon to South Baldy in the Magdalenas there is a side road right by a hairpin turn. It leads up a hill (we walked it a couple of years ago) and then, past a gate, to old abandoned mine operations. Looks like about 1-1/2 miles and 400 feet elevation change (a little below 8600 feet) in the woods. I don't even know what was mined there: Smithsonite? Galena?
Anyway, that's where we're going on Saturday, July 11th. Leaving at 8 am from the Socorro Consolidated Schools offices on Franklin Street.
Sort-of halfway up the road from Water Canyon to South Baldy in the Magdalenas there is a side road right by a hairpin turn. It leads up a hill (we walked it a couple of years ago) and then, past a gate, to old abandoned mine operations. Looks like about 1-1/2 miles and 400 feet elevation change (a little below 8600 feet) in the woods. I don't even know what was mined there: Smithsonite? Galena?
Anyway, that's where we're going on Saturday, July 11th. Leaving at 8 am from the Socorro Consolidated Schools offices on Franklin Street.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
June 13 Hike
Bob Merkle writes:
Hike for Saturday morning, June 13th. Meet at 8am at Socorro Schools Admin. Bldg on Franklin Street. High clearance helpful but I'm figuring we park without going into the very sandy arroyo bottom. Bring hat, water, sun protection, etc. and be prepared for some scrambling - we have not visited this specific part of the canyon before. The destination is ~500 feet vertical higher than the parking area.
I've been wanting to explore a couple of the high places capped with volcanic rocks (containing crystal quartz and chalcedony in voids) on the north side of Nogal Canyon near San Antonio. Also, in 2 weeks there may be a good display of wildflowers in the canyon.
Bob
Hike for Saturday morning, June 13th. Meet at 8am at Socorro Schools Admin. Bldg on Franklin Street. High clearance helpful but I'm figuring we park without going into the very sandy arroyo bottom. Bring hat, water, sun protection, etc. and be prepared for some scrambling - we have not visited this specific part of the canyon before. The destination is ~500 feet vertical higher than the parking area.
I've been wanting to explore a couple of the high places capped with volcanic rocks (containing crystal quartz and chalcedony in voids) on the north side of Nogal Canyon near San Antonio. Also, in 2 weeks there may be a good display of wildflowers in the canyon.
Bob
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