Hiking up to Domingo Baca Canyon

We all woke up to rain...most of us wondering if the hike would be cancelled, but Sally said let's just meet at her house which was near the trail head and we would decide then whether to hike or not.  Sally is the Weather Guru--once in Colorado we woke up to a rainstorm and she said we're going hiking.  And the weather did a complete about face and turned out to be a beautiful day.  So I have learned to trust the Weather Guru, and once again we had a great hike...alright, it did start raining again on the way out of the canyon, oh and yes it even started to hail; but just sesame-seed sized hail; and yes, it got freaking cold....but we got in our hike so whose complaining?  Not me, after a cup of hot coffee I was happy as a lark!!

Blooming Cactus in Sally's yard (Claret Cup)

The Hoofers: Pat, Kathleen, Jennise, our leader: Sally, Barb, Ginny, Brigitte, and Jennise's Guest: Wendy

C'est Moi.  Note, we are all in our rain gear, I in my poncho, to ward off the possibility of rain

Heading Out

Dakota Vervain aka Verbenna

Hiking up the arroyo from Sally's house to Domingo Baca...yeah, don't ever hike in an arroyo if it is raining...

Scarlet Hedgehog

Bear Grass...Male of the species (white ones are female)

Fendlerbush

Fendlerbush with mountain looking south

Cutflower Puccoon aka Fringed Gromwell

Hidden Flower--with the blossoms more prevalent than usual

The next 6 pictures are of  Bladderpods they were everywhere!

Bear Grass: purple and white (??)

Love the Boulders

Here the rock shows wear from the years of water running over it

Spring Green leaves on a tree as we get close to Domingo Baca Canyon

Perky Sue

Another Scarlet Hedgehog

As we enter the canyon, a discussion breaks out whether the clouds are lifting

We hopefully decided they were

Fendlerbush

Still have not completed the renovation of the herder's shelter since the last time we were here

In the canyon

We were happy to see the stream with lots of water in it

Benefits of a good rain

Poison Ivy, without the leaves--just the white berries Just so you know You look for 3 leaves deep green and waxy, Red leaves (Fall) and the white berries...rarely all three will appear at one time.

The Poison Ivy is always at this spot, where we climb out of the lower canyon to the upper part of Domingo Baca Canyon

Passing by the Blue Tram car: those poor tourists not getting much of a view

The Red Tram just clearing the second tower

The Red and Blue Tram cars about to pass at the midway point

Canada Violets

Creeping Mahonia aka Oregon Grape according to Kathleen they are edible when they turn purple to red in the fall: just don't fight over them with a black bear!

Looking down at the pond that forms from the stream

Our old Hoofer Wiener Roast Picnic spot from back in the day when it was safe to have a campfire--the trail was moved to this side of the stream and this spot was opened up -- it had been filled with brush and fallen trees for the past few years

Water streaming down the side of the canyon resulting in  beautiful moss-covered rocks

Lanceleaf Bluebells aka Rocky Mountain Bluebells

This rock ledge marked the turnaround  spot of our hike as some of the Hoofers were uncomfortable climbing up the wet rocks--we had hoped to go to the bottom of the waterfall as we were sure there would be plenty of water--maybe next time

An actual blue violet, very rare here as most that we see are the white Canada Violets

Alpine Clematis aka Rocky Mountain Clematis

Pygmyflower Rock Jasmine aka Northern Fairy Candelabra

Groundsel

Groundsel

New Trail marked by fallen trees

I found two of these in the same spot.  They seemed to have been uprooted. I have no idea what they are but the brilliant colors caught my eye.  Note the leaves showing the scale of this specimen

Finding a nice spot for our lunch

Brigitte, Kathleen, Ginny, Pat, Sally and Jennise who did not look at me when I took the picture...

She was too busy laughing at Barb who insisted on doing her hair before I snapped a picture of her... Ta Da!! Barb is finally ready and Wendy is getting hungry

I took off the poncho and the hat which explains the "hat hair"  I should have fluffed it first like Barb did

Looking around the lunch site

We actually found a blooming apple tree along the path...some bear may be very happy this fall

I always love a shot where nature finds a way to grow

This has always been my favorite tree in the canyon... and it is looking quite the worse for wear--I am sure it won't be around much longer.  This is the last picture I took, as it started to rain and hail and I had to protect my camera...but we all made it home safe and sound   Happy Trails!!!