Monday, July 11, 2016

Having fun hiking along Las Conchas and East Fork Trail in the Jemez Mountains 7/8/2016

Jennise was successful getting us back to the Jemez Mountains and the East Fork of the Jemez River after a failed attempt on Memorial Day   It was a warm day but the refreshing water along the trail and walking in the river in the box canyon kept us cool in mind, body, & spirit .  We all had such a fun hike topped off by the Hoofer Rubber Duckie Race! (this time a team event).  Unfortunately (this being my first hike here in YEARS) I went crazy taking pictures and used up my camera's battery...(I knew I should have brought a fresh one with me) but thanks to Kathleen who took over for me to capture what I couldn't we have  a complete set of pictures!

Ah, The crazy Hoofers: First row: Missy and Karen.  Back Row: Josie (Hilda's granddaughter--are we truly old enough to be grandmothers?) Pat, Hilda, Jennise--our leader, Brigitte, Sally, Kathleen, Betty and Judy

And Rose!

Results of the Las Conchas Fire


At the Trailhead

Hairy Golden Asters

Hairy Golden Asters
While waiting for the cars to be parked at the end of the hike I had a chance to take some pictures 





 Hooker's Evening Primrose


Western Yarrow


Hoofers waiting to start the hike

Heading out


Hiking along the Jemez River

Fanleaf Buttercup

Wild Rose


While taking a picture of this bridge which no longer crossed any water I caught 2 butterflies in flight without even trying...bet I can't do that again!  Thanks to Jean I just found out that these are possibly the Atlantis Fritillary Butterflies!  And as usual, thanks to Jean for her help in identifying the wildflowers that I need help with.





Crossing the river


The fields along the river were filled with these beautiful Daisies 

Crossing another bridge
Hooker's Evening Primrose



Scarlet Penstemon


This bridge bounces so Brigitte is telling those behind her to let her go across by herself

Some people don't like swimming in water above their heads (C'est moi) while others have this thing about crossing bridges

Northern Bedstraw

Richardson's Geranium
Another Bridge Crossing






Wild Roses


Jacob's Ladder


Cinquefoil Bush / Potentilla Bush

Cinquefoil Bush / Potentilla Bush

Black-eyed Susan 

Fleabane


 Fendler's Sandwort













Scarlet Penstemons



Black-eyed Susan


Black-eyed Susan

So many beautiful Black-eyed Susans

Black-eyed Susan


Blue Flax

Blue Flax

Scarlet Gilia a.k.a. Skyrocket

Hooker's Evening Primrose
 Skyrockets Still celebrating the 4th of July 
For our personal entertainment, we had some rock climbers on a nearby rock wall


She was having a hard time making the climb...but we had to give her kudos for trying at all

True Forget-Me-Nots (sorry the pictures did not come out on these.  They were very tiny...but at least you can get an idea what they look like)

True Forget-Me-Not  (as oppose to the False Forget-Me-Nots)

Hooker's Evening Primrose with Wild Rose


Some time around here my camera starts screaming at me "Change the battery!"  Which I didn't bring an extra...so I nurse a few more pictures out of her...while asking Kathleen to take over.  These next few pictures will be the last I take on this hike

Field of Daisies

 Scarlet Gilia 

Butterfly on Beebalm... just missed it with its wings opened

BeeBalm  (A.K.A Bergamot)


3 more miles to go to the end of the hike...except we are going to take a detour to the river to have some fun  

Walking through some Aspens

You can make a lot of wishes on this Salsify

Beautiful Blue Fungus Beetle

Reaching the Box Canyon -- time to change shoes and head into the water



At the end of the box we meet some sunbathers and a family having fun in the water fall

Heading back after the river fun we had to climb a series of staircases up the steep slope..we were thankful for the stairs
That was the last picture I got out of my battery...the following pictures are courtesy of Kathleen!

A river crossing...some unknown hiker at the back is trying to take a picture from her camera 

Daisies

Bee Balm

Hilda posing for a picture (how come no one poses for me?)

Another bridge crossing

Purple Geranium

White Checkermallow



A very large tree we had to climb over on a steep sloping part of the trail.  I actually got quite a large bruise on my thigh as I hit it against a small stub from a branch


Bearcorn

Scarlet Penstemons 

Field of Aspens

I have no idea why Kathleen took this picture...could it be the tiny pinecone seed pods?  Correction, Kathleen said that she was taking a picture of the Horned Toad...check out lower left hand corner for the elusive critter!

Lunchtime, looks like Hilda is having a beer

Sally must have dropped something, Karen is trying to smile with her mouth full of food and Josie  is eyeing her grandmother's (Hilda's) Beer

Pat and Missy are deep in conversation while Judy, like Karen, is trying to smile with her mouth full of food

Jennise is screeching because she just ate some seaweed and did not like it...I am looking at her like..."What's your problem, girl?  I told you not to eat it!"

A beautiful shot of  Redondo Peak


Hoofers enter the stream that leads to the Box Canyon


A small waterfall

Posing Pretty


The young ones like to show off their youthful bodies


The waterfall at the end of the canyon

Kathleen and Jennise


A rare photograph of Rose and Brigitte

Herding the ducks down the stream...Brigitte and Rose's team ducks (Batman) are in 2nd and 3rd place...Josie's duck is just seconds ahead in first place

All the Hoofers herding their ducks trying to keep them in the fastest part of the stream



Race is over and Judy's duck comes from way behind to take over FIRST PLACE...her prize a Clover blossom necklace made by Jennise who congratulates her

Judy and her winning duck....Super Duck

At the finish line I catch the ducks and place them on the log bridge in the order they came in...starting at the far left. Judy's  duck (Superman Duck) in first place,  Rose's duck (Batman Duck) was in second place...He could have won if Judy's Superman Duck did not "fly" across the finish line.  My partner Brigitte's duck got stuck in a pool of dead water and finished last.  Betty and Karen's team ducks (Green Lantern Ducks) were the first complete team to finish. Sally's duck never made it to the finish line...funeral plans are pending until the body is found.
 (photo courtesy of Jennise)


MANY OF THE HIKERS CLAIMED THAT THIS WAS SUCH A FUN HIKE---
THIS PICTURE SAYS IT ALL!!

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