The Hike Almost Up to Deception Peak Also Known as the Raven's Ridge Trail --9/16/2016

Rain at the beginning of a hike..not a good sign especially when the plan is to take a hike up Raven's Ridge to Deception Peak which is above the tree line...you just don't want to be the tallest thing on the top of a mountain if there is even the chance of lightning.  But does this deter the Hoofers...nah, we know it is New Mexico wait 5- 20 minutes and the weather WILL change.  So there is always hope for a great hike

The non-detoured Hoofers:  Brigitte (our leader), Ginny, Meagan, Jane, Lynda, Rita, the bravest Hoofer of all as she is the tallest and the one most likely to be targeted by the lightning

...and Karen

Gentium 

New signs on Winsor Trail and  Raven Ridge junction

First break at overlook along Raven's Ridge: Meagan, Rita, and Ginny. As can be seen, ponchos are no longer required

Brigitte

Brigitte feeding Camp Robber bird:  this of course will only encourage them more

Purple Asters

 Ginny, Jane, Lynda & Rita stopped part way up the trail  and returned to the cars.  Brigitte, Meagan & Karen continued up, but didn’t make it all the way up the Ridge.  However, they had lunch in the trees with a view of Nambe Lake

Brigitte at the lunch log

View of Name Lake through the trees

Meagan with a beautiful background

Moss covered rock and a view of Nambe Lake

Another view of Nambe Lake

Karen reported that this was as high as they climbed.  At the beginning  of the hike it rained/hailed a little, enough to put on the rain gear, and then as they were making their way to the top they heard thunder and had a little more hail, not enough to put on their raingear, but enough to turn around and call it a day. By the time they finished the hike the sun came out...isn't that how it goes sometimes!

Meagan sent in the following pictures:

A selfie with a nice view of the mountain and the weather that is threatening

At the base of the Raven Ridge trail, Meagan shows Karen how a group selfie is down

So far, the only two Trekkers or Hoofers that I know of who climbed to the very top of Deception Peak was Brigitte and Rose...(c'est moi) back in October of 2014.  check out the Trekker Blog for that write up on the hike.   

 Link:   

 http://tuesdaytrekkers.blogspot.com/search/label/Deception%20Peak 

Now I AM bragging and also throwing down the gauntlet to the rest of you.  

(Brigitte and I no longer HAVE to climb it since we have already done so...)

Happy Hoofing!!