Barb led us on a quick 5-mile hike along the western side of the Rio Grande before a winter storm with high winds hit the area. Her timing was perfect as the wind came up just as we got back to the cars making the ride home exciting as we dodged tumbleweeds and stirred clear of the 18-wheelers having difficulty staying in their lane. It wasn't the prettiest hike as winter has descended upon us and the Cottonwoods lost all their color...but we did see quite a few Canadian Geese (trying to fly against the wind and not making any progress) taking shelter along the the Rio.
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| Trailhead signage |
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| A large turnout: Kneeling: Lynda, Jennise, Karen, Back row: Lynda's guest: Helene, Bridget, Meagan, our leader: Barb, Ginny, Pat, Rita, Jane, Missy, and.... |
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| Rose |
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| Barb leading us out |
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| Hoofers Heading Out |
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| We saw many of the benches added to the Bosque Trail by Eagle Scout Robert Ortiz |
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| A blind to watch the birds |
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| Pictures of the Sandia Mountains and the Rio Grande |
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| Hoofers waiting for me to catch up as I am taking photos |
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| We saw quite a lot of Canadian Geese |
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| Even in winter there was color...the red are the stems of the bare willow plants |
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| A close-up shot of a possible Beaver Den |
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| The Bosque Trail meanders between the river and some beautiful homes which have a great view of the river and the Sandia Mountains |
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| A Tree after a possible lightning strike |
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| Another possible Beaver Den |
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| I was able to capture the Rio Grande Alligator rumored to inhabit this part of the river |
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| OK it was just a log... :) |
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| At this part of the river we saw white rapids |
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| Definitely something large rocks, fallen trees, ???, are under the water to cause the rapids |
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| More views of the rapids... |
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| ...and the debris in the area |
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| This area is known as North Beach |
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| It's a desert...you can't expect a large beach |
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| I saw this concrete box along the trail |
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| Not sure what its purpose was |
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| More Canadian Geese |
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| Some type of Legume, but since it is not flowering I don't have to identify it! |
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| Walking through the Bosque |
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| We saw many large cottonwoods that bit the dust |
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| In this area they blocked the Bosque trail so we had to climb up out of the trees and walk along the higher trail |
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| The wind started picking up and the geese were having a terrible time flying against the ~50 mph winds expected that day |
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| They kept having to turn back north as they tried to fly south against the wind |
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| Lynda pointed out the layers of river rock versus mud/sand that had been deposited over the years |
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| Burro's Tail... a nice picture to mark the end of our Walk in the Bosque |
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