Jennise took us up the trail she likes to walk for exercise...It was quite the climb with a hopeful destination being the Landsend Barite Mine...but that didn't happen.
I looked up information about the trail...#1 thing I learned... we were suppose to display our National Forest/Parks parking pass on our windows...I don't believe our drivers did that so I thought I would mention it for the next time we do any hikes off the back road of NM 165...although it also says that there is no fee... so we were OK not to... just another paradox for us to contemplate on future hikes!
Osha Spring Trail is rated difficult. The entire trail that meets up with Osha Loop is 4.3 miles one way -- we did about 2.5 of those miles. The Osha Spring/Osha Loop Trail intersection elevation is ~ 9000 ft. (elevation gain of ~2500 feet). In our 3 mile hike (yes I am stretching this hike to 3 miles as Jean R.'s phone said we did this much (even though she said some of it was walking around her house...but then we all did some walking around our house too...so the 3 miles is legit)... anyway, I figure we did about 1000 ft elevation from the meager information we were getting from everyone else's phones...Jenise said something like 44 floors...(???) And most unfortunately my GPS died a few weeks ago (funeral pending). The Barite mine is somewhere between where we turned around and the junction of Osha Loop I could not figure out how close we were to the mine.... I suspect we were very close... but not sure I want to climb back up and check that out. I am afraid to say it, but I think taking 10K to Osha Loop down Osha Spring to the mine might be easier...but everything is relative as that way the hike is much longer...so you have to weigh distance against elevation gain...(one perk with Osha Spring...it is downhill all the way back to the cars--OK now I am thinking shorter is better...) well enough of that here are the pictures of the hike
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| Annette, Helene, Our Leader: Jennise, Jean R., Guest hiker Louise, Jan, Karen C., and |
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| Rose |
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| Trailhead sign |
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| Heading out! |
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| Climbing right from the start! |
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| Looking Back |
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| Looking forward |
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| The Jemez Mountains |
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| Higher than the trees and parallel to the ridge |
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| There was a sale on rocks when they built this cairn |
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| Cutflower Puccoon/ Fringed Gromwell |
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| Looking back on Jemez Mountains |
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| Zooming in on the Jemez Mountains |
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| Came across a patch of Yuccas |
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| Like everywhere else we find fallen trees |
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| Beautiful Vistas |
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| Found a big old Juniper |
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| The twisted bark was pretty fascinating |
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| Dwarf Lousewort |
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| Needing to climb over this fallen tree |
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| This rock really looks like two different rocks melded together. The little spruce branch is just for accent |
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You can tell there is quite a bit of wind here as many trees are leaning every which way
I didn't take too many pictures going up....breathing was my top priority. It is lunchtime already |
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| Jean R. |
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| Annette |
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| Jennise and Annette brought along Louise who happens to be Annette's masseuse (who is the most improved masseuse ever according to Annette) |
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| Jan |
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| Jennise, with Annette photobombing the picture |
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| Karen C. |
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| Helene |
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| Rose and once again Annette photobombing |
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| I try again but Annette is still getting in on my shot |
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| Taking some pictures of our lunch spot...this is finger rock..Jennise thought it was kind of creepy...it would be if it was a fossil |
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| Speaking of which this rock was covered with fossils |
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| Same rock |
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| We climb to the Ponderosa tree line...which is where we had lunch |
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| Somewhere up this trail is the Barite mine the trail looks very smooth and level which almost tempts us to go on--not! |
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| This rock was the backdrop at our lunch spot |
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| We all agreed to turn around and head back down |
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| Easier to stay in a tight group going down |
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Looks pretty steep doesn't it...we are way up here
Sangre de Cristos in background |
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| I wasn't the only one taking pictures as Jean R. takes a shot or two |
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| Dwarf Lousewort in front of a small spruce sapling |
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| Another cool rock too big to carry home |
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| Awesomely cool inclusions in this rock |
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| This rock was a little bit of everything |
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| Another shot of its more colorful side |
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| Quite the striations on this one almost tempted to take this one home |
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| Found a couple of Perky Sue's |
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| And just in time: An Easter Daisy |
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| Saw this nice long rectangular rock bench that would be awesome in my backyard... but no one volunteered to help me drag it down the mountain |
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| This black growth on the rock (overgrown lichen?) was soft and fuzzy |
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| Jean P. was able to identify this as Rock Cress it is in the Mustard Family |
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| This is the bottom of the flower |
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| More Easter Daisies |
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| Back at the trailhead |
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| We all had a great time on this hike |
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| Across the road where we parked the car there was a little stream and tiny waterfall |
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| I found a heart-shaped rock for Jennise, and Karen C. who also collects heart-shaped rocks found hers...I claimed the next heart-shaped rock...but there were no more to be seen |
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| Here is a better look at the rocks...Karen on left, Jennise on right |
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| Jennise also found this three dimensional Impressionistic Heart Rock |
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| Annette was voted as wearing the most color-coordinated hiking outfit of all time... even her water bottle matched her outfit. Probably why she kept photobombing my pictures |
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| For myself I found this wee little feather. It was a deep black with a slightly blue tinge to it... |
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| On the inside was this pretty orange color, which is what caught my eye in the first place. If anyone can identify it I would like to hear about it. |
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