Hiking "Canopy Loop" in the Bosque by the Rio Grande 3/5/2021

 Jean P. led this lovely hike through the Bosque on the west side of the Rio Grande.  The trail is called Canopy Loop which is a 2.7-mile hike. Jean made it a 5-mile hike by extending the loop & going up and back from Paseo del Norte. 

We had the 9  hiker limit filled on this hike:  Back row: Pat, Hilda, Rita, Jan, and Betty.  Front row: Linda, leader: Jean, and Barb 

And in another great selfie: Tamara

Nice Picture of the Hoofers, the Rio Grande and the Sandia Mountains

This "Marker" was found does anyone know what it means?  I think it might be a new Tetris game where you must build a perfect square by moving the pieces around.  (Of course it is impossible to do---the best you can get is a rectangle with another small rectangle left over!)

Some fowl having the Rio Grande all by themselves

I have no idea what this is -- but intriguing enough to warrant a photo

Some birds trying to keep their distance from an oncoming jet

Tamara writes:  Porcupines!!! First we saw the tree damage, then Linda spotted the first one a good distance from there. We were all very excited. Then saw another after our lunch/snack stop. Hard to get good photos, but sparked a great deal of conversation.

Four pictures of  trees damaged by hungry porcupines

Excitement ensues after seeing the porcupines in the trees

Possibly a Porcupine home (?)

They were sure hungry this winter to do all this damage!

 I had no idea what this is so I had to ask Tamara what it was. She wrote back "This is called the cube according to a decrepit sign. Art? We all thought it was lobster traps"  (We have lobsters in the Rio Grande???)

So, I guess if anyone brought along a huge tarp you could set up a covered spot for lunch!

Ewww!

Something attracted all this interest of the Hoofers

Ah, possibly a beaver gnawed this tree down

Seems to me there is an unusual growth on that Cottonwood limb!

Did some bird try to build a nest in this flood control thingamabob?
Thanks to Jean P. for the reminder these are called "jetty jacks".

Here is the map, courtesy of Tamara's cell phone All Trails app!

I may have to try this one out with my husband someday soon!