Hiking the New Challenge Trail From Tree Spring to the Base of the Ski Area 5/13/2022

Thanks to Jean P. for filling in for Kathleen and taking us on the new Challenge Trail.  It was a great trail and so nice to have something new to hike in our Sandia Mountains. We did the lower part of the Challenge Trail. We began at the Tree Spring trailhead, where we headed out on the trail behind the Bathrooms.  We turned around when we reached the base of the Sandia Ski Area.  

(This) New section of (the Challenge) trail  (as of fall 2021) that now connects the base of the Sandia Ski Area to Tree Spring trail. The trail is primarily a traverse, with some tight switchbacks at the south end, some slightly exposed sections in the middle, and a moderately rocky climb at the north. 

(https://www.trailforks.com/trails/challenge-trail-extension/)

Front row: Our leader: Jean P., Lynda, Back Row: Julianne, Barb, Janis, Bronwyn, Ronnie (Barb's Sister), Karen B....

and Rose

Heading out on the trail behind the restrooms

The wildflowers are back!  Lanceleaf Bluebells

Heading  towards the Challenge Trail

As we turn onto the Challenge Trail we find a map

Along the trail we pass some really large trees

Oregon Grape

So apparently you can make jelly from the Oregon grapes...came up in our discussions while hiking.  So I looked it up!  https://montanahomesteader.com/how-to-make-and-can-oregon-grape-jelly/

Hiking through the area which we pass by on the road going up the mountain. The Forest Service has done some clearing of dead trees 

The small light brown cylinders contain a new tree

I took a picture of the small Ponderosa Pine growing in the protective cone

"Eagle Eye" Bronwyn  noticed a deer hoof print on the trail...dead center of photo

So, if you want to make Oregon Grape Jelly there are a lot of plants on this trail!

Golden Smoke

Hiking above the road

This tree looked especially healthy to me...no brown needles

Canada Violets

Fallen Tree

Rocky Mountain Clematis

Hiking along the ridge

Bear Corn

Those hikers ahead of Barb, are part of our group... that's what happens when you pause and have a conversation

But no problem we all caught up with the leaders!

Golden Pea

The Golden Pea look very healthy

We crossed the road as Jean headed to a special spot that she discovered

It was quite a way off the Challenge Trail

And even a climb...

With a beautiful view

Someone had made a beautiful memorial to their mother

This tree was wrapped in yarn and decorated with crochet items that we guessed the mother had made over the years

As well as a pile of rocks some decorated with pictures and special messages

This touched my heart, as my mother spent a lot of time crocheting little gifts for me and my sisters...I hope these two moms meet in heaven!

The beautiful view from the memorial

As we started heading back...

We saw this beautiful Square in the branches

More Clematis

Arizona Valerian

Since we made such good time hiking, Jeans decides to continue the hike to the bottom of the ski area

No complaints from anyone

This photo does not do this justice... but this rock formation was awesome,  from layers of deposits of rock from rough to very smooth 

Base of the Ski area -- we turned back here

Heading back

If this rock wasn't so big, I would loved to have taken it home...love the shape

Never saw a tree stump that needed a haircut!

Seriously!

Views on the way back

Lunchtime!!!  Bronwyn

Barb

Julianne back hiking! 

Lynda

Janis

Our fearless leader: Jean

Ronnie (Barb's sister) and Karen

and Rose

Lunch was in a beautiful canyon just off the trail

Back on the trail

As you can see this is really a very nice trail!

Eagle Eye Rose noticed the bark on the tree was so unusual

The leaves looked like oak leaves... but a little different
Two experts, Jean P. and Lynda were discussing exactly what this tree was

A fallen leaf from last year is definitely OAK

The tree was identified as a Gable Oak
Jean P. Did some research and sent the following:
"In shaded environments, these shrubs become tall trees if left undisturbed for a long time." That explains why we see shrubs sometimes with the larger oak leaves---also Gamble Oaks are deciduous while a lower elevation oak, Shrub Oak, actually keeps its leaves year round.

I found a picture of what a Gamble Oak usually looks like so you can understand why our experts questioned the tree we saw on the hike

In an area that was being cleared out... I saw the remains of a tree that refused to die.

Returning back at the Tree Spring trail head we saw a huge tree recently torn down by the wind

The top part of the tree... and it was not a dead tree had lots of healthy branches that can't be seen in this photo

We started hiking at the Black dot -- the trail from the back of the rest rooms at the Tree Spring Trailhead and returned the same way until we reached a shorter route back to the trailhead  (the Green dot). The Yellow line is the road up to the Crest.

Near the top of the map, the right turn is where we crossed the road and hiked up to the Memorial and then we retraced our steps and then continued along the trail to the base of the ski area before we turned around and went back on the same trail.