Just Another Day

The weather lady said the sky would be blue all day, so while Cyndi waited for a miracle at home, I went out to find a trail down the 800 feet of the White Rock Canyon to the Rio Grande below. I drove the truck as far as I could ... at least as far as I dared ... and walked the remaining 3 miles to the Canyon's edge to where the maps showed a trail down, the only trail down.

I actually found it. But the weather lady was wrong again and before I could go down the 800 feet, then turn around and come back up, the clouds started thundering and menacing (as they do almost every day in the early afternoon ... I have no idea why the weather people think something else might happen). I was pretty disappointed but I did get back to the truck just as it started to rain.

I guess next time I'll have to do that pointless 800 feet down and up.

Here are some pictures. I have to start with the colorful one that blogger will use as a teaser. This is a typical view across the canyon with the clouds over the Jemez mountains.

And another view, quite the same. This is where I sat for a quiet hour last spring when I came in from the other side. Six months ago, but only two posts ago. Where does the time go?

Here is the trail down into the canyon, the trail I didn't take.

No, really. There is a trail here. It starts at the foot of the picture and heads diagonally downward, pointing towards the Frijoles Canyon in the distance. Really, that is a trail. It is what we call "poorly maintained"

Did you notice the two waterfalls in the Frijoles Canyon above? They are right in the center. It is a few miles away, so maybe a closer shot will help.

Now do you see them? No? Well, a little more telephoto might help.

Oh come on. You must see them by now. Try viewing the original size photo.

OK, ok, one last try. Here is the best I can do.

One in the lower left, the other in the upper right. Now you see them.

It's a pretty small stream and its a pretty big canyon. Hard to believe that small stream carved out that canyon, but it did. Give a small stream a million years and a couple thousand foot drop over a few miles and it can cause some damage.

Back to a more normal view, here are the San Miguel mountains in the distance. They are now the smallest designated wilderness area in the US.

And looking down the Rio Grande, here is a view of the lower part of the White Rock Canyon.

And just to show that this is a desert ... sort of a desert ... here is a prickly pear cactus along with some rocks and lichens.

And this is the thunderhead that chased me back to the truck.

But before I left, I needed a selfie.

My selfie skills are lacking. I look like Lurch trying to smile.