Month: May 2016

Saturday, May 28, 2016
Grand Enchantment Trail section hike Polvadera NM to Tijeras NM, starting here
Day 7
Start waypoint 37019 Segment 36 mile 33.0 on Turkey Trot Trails south of Tijeras
Stop waypoint 37170 Segment 37 mile 12.8 Sandia Forest Service Ranger Station and transport back to civilization
Miles walked 12.8

The trail goes right along Department of Energy land set-aside with dire warnings.

Soon the forest looks much better than yesterday, more balanced somehow, with less discard limbs from recent thinning and better plant diversity.

I had made arrangements yesterday with family to meet at the Ranger Station today at 11AM, but am embarrassed to see that I mis-read the map and have a lot more hiking to do this morning than expected.

The road and network of trails south of Tijeras (scissors in Spanish) is heavily used by mountain bikers, road cyclists, rock climbers, and day hikers this fine weekend morning.

I skip the winding Tunnel Canyon Trail and stay on NM 337 for a fast road-walk to make up for my mistake…

and arrive nearly on time, within 10 minutes or so.

Now to get ready for CDT Montana!

[no audiobook on this short day]

 

Friday, May 27, 2016
Grand Enchantment Trail section hike Polvadera NM to Tijeras NM, starting here
Day 6
Start waypoint mile 3.8 of Segment 36, near Tajique Campground
Stop waypoint 37019 Segment 36 33.0 on Turkey Trot Trails south of Tijeras
Miles walked 33.0 – 3.8 = 29.2

My goal for the day is to complete a 27 mile read walk through private lands before getting to public lands where I can camp.
A fire had come through the area along the road down to Tajique, and this is what the recovery looked like.

Ray’s One Stop in Tajique was a welcome sight after several days on the trail, with junk food my body craved.

Some of my family had actually gone to Ray’s in years past, as it was the closest store to their remote summer camp.

My phone could not find a signal in Tajique. Note to myself for my future through-hike.

My stroll through Tajique land grant had a good bit of dirt road, easier on the feet than pavement. I was starting to get Plantar fasciitis in my left foot by mid-morning, which I had not ever had before. No choice but to keep on walking, and symptoms did not get worse during the day.
The paved road had a narrow shoulder, and often a narrow strip of gravel that I tried to walk on to lessen wear on my feet.
This attractive niche in Chilili land grant was built from a metal stock tank.

Tajique land grant had several real estate “for sale” signs, but Chilili land grant was a different matter.

Another sign in Chilili asked for no photography. No idea if that was a consensus opinion or just the opinion of one lone sign writer, but I stopped taking photos and you do not get to see the village and have to go there yourself.
My map warned of only two stores with water on this stretch of road, but I was delighted to find another general store past Chilili at Ten Points.

Which meant another break for snacks.
I got back on public lands with time to spare, among a network of hiking/biking paths with recent thinning and lots of discarded limbs left on the ground.

I was able to get a cell signal and text family a request for pickup tomorrow morning.

[completed audiobook The Emperor’s Edge, by Lindsay Buroker]

 

Thursday, May 26, 2016
Grand Enchantment Trail section hike Polvadera NM to Tijeras NM, starting here
Day 5
Start waypoint 1 mile past 35175 Ojo del Indio spring, Segment 35 mile 16.8
Stop waypoint mile 3.8 of Segment 36, near Tajique Campground
Miles walked [Segment 35] 27.1-16.8 + [Segment 36] 3.8 = 14.1

Still following the Crest Trail, sometimes we have to climb down and then back up, like here at Comanche Pass.

Here is another view looking down the pass from the heights.

To the east, we can see White Sands in the distance.

After a time the trail passes a huge open meadow, shown here with the Sandia Mountains in the background.

On the approach to Fourth of July Campground some large buildings came into view far down below, which appeared to be a summer camp.

Later, road signs confirmed it is a Baptist camp.

West of the town of Los Lunas a huge dark flat rectangle comes into view, here partially obscured by cloud shadow. (Later research reveals this is a huge solar array.)

A word about the trail… overgrown. Scrub oak and thorny plants often encroach into the Crest Trail and takes some getting used to pushing through for miles at a time.

The tread is often faint, and cattle trails confuse the true path.

However, I often grumble at this point on hikes, and then eventually my eves adjust and can pick out faint tread more easily, so don”t mind me.

Coming into Fourth of July Campground, we see what gives it its name.

A large stand of maple trees thrive here, and no where else in the state. All our other tree leaves turn yellow in the fall, but these turn brilliant red, which someone compared to fireworks at the Fourth of July. People come from miles around to visit the trees in color.

I pass by this campground and head down to Tajique Campground a few miles down the road, and see this.

Oh well, it is National Forest land across the road, so fair game for stealth camping by backpackers.
I need to stop here, causing a short hiking day, because the next 27 or so miles is a road walk along private land where camping is not allowed, so must be walked in one go. (There are unofficial routes that do stealth walking on private land, but having some idea of the feelings of the land grant families in this area, I would not dream of stepping foot on private property around here.)
I will not hitch, but accept a ride on NM 337 if offered. Which I do not expect.

[no audiobooks today]