I began this hike in Taos Ski Valley. The trail climbed the rocky terrain through trees most of the way.
 |
| Trees Were a Bit Sparse at Lower Elevations |
 |
| The Higher I Climbed, the Denser the Trees Got |
When I came to an open space, I was able to see some of the surrounding mountains. This was the most interesting one.
 |
| Tree-Studded Mountain |
Several old rockslides dotted the hillsides next to the trail. In most cases, the rocks had a green tint due to the lichen growing on them.
 |
| Rockslide |
 |
| Lichen-Covered Rock |
These flowers were the most common as they could be seen all along the trail.
 |
| Coulter's Fleabane |
 |
| Closer View |
On the other hand, I saw this plant only a couple of times.
 |
| Red-Berried Elder |
Also prevalent were birds, chipmunks, and pika. In most cases, you heard the animals more than saw them. However, one pika did give me enough time to take his photograph.
 |
Pika Perched on a Rock
(shadows make it a little hard to see) |
After hiking through forest most of the way, I almost forgot I was in the high desert of northern New Mexico. Seeing the sagebrush and rocky terrain around Williams Lake reminded me.
 |
Williams Lake
(elevation 11,040 feet) |
While Williams Lake might not be the most striking mountain lake, I did find the peaks above it to be beautiful in a rugged way.
 |
| Bare Rock above the Tree Line |
 |
| Gray and Black Rock Formation |
Comments
Post a Comment