Snow Lake

Snow Lake

June 1-5, 2023

We rarely camp more than one or two nights at any one location. But we stayed five days at Snow Lake, and it was barely enough time.

Snow Lake

The Pecos River

May 5-11, 2023

Though it gets far less press than the Gila, the Rio Grande or the San Juan, the Pecos is one of New Mexico's most important rivers. The purpose of this trip was to follow the Pecos north from Bottomless Lakes to Villanueva, enjoying our New Mexico State Parks pass along the way.

Mineral Creek

May 20, 2023

An absolutely perfect day at Mineral Creek! Despite all the rain this week, the water was just high enough to be be exciting (but not dangerous). Nice mixture of sun and big puffy clouds all day, and the downpour waited until five minutes after we got back to our cars!

hiking around a waterfall

Little Dry Creek

April 27, 2023

Our original destination did not pan out, but the fallback was an excellent choice. Since we last hiked Little Dry Creek, the trail has been greatly improved, and this Spring's abundant snowmelt created a wealth of water features!

apple blossoms

El Morro, El Malpais

April 10-17, 2023

We've visited this area many times, but this trip with Silver City friends Rebecca and Dale gave us more time to explore some of the lesser-known wonders of these two adjacent national monuments.

petroglyphs

Rocky Canyon

April 6, 2023

Sometimes all you need is the dappled light of a piñon juniper forest, the crunch of yellow grass underfoot, and that bluest of blue skies.

on the trail

Skates Canyon

April 1, 2022

After an extraordinarily cold and snowy Winter, Spring has finally sprung. On a clear and sunny Saturday, we set out to explore Skates Canyon in the Gila Wilderness.

slot canyon

Allie Canyon

March, 2023

Allie Canyon has become one of my favorite hikes. I put it on the calendar for Gila Hikers for March 25, but given our very wet Winter and late Spring, I was concerned about water levels.

Allie Canyon

Windmill Canyon

March 10, 2023

And just like that, southern New Mexico leapt from Winter to Summer! After seeing a friend's photos of fields of poppies, we headed for the Florida Mountains.

Mountain Short-Horned Lizard

Triangle T Ranch

March 3-6, 2023

When your best friend likes a cozy B & B in Dordogne, and you like a backpacking tent on the Gila River, you meet halfway ... at an RV Park!

Triangle T

Rock Town Adventures

February 10-16, 2023

What turned out to be a week-long adventure began with a two-night camping trip with friends to City of Rocks, one of our favorite destinations, and now just a short hop from home.

rocky ridge

Knight Peak

February 6-7, 2023

We'd driven by it many times and decided to do a one-night campout/exploration. Very interesting rock formations and see-forever views. We made it easily to the saddle, but got caught in a sudden snow squall. It was a good reminder of how fast conditions can change in the mountains!

Knight Peak

Box Canyon

February 4, 2023

We never tire of hiking the many and varied canyons along the Gila River. We returned this time with our new hiking group, the Gila Hikers. The highlight of the hike was when we returned to pick up our packs after wandering upstream, and spied a troop of 9-10 coatis high-tailing up the opposite bank.

Snowstorm!

January 2, 2023

"Slight chance of snow showers, no significant accumulation." That was the forecast when I went to bed on New Year's Day.

snow hike

A Tucson Christmas

December 16-21, 2022

A confluence of circumstances — back-to-back parties and one free space at Catalina State Park — drew us to spend the weekend before Christmas in Tucson. As much as we love Silver City, we do miss this place, and especially these people.

Susan and me

Mineral Creek

December 2, 2022

While hiking in Mineral Creek today, we were alarmed to encounter numerous fresh mining claim stakes. It was only then it dawned on me that Summa Silver's plans to redevelop silver mines near Mogollon might also impact one of the most beautiful canyons in the Gila National Forest.

Mineral Creek

Box Canyon

November 30, 2022

Box Canyon is one of our favorite hikes, and we've returned to it again and again after first stumbling onto during an exploration of the Lower Gila Box in 2019.

Box Canyon

Quartz Mountain

November 26, 2022

The CDT south from US 90 to ridge topped with dazzling white quartz is one of our favorite hikes.

quartz-mountain

Dog Canyon, Lake Lucero and White Sands

November 16-20, 2022

We stretched a doctor's appointment in Las Cruces into a five-day trip that included the New Mexico Space History Museum, Dog Canyon, Lake Lucero and White Sands National Park.

Lake Lucero

Twin Sisters Via Arrastra

November 11, 2022

My hiking friends cautioned me that the approach to Twin Sisters from the Arrastra would be extremely difficult, if not impossible. It was a challenging but thoroughly enjoyable hike, and it may be our new local favorite!

Twin Sisters

San Vicente Creek

November 9, 2022

This area just south of town is rich in history. A spider's web of hiking trails follows the creek past old industrial sites, slag heaps, automobile graveyards, hippie homesteads and historic Chinese market gardens. It has enormous potential as a linear park, but it needs Superfund-level cleanup. Is this my new project?

San Vicente Creek

Allie Canyon

November 5, 2022

I fell in love with Allie Canyon on our first visit a year-and-a-half ago. Finally the planets aligned, and we were able to return, in late Fall after a particularly generous monsoon.

Allie Canyon

Escudilla Mountain

October 20-22, 2022

As often happens, Summer gave way rather abruptly to late Fall. I was hoping to spend some time hiking in the golden aspens before it was too late. So on a sunny Thursday afternoon we packed up the camper and headed for Escudilla Mountain.

Escudilla Mountain

Big Dry Creek/Johnson Cabin

October 13-14, 2022

With Covid and completing the tower eating up most of the month of September, we were eager to get out. And get out we did, tackling a very tough trail on the west side of the Gila Wilderness that leads to a historic cabin on Big Dry Creek.

Johnson Cabin