Aspen report (Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos: home, campground, live)

[mortimer]

I drove up to Sandia Crest this Saturday and hiked North to the North
Peak overlook. All the North-facing slopes were about 50% turned to
gold. Very nice. Pretty much all the South-facing slopes are starting
to turn (where they get that light-green color).

Anyone else have any color reports from Taos, Santa Fe, Jemez, etc?

Also; I visited Dixon Apple Orchards for the first time. It was a beautiful
drive (halfway between Albuquerque and Santa Fe off I-25 from the
Santo Domingo Pueblo exit). The cider and apples were smashing.

[songinthewind7]

Have any pictures?

[mortimer]

pictures? No. I may be considerate and report to everyone,
but ... I'm an idiot.
Next week.
I promise.
Really.

[chilegal]

Sacramentos were getting a light green a few weeks back, just starting to turn. Maybe Egglady can get us some pics.

[nm_photojournalist]

Thanks for the report Mortimer. The aspens should be peaking during the balloon fiesta.

Anyone been to the Fourth of July Campground in the Manzanos? I was too late last year for the great red colors of birches, and I think maples there. Rough road but worth it. Avoid weekends!

[mortimer]

nm_photojournalist wondered:

> Anyone been to the Fourth of July Campground in the Manzanos?

I'll go next weekend and post pictures afterwards.

I posted pictures from Bart's Trail on the E side of the Sandias:
https://home.att.net/~mortimer531/barts_trail.htm

It's lame because the road to the trail has been closed and my wife was
not up to *both* the hike from the car and the hike up the mountain.

I'll also repeat this hike next weekend alone and visit the big Aspen
grove just N of S Peak. If you like Aspens, you'll love the shots.

If anyone wants to know what Bart's Trail is and where, I'll update the site
to include this information.

I did post a picture as I viewed it when I reached the crest (my wife got
to commune with nature on a rock on the trail below me). I posted a
view of Sandia Crest and the Aspens from the overlook.

The Aspens look to be a week away from 'peaking.'

The last two pictures show the current state of the Aspens as viewed from the city.
First, a view of North Sandia Peak. Second, a view of South Sandia Peak.
For those of you **not** in Albuquerque/New Mexico at present -- eat your heart out!!!

Sorry. I didn't mean that. It was an accident.

BTW, both this morning at Weck's and yesterday at Garcia's I loved listening
to the waitresses asking customers:

(1) Red or green? .................. and then
(2) How do you want your eggs?

I just love it when they say "Red or green?" If you haven't lived here, you can't relate.

To paraphrase: [It's a New Mexico thang; You wouldn't understand.]

[mmckenna]

Mortimer- Can you give exact directions to the Dixon Apple Orchards off the Santo domingo exit? What kind of apples are they? I would love to check it out...thanks.

[mortimer]

mmckenna requested:

> Mortimer- Can you give exact directions to the Dixon Apple
> Orchards off the Santo domingo exit?

It's all here:
Dixon's Mountain Grown Apples - Home of the Champagne and Sparkling Apples

If still not clear, post again.

[mortimer]

I hiked up Embudito Trail this Saturday to the South Peak.
Most of the Aspens are at peak, but it is a muted display
this year with very few really golden colored trees. Most
of what I found was a nice yellow, but not spectacular.

I've got some pictures and will get them posted soon, I hope.

It's always a treat to walk around the South Peak area because
there is a nice flat area up there with open meadows, flowers,
and assorted Aspen groves.

I hiked from about 10 am to 2 pm to get to the South Peak.
I took an hour to walk around up there and spent three hours
returning to my car in the parking lot at just before sunset.

Pretty out-of-shape, I am.

[mortimer]

Pictures, finally:
https://home.att.net/~mortimer531/em.../S_peak_01.htm

I didn't get to 4th of July, so if anyone else has, please update.

Perhaps, next week, I'll make it to the top of Tsoodził:

Mount Taylor (New Mexico) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia