Geraint Smith Photography

Fine Art Images from the American Southwest

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Tag: Wild Rivers Area

Guadalupe Mountain, NM Hike. 05-22-2024

Geraint May 22, 2024 12 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM, and beyond. This week a hike up Guadalupe Mountain in the Wild Rivers area of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Last week we went down to the river. This week we hiked up to a vantage point that gave us views of the gorge and the Blanca massif in Colorado, a great view to accompany lunch. Unfortunately a smoky haze somewhat obscured the distant 14,000 + ft peaks. So instead we looked down, watching where we stepped for the morning emergence of rattlesnakes and bouquets of wildflowers.

Wild Rivers overlook, Guadalupe Mountain Trail NM
Guadalupe Mountain, Wild Rivers Overlook, and Ute Mountain.

Indian Paintbrush were in abundance at the trailhead, individuals, and clusters.

Indian Paintbrush
Indian Paintbrush.

Indian Paintbrush, cluster
Indian Paintbrush, cluster.

At about 8500 ft above sea level the Indian Canyon Fleabane took over the nooks and crannies in the boulder fields to the summit overlook.

Indian Canyon Fleabane
Indian Canyon Fleabane.

That was yesterday. Today I took a quick jaunt up a watery trail in the Hondo Canyon to check out the creek crossings. I didn’t get far. I left my hiking poles in the car. Below is a solitary wild Columbine. There were many more. I liked this single bloom glowing against the rock.

Wild columbine, Italianos trail Taos Ski Valley
Wild Columbine, Italianos trail, Hondo Canyon.

A leafy green plant, Rowan I think, of which there were many.

Leafy green plant, Italianos trail Taos Ski Valley
Rowan plant on the Italianos Trail.

A spot on the creek running alongside the trail, not one of the crossing points, but a picturesque little falls.

Italianos trail Taos Ski Valley
Italianos Creek.

Lastly the Cottonwood in Arroyo Hondo, you know the one, in a sleet and hail storm last week. I got pelted and had to dive back into the car.

Arroyo Hondo Cottonwood, NM
Cottonwood and Acequia (irrigation ditch), Arroyo Hondo, NM.

As always. Thank you for looking. Have a great week. G

Wild Rivers, Bighorn Sheep, Wall Mural. 03-13-2024.

Geraint March 13, 2024 18 Comments

Greetings from San Cristobal, NM. This week a trip to the Wild Rivers area of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.

The Wild Rivers Recreation Area lies north in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. Below is pictured a ‘small’ part of it. Come this Spring, there will be some class 5 rapids in this section. You can see how relatively low the river is right now. This was Sunday. You can also discern the level at which the river can rise from this image. That’s Ute Mountain in the clouds with snow falling.

If you want to experience solitude, Wild Rivers will give you just that. Step into the Monument for a walk in falling snow, where you can hear the silence.

Wild and Scenic Rivers, New Mexico
Wild Rivers, New Mexico.

“Adventuring out on a photography trip through the gorge and along the river during a winter storm, I am rewarded with images of large snowflakes alighting on cholla cactus, cottonwoods, and red willows, turning them into instant New Mexico-style Christmas ornaments. A great peace returns to the river at this time of year. The pace slows as the days grow shorter and life retreats within for what the Irish writer John O’Donohue refers to as “the secret work of winter” of restoration and rejuvenation as the river ecosystems prepare for the ecstasy of spring growth. In any season the beauty and pristine stillness of the Rio Grande del Norte is available to those who visit.” From my book, Rio Grande del Norte: An Intimate Portrait.

To the south lies the deepest section the the Rio Grande Gorge. This is where the Bighorn Sheep roam and sometimes play!

Bighorn sheep ram peekaboo.
Bighorn Sheep Ram… peekaboo.

Or rest up on a sunny ledge.

Bighorn sheep lamb on the Rio Grande Gorge Rim
Bighorn Sheep Lamb on the Rio Grande Gorge Rim.

It’s that time of year in the National Monument. Spring is sprung!

Bighorn sheep ram and ewe
Bighorn Sheep Ram and Ewe.

And above it all, another unique cloud formation.

Cloud formation over the Rio Grande Gorge
Cloud formation over the Rio Grande Gorge West Rim Trail.

I have to end this week with this sky-blue mural with sunflowers and an ornate window in Los Cerrillos that I forgot to post last week.

Mural Los Cerrillos, NM
Mural, Los Cerrillos, NM.

As always, thank you for looking. Have a great week. G

Ute Mountain and the Wild Rivers Area, Winter in the Rio Grande Gorge

Geraint December 26, 2020 No Comments

More snow coming to northern New Mexico in the next few days. We’re going to head out for certain if it does. We’ll stop in here at Wild Rivers Recreation Area for a view of Ute Mountain, where the wild Rio Grande makes a nice leading line. Thanks for looking. G

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