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| Valle Grande Exploration Trail, NM | |
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| | Valle Grande Exploration Trail, NM | | | |
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Valle Grande Exploration Trail, NM
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| Hiking | 1.60 Miles |
50 AEG |
| | Hiking | 1.60 Miles | | | |
| 50 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Last day of exploring in New Mexico and I returned to Valles Caldera National Preserve to actually do some short hikes. These three hikes are all what they consider "front country" hikes, no permit needed and 2 of them start right at the main Visitor's Center.
This hike is also known as the Valle Grande Pond Trail, but I titled according to their website listing. This didn't seem like, too exciting, but it was short and there was a body of water out there in the middle of the grasslands, so who knew what would be there? I didn't for sure and it turns out, there was an awesome surprise that made my entire day.
It's a trail through what is barely scrubland with just some grasses until you get close to where La Jara Creek dumps into and exits the pond. The Prairie Dogs were plentiful and as I got close to the pond, I spooked a cow elk. Got to the pond and was surprised there wasn't much for birds there. A few ducks, coots and a blue heron. I decided to walk out onto the dam and just sit and see if anything would come in. Well, nothing really came in, but I got checked out plenty. Where there's water, there's a huge Gunnison Prairie Dog town. I took a few shots, but I was kind of burned out on the Prairie Dogs from my last visit, so the camera stayed a bit quiet even though the Prairie Dogs did not. At one point, I looked to my left along the dam and saw yet another erect figure and almost dismissed it, but....it just didn't look right. So I zoomed in and almost required a defibrillator for the next 60 seconds. Didn't matter what happened after that, my day was made and it was a first for me.
After a bit, when the BP returned to normal, I got up and made my way back to the Visitor's Center, where more Wild Kingdom would reveal itself in the couple of hours to come.
Nice stroll and great spot to sit apparently. |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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| Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty & well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out & proclaiming, "Wow What a Ride!" |
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