I woke up after a comfortable night of sleep. I was worried it was going to get frigid overnight but it was perfect! I was never too cold. I had considered waking up very early to hike up to Hunter Peak to photograph the sunrise but I decided to sleep as long as I was naturally able. I actually ended up with one of my favorite pictures so far, snapping the late sunrise just past our campsite.
I ate a light breakfast and quickly packed all my gear. I was separating from Romey and Lee to make a quick escape out of Texas. Before I descended the trail from the way I came I made a 2-mile (round trip) detour to the summit of Hunter Peak. It was pleasantly birdy with a modestly rewarding view. On the way back from this detour I did get a chance to see some beautiful Stellar's Jays.
I ate a light breakfast and quickly packed all my gear. I was separating from Romey and Lee to make a quick escape out of Texas. Before I descended the trail from the way I came I made a 2-mile (round trip) detour to the summit of Hunter Peak. It was pleasantly birdy with a modestly rewarding view. On the way back from this detour I did get a chance to see some beautiful Stellar's Jays.
I ditched my heavy pack for the detour and picked it back up at the junction to head back down to the Pine Springs campground where I was parked. It took my an hour and twenty minutes to hike down. Blazin'. I stopped here and there for mostly repeat shots of the mountains and canyons.
Romey and Lee put me on a great little swimming hole in this small Black River recreation/wilderness area just outside of Carlsbad. It was nearby Rattlesnake Springs which I didn't stop to see. The dip in the draw was satisfying and refreshing as expected. Just before I left I saw a nice Vermilion Flycatcher, a striking red bird that I hadn't seen in a long time.
Now freshly rejuvenated it was time to drive from one corner of New Mexico to the other. There were some stretches of rangeland that, as pretty as they were, were awfully boring to stare at for two hours at a time. One of the most entertaining things I saw on that stretch was the birds perched almost exclusively in the shade of the utility poles. There were few and far between so the birds have really taken advantage of the narrow bands of shade from the poles along the fence line. The pattern went on for miles, and I started to correlate presence to denser vegetated clumps. Such as a patch of sunflowers that would provide better food sources (insects).
Now freshly rejuvenated it was time to drive from one corner of New Mexico to the other. There were some stretches of rangeland that, as pretty as they were, were awfully boring to stare at for two hours at a time. One of the most entertaining things I saw on that stretch was the birds perched almost exclusively in the shade of the utility poles. There were few and far between so the birds have really taken advantage of the narrow bands of shade from the poles along the fence line. The pattern went on for miles, and I started to correlate presence to denser vegetated clumps. Such as a patch of sunflowers that would provide better food sources (insects).
My destination for the night was Farmington, NM to stay with my cousin Victoria. She lined up a nice dinner pit stop for me with her parents, Rick and Sheila who are also my brother's god parents, in Albuquerque. We went to their favorite Mexican restaurant, Garcia's, where the waiters don't even bring them menus anymore.
Heading out from Albuquerque I was very surprised by the beautiful landscape that I drove through during sunset, I know New Mexico is pretty but I just didn't expect this particular series of mountains and canyons. I don't think I've ever seen a bad New Mexico sunset either. Its gotta be the most consistently amazing place for sunsets. I'd put money on it.
I made it to Farmington around 10 PM and had a wonderful place to stay and catch some rest for my next big day around Durango Colorado.
Heading out from Albuquerque I was very surprised by the beautiful landscape that I drove through during sunset, I know New Mexico is pretty but I just didn't expect this particular series of mountains and canyons. I don't think I've ever seen a bad New Mexico sunset either. Its gotta be the most consistently amazing place for sunsets. I'd put money on it.
I made it to Farmington around 10 PM and had a wonderful place to stay and catch some rest for my next big day around Durango Colorado.
