Hiking the Lower Red Dot Trail

bwray · Mar 23, 2006

After the first stream crossing (see previous post, "The Upper Red Dot Trail") you encounter the most interesting terrain of the hike.

There is just enough vegetation to provide cooling shade without obstructing mid-range scenery. This section of trail is very restful.

Finally, the trail rises and crosses a ridge before dropping down to the second stream crossing.

The water is clear and cool.

The final approach to the Rio Grande is over flat sandy ground.

The river is clear with a greenish hue, and a light breeze ripples the surface in patches. Enjoy the view. Take a deep breath. Smell the mixture of sage and algae.

Time to start thinking about the climb out. Have a look back over your shoulder.

Guess I can see why they mark this trail so carefully. If you get off the beaten path you aren't going to be going home for dinner tonight. You can't just climb out of the canyon any old place. If you're seriously lost your best bet would be to hike downriver until you pick up Frijoles Canyon, then follow the canyon up to the Bandelier visitor's center. "Hi honey, sorry I'm late. Could you come pick me up?"

Before getting back to the trailhead the Shanklin home looms over the canyon rim. What can I say? Forgive me Lord, I covet that house.

Hope you all enjoyed the trip. Take care now.

Cheers,

BruiseLeee · Mar 23, 2006

I don't see any red dots.

Astrodada · Mar 23, 2006

Thanks Bill...............wish I was there.

Astrodada · Mar 23, 2006

BruiseLeee said:
I don't see any red dots.

Dun chop ya toe accidentally and ya dun see no red dots trailling back to ya house. :foot:

bwray · Mar 23, 2006

BruiseLeee said:
I don't see any red dots.

You Sir, deserve to wander aimlessly in the wilderness and go to bed without your supper.

Check out the second exposure slightly below and left of center. There is one of the notorious red dots near the top of the rock beside the trail. Actually, I've got a great red dot shot somewhere. I'll try to find it.:thumbup:

brokenhallelujah · Mar 23, 2006

Dammit, Bill...

How far from your home is this hike? If this is anywhere near your back yard, I swear...

bwray · Mar 23, 2006

brokenhallelujah said:
Dammit, Bill...

How far from your home is this hike? If this is anywhere near your back yard, I swear...

How about more information than you really needed. Los Alamos sits at the base of the Jemez Mountains as indicated in the photo which is taken looking West. The Jemez Mountains were formed by a huge volcanic eruption that spewed ejecta as far away as Lake Charles, LA. Today the 30 mile wide volcanic caldera is called the Valle Grande. Over time, water runoff from the Jemez carved a series of canyons in the volcanic tuff running from west to east. These canyons empty into the Rio Grande after about 8 miles, where the runoff from the entire region is then carried South for awhile and then Southeast to the Gulf of Mexico.

Anyway, getting from my home in the townsite to the Red and Blue Dot trailheads is a matter of driving east down one of the smaller canyons for about 8 miles until you arrive at the rim of the larger White Rock Canyon which contains the Rio Grande. Takes about 20 min. total to get from home to the Red and Blue dot trailheads. But you can also hike in the smaller east-west canyons or in the mountains. The closest trail to my house is a five minute drive, and eventually, I'll show some photos of these other areas as well. Yeah, I know, I'm spoiled rotten.

BruiseLeee · Mar 23, 2006

bwray said:

I thought the only one of those was in Los Angeles.

Voodoo · Mar 23, 2006

Dang, I'm coming to play in your backyard from now on.

Kevin the grey · Mar 23, 2006

That is ......well I don,t have quite the words . Its neat to see how dry things are and then to come across a burbling stream . In the photo where you are just about to come upon the river is that a spring welling from the ground ? Would you be allowed to bring a bow and arrow with you to practice with ? Even with blunts on the arrows and shooting at a foam target you bring a long is a lot of fun .

bwray · Mar 23, 2006

BruiseLeee said:
I thought the only one of those was in Los Angeles.

Ours is less well known but MUCH larger, spanning the full width of the mesa on which the town resides.

bwray · Mar 23, 2006

Kevin the grey said:
That is ......well I don,t have quite the words . Its neat to see how dry things are and then to come across a burbling stream . In the photo where you are just about to come upon the river is that a spring welling from the ground ? Would you be allowed to bring a bow and arrow with you to practice with ? Even with blunts on the arrows and shooting at a foam target you bring a long is a lot of fun .

No spring in the shot showing the approach to the river, but you can see a little river water through the reeds lining the bank. Pretty sure there would be no problem taking a bow and arrow. It would be easy to move away from the trail a bit and direct your shots away from the trail.

bwray · Mar 23, 2006

Voodoo said:
Dang, I'm coming to play in your backyard from now on.

Let me know if you ever get out to the area. Would be glad to show you around.:thumbup:

Yvsa · Mar 24, 2006

Beautiful country Bill and like I said before, "I'm somewhat envious."

Are there any fish in the small stream and if so what varities if'en ya know?
There's bound to be some good fishing in the Rio Grande. Looking in Google it says there are several varities. NM isn't as lenient as OK though because in many areas it's one barbless hook and that's it.

The 16-20 inch trout were said to be hitting at Eagle's Nest Lake. That's another beautiful area.
Here's a pic of the Rio Grande I snagged off of a tourist site.

:thumbup:

Like so many other places a man wouldn't starve or go thirsty if he half way knew what he was doing, of course depending on the time of the year and how he was equipped.

kronckew · Mar 24, 2006

BruiseLeee said:
I don't see any red dots.

wash yo' mowff out wiff soap! 2nd & 3rd pics have red dots......or is it time for the opthamologist?

Bill, that's really wonderful landscape! Don't be too envious of shanklin, from the look of the talus under the cliff by his house, it might not be there too much longer.

kronckew · Mar 24, 2006

bwray said:
Ours is less well known but MUCH larger, spanning the full width of the mesa on which the town resides.

and probably not damaged like the one in Cal.
(it originally said Hollywoodland to advertise a housing developement) Linky

an' bruise, you musta seen the red dot, yer holdin' one in yer right hand!

bwray · Mar 24, 2006

Yvsa said:
Are there any fish in the small stream and if so what varities if'en ya know?
There's bound to be some good fishing in the Rio Grande. Looking in Google it says there are several varities. NM isn't as lenient as OK though because in many areas it's one barbless hook and that's it. The 16-20 inch trout were said to be hitting at Eagle's Nest Lake. That's another beautiful area.
Here's a pic of the Rio Grande I snagged off of a tourist site. :thumbup:

There's bound to be small fish in the stream because I've never seen it dry. Not sure what they would be though. This section of the Rio Grande is best known for catfish, though you can catch a mess of rainbows as well. When the Spring runoff begins the water turns quite muddy. Just South of Santa Fe you'll find Cochiti Lake, an Army Corps. Engr. impoundment on Cochiti Pueblo. At one time the waters of Cochiti Lake backed all the way up to Frijoles Canyon, site of Bandelier Natl. Mon.. Fishing there is quite varied and includes crappie, white bass, large and small mouth bass, walleye and surprizingly large northern pike.

Hey, that's a great shot of the Rio Grande.:thumbup:

Do you have any info about where the shot was taken. The most spectacular river run in New Mexico is called the Rio Grande Gorge and is located just South of Taos. I'm going to surf around some more for aerial photos of the Los Alamos area. As you might imagine, the government is a little sensitive about aerial photography near the National Laboratory, so it's hard to find much.

bwray · Mar 24, 2006

kronckew said:
an' bruise, you musta seen the red dot, yer holdin' one in yer right hand!

That's right! I wondered who's been steeling our red dots. Shame on you bruise.

Seriously though, I believe that if one were sufficiently mischievous and had a can of red spray paint you could easily lead people off of cliffs in this canyon. BTW, I couldn't find any of my special red dot photos. I've gotten into the habit of purging all photos that are not put to use immediately, and a picture of a red dot on a rock never seems to make the cut.