SUNDAY

Sunday afternoon, a great time for a drive above 10k feet. We saw lots and lots of Mule Deer, some Elk and various other species as we leisurely gathered up a little fire wood for camp.
At one point along our drive we came across this sign:

As thunder snow storms threatened we took our little jag of fire wood and retreated down the mountain to camp. Maybe it's time for a nap after such a tough day in the outdoors !

Hominy

Hominy Snow pelts the Jeep and acumilates on the road as we near the summit of Osier Pass ( 10,300 ft )at the Cumbres and Toltec railroad station. It is remote and difficult to get to, but worth the effort. It is a Jeep friendly 30 mile dirt and rock, round trip. We were in the ditch once but were able to drive out.

MULTITASKING

Dillon, being his usual cool self as we build a campfire, warm wash water and start lunch to cooking. He, he, now that's multitasking !

Multitasking and other stuff. We have been busy. We have water on at the Campground but don't have the test results back yet.

PONDEROSA

This giant Ponderosa Pine Tree stands silent vigil over our campsite. It has been tested by the USFS and found to be well over 100 years old. This morning during our sunrise walk, Dillon and I paused to take in the majesty of this ancient behemoth that guards our camp daily.
The American flag and the US Forest service flaf flutter merrily and the morning dew sparkles as the sun's rays begin to warm things up. Say, is that pancakes and Bacon that I smell ?

LAUNDRY

Twenty miles to the nearest labanderia or laundromat and twenty back. The large washer costs $4. per load, then there is drying costs, ect..
We don't want to spend our day off doing laundry, so, we do it in camp. Yep just like granma' used to do. If ya' aint' never done it before it might seem complicated, but for hill folks it jest' comes nachurl !
The blackened, from heating water over the fire, small tub doesn't have a size number on the bottom, you know, like the one that Granny Clampet hung on the back of the truck for the journey to Beverly Hills. Hers was a #3 wash tub and had that number on the bottom. Ours is quite a bit smaller and has no njumber on the bottom. It is often referred to as a foot tub or a peck bucket. Most of the other stuff is pretty much self explanitory.

Zapata

Zapata Falls is a rough hike wearing flip flops ! Though it is only 1/2 mile up hill to the falls, the trail is strewn with round smooth rocks that can easily turn an ankle. The falls is worth the effort, and is the kind of remote and wild places that we like.
On the post that holds the sign in the photo, some eco idiot had written " ranchers take all of this water into a pipe 100' below here !
Well, DUH ! Looney toon ! Animals and people need water and that is how this part of the world was developed. He, he, sorry for the soap box speil, I sometimes get tired of being looked down upon because I am willing to use nature's resources to survive on.
The road to Trujillo Meadows is open now, but the water system isn't up and running yet. We are still at Aspen Glade.

LA MANGA

Located between Aspen glade campground and Trujillo Meadows Campground is La Manga Pass. To get over it you must climb three thousand feet in five miles. It is steep and crooked. We got our brakes to stinkin', on our first trip down it pulling our Ollie. Here is a look from a different trip, climbing this time, without our Ollie in tow, it is some of the most beautiful scenery !