Author: Scott Lake Page 4 of 9

On Saturday, June 4, 2016 the First U hiking group enjoyed a beautiful Coyote Call 2.7 mile loop trail with views into the Valles Caldera National Preserve, newly part of the National Park Service. Splendid NM scenery and weather! There were more dandelions than any of the 11 of us had ever seen. They had a wet spring.

Scott Lake was the leader. The participants were Jodell Bullock & Mick Porter, Judy Bentley, Cat Ivie, Felecia and Evan from the Los Alamos UU church, Don Saver, Nancy Shane, Carol Moss, and Kathleen Rhoad

We went to the Visitors Center and … Read the rest

On Sat, May 14, ’16 we hiked the Domingo Baca Canyon Trail in the Sandia Foothills accessed from Tramway via Elena Gallegos.  We were on the trail from about 9 am until noon or 12:30.  It’s challenging with lots of boulders and quite scenic.

Sandra Schroeder and Tom Dorr headed out leading the hiking group of six including Pam Bliss, Ellen Kahn, Don Saver and Ed O’Connor.  They went higher up at a faster pace and perhaps covered 5 miles round-trip.

Kathleen Rhoad led the group of six walkers – Dawn Leach, Dianne Fierro, Scott Lake, Mymm Ackley, Rebecca Helianthus … Read the rest

Hello all,

Splendid hike and relaxing lunch at travertine pools and picnic tables, Carlito Springs! It is quite a beautiful setting with newly developed trails by Bernalillo County Open Space, 2014. Most of the group did about a 1 and 1/2 gently graded trail to the house. Mymm and Kathleen hiked the shorter, steeper 1/2 mile trail to do some birding. We saw Red Crossbills, male/red, female/dull yellow-green plumage and gray juveniles right above the pools and could point them out to the others, plus Pine Siskins, Black-capped Chickadee, and Townsend’s Solitaire. And the group saw a large yellow Tiger … Read the rest

On Sat, March 12 a group of 13 First Unitarians and friends hiked La Bajada Loop, about 4 miles taking about 4 hours: Scott Lake, Dave Colton, Helene Kiecolt & Tony, Ed O’Connor, Judith Parsons & Bruce Newton, Don Sarver, Bob & Carol Diggelman, Diana & Bob Hayes and Kathleen Rhoad, leader. The first 1.8 mile is pretty strenuous, up La Bahada Hill to the top of the 500′ volcanic escarpment with views of the Santa Fe River in the canyon, and the Sandias. Once on top of Mesa Negra there are great views of the Jemez, Tetilla Peak, Santa … Read the rest

Hello all,

Eleven First Unitarians with friends and two dogs hiked in the Corrales Bosque on a beautiful, warm Feb 13 day. Felt more like April weather than February weather! The group included Scott Lake, Doug & Dawn Thiesen (on their first hike – welcome!), Dawn Leach, Diana & Bob Hayes, Don Sarver, Jessica Pupiales, Kathi Foy, Pablo (welcome! on his first hike) and Kathleen Rhoad, leader in her “official” leader orange vest garb. The Rio Grande was flowing strongly and the sky was gorgeous NM blue, blue.

Some of us saw Cabbage White and Mourning Cloak http://www.fcps.edu/ islandcreekes/ecology/ mourning_cloak.htm … Read the rest

Welcome and thanks for participating to: Jessica Pupiales, Helene Kiecolt, Kevin Black, Susan Hunter, Jonathan Stein, Don Saver, Priscilla Remke, UU Westside, all people new to the First U hiking group. It feels great to have an infusion of new energy and enthusiasms! We look forward to seeing you again. Tom Dorr led the hike and shared lots of tips for NM hiking appreciated especially by some new to Abq. Others participating were Scott Lake, Tony, Dawn Leach, Judith Parsons, Bruce Newton, Ed Fallon, Judy Bentley, Neal MacDonald, Kathleen Rhoad. This group of 17 was the second largest ever in … Read the rest

Hello all,

Yes, six of us walked in the Bosque and Valle de Oro Nat’l Wildlife Refuge field: Manuel & Carol Lopez, Dave & Mary Colton and their daughter Linda, visiting from Washington state. We all grew up in colder states – Colorado, NY and Penna so this was a splendid NM day to us, perfect for walking. There was only a very light, brief sprinkle of rain. Kathleen christened her new raincoat.

We saw several male Kestrels, Juncos, Canada Goose, Sandhill Cranes and a puffed up Say’s Phoebe.

We’ll schedule Valle de Oro again in warmer weather followed by … Read the rest

Hello all,

On the drive to the Las Conchas Trailhead on Sat, June 13 there was a lightening and thunder storm that seemed to follow us to the canyon along the East Fork of the Jemez River. We went on to the trail for a short distance but then we had to take shelter beneath a rock wall as the lightening and thunder were close and it was raining hard. We were a group of 6: Pam Bliss, her daughter Caroline, Diana & Bob Hayes, Manuel Lopez and Kathleen Rhoad.

We went to the Ridgeback Cafe in La Cueva for … Read the rest

This is an easy hike.  Saturday was a beautiful warm day for our hike along a bluff above the Rio Grande and into the woodland along the river. Manuel Lopez, Lucy Garcia, Pam Bliss, Scott Lake and a Guest participated.

Photos from our hike in Rio Rancho along the Rio Grande. Check out the trail information here.

 … Read the rest

It was a great day for a hike led by Kathleen and Sandra. The weather was perfect and the water was running at the spring surrounded by budding Box Elder. A few pictures from the hike by Scott Lake.… Read the rest