WalkingCarrot

Continuing the road walk we began the night before we left the small canyon and rolled along with ups an downs along the west slope of a ridge. The CDT turned to trail and dropped precipitously along a series of switchbacks overgrown with oak into Ojitas Canyon.

A small but lovely stream flowed in the canyon and we took advantage of the water to restock before the flow of the creek left the mouth of the canyon and drained away completley to the desert sands.

Crossing a sea of sagebrush we passed canyon walls with layers of red and yellow rock until we were out on the flats. We crossed the Rio Chama and followed a road down it’s north bank. An actual river in sight and, almost in reach, for several miles of hiking! We took lunch in the shade of some large oak trees by the banks of the river.

As the river cut down through layers of red rock, the road continued atop the mesa and pulled away. Gone were the trees, gone was anything large enough for shade. Even the afternoon Thunderheads which chased us down the valley were at an angle that still let the hot sun shine most of the time. An old signboard about 4 foot high and long ago abandoned cast just enough shadow for us to break under.

We bushwhacked across the desert, crossed highway 84 and followed the nature trail from the Ghost Ranch Museum to the Ghost Ranch facilities.

A long day of hiking, so we arrived after the dinner hour, which we had figured we would. But we found a soda machine, the campground, laundry and showers!

21 miles