Journal July 13 Mogote Ridge
A long ridge walk, along jeep roads fading back into fields of grass and wildflowers. The route followed a ridgeline most all day defined by Mogote Mountain rolling along mostly around 9,000. We drifted along the trail as it generally followed the ridge sometimes in open fields someties in stands of Aspen or forests of pine.
Like a sailor who has set sights on a distant shore and been blown a little off course by ill winds, we also a couple times drifted off course on one of the many unmarked crossroads and needed to make some cross country “course corections or adjustments”. This added a couple miles to the overall total milage walked for the day.
High rolling grasslands mix with the tree covered ridgelines creating a very “pastoral” feel along with the cows. This is cattle country. And sheep country too. We passed herds of both.
It is clear that after rising out of the box canyon behond Ghost ranch we have left the desert behind. Long, tall green grass, speckled with the vibrant color of wildflowers. In the distance the peaks of the Sangre de Cristo mountains remind us that we are moving into “real “mountain country.
Dodged storms again seeing near and distant downpours but getting only sprinkeld on ourselves.
Mosquitos are out in force as the sun slides towars the horizon, not just one or two, but whole swarms while we finished the eveing hike and set up camp.
19.5 miles
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