Murphy Place- Aldo Leopold Wilderness

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The next morning we hiked down Las Animas Creek.When we got to the idyllic Murphy Place, I discovered I'd left the camera back at the tent. Well, I wasn't leaving without pictures of this perfect spot, so I hoofed it back a 1/2 mile or so and retrieved it. We continued on for another mile or so. I tried a little fishing,but there didn't seem to be any fish. The creek tumbled and sloshed through boulders, then skimmed over bare rock flats- all the water was a pure, precious joy. We kept walking and the day warmed.The heat brought out the scent of the pine needles. We dunked ourselves in a pool hollowed out of rock. The water was cold-still springtime cold even though it was mid-June. We turned around and headed back to our camp at the trail junction. IMPORTANT UPDATE: this  beautiful spot is within the  Silver Fire currently burning on the forest and is closed(June,2013). It's  heartbreaking to think how it has been altered.