Cibola National Forest - Sawtooth Mountains

Douglas-firs surviving in dry country

Although we've been enjoying a view of the Sawtooths ever since we bought our property on Horse Mountain nearly 4 years ago, we have not been over for visit since we first went there back in 2010 as part of a camping trip where we staying at the BLM's Datil Well Campground. We fixed that situation on the Friday before last, and I'm sure we'll be going more often now.

Monument Rock

The scene along Forest Road 6A

 A very rare wildflower in this dry, dry year.

 The author at the top of the little ridge

 It took us about an hour to get there using the Saulsberry Road and FR 63 and then onto  FR 6A. It was a late morning start and it was already getting pretty warm for our dog Nessie, but I had had it in mind that this was going to be a short outing anyway. Summertime is no time for long hikes (especially with dogs) in most of New Mexico and my knee was still not even close to being 100% after my epic hike to the Frisco Box two weeks earlier.

Cabin on private property on the Saulsberry Rd.

Cabin on private property along the Saulsberry Rd.

 We set out on old road (our trail for that day) that is not numbered and doesn't seem to receive a whole lot of use. It was sometimes shaded by junipers and piñons, but also ran through an extended meadow area. It finally took us up to a narrow ridge overlooking the head of canyon that head northwest (it may have been a branch of Alamocito Creek) where it promptly ended. We rested a bit there, and then for our return trip stayed mostly off the road utilizing the adjacent forest for shade.

The old road

View at the top of the ridge

Head of the canyon

One strange thing about our trip  were all of the old rusty cans (and a few recent enough to not be rusty) we kept finding both going out and coming back. I'm not sure if this was a place people used for dumping their metal and glass trash for years, or whether it was just a popular place for camping where people just left their trash behind. 

 I will mention (again, I suppose), although it almost goes without saying, that the views, both on our drive and on the little hike, were wonderful.