The Desert Bighorn just continue to pose for me in the Taos Box and I can not resist capturing the image.
One of the alpha males.
Here’s a very short video of the High Bridge Rapid in the Taos Box section of the Rio Grande River which lies 650 feet below the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Watch closely and you can see as we pass through it’s shadow. Just click on the link and please leave a comment.
A New Wave rafting trip down the Taos Box not only bring lots of white water thrills but moments of superb wildlife viewing. It’s safe to say that we see Bighorn Sheep on every trip, which is an absolute treat and sometimes it’s the other wildlife that puts the icing on the cake.
Oh, ok, just one more sheep photo. It's just that the babies are so cute. This is Cloe (note the tracking collar she wears) with this years offspring.
Western Tanagers migrate through each spring and bring a "splash" of color to the Rio Grande River.
Canada Geese nest along the banks. This proud mother was seen in the Playground section, an area suitable for the chicks.
During a break below Power Line Rapid we had a brief encounter with a friendly Bull Snake.
This Black-crowned night heron was seen fishing, just above the confluence of the Rio Grande and Taos Creek.
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We see this guy about everyday at our lunch spot just below Ouzel Rapid on the Taos Box section of the Rio Grande River. On this particular occasion it scurried out from the rocks and nabbed a tasty caterpillar from under the lunch table within inches of my feet. I think he/she’s pretty cute.
A watchful eye.
Lunching with us, but there was no wooly caterpillar on our menu.
A full Belly
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“Nothing in this world is as soft and yielding as water, Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass it“, Tao Ching.
Hot Fudge Boulder.
There’s just not much more to say. The Rio Grande River has worked it’s magic on many of the boulders along it’s course through the Taos Box. The actual process is called “fluting” by geologist. Here are but a few I’ve photographed along the way.
Parfait Boulder
The Pile Boulders.
Half Dome Boulder
Dimple Boulder
Iceberg Boulder
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New Wave Rafting’s full day Taos Box trip consists not only of lots of whitewater action. If one is vigilant, there is also abundant wildlife that can be observed. We really felt blessed on this particular day. Not only did we have warm sunshine to take the chill out after getting soaked in Class 4 rapids, but we had some superb wildlife sightings as well.
First spotted was a baby Bighorn who seemed more curious about us than it's mother did.
This two year old munches on the sedge that grows along the river.
With their thick winter coats shed, they're looking quite sleek.
This older ewe gave birth two days after this photo was taken.
At this time of the year the rams hang out together in what is termed a "bachelor group"
This is Butch. He appears to be the alpha ram. He looks pretty tough to me!
Don’t forget. You can click on any image to enlarge and please feel free to leave a comment.
Trailhead sign. Be sure and register.
One can drive across the Taos Junction Bridge and up a rather steep dirt road with several switchbacks to reach the West Rim of the Rio Grande Gorge. There’s a pull-out immediately on the left upon reaching the top. If it has rained or snowed recently, as was the situation today, expect mud, not only where you park but along the hiking trail as well. From this point to Petaca Canyon is 4 miles which was our goal, but the snow mixed with warm temperatures made the going slow and soggy, plus the need to slow down and enjoy the views added time to the hike. We didn’t make it to Petaca. This is the section of river we offer to our guests as the “New Wave No Wave”.
Looking back upstream, Taos Junction Bridge can be seen mid-photo(if you look really close).
A quick count of 50 in this elk herd.
Elk scat, known as "smart pills" to some folks.
Mike B., one of New Wave's veteran river guides.
Petroglyphs.
Coming across fresh bear tracks and scat makes one pay attention!
Joining the Rio Grande at Taos Junction Gaging Station, we view Staurolite Canyon.
Downstream view (into the sun) of the Orilla Verde Recreation Area.
The road from Pilar to the Taos Junction Bridge. Again, into the sun.
Coyote track.
On the West Rim Mesa, native grass and Juniper trees.
Photographs by Britt. More @ http://flickr.com/photos/jorunny/
One of the favorite seasons around here for locals and visitors alike is most definitely Autumn. The molding of the Summer season into Winter brings dramatic changes through out the state and this is especially true at the Bosque del Apache. Eighteen miles south of Socorro lies 52,000 acres of wet lands, a Rio Grande River creation (with a little help from man) which attracts a myriad of birds, waterfoul, raptors and all variations of migrating feathered friends. The following series of photos were taken early November 2009, one evening and the next morning.
Fall color, looking west toward the San Mateo Mountains.
The golden leaves of Autumn and a Redwing Blackbird.
One of the hundreds of Mallards feeding at the Flight Deck.
Great Blue Heron.
After feeding during the day the Sandhill Cranes fly in to spend the evening with some of their buddies.
Sandhill Cranes.
? thousand Snow Geese take flight, sunrise.
Snow Geese at sunrise.
Sandhill Crane, Pintail ducks and Snow Geese.
A mule deer feeds with his feathered friends.
Snow Geese taking flight.
"Hey Watch It!", "Move Over", "Gemme Some Room".
Snow Geese pair.
For more sights of Bosque del Apache go to “www.flickr.com/photos/jorunny/”.
Four miles downstream of the confluence, where the Green River merges with the Colorado River, we came to Spanish Bottom, our planned double layover (2 days & 3 nights). The hike up and out of the river canyon gains 1,100 feet and bring one to the sandstone formations known as The Doll House. More back country hiking takes one to sites such as The Land of the Standing Rocks, The Maze and The Chocolate Drops, but let’s get to the rapids. The 14 miles below Spanish Bottom are occupied by 27 numbered rapids (depending on the level of Lake Powell), some with names such as Big Drop, Mile Long Rapid and Satan’s Seat. So after 13 days and 124 river miles we finally must scout rapids, weigh options, make decisions, follow through and well, see what happens. As it turned out, there were no incidents for our day of rapids, but our last day, day 15, had a few. It rained first thing in the morning for the “Great Colorado River Pancake Massacre”, we had two rapids immediatly upon launch, a chilling North wind streamed down the canyon, the potential campsites became knee deep mud fests of Lake Powell sediment, the tempurature dropped, but we didn’t really care. The sun graced us with it’s warmth for moments, and we were grateful. The rain soaked our waterproof Gortex and we were cold. All the time the downstream wind pushed. So as intrepid sailors headed back to port following time at sea, we hoisted a make-shift sail, teathered the rafts together and set our sights on the take-out. After 10 1/2 hours and 31 miles, at 10:30 PM, using a $5 double D battery flashlight, that was a last minute purchase back in Green River just for this occasion, we spotted the reflections off the indestructible, military style steel porta-potties of civilization, The Dirty Devil Takeout.
The Cedar Mesa Sandstone of The Doll House.
One of the dolls.
Jesse & Sara, our first scout, Rapid #5.
Patrick douses his new bride, Jenny. Rapid #5.
Neil, just having fun. Rapid #5.
Big Drop #2, Rapid #22.
Neil. Big Drop #2.
Big Drop #3. Jesse & Sara.
Big Drop #3.
Piano Leg Arch.
The weather turns, day15.
Hoisting the main sail.
As the sunsets, we row.
Next up: Autumn at Bosque del Apache and birds, birds, birds.
Now for lack of a distinct geological ending for Labyrinth Canyon, I begin Stillwater Canyon at Anderson Bottom, which for us was day 8, with 89 river miles traveled. The weather up to this point had been nothing but drop-dead gorgeous, a typical Utah fall. We’ve encountered many relics of 20th century man in his quest for successful cohabitation with the Utah desert and his stuggle to establish a home, be he a crusty miner or a farmer with family. Beginning here in Stillwater Canyon the historical relics recoiled a few hundred years back to become artifacts of the Anasazi and their temporary success in making the bottom land around the Green River home. Cliff dwellings, pictographs and petroglyphs become frequent along the canyon walls of Ceder Mesa Sandstone. The White Rim Sandstone now climbs several hundred feet above river level, with it’s typical overhanging presentation, creating formations such as the Turks Head. From Anderson Bottom we floated 31 more miles to the end of the Green River and it’s confluence with the Colorado River, the beginning of Cataract Canyon and finally, “RAPIDS”.
Anderson Bottom camp.
Evening hikes with fall colors used up alot of gigabytes.
Cornered up the Anderson Narrows.
Turks Head.
Our first rain served up with breakfast at Deadhorse Canyon.
Flint chips litter the landscape atop the Cedar Mesa Sandstone.
Anasazi basketball?
Wingate Sandstone forms the Candlestick (background), with the Turks Head up front.
Anasazi abode, maybe 8x10 feet, at Jasper Canyon.
Just another use for bacon grease.
River fireworks granting thanks to the Green River, for we're on to the Colorado River tomorrow.
Next up, The Colorado River and the wet Cataract Canyon in Part III.
