Along the Mogollon Mountains, southwest NM: These photos are from a hike I took about six weeks ago, after I returned from Florida and before I trashed my knee. It's rather a long...

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

These photos are from a hike I took about six weeks ago, after I returned from Florida and before I trashed my knee. It's rather a long drive from where I live and about half the time involves a dirt road, but it's always worth the effort. There is a trail down to a beautiful creek that begins high up in the Mogollon Mountains, a scenic and formidable range that was forever altered in the huge Whitewater-Baldy Complex Fire in 2012 (and that fire was the reason I joined UHH for reasons that make sense to me). But this time I skipped the hike down to the creek, which is quite treacherous and you have to be in the mood, and made my way up the hillsides above the trailhead for better, or at least different, views. I was not disappointed.

I'm fairly certain, by the way, that the gorgeous cactus flower belongs to a Hedgehog Cactus. The view in the sixth photo (a particular favorite) is to the west, opposite most of the others, and looks over into Arizona. I hope you enjoy these.

(Download)

PoppieJ Loc: North Georgia

really like the last cactus. different perspective and a really gorgeous shot

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Excellent set! Sorry about the knee.

kcooke Loc: Alabama

Thanks for the photographs. Mogollon is one of our favorite places. We were
There with our then young kids in 1998. The town of Mogollon was a ghost town then but I think it may be inhabited now
In the summer it is a major flyway for hummingbirds. Thousands of hummingbirds daily

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

PoppieJ wrote:

really like the last cactus. different perspective and a really gorgeous shot

Thanks! It wasn't that easy to get up from the ground after taking that photo. But I like it too; it makes the blossom look like a little lamp.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

UTMike wrote:

Excellent set! Sorry about the knee.

Oh, you know...it'll get better. I am pretty much back to hiking. It's getting around in the house that causes me problems; evidently I turn too quickly and there it goes. Glad you liked the photos.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

kcooke wrote:

Thanks for the photographs. Mogollon is one of our favorite places. We were
There with our then young kids in 1998. The town of Mogollon was a ghost town then but I think it may be inhabited now
In the summer it is a major flyway for hummingbirds. Thousands of hummingbirds daily

It's still more or less a ghost town but people do live there, many of them quite strange. Some huge mine wants to come in and ruin things and that's being fought. You probably recall the road out to Mogollon, which is one of the twistiest roads on the planet, one lane for two-way traffic and sheer drops off one side. The fire in 2012 came frighteningly close to the town. The Mogollon Mountains, scarred and denuded as huge sections of them now are, take my breath away. There's some good raspberry picking to be done out there in late August!

kcooke Loc: Alabama

I am sorry to hear of the fire. It’s a special place to us. We spent a whole day there. My wife was terrified riding on the one lane dirt road through the mountains with a 3000 ft drop off on her side. The Rockies in New Mexico are one of our favorite places. My wife and I will be headed out that way for a southwest camping trip in 2 years. Can’t wait

SWFeral wrote:

It's still more or less a ghost town but people do... (show quote)

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Really enjoyed these.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

kcooke wrote:

I am sorry to hear of the fire. It’s a special place to us. We spent a whole day there. My wife was terrified riding on the one lane dirt road through the mountains with a 3000 ft drop off on her side. The Rockies in New Mexico are one of our favorite places. My wife and I will be headed out that way for a southwest camping trip in 2 years. Can’t wait

It's still a wonderful area, and if you continue out on that road (Bursum Road), which is marginally less terrifying than the paved part leading to the town, you drive through the burn scar. It is heartbreaking, especially if you knew the area when it was covered by deep, cool forest (I once experienced thundersnow on in June). Some of the first photos I shared on UHH were of the aftermath of that fire (and they weren't very good).

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

NMGal wrote:

Really enjoyed these.

Thanks! I needed some different scenery. There's rain starting to happen down here, though still a ways off. How about in your corner?

kcooke Loc: Alabama

👍👍

SWFeral wrote:

It's still a wonderful area, and if you continue out on that road (Bursum Road), which is marginally less terrifying than the paved part leading to the town, you drive through the burn scar. It is heartbreaking, especially if you knew the area when it was covered by deep, cool forest (I once experienced thundersnow on in June). Some of the first photos I shared on UHH were of the aftermath of that fire (and they weren't very good).

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

SWFeral wrote:

These photos are from a hike I took about six week... (show quote)

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

Architect1776 wrote:

Thank you.

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

Well SW these are another great set of images. I wonder, did you go up that dusty road in image # six? I really liked those cactus flowers.