We’re shifting our focus from climbing to backpacking in preparation for our Wyoming CDT Hike this July. It’s a great time to do this – desert flowers are coming out, water is generally available, and temperatures are not too hot yet. We take advantage of all these things in Bandelier, starting at the visitor center…

This short hike is packed with way more good stuff than I anticipated. It follows the Rio en Medio up to a secluded waterfall. The forest here feels old, maybe because of the giant Ponderosas, some of which are fallen and decaying. The river makes everything lush – in the lower areas some mystery plant…

This evening we hike via a different route to Big Tesuque creek on the Chamisa Trail. The climbs are a little steeper on this hike, and again we have light rain. I stop to get some pictures of the Shootingstar and Alpine Clematis this time.

Ann and I take an evening walk in light rain. Flowers are starting to bloom in the wet soil, with shooting stars and alpine clematis dominating. Big Tesuque creek is high enough that we get our feet wet on the lower crossing.

Ann and I take an obligatory walk to Java Joe’s to get some air when we happen upon this incredible Agave stalk preparing to bloom: Ann’s photostream has a couple more picture’s at full resolution if you’re a Flickr friend.

It seems like every summer it gets warm in the valley, the snow disappears from the peaks, and I go running gleefully up into the mountains in shorts, memories of last September fresh in my head. And there I find … LOTS OF LINGERING SNOW. So it is again this year – it takes us…