Noun Sequitur
My Feet Hurt
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2012
- Messages
- 360
This is a brilliant double loop day hike in the mountains near Socorro New Mexico. The weather was wonderful for our hike, except for a brief hail storm that hit us at the peak. Most trail reviews recommend hiking the lower loop counterclockwise, and I agree. The north leg is beautiful, but very steep with loose rock and switchbacks. Downhill was hard enough and a couple of my toenails are still purple form being jammed in my boots. Here are some trail pictures....
![North Loop.jpg North Loop.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100405-1406142c8ed548aab971ef2d7bb0a844.jpg)
![North Loop2.jpg North Loop2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100406-71104eeb520b97141d61ce2ef1237289.jpg)
![Cross Canyon.jpg Cross Canyon.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100407-46e3d2a558e55e58603b7de8bfa9c419.jpg)
![Ridge.jpg Ridge.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100412-d08e8cb6d6bd367ff408913612ab3131.jpg)
After climbing for a while, the ponderosa give way to alligator juniper and a botanical garden full of other curiosities.
![Garden.jpg Garden.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100410-4b434fef793ba3d4217daf15191b380a.jpg)
![Dancing Trees.jpg Dancing Trees.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100416-2dcf8b56cf211488e3402f154458301a.jpg)
The alligator juniper is a beautiful tree with a distinctive bark. On this mesa, it's been twisted and burned into fanciful shapes.
![Tangle.jpg Tangle.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100414-f35eeb88f8317d7b6a3247792f78fe25.jpg)
![Under the Bark.jpg Under the Bark.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100415-649e8ebfa94325fd991f0ebd59c76c7b.jpg)
The views from the mesa top loop are beautiful.
![North View.jpg North View.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100411-026e999d517838cdc970fbd9307009d6.jpg)
![East View.jpg East View.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100409-9e784361000d784878c44b9e2856669c.jpg)
I'll definitely be dong this hike again!![Thumbs Up :thumbsup: :thumbsup:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![North Loop.jpg North Loop.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100405-1406142c8ed548aab971ef2d7bb0a844.jpg)
![North Loop2.jpg North Loop2.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100406-71104eeb520b97141d61ce2ef1237289.jpg)
![Cross Canyon.jpg Cross Canyon.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100407-46e3d2a558e55e58603b7de8bfa9c419.jpg)
![Ridge.jpg Ridge.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100412-d08e8cb6d6bd367ff408913612ab3131.jpg)
After climbing for a while, the ponderosa give way to alligator juniper and a botanical garden full of other curiosities.
![Garden.jpg Garden.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100410-4b434fef793ba3d4217daf15191b380a.jpg)
![Dancing Trees.jpg Dancing Trees.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100416-2dcf8b56cf211488e3402f154458301a.jpg)
The alligator juniper is a beautiful tree with a distinctive bark. On this mesa, it's been twisted and burned into fanciful shapes.
![Tangle.jpg Tangle.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100414-f35eeb88f8317d7b6a3247792f78fe25.jpg)
![Under the Bark.jpg Under the Bark.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100415-649e8ebfa94325fd991f0ebd59c76c7b.jpg)
The views from the mesa top loop are beautiful.
![North View.jpg North View.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100411-026e999d517838cdc970fbd9307009d6.jpg)
![East View.jpg East View.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/100/100409-9e784361000d784878c44b9e2856669c.jpg)
I'll definitely be dong this hike again!