November 27, 2022 Hatch, New Mexico

 64 and sunny today.

We found the hike to Leasburg slot canyon in the Robledo Mountains just south of Hatch out side of Radium on the internet. It was very sketchy directions. But we found the trail head. We had to cross the Rio Grand river, the directions said not to cross if it was too deep or muddy. We lucked out, it was not deep or muddy. In fact it had almost no water at all in it. 

Then the directions said to bushwhack through some very thick and stickery brush. It wasn't' too bad. Then come to a corral and head toward the cliffs. 

Beautiful Chihuahua desert landscape. Ocotillos and sotol. They make a tequila like liquor from the sotol, it is much smoother tequila. I really like it, Barrel cactus, hedge hog cactus, sotol, and prickly pear cactus. 

Couple kinds of yellow flowers and a raven's feather in the canyon. John at the mouth of the canyon. 

Silhouetted in the canyon. There were still green leaves on the trees in the canyon. 

Very narrow and deep canyon. Beautiful twisty canyon, about 50 feet deep and very narrow. 

Sculpted canyon walls. 

John ahead in the canyon.

John ahead in the canyon. The canyon opening up at the end of the narrows. We turned around here. 

Cricket and stink bug, yellow flowers, yellow butterfly. Dried dead sotol. The canyon walls look like mud, but they are hard as concrete, parts even looked like asphalt. A red blotch on a rock, maybe lichen. 

Looking at the Robledo Mountains across the Rio Grand valley at the mouth of the canyon.  Friendly cactus waving and smiling, heart rock, screw bean mesquite seeds, On the way back on the backroad through the Rio Grand Valley we went through a border patrol check point and  they are hiring. I love the picture of them on horse back with cowboy hats, back in Hatch, with the world famous Chili Festival labor day weekend.  

Looking through the ocotillo branches at the Robledo Mountains and the Organ Mountains in the background. We were at the Organ Mountains yesterday. It was about 30 miles along the back way to Hatch. The whole way was pecan orchards. Here is the last light of day on an orchard and the Robledo Mountains. 

We stopped at the ruins of  Fort Seldon Historic site. It was closed, but I got this photo. It was one of many adobe forts along the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail -the royal road of the interior which went from  Mexico city  through the heart of the Rio Grand valley to around Santa Fe. It was the principle  European trade route for 'New Spain'. The Buffalo Soldiers occupied the Fort. The Rio Grand Valley on the way back. No water in the river.