Devisadero Peak

Carson National Forest

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It seems to be getting too hot, even up high, and yet for some reason I feel compelled to check out another little section of forest down by the city. Between the gaining heat and the near promise of afternoon rain, at least it is a short excursion. I hadn't quite realized how close to the city it is. Trails go both directions from the highway and a sign points to each, but parking is only to the south of the highway. Crossing the highway to the trail, I can't help but notice the huge "Welcome to Taos" sign.

At the very edge of the forest. The trail starts to the right of the rock wall.

The highway runs along a riparian corridor supplied with water by a creek south of it, but everything is quite dry already by the north side where the trail starts. The corridor quickly becomes a green line of distinctly different trees as I climb upwards along the trail. As much as I am worried about the heat, the trees around me are pinon pine and juniper and other high, cooler desert species.

It may not be big, but Taos knows how to sprawl. I find it difficult to locate downtown exactly even though I've driven through it.

The trail splits and I head left for the longer route up to the peak. I expect it to be a gentler climb, but it generally wobbles a bit up and down as it moves around the mountain instead. Ever more of the city below becomes visible and the clouds are building already.

Mojave yucca with fruit. This seemed like a lot of it until the next plant with more than twice this much.

North of the city, more city bits. Development seems to come in clumps.

Always love when a rock has a carefully kept cactus garden.

Clouds where there were nearly none just minutes before. Lobo Peak is up around the further peaks.

Some more little clouds popping up to the south.

The trail takes a turn and starts to climb. It isn't very steep, but it still gains views that are a little better. Some are finding it hard.

Getting to see the north peaks a little better, but also the building of the clouds.

The asters I've been seeing for a while but not bothered to photography without, say, an interesting bumble bee.

The junction at the far end of the loop comes and I ponder following the North Boundary Trail out to some real peaks instead of just doing this little guy peak, but I've got some other plans for the rest of the day, so turn for the little guy peak as planned. If I went the other way and started for a peak, I would probably decide that it, too, was a little guy next to the next one along. It would be like falling dominoes forcing me further. Only to be done if that is the plan, which it isn't. The top comes quickly.

It is a well worn trail up to the little peak and rather lighter a thing to continue onward, further from the highway.

Yet more clouds out over the peaks to the north. Those are starting to look ominous.

At the top of Devisadero Peak.

There isn't much view at the top, but some other folks are doing their best to enjoy it over a snack. I add my own efforts while trying to look out over the green hills as the ever higher peaks march off easterly.

A little break to take some view and see some higher nearby peaks.

There's actually better views on the way down as I continue around the loop that is the short way down the peak. The south facing slope has some clear spots and often not so tall bushes. It does get a little hot here, but this trail clearly gets more use. Not so bad today with the clouds, except for their threats of rain. In some places, they are actually raining.

A better view of the higher ground to the east.

The whole of the Taos plain to the west from the raining in the north to the threats of rain in the south.

Following the trail down over a few more peaklets.

There are drops falling by the time I finish, but nothing sufficient to get anything wet. The swirling clouds sure seem to have to potential. I may have to check out more of down here sometime, but in some cooler part of the year.




©2019 Valerie Norton
Written 14 Aug 2019