More Travels 4--Red Dots Mark Way

Red Dots Mark the Way

From the top of the canyon,
the Red Dot Trail looks fairly easy.

Today was hike-the-canyon day. Kari picked the trail. The Red Dot Trail led from the canyon ridge in White Rock, New Mexico, down to the Rio Grande River and back up. Kurt led the way down the cliff. We picked our way carefully over huge basalt boulders and crumbled lava, following the switchbacks along the cliff and trying to keep track of the red dots along the way.

We climb over lava and basalt rock on the way down the trail.

Andy comes back looking for us as we
clamber over the rocks and cross the streams. 

Closer to the river the rocks were interspersed with sandy patches. After tip-toeing and rock-hopping across two streams, we made our way to the Rio Grande River.

Kurt and Carol pose by the river.

"This is the bend in the river where we were supposed to get off the water when we tubed," said Kari.

Sue and Andy make it down to
the river, but the worst is ahead.

"They said Red Dot Trail. Hike back up. You'll know the spot when you see a pile of wood that looks like a beaver dam but it isn't a beaver dam. Only I never saw anything that looked like anything." Kari and her friends were picked up miles down the river. Now the Rio Grande rushed past us. Water filled the entire riverbed, and a strong current carried sticks and grass clumps as it tumbled over rocks in little white caps."It's really deep here," said Kurt.
"I was just going to suggest that if we waded across I could say I had crossed the Rio Grande," I told him. "Guess that's not a good idea!"

Kari cools down.

From the bottom, the hike up intimidates.

We all laughed.

We can brag about the accomplishment when we make it to the top.

Then it was time to start the one-hour-and-fifty-minute trek back up the cliff. Concerned about the strenuous climb, Andy even apportioned the water. By the time we reached the top, we were more than ready to make dinner and sip wine.