October 3, 2008-It has been 5 years since I have seen the aspens turn in NM, and this last week I was overwhelmed by their beauty once again. At the annual San Geronimo day footrace at Taos Pueblo I got my first taste of the season. The yellow, gold and orange trees were bundled into a huge ramada/shrine at the west end of the race track, and the guardians of the track use golden branches to gently wave the racers past. Then up around Lake Fork Creek in the Latir's I hiked among the flaming trees and took in deep breaths of their distinctive acrid, fallen-leaf smell. At the place I went to cross the stream I was surprised to find a late-season dipper(water ouzel) in residence. I envy his days spent along the rushing stream. I hunted for blue grouse up along the Cabresto but found only a scattering of feathers, and a red-tailed hawk crying out at my intrusion. Back on the road I discovered an area I had never been, Midnight Meadows and the road across the mountains to Red River. Sawmill Mountain and Greenie Peak.
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