As we were driving up the road to our new backyard, all John kept saying was “wow”.
After we got parked all he said was “We so have to climb that!”
Oliver Lee Memorial State Park was once home the the Apaches and one of New Mexico’s most influential and “colorful” ranchers.
Located at the base of the Sacramento Mountains it is an oasis where water flows year round and ferns cling to mossy rocks.
Dog Canyon is directly behind the campground. The Apaches used the steep canyon as a stronghold during the 19th century conflicts with the US. Miners came here looking for riches and Billy the Kid was said to have hid in the canyon as well.
According to a plaque I found in the campground office, Dog Canyon got its name when the Spanish invaded and the Apaches escaped through the canyon. When the Spanish reached the Apache camp all they found was a dog that had been left behind. So they called it Dog Canyon.
OK…time to hike the rugged, steep trail. It is a 10 mile round trip hike, but we decided to do only 4 miles. (ssshhh….don’t tell John’s knee doctor)
John is obsessed with what our elevation is no matter where we go. Before we left camp we had to take a reading….
To get to this point, leaving the State Park and entering the National forest, we walked about a .5 mile switchback. Ever hike a switchback? Then you know what we went through.
From there on out it was up a bit, level a bit, up a bit and so on until we reached the two mile marker.
A fairly strenuous hike, but still not as bad as the Black Forest Trail in Pennsylvania. Anyhow, time for a rest and our lunch of GORP, Gatorade and lots of water.
Oops, almost forgot to check our elevation for John.
We played around for a while looking at the plants and walking off the trail to look over the edge, before we decided to head back down.
Have I ever mentioned how much I HATE going downhill! It is painful! Our poor old knees sssooo can’t take this. We took our time coming down until we could finally see home…almost.
In our slow trek down John took lots of cool pictures. I like this one of some cati growing together.
We are off to Rockhound State Park Next.
