It was a beautiful day and we were hanging out at the Visitor Center when a suggestion was made... “You should hike the Mesa View Trail so that you can have more information to give visitors about the trail.”
And that is how we wound up walking here...
The Mesa View Trail at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge.
At 3.8 miles, by most people’s standards, it is not a long trail. Shoot it only gains about 400 feet in elevation. But this is us we are talking about. We are not known to be hikers. We’re not even really known to be walkers if you take distance covered into account. We’re better known as strollers or, better yet, amblers. 3.8 miles is a half-marathon in our speak. But we said that we would and we do like to be informed informers. So, off we went.
Break time. Two tenths of a mile into it.
We’re going all the way up there?! Do we have to do the whole thing?
Better get to steppin’.
At least there were pretty things to look at.
The views were quite nice, as well.
Yes, we sat on every bench provided. Here, for example, we had gone 1/2 a mile, at least!
Soon, we will be up there.
This (bottom right corner triangle area) is a tumbleweed river (our name for it). Very cool. They blow off the top of the mesa and pile up in a river-like flow all the way down the slope. If you go two pictures up to the one where Darlene is sitting on the bench you can see it in the left hand side of that photo.
We made it to the top! Visitor center is pretty much dead center, shiny white roof slightly right is maintenance area, our home is behind big hill on right, trail is faint but curvy off to the left on top of ridge.
Nice long-distance views and other distractions once you reach the top of the mesa.
Small canyon on the backside of the mesa.
From the top trail there is a great view of the Sierra Ladrones. You can also see (just right of center and in front of the mountains) a silver colored area. This is where lizard research has been done. They were flying a simulated hawk predator over them and watching their resultant reactions and movements.
Once you hit the top of the mesa you achieve a long (mostly level) walk with plenty of sweeping views and visual distractions.
Lots of blooming still going on.
We don’t know what this one is. Thoughts?
Just realizing now how much ‘yellow’ there was on this day!
Love these desert Ink Cap Mushrooms.
The gorgeous views continued throughout the hike.
We walked right along the edge of the mesa. Can you see Darlene in the middle?
How about now?
As you reach the north end of the mesa the views open up to another small canyon.
Winterfat
So named because it is a great winter foraging food for animals.
It is a very tolerant and long living plant - up to 130 years.
Eventually the trail drops down off the top of the mesa and into a wash where the spectacular scenery continues to impress.
Polanisia Dodecandra
Otherwise known as... Redwhisker Clammyweed
Cryptantha Confertiflora
a.k.a. Mojave Desert Popcorn
Buckwheat
Pontia Protodice Butterfly enjoying the day.
Not being the fastest of hikers we’re pretty sure we made it back to the visitor center just before the search party was sent out. The Mesa View Trail is a wonderful walk and worth doing if you are ever in the area.
