Eric & I drove north on US 95 to the US Army Proving Ground.
Our ride west on North Martinez
Lake Road will be slowed
because of Road Construction.
by a Pilot Car (truck).
Eric turns onto Red Cloud Mine Road and follows it to...
Imperial National Wildlife
Refuge
It's a 1.4 mile loop.
The colors of the dirt &
The rise on the right looks
like a pile of Road
Construction debris.
rocks change in just a
few yards.
A shot of Eric & me.
The trail ahead...
Horse Poop...
We share the trail with
Horseback Riders.
Millions of years of erosion
creates outcrops.
The trail opens up & the
hills have gentle slopes.
me like a person looking
up, hands held to the
chest.
I wonder what causes
I've changed my mind.
A busty alien looks for
her ride home.
the greenish tinge on
the left.
Eric looks out at the
It's slow going on this short
trail because I stop to take
LOTS of pictures.
horizon from a high
point on the trail.
The trail dips....
The first Teddy Bear Cholla
on today's hike.
A shot from another high point.
I'm glad we have
our Trekking Poles.
Eric found my
The vista changes after a few hundred feet.
The white pole at the base of
the outcrop is a welcome
guide to keep us on the trail.
It would be easy to get lost out here.
hiding spot.
Walking on loose gravel
Another dip in the trail &
stairs to help hikers
make the ascent.
is slow going.
The terrain opens up again.
Eric's hiding spot.
The Painted Desert is made
up of tan, rust & different
shades of brown
Eric asked me to take a photo
of this bush because its
grey leaves remind him
of Dusty Millers.
trail could be
The Photo Op Loop.
The loop brings Eric &
A previous hiker built a Cairn to
help guide those who follow.
Eric took a shot of me
with one of the few
benches on the trail.
The grey stone doesn't fit
into the earth tone palate
of this area.
me back to the parking
area & our car.
Painted Desert Trail is mostly flat, as advertised. Eric and I were glad we brought our Trekking Poles to "conquer" the dips and rises on this picturesque hike.
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