Rebecca M. Douglass, Author

After finishing our Gila backpack, I drove into Silver City for lunch (also because to get home, I needed to drive to Silver City first), then continued on up US 190 to Catwalk Canyon, near Glenwood, NM. I know I claimed I'd share photos from the Bears Ears today, but I'm not done with those photo edits. Bear with me :D It was hot, and I'd already hiked some 4 1/2 miles that morning, so I wasn't looking for a long outing. But I'd been told about the "catwalk," the bridges built into the side of the canyon, so I thought I'd take a look. I'd driven out from under the large rain event that had dampened our visit to the Gila Ruins (see last week's post ). The area is an official Recreation Area, so you need a Parks Pass or to pay a parking fee. I happily whipped out my NPS Geezer Pass and headed up the trail.  At first it's a stroll along the stream in the trees, with zillions of locals playing in the water. Then you move onto something more li...

Last month I went down to New Mexico and did a mellow 6-night backpack trip up the Middle Fork of the Gila River, and down the West Fork. I'm still working on the photos (I'm also working on some significant revisions to the new novel, and selling books live on weekends, so it's been hard to focus on my photography, no pun intended). The hike was exactly what I needed, a bit of mountain, a bit of desert, and a bunch of trail nights, but it wasn't as exciting photographically as some. Still, I think I got some good shots, and I'll share a dozen or so here from the first couple of days, which is as far as I've gotten with the edits.  About a hundred yards from the car, we spotted a herd? troop? pack? of javelinas. The hallmark of the Gila River trail is... river crossings. Since the trail follows the river up a canyon, it is forced to switch from side to side frequently. VERY frequently.  First crossing, and a fairly deep one--over my knees. Most were ankle to mid...