One of my family’s favorite activities is hiking together. Combined with another of our favorite activities, Letterboxing, and we can’t ask for a better way to spend our day. Being outdoors exploring the trails while enjoying nature and breathing in the fresh air makes me happy.
These photos were all taken last week while we hiked in the Sandia Mountain Wilderness along the South Crest Trail #130 up to Travertine Falls in search of a Letterbox.
My kidlets eager to hit the trails.
Autumn has painted many of the leaves.
My daughter is almost as excited as our little dog, Dobbie.
The rock formations never cease to fascinate me.
The trails can sometimes be narrow, steep and challenging.
Sitting beside the spring-fed stream leading to the waterfalls is a wonderful way to take a much appreciated rest.
Dobbie is not ready to rest. She has another idea.
Wheeeee!!!
Such fun!
Back on the trail. Steep, rocky downhill section.
It’s always fun to get down and look closely for little treasures.
Like these bryozoans and brachiopod fossils we found in some limestone.
The Sandia Mountains, before they were thrust upwards to their current level of over 10,678 feet above sea level, were once completely covered by sea water, which is why many sea creature fossils, such as these crinoids can be found in the rocks.
We made it to Travertine Falls, but since it is Autumn, the waterfall was just a trickle off to one side. We were disappointed to find graffiti at Travertine Falls, but it sort of added a mysterious feel to the caves and grotto. My kidlets said it reminded them of something you’d find in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
After a long hike we all enjoy coming home, putting our feet up and taking a rest.
Some of us take that to a whole new level…………………..
Happiness is………….a good, long nap.
Check out Sunday Stills today to see what makes other folks happy.
From the Tower of,
52 comments :
Hahahahah..The last shot is hilarious!! That was so much fun! I love hiking :D You should consider Cader Idris in wales UK, for your next hike. That place is gorgeous :D I've been there twice! Those rock formation and fossils is so inviting! seems to be a Great place for a hike. That cave look def mysterious!
I enjoyed the hike. Well done.
By the way, Chuck's home. That's my happiness today. :):)
I love fossils, and hiking - you sure have some beautiful places to hike! What a fun thing to do with family!
Fantastic shots and what a wonderful storyline as well. I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite, but airborne dog is pretty special!
Oh, great post! Love all the pictures you took on your hike. Awwww.....little Dobbie was wore out after all that jumping over the stream. That was pretty funny! LOL
She is such a sweetie, so glad she has such a wonderful family to live with. She is one lucky doggie! :-)
hugs....
Jane
Oh man.. that was so fun, I feel like we went with you. This post made me happy!
What a great area for exporing and hiking. I love it when you show photos of these.
That shot(s) of your dog leaping over the stream is magnificent!
Happiness is Dobbie!!! Just look at her face while sleeping, she's so darn cute. You sure do visit some amazing places on your hikes. thanks for sharing them.
Wonderful post! I loved the variety, the scenery and the last shot!
Neat-o! I've never seen fossils out in the wild. Cool!
Dobbie sure is fitting in perfectly! Love the pictures of the stream. However did you get so knowledgeable about fossil types??
I enjoyed the music, too. Haven't listened to Enya in a long time; that used to be a favorite relaxation CD for Miss Chef and me.
Hey! The doggie photo of the year! Thx Lisa, it's always a pleasure to stop by for a virtual visit!
Some lovely photos; looks like a great place to hike. That graffiti looks like Indian symbology. And the little dog is precious!
I totally agree with your definition of happiness.
I am liking Dobbie more and more. lol
Great post -- some stunning photography.
I'd probably enjoy hiking more if I had trails like that to enjoy! Beautiful scenery :)
Excellent. I felt like I was along for the hike.Ialways feel like I'm along for the ride on your blog.I find your letterboxing quite interesting I have never heard of such a thing.You have added to my list of happy things. Thanks
Great pictures, and looks like fun was had by all. I enjoy seeing parts of the country that I otherwise wouldn't get the chance to see.
looks like so much fun, thanks for taking us 'along' lisa :)
i love the pooch photos, especially the one's where he(?) is jumping the water
OH my busy day!!! I bet you were exhausted!!! Love all of the pictures!! The last one is hilarious!!!
Wow, great post, great pictures too. That is exactly the kind of thing that makes me happy too. Coming home tired but satisfied after a great day outdoors.
what fun! I used to take the kids to Panama Rocks when they were little to hike and climb on the rock formations. Good times.
That last picture is amazing! So, funny made my day!
Loved it!!! You always have such wonderful pictures. I love the last on though... tooo cute!
Very cool! The pics of Dobie jumping had me smiling immediatly!! The fossil pics are fantastic too..:-)))
Lisa I want to go hiking with you guys!!! Awesome fossils too. You are really getting good with that camera!
I am also really, really happy that your knee is holding up, and that you are able to get outside and hike and be with the kids like that. This has got to be making your heart sing!!!
Love a hike with my dogs. With your injured knee, so glad you can get out and hike now.
Oh, Lisa, what great joy to see everybody shares the same interest. I have enjoyed the hike with you, the scenery is so crisp! Now, Doobie, did a great jump! Great show. And the last photo is just so adorable!
Lisa I just love your posts! Not only do you have beautiful pictures, but you also TEACH US Something about each and every subject you post! Seems I learn something new every time I read one of your posts. PS: LOVE ENYA TOO!
Great fun! great photos! Love the little doggie jumping across the creek, LOL!
Hiking is one of the things that makes me happy too! Looks like a wonderful family hike. Did you find the letterbox? It was good to see Dobbie having such a fun time too!
Thank you so much for taking us on the hike and making it real...I do miss my hiking days in the north Ga. mountains. I, too, favor rock formations - they are fascinating. You've come such a long way from your days of being confined in the "tower". It must have taken a lot of hard work.
Nancy in Iowa
Oh sweetest of 0utings with the kids and that Dobbie dog is too cute...was laughing with the "wee"up and over the creek shots! And the pooped pooch too!
I LOVE where you live and how you faithfully endear us to fall in love with the beauty of the world, by "showing an telling"!!
XO
Kac
What a beautiful hike -- and gorgeous pictures!
I love geology and fossils!! What a great hike to take your kidlets on!! I had a geology teacher say to remember that all of the earth starts out flat and it takes pressure and or temperature to create mountains and rock outcroppings then weather/temperature takes over from there. It is fascinating...:)
I love Dobbies expression of glee (and the following unconsciousness!):)
Hey Lisa. I read your post on Macro's and you can use a free program called Picnik...just upload your photo and have a blast. www.picnik.com
I LOVE the scenes from your hike! Such a beautiful place. Makes me want to go out and do some walking.
Hi Lisa it's me again...check your e-mail. I sent you a belated birthday gift!!! Enjoy it!
Colleen
Thank you for taking me along on your hike! It was simply beautiful!! And Dobbie was one tired pup! LOL!
I'll blog about my chickens someday soon!
I so envy the fact that you get to go so many interesting places with your kids and friends. And you, well, Dobbie, actually, gets the glory for being the first to make me LOL today. I love zonked puppies.
I *LOVE* to see dogs running out in the wild countryside! As much fun as it is for us, it's gotta be twenty times as much fun for them!
And then the doggy nap afterward.
Pure bliss!
Great pictures and it looks like everyone had a great time. The only thing missing is you should have gotten one of the kids to take a picture of you.
Dan
I am tired just reading about your hike. What a great way to have a family outing. You did a super job on catching all the great colors of fall. Nice post.
What a perfect day out and such beautiful pictures. But then I saw the last picture - oh boy the newest member of your family certainly is a scene stealer! So cute :)
I just caught up with all your photos and as usual they are nothing less than spectacular. Love the chickens are your friends horses....your hike. All of it. You are good at this!
Looks like a lot of fun!! It also looks like you killed the dog :)
I love a good hike too... I have to say I haven't hiked anywhere since I moved to Kansas. A sad omission I really need to fix! :)
Those are such great photos Lisa... love the pics of Dobbie, during and after the hike, lol.
What a beautiful place for your children to grow up in. I agree with your little dog. Happiness is a good long sound nap!
Oh your trail today reminds me so much of my desert trails that I am missing along with my Sweet Jesse!!!
Those are fantastic photos. The color is so rich. Loved the doxie leaping episode.
Dobbie is a riot!
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