Day 2- Pecos

When I signed off at 9:30 last night, I thought the fireworks were over for the day, but I was wrong. A bit past 11 we were awakened by heavy rain and a lot more lightning. Probably hitting the ridges and high peaks around us, none of the dozens of bolts were more than 3 miles away, and most about a mile and change. We were camped three to four thousand feet below, but the decibel levels of thunder were high. Much rolling and echoing was added to the initial claps. The rain continued, but the lightning eventually faded away.

Then at about 2AM we got an encore of the 11o’clock show, only with a few lightning strikes closer, like half a mile away. Let’s just say I have had more restful nights on the trail.

Dawn arrived with a continuation of the rain and we had breakfast sheltered in the trees. A discussion was had about what we were going to do. Our original plan was to climb several thousand feet to Truchas Lake at 11,900 feet and camp there tonight. But with more lighting predicted for tonight, we were all reluctant to move up to the strike zone. Ultimately we decided to stay in our present camp for the day and then backtrack toward the truck tomorrow.

The rain continued into the afternoon, but we mounted a day hike up the trail along a tributary of the Pecos, Rito del Padre. Pleasant, but increasingly damp, we made it about a mile before turning back.

Early in the afternoon the sun finally broke through and the rain gave up. The partly cloudy skies allowed us to dry a few things and take another short hike up the Pecos.

Of course, the whole time we four friends held many and various conversations on a vast array of subjects. Much laughter was at hand, and no one was spared a friendly insult or the dredging up of an embarrassing memory. So a wholly enjoyable time was had by all.

In the late afternoon Cappuccino and I hiked up to Beatty’s Cabin, a Forest Service cabin about a mile from where we’re camped. A couple of nice old structures, a little on the derelict side of there upkeep, but a point of interest to hike to.

Back in camp we all had dinner together and tried to wait up and see the meteor shower, but the clouds and rain have returned so we all gave up and went to bed.

Until tomorrow, Happy Trails!…