Summer is often filled with camping, swimming, s'mores, and hiking. Even if you don't spend the night in the woods, a day in the middle of nature can bring an adventure. After many days of yoga, hot tubbing and filling ourselves with incredible red chili my cousin and I wrapped up our visit to New Mexico with an outdoor excursion.
The Hike
The Wednesday before we left we decided to go hiking in Taos. Elaine found a moderately difficult trail just past the ski basin. We knew there was a chance of rain but we decided to go anyway. Two hours after we left we drove past the ski basin and another few twisting miles away we finally made it to the trail head parking lot. So far the drive had been sunny and at the trail head it was cloudy with patches of sunlight.
We get our water bottles, tighten our laces and start walking. The trail is enchanting. I feel like Snow White while she is walking through the forest. I'm happy the sun is hiding as it is a little cooler and don't have to wear my sunglasses. Everything is wonderful. I take a picture of Elaine next to the rushing river covered by trees. We're walking. We pass several other groups hiking. After one hour we're almost to the top to see the amazing vista. We have just 1/2 a mile to go.
I feel a drop on my arm and then Elaine feels a drop on her arm. No problem. I welcome the coolness of rain after sweating through a mile uphill. We keep walking. We pass a group rushing down the trail intensely saying it would be best to get off the mountain NOW! We are so close to the top. We keep walking. It is finally raining. Not drizzling but a full blown downpour. Elaine suggests we take cover under the trees until it stops. This is nice, I think. A little rest. At 9,000 feet I'm panting like I just finished the Iron Man competition.
The rain lets up enough for us to continue. We cross this clearing and the sky starts dropping hail. Again we take cover under trees hoping the hail will pass or turn into rain. At this point the hail is the size of peas. Not horrible but still a little painful. Hikers with rain gear pass us going down the trail. I'm torn. I want to get to the top. We are SO CLOSE! But part of my brain is telling me it would be best to get down the mountain NOW.
Oh yeah! I forgot to mention the lightning. During the rain just before the hail a few sparks of lightning made an appearance. While hiding under the trees we did discuss the possible danger of lightning being at such a high altitude.
The hail stops for a few seconds and we finally decide to turn back. It is to wet and we realize our tennis shoes won't be suitable no matter how brave we are to continue in the rain and hail. We walk for a short distance and it starts hailing again. We hide under trees. This goes on for 3-4 rounds of hail.
I notice the trail is turning into a running river and decide hail or not we have to get to the bottom. The hail is now the size of cherries. Our shoes and socks are soaked through. Our clothes and hats are soaked. My small backpack is soaked and dripping water. But we make it to bottom and back to the parking lot. Our car is the only one there. Luckily we brought a change of clothes. Safely in the car and drying out we wind our way back, past the ski basin, past the pueblo, through downtown Taos and all the way to Santa Fe. It was quite an adventure. Next time someone tells me to get down the mountain NOW! I will listen!! But it is fun to be able to share the story.
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