Short and Steep

You know what’s great about climate change? Winter hiking is so pleasant!

That’s false cheerfulness, but you get my point.

Taos has a ton of great trails, and one new to me is Cebolla Mesa, which takes you from the rim of the Rio Grande Gorge down to the river.

I tend to like longer hikes that maybe aren’t quite as intense, but still leave you a little worn-out when you’re done. I’m happy to be out for a few hours, usually going up and then down, and then I like to go somewhere to revel in the accomplishment and eat something that involves carbs and possibly french fries.

Cebolla Mesa isn’t that kind of hike. It’s not very long (about a mile and a quarter each way), but it’s steep enough so you have to be careful picking your way down the narrow trail, and stopping often to let your heart rate settle coming back up.

It doesn’t look terribly steep in this photo, but you can see Sam checking out the trail’s pitch before heading down.

Nature’s warning sign.

And nature’s tenacity.

Marking the way.

At the halfway point, the Rio Grande.

Now all we have to do is climb back out.

What’s your preference: short and steep, or long and less so? Let me know in the comments.

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