Most of the grassland wildflowers were past their peak, but there were still some species in bloom.
Viewed: 14 times.
One of three deer that I spotted in the vicinity of the spring. This one came rushing down from the slope above the trail and startled me.
Viewed: 11 times.
The flat exposed McKinley Saddle and my first look at Santa Cruz Peak about 3 miles as the crow flies to the south.
Viewed: 20 times.
Past the saddle, the route was no longer on the wide road that I had enjoyed thus far. The trail continued on an old roadbed, however, and it was well graded and marked. The initial section dropped ~600 feet into the bowl beneath McKinley and San Rafael Mountains.
Viewed: 14 times.
Lots of booming yuccas in the bowl. I believe the species is 'Our Lord's Candle' (Yucca Whipplei). I spotted some hummingbirds but couldn't get the camera out in time to capture them.
Viewed: 11 times.
The trail started steeply upward on the far side of the bowl, regaining the elevation that had just been lost. This shot is of the one washed out section of the roadbed.
Viewed: 10 times.
Looking back across the bowl and McKinley Mountain beyond. The roadbed can be seen cutting diagonally down across teh McKinley slopes.
Viewed: 10 times.
Still some fog hanging stubbornly above the lake, but the rest of the valley was now clear.
Viewed: 9 times.
The long, reasonably steep climb back up to regain the ridgetop
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