Stoneman Lake Area Again

On Monday 5/11/2020, Amy and I again freehiked near Stoneman Lake with one other NNAZ member, Greg, who we met at Stoneman Lake exit.  Two miles down the paved road to the lake we parked and entered a closed forest road.  Soon we were able to undress.   The mostly level dirt road was only moderately difficult – mostly because of some lava rock.  It was a beautiful warm day.  It had rained the day before, but this wasn’t really evident – everything had dried out.  The scenery and views were super.  In just a few days many new flowers had bloomed.  The road started through many Junipers and Pinyon Pines, then turned into lightly treed green meadows, and ended with more forest trees, lichened rocks, and a cliff gorge.  We turned back, then took a side road that seemed totally rocky at first, but quickly turned into a main road (213-F).  We hiked along this road for some way.  Then Amy sat on a rock under a shady tree and Greg and I hiked on ahead to see where the road went – it just kept going – where exactly will have to wait for another hike.  We turned back, met up with Amy, and too soon returned to the car, and said goodbye to Greg.  I carnuded back home – the end of a magnificent adventure.