Valle Grande Descanso

The same descanso originally photographed on July 9, 2011 (and posted on July 31, 2011). This version was taken just five weeks after the first. The new grass is incredibly green.

Valle Grande Cross

A descanso leans against a fence overlooking part of Valle Grande. The haze in the distance is smoke from the Las Conchas wildfire — the same fire that burned this portion of Valle Grande.

Valle Grande, from Coyote Call

Looking out over Valle Grande from the Coyote Call trail (both in Valles Caldera) during a much wetter summer than this one. I’m guessing both areas have been burned in the Las Conchas wildfire.

UPDATE, JULY 17: I was wrong. Most of this part of Valle Grande remained unscathed. As for the Coyote Call trail, it is still closed. From what I could see from the road, large parts of it burned — but many parts did not. In particular, it looks as if many of the aspens along the trail survived.

Valle Grande, seen from Rabbit Ridge

Looking north from Rabbit Ridge: Valle Grande, part of Valles Caldera.

Pond at Valles Caldera

Trees and an old ranch building are reflected in a pond at Valles Caldera.

Aspens at Rabbit Ridge

One of several spectacular views from Rabbit Ridge, near the intersection of Bandelier and Valles Caldera.

Bull Elk, Valles Caldera

A bull elk sizes up a photographer (yours truly) at Valles Caldera, in the Jemez.