Not one of my better ideas

 The weekend comes and there aren't any set plans or agendas for the family. So I suggest, why not a geocaching adventure hight up into the mountains to see some nice fall colors? The family agrees, we pack up a nice picnic lunch and head out for what should be a nice little drive. My target is Glorieta Peak (GC6MVDF), one of the accessible mountains near Santa Fe. I should put "accessible" in quotes though. While the Santa Fe Ski basin and Tesuque peak you can drive right up to on nice paved roads, Glorietta peak requires driving out to Pecos first, then taking old forest and logging roads for a good 12 miles. The going is SLOW. And to make matters worse, I miss a turn off on our way up, wasting even more time.

By the time we reach Glorietta peak, it is well past lunchtime and the kids are famished. We get out of the car and it is freeeeeeezing cold. Much colder than it was in town. A cold front must have been moving in as we drove up, and along with the cold temperatures, we are also socked in by clouds, unable to even get a nice view. Our outside picnic is a flop, everyone is too cold to enjoy the food. My plan to do a little hike down the ridge to Mt. Taylor and GC6MVDF, is quickly abandoned. no one is in the mood for this. Why did Dad drag us all up here again? Next time we stay home and watch movies and eat popcorn.... sigh...

One cold kid

Lovely views eh?