An Inspired Cook

When the weather gets hot in NM we go north. On this weekend even Jemez and Santa Fe were too warm to go hiking so we ventured up to the Taos Ski Valley where it is more mountainous and the temp was a cooler 68 degrees. We spent a 12 hour day with 6 hours on the road and the rest exploring the area and a beautiful hike to Williams Lake. The trail starts around the north and east side of the Taos Ski Valley. We walked along a mountain stream and took a few moments to capture the wildflowers that are in bloom. It’s an out and back trail estimated to about 4 miles. We didn’t see many folks on the way in but when we got there we found several groups of families or friends taking in the picturesque view of the lake and the surrounding mountains. We stopped by the Taos Ski Valley on our way out and found it was not at all what we expected. The Taos Ski Village is filled with resorts, condo’s, restaurants, small shops and markets. It’s a popular destination for snow skiers with Taos Ski Valley being rated among the top 10 in the US. It is known for having a challenging terrain for expert skiers as well as moderate and novice ski runs. It’s quite the tourist scene in the winter month’s covered in snowfall but the summer is when the locals venture out to enjoy the trails filled with wildflowers, flowing streams and mountain lakes.

It’s always serene when you hear the sound of a stream in the mountains. Joe especially enjoys the hikes that run alongside water. Here are a couple pics of the water along the way.

It’s about a 1000 ft climb up to Williams lake. As we hike higher the Ponderosa Pine are more visible.

Wheeler Peek is on the bucket list as well. It’s a challenging hike with more elevation and more miles which would require backpacking in and camping overnight.

Just on the other side of these rocks is Williams Lake. And yes that is snow you see on the mountain.

And there it is, Williams Lake nestled in this little valley surrounded by a beautiful landscape.

I always feel lucky when a raven flies overhead.

From most angles the lake appears green, however when crouched low it reflects the blue skies. Either way it’s quite beautiful, don’t you think?

The shallow areas of the water is so clear and the rocks beneath are so colorful.

Here are some of the wildflowers we captured along the way.

As we strolled through the Taos Ski Village here are a few highlights.

Enjoying life one hike at a time!