PEEC News:
On Saturday, July 7, Dorothy Hoard will lead a Natural Wonders of Los Alamos hike to Veronica Springs to see the wild Veronica that blooms in the seeping spring water.
The hike is free and open to the public. Participants can meet at 9 a.m., at PEEC or at at 9:30 a.m., the trailhead at American Springs Road (Forest Road 181.)
PEEC’s Natural Wonders of Los Alamos series of outings aims at showing newcomers and natives interesting and beautiful places they may have never visited.
In May, Janie O’Rourke led a hike to the Cave of the Winds, and in August, Sarah Gustafson will take participants to Deer Trap Mesa.
This month, Dorothy Hoard takes people to a welcome sight in these dry times: a spring where water bubbles onto the ground, and the lovely water plant Veronica is in bloom.
This is a fairly level hike on a good dirt road. It’s also a historic route, so along the way Hoard will talk about its history—including sheep, cattle and logging.
Veronica Springs probably fed a sawmill at one point. Hikers will also get to see 12 years of fire recovery from the Cerro Grande Fire.
Living Treasure and History Nut Dorothy Hoard helps maintain the Jemez Mountain Herbarium database and wrote Los Alamos Outdoors.
Total round-trip distance should be about 1.5 miles, with some options to extend the hike, if participants are interested, and should take about two hours.
Bring water and sunscreen. For more information, visit www.PajaritoEEC.org, call 662-0460, or e-mail Programs@PajaritoEEC.org.
