Can you say switchback? Up gravel.  Up loose dirt.  Short ones and long ones.  We walked them all today then walked that many more again on our way back down.  From the Chisos Basin at around 5400 ft we trekked up Pinnacles trail to 7100 ft.  It was a bit hazy but the views were still breathtaking.  From there, check out the boot rock on Boot Canyon trail.

Colima cross trail meanders through a heavy wooded area that seems more like out in the Appalachians with oak and pine trees far outnumbering cactus and yucca. Our return trip via Laguna Meadow trail (yes, there apparently was a marshy meadow here eons ago) was not quite as steep but more of the seemingly endless switchbacks. I’d recommend the hike.  Start early though as the heat can get pretty intense even for the easier downhill portion.

These trails cut through the high country and provided our best bet for seeing the local black bear and mountain lions. No such luck.

There was a bit of heavy breathing. A month or three on the coast has definitely left us low landers.  We will need to work on that some as we head into the Rockies this summer.