Trail 217, South of Pleasanton, NM
Sadly, this 'trail' was a road, NOT my favorite kind of hiking, but I did end up getting right up to the base of the Gila Wilderness, which was picturesque in the extreme

A preview of coming attractions... after a whole lot of work	Gettin closer...
A Yucca in its flowering stage	A Cholla? I think so...
The south end of the Gila	A bit of a mountain in front of the bigger mountains
Once you got all the way to the top of this particular ridge, there was a large flat area as well as a catchment and small lake
Apparently these boys (and girls) call the catchment home	The part of the catchment that I could get into the picture. It is a big one.
The last of the mountain pictures. The catchment was my turn around point. It was NOT the end of the road, but the road went further than my energy (2mi)	The way that plants say, 'Step on me to your own peril'
The granddaddy to the picture above	The road (US180) and mountains to the south (Also Silver City if you go far enough).