TRACHT, J.A. 1992 Journal * Skeleton Canyon, Pelucilla Mtns, Colorado National Forest 17 miles S of Rodeo Hidalgo Co, New Mexico. July 7. father. Renee was still fatigued from yesterday and wanted to camp, but I wanted to get into New Mexico tonight. I compromised. We drove from Santa Fe (after supper in the picnic grounds at the end of the road) 5E to Skeleton Canyon, in the Pelucilla Mountains just across the state line. We arrived at 19:20, and I finally got the tent set up before a thunderstorm came right over the top of us. Renee & I covered in the car until we could safely move to the tent. The rain at 21:00. The storm did not abate until 23:00. A crude map DOWNSTREAM AZ-NM STATE LINE PINE CANYON N E FORK SKELETON CAMP-X CANYON 1 mile This is a canyon where dominant trees are oaks and junipers. There appear to be 3 species of evergreen oak and 2 species of juniper. The largest oaks grow in the floodplain of the creek, where the riparian woodlands is richly adorned with Quercus douglasii, Quercus walteri, valentinia oaks, a few piers, a rare cottonwood & a rare willow. There is a fair fruit set of junipers, and the cones on the pines (mostly in Pine Canyon) are all red. The creek has surface water almost continuously in and above Pine Canyon, but most wets is at surface at Camp level and downstream. The creek gradient is small. The surrounding canyon slopes are about 300-400 ft above the creek level. Well upstream of the junction of Pine Canyon, the riparian woodland is mostly large oaks. We hiked this canyon from 15:55 to 10:10 and again (upstream) from 12:25 to 14:00. We depart at 6:00.