Archives for posts with tag: Northern New Mexico

2017-08-09 Truchas Peak (exploratory) Sangre de Cristo Range

August 12, 2017 //

01 Truchas, center peak, N Truchas, Chimayosos

(South) Truchas, North Truchas and Chimayosos Peaks

Overview:

Truchas (Spanish for “trout”) may be 60 feet lower than Wheeler Peak, but it is far more isolated and far less visited. The mountain lies directly at the heart of the Santa Fe Mountains, an empress of altitude in spectacular high country. Billions have been spent on stadiums and museums to console the disconsolate who’ve no access to this style of hiking. The lucky will hike through a comprehensive tour of the Canadian, Hudsonian and arctic-alpine life zones: climbing through dense Douglas fir forest, sauntering across gorgeous meadows and arriving where the tough alpine grasses grudgingly give way to rock and lichen. Pick a couple nice days, hoist your pack and allow your expectations to soar. You won’t be disappointed.

Weather can be an issue. I turned back when the surrounding stratocumuli demonstrated cumulonimbus aspirations. As a result this description ends in the grassland below the summit.

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Tags hiking, hiking in new mexico, New Mexico, Northern New Mexico, Pecos Baldy, Pecos Wilderness, Sangre De Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe Mountains, Truchas Peak

Categories New Mexico, Sangre De Cristo Mountains

2017-07-19 Bosque Peak/Cerro Blanco Loop (Manzanos)

July 24, 2017 //

Morning Manzano Mountains from NM-55

Overview:

The Manzano Mountains are central New Mexico’s unsung treasure. They offer cool Douglas fir forests, broad stretches of montane grassland, a trove of fossil finds, views west across the Estancia Basin and views east across the Albuquerque Basin; deer and raptors are common, bear and elk are present. Given its close proximity to Albuquerque you might think it would be mobbed. In fact, solitude is a Manzano virtue. The Bosque Trail #174 ascends directly to the crest, shaking off any morning chill with brisk efficiency. Turning south, the Crest Trail #181 winds across open grasslands to a junction with Vigil Trail #59. This new trail crosses the crest leading to an off-trail venture to the high point of flat-topped Bosque Peak. To make a loop return to the Crest Trail and explore north towards the base of sheer-sided Mosca Peak and then return along the mellow Cerro Blanco trail #79.

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Tags Bosque Peak, hiking, hiking in new mexico, Manzano Mountain Wilderness, New Mexico, Northern New Mexico, Southwest

Categories Manzano Mountains, New Mexico

2017-07-02 The Narrows Rim Trail

July 6, 2017 //

Ventana Arch (in shadow) from clifftop turnaround point

Overview:

This is an easy amble along the top of a steep-sided scarp, terminating on a dramatic cliff overlooking the enormous Ventana Arch. Along the way you get a birds-eye view of the dark lava and struggling vegetation in the El Malpais National Conservation Area. The trail stays at a relatively low altitude and is unusually easy to access. This is a great way to introduce newcomers to the hiking in New Mexico. Alternatively, the trail provides a mellow means for getting out of doors and warming up those hiking muscles as the winter winds down. On this date it also served to test minumum expectations for a new pair of hiking shoes (which passed).

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Tags desert, hiking in new mexico, Malpais National Conservation Area, Malpais National Monument, Northern New Mexico, Southwest

Categories New Mexico

2017-06-24 Yapashi Ancestral Pueblo (Bandelier National Monument)

June 27, 2017 //

Alamo Canyon

Overview:

The Yapashi Ancestral Pueblo site lies on the Pajarito plateau, a gigantic mass of tuff that arose from eruptions of the Valles Caldera. The resulting territory is pretty flat save for erosion-carved, steep-sided canyons. These cleave the plateau into skinny protreros. It’s a southwestern archetype: sun-dominated by day, cold at night and fire swept in season. The narrow and pine-dominated canyons contrast with the broad and juniper-dominated mesas. The flat Pajarito plateau opens to the soaring Jemez mountains. There are easy ambles on the protreros and arduous ascents from the canyons. The Tyuonyi Ancestral Pueblo at the beginning includes reconstructions and is much visited. The Yapashi Ancestral Pueblo at the end is untouched and utterly lonesome. Grab your gear and go.

This isn’t a good hike for very young hikers or those with strong acrophobia. You’ll need water.

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Tags Alamo Canyon, Bandelier National Monument, Frijoles Canyon, hiking in new mexico, Jemez Mountains, Los Alamos, Middle Alamo Trail, Northern New Mexico, Southwest, Stone Lions Trail

Categories Jemez Mountains, New Mexico

2017-06-12 East Pecos Baldy (Sangre de Cristo range)

June 15, 2017 //

Overview:

This is a strenuous hike in some of New Mexico’s most dazzling terrain. Warning: the region’s beauty makes an imperious claim on the hiker – slink away after only one day and you could suffer a harsh sense of lamentable misjudgment! Make this a backpacking trip if you can.

On this date the tread of the Skyline Trail disappeared under deep snow and the hike up the summit block suddenly became a scramble. It was steep and taxing enough to require an ice axe and microspikes. In just a few weeks the snow will be gone and the trip should be a simple hike from end to end.

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Tags Beatty Trail, hiking, hiking in new mexico, Jack's Creek Trail, New Mexico, Northern New Mexico, Sangre De Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe Mountains, scrambling, Skyline Trail

Categories New Mexico, Sangre De Cristo Mountains

2017-06-08 Stewart & Johnson Lakes Loop (Santa Fe Mountains)

June 10, 2017 //

Forest Service Team clearing the heavily-encumbered Johnson Lake Trail

Overview:

This is a spectacularly limnic excursion that reaches two high and beautiful lakes then descends along a roaring mountain stream. The suggested loop ascends above Winsor Creek on the Winsor Ridge Trail #271, traverses below Santa Fe Baldy on the Skyline Trail #251 (with side trips to the lakes) and then descends along Cave Creek and Panchuela Creek on Cave Creek Trail #288. It is a long hike and a great workout. On this date there were interlocking stacks of nested deadfall blocking long stretches of the Johnson Lake trail. Fortunately the Forest Service has a hard-charging team at work (pictured above) clearing the tread. They’ve already cut through hundreds of logs; the balance-beam requirement for the Johnson Lake ascent may soon be history.

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Tags Cave Creek Trail, hiking in new mexico, New Mexico, Northern New Mexico, Sangre De Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe Mountains, Skyline Trail, Southwest, Winsor Trail

Categories New Mexico, Sangre De Cristo Mountains