PAST OUTINGS

Bear Wallow Loop Snowshoe

Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico

One of our favorite snowshoe day outings last winter was the Bear Wallow Loop. We traveled through the evergreen forest turned winter wonderland, spending time along frosty Tesuque Creek, pausing in between its two crossings at a meadow carpeted in snow. This delightful combination of trails added up to 4 miles, varying between 8,000 and 9,000 feet.

Box Canyon Hike, Ghost Ranch

Carson National Forest, New Mexico

This past Spring we started out at the Ghost Ranch trailhead for this popular hike. A 1-1/2 mile hike upstream along the Rito del Yeso brought us to the Box Canyon dead end, with shear walls on all sides. Spring water was gurgling from these walls of sandstone. After a break here for energy snacks and the solitude, we backtracked a short distance to take a trail branch, passing by more springs. In a half mile further, we had vistas of the Chama Valley below and colorful mesa cliffs above.

Hamilton Mesa Backpack, Pecos Wilderness

Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico

A Summer backpack trip for a family of four with two guides hiked in 4 miles to Mora Flats, our secluded streamside home for 3 days. Ranging between 9,000 and 11,000, the 8-mile layover day was an adventure, with crossings of Rio Valdez, up to the alpine meadows and forests of Hamilton Mesa, vistas of Santa Barbara Divide, and a mid-day break at Pecos Falls. We returned to camp, tired but content, with just enough daylight to enjoy a great dinner around our campfire ring “kitchen.”

Hamilton Mesa Backpack, Pecos Wilderness

Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico

Less Traveled Trails enjoyed introducing a father-son duo to backpacking in the Pecos Wilderness, hiking in about four miles for an overnight stay. Despite the usual monsoon rains, we stayed relatively dry, with nice views in between storms of the Pecos Baldy and Truchas peaks. Driving from Santa Fe to the village of Pecos, we entered the Santa Fe National Forest on the scenic road along the Pecos River. We started hiking at the Iron Gate Campground trailhead, with each of our packs at about 30 pounds. Storms greeted us as we arrived at the first meadow at mid-day and then again in the evening at our campsite. Our camp at about 10,000 feet overlooked a nice meadow on the westerly flank of Hamilton Mesa, just below the junction of Larkspur and Hamilton Mesa Trails. Two rainflies, tents, and personal raingear were invaluable on this backpack, to keep us warm and dry.

Backcountry Backpack, Bandelier National Monument

U.S. National Park Service, New Mexico

Our goal: to admire and honor The Shrine of the Stone Lions, a special spiritual place that goes back in time to the Ancient Pueblo People.  This two-day backpack was 16 miles roundtrip, out and back along the Mid-Alamo Trail. Starting at Monument Headquarters in Frijoles Canyon, we hiked to the Shrine and then to Capulin Canyon to make our overnight camp. The weather turned out to be quite pleasant for this late October trip. Although the Las Conchas fire devastated Capulin Canyon in 2011, ground cover is making a comeback along this essential water source in the dry Bandelier backcountry.

Continental Divide Trail (CDT) Backpack

Carson and Santa Fe National Forests, New Mexico

Sierra Club Outings Program, seven days, September 2014. Chief guide for five backpackers hiking an alternate CDT route through Ghost Ranch. Approximately 35 miles, one-way. The last night’s camp was in the Chama River Canyon Wilderness. Provided participant screening, trip administration, route finding, food, water treatment, shuttle transportation, natural resource interpretation, and historical background.

CDT Backpack, Chama River Canyon Wilderness

Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico

Southwest Explorations Program, Santa Fe Community College, two days, April 2014. Chief guide for three backpackers hiking the CDT in the Chama River Canyon Wilderness. Approximately 8 miles, round-trip. Provided classroom training, trip administration, route finding, food, water treatment, shuttle transportation, natural resource interpretation, and historical background.

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