Category Archives: Hiking

Cumbres Pass CDT North Hike – 08/12/2021

November 2, 2021

This hike was during a 5 day camping trip to Northern New Mexico. We set up the R-Pod at Heron Lake for 4 nights. While Pat attended a 3 day workshop in Chama on dyeing wool, I drove up to Cumbres Pass for a hike on the Continental Divide Trail.

The Drive In

NM 17 from Heron Lake goes through Chama, the southern terminus of the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad, a vintage narrow gauge rail line that offers rides from Chama over Cumbres Pass to Antonito, CO. Continuing north on NM 17, the tracks are never far from the highway, and if one’s timing is right one will see a steam locomotive with passenger cars (and sometimes utility cars) climbing up the 2,000 foot grade (or coasting down). Or maybe see a train pause at the small railyard at the summit of Cumbres Pass.

The drive up on the highway is scenic, especially because sufficient moisture has made the forest, pastures, even the roadside a very healthy green. At the summit, I found a parking lot on the south side of the highway with a sign introducing the CDT southbound, Crossing the highway and going under a railroad overpass, I found the trailhead for the CDT northbound.

The Hike

I was fortunate – the passenger unit of the Cumbres & Toltec Railroad just happened to reach Cumbres Pass as I was gathering up my pack for the hike.

On to the hike: Crossing to the north side of CO 17, then going under the railroad trestle, signs pointed the way to Trail 813, the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. The forest hereabouts was so healthy, everything was green, and flowers were in profusion (I dedicate a photo gallery to them below). And the view, once up on a ridge, was a pretty sight, down CO 17 towards Chama.

As one might anticipate, the trail is well used (it is the CDT). The trail surface was smooth, following along the hillside, looping uphill a bit when crossing valleys coming from the right. In a couple of those places there was water flowing, in one case even a small waterfall. The trail ascends in spurts, never very steep; happily I can tolerate the elevation of 10,000 feet, since I live at 5,000 feet and hike regularly at elevations above that.

I encountered some wildlife as I approached the trailhead. And to finish the hike, I added my name to the logbook at the trailhead.

Highlight

‘Tis a beautiful trail, with a bit of adventure thrown in by the fact it is the CDT. (I did encounter another hiker, a woman setting out for Wolf Creek Pass, expecting to get there in 8 days.)

Statistics

Total Distance: 7.6 miles
Elevation: start 9,990 ft, maximum 10,543 ft, minimum 9,964 ft
Gross gain: 579 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,596 ft, descending 1,606 ft
Maximum slope: 21% ascending, 23% descending, 6.5% average
Duration: 4:40

Cumbres Pass CDT North Hike.Solo.2021-08-12 (KML)	65 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Cumbres Pass CDT North Hike.Solo.2021-08-12 (GPX)	113 Downloads

If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.

Cumbres Pass/CDT South Hike – 08/13/2021

References and Resources

USDA Forest Service: CDNST – Cumbres Pass North Trailhead #813
GAIA GPS: Cumbres Pass via Continental Divide Trail
Continental Divide NST
Continental Divide Trail Coalition: Cumbres Pass Summit
Border to Back Yard: Colorado/New Mexico Border to Wolf Creek Pass
Jennifer Journeys: CDT 2021 Days 43-47 Cumbres Pass to Wolf Creek Pass
We met Jennifer (trail name NoNo) at the top of Mount Taylor this spring. We learned that she was publishing a Video BLOG. Pat & I began watching it then, and followed her through hike all the way to Canada. The first part of this episode covers the part of the CDT that I hiked.
Taos News: Hiking in Southern Colorado: Cumbres Pass North …

George's Photos: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show

George's Flowers: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

Gooseberry Springs Trail Hike – 05/10/2021

May 13, 2021

Pat and I have hiked up Mount Taylor, last year and 2 years ago, and we were looking forward to doing it again. Jay and Nancy were intrigued and also wanted to ‘go the distance’. So we scheduled a 2-night camping trip, giving us a day to make the climb.

The Drive In

Because Jay & Nancy are tent-campers, we planned on camping in the Coal Mine Campground. Arriving there, we discovered that is not yet open for this year, But, Pat and I provided a fallback; from the 2020 Post:

“We had an easy drive to Grants, then through Lobo Canyon on NM 547 to FR 193 and on to our target campsite. The road has fresh, deep gravel (a Class 3 road) but the Tacoma/R-Pod handled it easily. We chose the campsite closer to the trailhead; an added benefit – it is located on the edge of Lobo Canyon and thus affords better views than the other campsites. This, our first setup outside of an established campground, challenged us in maneuvering the R-Pod among trees and rocks to an area relatively level – great experience for future forays.”

The Hike

Gooseberry Springs Trail Hike.PatJayNancy.2021-05-10

The hike this year is much like Pat & I did last year, at least the ascent; I won’t repeat the description, but invite you to review that BLOG post. For the descent, we opted to follow the precedent of our first hike to the summit: descend on the trail to the tree line, then turn right to follow Gooseberry Creek down to it’s junction with the Gooseberry Spring trail.

As we continue to embrace New Mexico’s vistas and features, we very much enjoyed the views from the many vantage points on the trail up Mount Taylor. The open forest through which we pass for the first half of the hike is so very pleasant, with the healthy aspen, ponderosa, and fir trees. Then above the edge of the trees, the views of the slopes ahead and along one section to the right are breathtaking. Out on the slope of the last half of the ascent the views to the west and south are wondrous. Topping out on the summit opens more views to the south and east.

Please step through the gallery of photos below to get a sense of what I’m trying to describe, and some descriptions of the hike.

Highlight

Inspecting maps closely, I had noted that the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) passed near our campsite. Then, a half mile into the hike a young woman caught up with us. It appeared by her pack that she was backpacking. Chatting briefly we learned that she had come from Grants and was in fact a through-hiker on the CDT. A half mile later, we caught up with her as she was chatting with Cheshire Cat (his trail name). He was introduced as a Trail Angel, well known by CDT through-hikers, particularly for providing ice cream sandwiches out on the trail. After a convivial conversation, the hiker continued ahead (being new at this through-hiking universe, we didn’t think to ask her trail name), and she was soon out of sight. Cheshire Cat headed back to the trailhead and his crazy-painted car (unfortunately, we didn’t think to take a picture of the car as we began our hike). And we continued on our way.

(Cheshire Cat challenged us with a $1,000,000 bet: who has right-of-way, a hiker going uphill or one going downhill? We all posited – uphill has right-of-way. He asserted that downhill has precedence, his logic being that one going downhill has difficulty stopping, particularly on a steep, rocky slope. ‘Tho that seemed to make sense to all of us, we continued to think – uphill. So I guess we have and IOU to him.)

As we were climbing up the switchbacks on the upper half of the ascent, we noticed another hiker gaining on us. A couple of hundred yards from the top, she caught up and went ahead. Upon arriving at the peak, she was there taking photos. We exchanged cameras to get ‘selfies’ to document our arrival. We invited her to join us while we had lunch, which she graciously agreed. We enjoyed great conversation, learning that her trailname is “No-No”, that she has been on the CDT for close to a month (starting at the US-Mexico border) and plans to finish at the Canadian border come September.

As we prepared to head back down, No-No told us we might encounter another through-hiker, trailname “Beer Goddess”. And .. as we returned to -the summit, a young woman was there taking her documentary photos. We may have surprised her, asking if she was Beer Goddess. Yes, she said, as we told her No-No was just ahead, packing up to continue on the trail. After getting a picture of her on her camera, we continued on our way, back down Mount Taylor.

Postscript

During our descent, we were reminded of our first hike on Mount Taylor back in 2018. Pat & I hiked to the saddle not far above the tree line. It was a great introductory hike and gave us perspective (and confidence) that we could hike to the summit. We returned two weeks later to ‘go to the top’. Reflecting on those experiences, and in conversation with Nancy & Jay, it occurred to us that others may hike to this half-way point, a bit more than half way in distance and half way in elevation gain. Such a hike would not be so strenuous and would give one great views all around, especially the last 1/4 mile along the east side of the ridge, with a beautiful view across Rinconada Canyon. Then descend, as we did, down into Goosberry Canyon, back to the Trail and to the trailhead.

Statistics

Total Distance: 6.31 miles
Elevation: start 9,275 ft, maximum 11,309 ft, minimum 9,275 ft
Gross gain: 2,034 ft. Aggregate ascending 2,246 ft, descending 2,247 ft
Maximum slope: 40% ascending, 41% descending, 12.8% average
Duration: 6:44

Gooseberry Springs Trail Hike.PatJayNancy.2021-05-10 (KML)	68 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Gooseberry Springs Trail Hike.PatJayNancy.2021-05-10 (GPX)	59 Downloads

If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.

Gooseberry Springs Trail Hike – 06/10/2020
Gooseberry Springs Trail Hike #2- 06/13/2018
Gooseberry Springs Trail Hike – 06/01/2018

References and Resources

See References and Resources for the 2020 hike
Through-Hikers APP: GutHook Guides
Hiking Dude: Continental Divide Trail (download .kml file)

George's Photos: Click on a Photo for Gallery View.

Oak Flats Walkabout – 04/20/2021

April 28, 2021

Another hike without a preconceived plan – we felt a need to get out for a few hours.

The Drive In

Oak Flats is close to our home in downtown Albuquerque, close for everyone living in Albuquerque. Go eastbound on I-40 to Tijeras, then south, up the hill on NM 337, to the turn to Oak Flat Road, continue for a mile to the Oak Flats Picnic Area.

The Walkabout

There are a myriad of trails in the area around the Oak Flats Picnic Area. (check CalTopo’s map). Ample parking is available at the entrance to the Picnic Area. The trails have been given names (and numbers) and there are signs at junctions. Leaving the parking area haded north, we found ourselves at a junction of the Caida del Piño and Easy Pickin’ trails. We turn right onto the latter, a 10th of a mile on we turned left onto Mahogany (which is also a two-track). We stayed on Mahogany until Gamble Oak – turned left until turning left on Caida del Piño, heading back to parking.

These trails are among the most pleasant and easy hiking in the area. The surface is dirt, often covered with pine needles, with occasional gravel and small rocks. The forest is quite open but the trails are mostly shaded.

The forest has generally been cleared of undergrowth.

This area is very popular for folks on mountain bikes. The -do- contribute to maintaining the trails in good condition. We encountered only one bike on this weekday; more bikers may use the area on weekends.

Highlight

Our timing for this ‘escape’ was excellent – we finished in time to have a fine lunch at Roots Farm Cafe, a favorite stop for us anytime we’re heading out that way.

Statistics

Total Distance: 2.50 miles
Elevation: start 7,670 ft, maximum 7,690 ft, minimum 7,576 ft
Gross gain: 134 ft. Aggregate ascending 311 ft, descending 311 ft
Maximum slope: 16% ascending, 16% descending, 3.9% average
Duration: 1:36

Oak Flats Walkabout.Pat.2021-04-17 (KML)	74 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Oak Flats Walkabout.Pat.2021-04-17 (GPX)	74 Downloads

If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.

Ponderosa in Oak Flats Hike – 11/03/2016
Oak Flats-Ponderosa Trails HIke – o5/09/2019

References and Resources

USDA Forest Service: Oak Flats Picnic Site
Oak Flat Trailhead & Connector Trail 05637 (check the map)
AllTrails: Oak Flat Loop
MTB Project: Manzanita Mountains Trail System
(explore all the trails along south NM 337)
CalTopo: Oak Flats Trails

La Mesita Roja & Its Hoodoos – 01/16/2021

January 23, 2021

Weather was beautiful this day in New Mexico, perfect for returning to the Rio Puerco, and to visit geologic formations that are a favorite of our friend and photographer Pat Barrett. We enjoyed a really good hike and the geologic formations are something to behold.

A note about the name I’m using – I haven’t found a name associated with these formations on any map. Three miles southeast are formations and a mesa dubbed La Mesita Blanca, and further south is Mesita Negra. So it seems appropriate, given the red rock outcroppings, that this should be called La Mesita Roja.

UPDATE, 11/29/2022: I’ve discovered the “proper” name for this small but amazing outcrop of hoodoos: Cañada del Ojo. See References below.

The Drive In

The drive from I-40 is paved for 6 miles, then graded and well used dirt to the parking area. There are many roads scattered in the Rio Puerco and few significant landmarks, plus the route passes through the To-Hajiilee Navaho Reservation, so it is easy to unintentionally arrive at the middle of nowhere. So here are detailed directions:

Drive west from Albuquerque to the Cañoncito turnoff, then drive north towards To-Hajiilee on Trail 56, also identified as Cañoncito School Road.
Just before the Cañoncito School, turn right off of the pavement, then immediately left to continue on Trail 56. (There are signs for Trail 56 and Trail 57 – Trail 57 angles off to the right, terminating back at I-40, at the interchange near the Route 66 Casino.)
Continue north on Trail 56. Don’t take the Y to the left two-tenths of a mile along, nor the Y to the left 3 miles along; as a guide, stay on the road that is in the better condition.
Pass through the 1st fence line (with cattle guard), the boundary between the Reservation and the Herrera Ranch (private land). Another mile along park just beyond the 2nd fence line; you are now on BLM land.

The Hike

Mesita Roja & Its Hoodoos Hike.Pat.2021-01-16

Not being familiar with the territory, we struck out east from the parking area on a 2-track that crossed over the southern end of a ridge. Soon the 2-track headed north, and recalling Pat Berrett’s advice, we left the 2-track and set out towards the fence line. As we crossed Cañada del Oso, we headed southeast, towards a prominent and interesting geologic feature. Along the way the red rocks that Pat B. had spoken about came into view. We continued on toward the “Red Butte” to take a closer look. The formation, maybe 30′ tall with columns and windows and amazing range of red colors and hues. Our photos don’t give it its due.

After ogling Red Butte, we headed north to Mesita Roja, the ridge of colorful red rock outcroppings. We wandered through passageways, looking at the most interesting features of color and shapes, windows and forms, passagways and dead ends. Mesita Roja is definitely the most interesting geologic features that we have visited. These photos and in the Gallery below may give you some idea of the beautiful Mesita Roja.

Finding ourselves atop the ridge of Mesita Roja, we could see clearly the Hoodoos a quarter of a mile distant. We descended off of the Mesita and across the arroyo to find ourselves in an amazing array of 20-30 foot tall Hoodoos. We wandered among them, working our way around the collection that sits below the boundary of what I will call “Hoodoo Mesa”. We worked our way

Looking down on a section of the Hoodoos

up the east side, then up onto the Mesa to look at the Hoodos from above – great views. Along the way we came across more and more interesting features and formations.

Not finding a way down the west side of Hoodoo Mesa, we circled back to the east side and circled around the Mesa to the west side to where the cañon narrowed.

Taking a direct route across Cañada del Oso to the truck.

Having thoroughly enjoyed Mesita Roja and Its Hoodoos, we took a bearing from US Topo and struck out for the truck. Taking the direct route, we found ourselves crossing Cañada del Oso through sometimes tall lumps of grass, at other times wending our way through waist to chest high bushes. That along with the soft surface made the hiking a bit more strenuous – that is, a good workout.

Highlight

‘Tis a beautiful place, with such a variety of interesting features – shapes, colors, and more. We’ve enjoyed Goblin Colony, Tent Rocks, Dinosaur Ridge, and mesas around Mesa de Cuba. But this is our favorite. And it is secluded – ‘tho a car was parked near ours when we returned, evidence (and location) suggest that it is rarely visited.

Statistics

Total Distance: 4.27 miles
Elevation: start 5,943 ft, maximum 6,012 ft, minimum 5,812 ft
Gross gain: 69 ft. Aggregate ascending 645 ft, descending 648 ft
Maximum slope: 19% ascending, 26% descending, 5.0 % average
Duration: 4:33

Mesita Roja & Its Hoodoos Hike.Pat.2021-01-16 (KML)	0 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Mesita Roja & Its Hoodoos Hike.Pat.2021-01-16 (GPX)	125 Downloads
Mesita Roja & Its Hoodoos Drivein.Pat.2021-01-16 (KML)	91 Downloads
Mesita Roja & Its Hoodoos Drivein.Pat.2021-01-16 (GPX)	211 Downloads

I urge you to explore our hiking tracks with Google Earth. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the 2-dimensional screenshot above. For assistance: Using Google Earth Track Files.

References and Resources

Thanks to Pat Barrett for telling us about this amazing place, and for the directions to get there.

Update – links to References for Cañada del Ojo:
AllTrails: Canada del Ojo
Woman Seeks Elevation: Cañada del Ojo: An eyeful of hoodoos
The Gentle Art of Wandering: 49 Canada del Ojo
Can also find information in the book “60 Hikes Within 60 Miles, Albuquerque“

George's Photos: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

Gooseberry Springs Trail Hike – 06/10/2020

June 13, 2020

We returned to Mount Taylor where Pat & I made two hikes two years ago (a reconnoiter hike followed two weeks later by a hike to the summit). As then, we took our R-Pod camper for two nights giving us a whole day to make the hike without traveling. As for camping, since the Coal Mine Campground was closed, we made a one-day trip a week ago to locate a suitable campsite where the Forest Service permits “dispersed camping”. We found more than a dozen such sites; checked 3 or 4 of them to determine suitability for bringing in the R-Pod (care taken to avoid branches that might snag the camper); we marked 2 that we judged to be suitable.

Drive In and Camp Setup

We had an easy drive to Grants, then through Lobo Canyon on NM 547 to FR 193 and on to our target campsite. The road has fresh, deep gravel (a Class 3 road) but the Tacoma/R-Pod handled it easily. We chose the campsite closer to the trailhead; an added benefit – it is located on the edge of Lobo Canyon and thus affords better views than the other campsites. This, our first setup outside of an established campground, challenged us in maneuvering the R-Pod among trees and rocks to an area relatively level – great experience for future forays.

The Hike

Gooseberry Springs Trail Hike.Pat.2020-06-10

After a pleasant night (‘tho chilly – a cold front brought night time temperatures into the low 40s – the extra blanket was welcome as was the heater in the early morning – but .. cooler temperatures were promised for the hike), we drove the two miles or so to the trailhead and set off. The first half of the trail is quite pleasant, wending through open forest of mostly ponderosa pine. The trail itself “gets with it quickly”, enough slope to get blood moving and breathing heavy. In places the surface is a bit rocky, in other places it’s dirt with pine needles that soften the footfall.

As we left the forested portion of the trail, we stopped to recharge with Instant Ramen Soup. The 2nd half to the summit is in the open; we again enjoyed the magnificent views to the east, south, and west. (See more descriptions from our previous hike to the summit.) At the summit, we relaxed a while with coffee & hot chocolate and peanut butter & jelly sandwiches.

Because of the rocky surface on the last 1/4 of the trail, we opted to take a different route back down the mountain. AllTrails showed a track that went north from the summit, then west and south to make a loop back to the trailhead (Gooseberry Springs and Mount Taylor Loop). The AllTrails map also showed a dotted line down the west slope – we chose to take that ‘shortcut’. It proved to be a seldom-used two track that was not too steep – ’twas a good choice. Where this two track intercepted the AllTrails track, we chose to make a more direct route towards the trailhead by descending down the wide open grassland. The slope of the terrain was fine (for descending) and covered with thick grass. We used this opportunity to gain some experience in interpreting the topo maps versus ‘ground truth’. We sought a track with lesser slopes and one that didn’t require any climbs up from the intervening valley.

Overall we were successful, descending a uniform slope, then tracking a topo line where it was necessary to ascend up to a ridge. For the last 100 or so feet of elevation, we found cattle trails that made the descent easier (cattle figure out how to ‘bushwhack’). Easier .. until the final 50 feet or so of really steep slope and thick bushes that made for real ‘bushwacking’.

Before leaving this descent, we reviewed the topo map to identify a route down that might be easier on a future hike to the summit. The remainder of the hike, down Lobo Canyon past Gooseberry Springs and to the trailhead was most pleasant. Back at the campsite we had a very nice evening, slept well in the camper, and enjoyed a relaxing morning at the campsite. Heading home, on our way out of Grants we recalled on our last visit having a pleasant break at the Route 66 Junk Yard Brewery. Stopping there would have been a very nice, but since breweries have been closed due to Covid-19 we pressed on to Albuquerque. Note: We had cellphone service at the campsite and for most of the hike. This permitted us to check out AllTrails and other sources for alternative ideas.

Statistics

Total Distance: 6.0 miles
Elevation: start 9,274 ft, maximum 11,314 ft, minimum 9,274 ft
Gross gain: 2,040 ft. Aggregate ascending 2,274 ft, descending 2,274 ft
Maximum slope: 39% ascending, 43% descending, 13.6% average
Duration: 8:33

Gooseberry Springs Trail Hike.Pat.2020-06-10 (KML)	84 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Gooseberry Springs Trail Hike.Pat.2020-06-10 (GPX)	226 Downloads

If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.

References and Resources

US Forest Service: Gooseberry Springs Trail
Gooseberry Springs Trailhead
SummitPost: Mount Taylor
AllTrails: Gooseberry Springs and Mount Taylor Loop
Mount Taylor via Gooseberry Trail
ondafring: Day Hike: Mount Taylor
ASCHG: Mount Taylor From Gooseberry Spring Hike
Stav is Lost: Hike Mt. Taylor via Gooseberry Springs Trail (great photos)
Four Corners GeoTourism: Gooseberry Springs Trail – Mt. Taylor
Outdoor Project: Gooseberry Springs Trail to Mount Taylor
Hiking Project: Gooseberry Trail

George's Photos (with captions): Click on a Photo for Gallery Show, or Click Here for Slide Show

Pat's Photos: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show, or Click Here for Slide Show

Oso Ridge-Embudito Trails Hike – 11/18/2019

December 15, 2019

Not having hiked recently, I headed out to the Northeast Heights for a hike on the western slopes of the Sandia Mountains. I chose the Embudito area because, unlike the other hiking destinations in the Foothills trails that go into the Sandias, there is not a long walk from parking to the trailhead. I had hiked the Embudito Trail before, way back in 2014, so this was also a reacquaintence with the trail.

The Hike

The trailhead is at the eastern edge of the Glenwood Hills neighborhood, east of Tramway – take Montgomery Blvd east to Glenwood Hills Dr, then right on Trailhead Rd. I chose to take the Oso Ridge trail up Oso Ridge, then loop back on the Embudito trail. I walked along residential back yards looking for the trail – it was difficult initially but after climbing up the slope a bit the trail became evident. ‘Tis a bit challenging (easy surface, just uphill) – 1,100 feet in a bit over a mile.

Once on the ridge the going was easier. It was another 300 feet of elevation gain along the ridge to the highest elevation, but easy hiking. Along the way I came upon a small heard of mule deer, a half dozen does and one buck who stood alert above me on the ridge until the does had gone to the other side of the ridge.

At about 3.75 miles into the hike the trail begins descending to intersect the Embudito trail. After relaxing a bit with ramen noodles (great to have some warm soup), I headed down Embudito and back to the Tacoma. As on so many trails in the Sandias (and elsewhere), the views were so scenic, the weather clear and sunny, and the trails challenging enough to get the body warmed up.

Statistics

Total Distance: 3.96 miles
Elevation: start 6,240 ft, maximum 7,652 ft, minimum 6,240 ft
Gross gain: 1,412 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,671 ft, descending 1,671 ft
Maximum slope: 44% ascending, 39% descending, 15.7% average
Duration: 3:02

Oso Ridge-Embudito Trails Hike.Solo.2019-11-18 (KML)	104 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Oso Ridge-Embudito Trails Hike.Solo.2019-11-18 (GPX)	107 Downloads

I urge you to explore our hiking tracks with Google Earth. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the 2-dimensional screenshot above. For assistance: Using Google Earth Track Files.

References and Resources

AllTrails:
Oso Ridge Trail
    Oso Ridge and Embudito Trail Loop
ASCHG: Oso Ridge – Embudito Loop Hike
Santa Fe Outdoors: Oso Ridge-Embudito Loop
New Mexico Meanders:
  2017-12-02 Oso Ridge (Vertical Forest) Trail
    2017-01-14 Embudito Canyon (Sandia Mountains)

Geoerge's Photos: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

Del Agua-Piedra Lisa Trails Hike- 11/17/2019

November 21, 2019

In Placitas for this weekend giving us an opportunity to revisit trails in the area that we’ve enjoyed in the past. And a favorite: Del Agua, with a loop finishing on the Piedra Lisa trial. We’ve hiked each of these trails and the loop many times in the past, most of them before I started this BLOG. So I will offer details more typical of recent posts.

The Drive In

Access to the trailhead for both trails is via the Forest Loop Rd. There are two entrances, not far from each other: from the Placitas Cafe the first one – .5 miles, the second one – .8 miles; the second one is preferred. This Loop Road is quite rough with rocks exposed throughout; a high-clearance vehicle isn’t required but the suspension of any vehicle will get a workout.

The Hike

Del Agua-Piedra Lisa Trail Hike.Jay.2019-11-17

Initially we were a bit befuddled looking for parking for the trailhead. What we determined: since our last visit, there had been a land swap between the Forest Service and the Sandia Pueblo, and the approach to the Del Agua canyon is now on Pueblo land and off limits. Backtracking on the road to a small parking area, we discovered a sign identifying the Piedra Lisa Trail. From a past hike, we guessed that we would find a new trail that would take us from Piedra Lisa to Del Agua (we had, in fact, traversed that area on a previous Del Agua – Piedra Lisa hike). Our guess was right: some 800 yards up Piedra Lisa we encountered an intersection with the (new to us) Tightrope Trail.

Tightrope crosses the northern slopes of these foothills. It is a great trail, an improvement over the earlier approach to Del Agua; the latter was a boring half mile trek across flat, open juniper, the new trail rises up the slopes providing great views to the west and north. It is also a well made trail, along some sections following terraces on the slope making it an easy portion of the trail. Rounding the corner we found ourselves in familiar surroundings: a firm sand bottom of the canyon, juniper, oak, and cottonwood trees and underbrush through which the trail meanders. Some sections are up on the side slope of the canyon but easy treading. In the upper half of Del Agua one encounters a half dozen 8-12 foot tall rock faces to climb, but in each case there are natural steps and/or footholds that make the ascent easy. At about 2.19 miles into the hike (1.3 miles after entering the canyon) and climbing up and over those rock faces, we reached the intersection with the Piedra Lisa Trail. Piedra Lisa’s termini are on the Loop Road (north) and in Juan Tabo Canyon (south).

After our mid-hike break, we turned left (north) and headed back to the north trailhead. On the way down, a bright white outcrop caught our attention – the Quartz Outcrop to which we had hiked a couple of times in the past (which were challenging hikes – someday we might attempt a bushwhack from Piedra Lisa across an intervening arroyo to Quartz Outcrop).

Jay here: It’s been quite a while since we’ve tackled Del Agua. Which is why the new access via Tightrope had us flummoxed for a bit. But the new access is a great improvement. Not many good coffee shops (i.e. flat spots with a rock to hold the stove and a great view) but we did the best we could with what we had. Down Piedra Lisa with its usual hairy footing on loose rock is always a thrill. Two women on horseback with 2 dogs on leashes passed us going up. Still trying to figure that one out because the trail can be very narrow with steep hillside drops. I guess the horse can slip on one hoof but still have three more to work with.

Statistics

Total Distance: 4.13 miles
Elevation: start 6,003 ft, maximum 7,042 ft, minimum 6,003 ft
Gross gain: 1,039 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,452 ft, descending 1,456 ft
Maximum slope: 37% ascending, 47% descending, 11.6% average
Duration: 3:15

GPS Tracks

Del Agua-Piedra Lisa Trail Hike.Jay.2019-11-17 (KML)	139 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Del Agua-Piedra Lisa Trail Hike.Jay.2019-11-17 (GPX)	119 Downloads

If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.

References and Resources

USDA Forest Service: Sandia Mountain Trails (pdf)
Del Agua Trail 248
Sandia Hiking Guide: Del Agua Trail, Piedra Lisa Trail
ASCHG: Piedra Lisa North – Del Agua Loop Hike
ondafringe: North Piedra Lisa/Del Agua Loop
AllTrails: Del Agua Trail
Piedra Lisa Trail and Del Agua Trail Loop
Dog of the Desert: A note on Del Agua Trail in the northern Sandias

Jay's Photos: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

George's Photos w/ Captions: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

Hawk Watch Trail Hike – 10/27/2019

November 18, 2019

This was a return to a trail that always intrigues me – one that someday I hope to take to the top of South Sandia peak. It is so close at hand – just beyond Tramway (the eastern boundary of Albuquerque) in Tijeras Cañon. I look up at the trail almost every time I drive out to Tijeras. I’ve hiked up Hawk Watch in the past with Jay and with Pat (see References below), ‘tho the last time was 2014; descriptions were sparse so I’ll present more details here.

The Drive In

The reach the trailhead, go east on NM 333 from Tramway Blvd for about 3.25 miles, then turn left onto Monticello Drive. Proceed uphill .5 miles, turn left onto Alegre Dr (there has been a sign pointing to the trailhead), then take the 2nd street to the right (another sign) onto Tres Pistolas Trail; continue to the parking lot for the Tres Pistolas Trailhead. Hike up the Tres Postolas Trail (also labeled Three Gun Springs Trail, No. 194) for about .5 miles; a few feet beyond the gate into the Sandia Mountain Wilderness, turn right and downhill onto the Hawk Watch Trail (No. 215). Enjoy this downhill stretch – from here Hawk Watch goes -uphill-.

The Hike

Hawk Watch Trail Hike.Solo.2019-10-27.jpg

The trail is is used enough that it is easy to follow, except – at the bottom of the arroyo a hundred years after leaving Tres Pistolas, you may be drawn to turn left (up the arroyo); — don’t –, continue generally straight ahead to stay on Hawk Watch (Jay and I took that wrong turn back in 2013). The surface is sometimes loose gravel/small rocks, but also easy to tread upon. The trail gets gradually more and more steep as it ascends; it became steep enough after the 3rd outcrop of very large rocks that I decided I’d gone far enough, on this solo hike, and found a sheltered place for my mid-hike break, then headed back down.

Highlights

Memorable from prior hikes: formations of very large rocks through which the trail passes. I set out to attempt to identify them, so as to get an idea just how far up the mountain I have hiked, to see it from the bottom of Tijeras Cañon. I’m still not confident that I can pick out those outcrops, from the photos that I took or looking from the highway; the various outcrops that are visible just aren’t distinctive enough. My goal is to someday go to the top; maybe one day to hook up with the Hawk Watch International folks as a guide. (‘Tho, the Forest Service descriptions describes Hawk Watch as a “.. dead end trail.”; their map shows it ends about where I turned back.)

Statistics

Total Distance: 3.66 miles
Elevation: start 6,322 ft, maximum 7,633 ft, minimum 6,322 ft
Gross gain: 1,311 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,422 ft, descending 1,435 ft
Maximum slope: 44% ascending, 39% descending, 14.2% average
Duration: 3:53

Hawk Watch Trail Hike.Solo.2019-10-27 (KML)	196 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Hawk Watch Trail Hike.Solo.2019-10-27 (GPX)	109 Downloads

I urge you to explore our hiking tracks with Google Earth. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the 2-dimensional screenshot above. For assistance: Using Google Earth Track Files.

References and Resources

USDA Forest Service: Hawk Watch Trail 215
ASCHG: Hawk Watch Hike
AllTrails: Hawkwatch Trail
               Three Guns Spring Trail Loop
Sandia Mountain Hiking Guide: Hawk Watch Trail
New Mexico Meanders: 2017-02-25 South Sandia Peak Loop                                                          (Hawk Watch up, Crest, Tres Pistolas down)
YouTube: Hiking The Sandia Mountains – Hawk Watch Trail to Crest Trail
Past hikes: Hawk Watch Hike – 02/15/2011
                           (shows the trail to the top, with a placemark for the extent of our hike)                       Hawk Watch Hike – 04/27/2013
                      Hawk Watch Hike – 03/16/2014

George's Photos: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show;

During the spring and summer, there are so many colors to be seen on our hikes, the many flowers a’blooming. But even as winter approaches, plants are taking on their winter coats, nearly as colorful as during the summer.

George's Photos - Autumn Colors: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

The Volcanoes Trail Hike – 05/14/2019

May 14, 2019

Today we headed to the Volcanoes for a other “Urban” hike, places close to the city offering quite easy hiking conditions. From our upstairs window we look out at the Volcanoes each morning so they constantly beckon us.

The Drive In

The Volcanoes is part of the Petroglyph National Monument, having evolved from a ranch 50+ years ago, then becoming part of Albuquerque’s Open Spaces in the ’70s and becoming part of the Monument in the ’90s. There is ample parking at the trailhead (open from 9:00 to 5:00 daily; at other times park at the entrance gate).

The Hike

The trails range from groomed gravel or sand, some sections of hard clay, and rocky stretches as one ascends onto the slopes of the cones. As you can see from the photos, there are no trees or even shrubs; hike early or late, or plan on a day of full sun. Check the references below for trail maps and descriptions, especially the geologic history. We made two trips around Vulcan to extend our hike, having set out to do 4 miles.

Highlights

The Volcanos were a veritable flower garden – so many flowers, so many different plants.

We’ve enjoyed a lot of precipitation this winter and spring, and the flowering plants are showing the results. I lost count of the number of flowering plants that we saw, but it’s somewhere above a dozen. In many places there would be a field of 10 or 20 yards, nearly covered with yellow. In other instances we found 3, 4, even 5 different flowers mixed in together – one of Mother Nature’s bouquets. Even the grasses presented pretty pictures, glimmering in the morning sun as they waved in light breeze.

Then there are the views away from the volcanoes. The air was hazy on this day, a product of unusual high humidity I think (as noted this has been a year with lots of moisture – snow during the winter and rain this spring). Consequently details of the mountains weren’t discernible (Sandias to the east, Jemez to the north, Mount Taylor to the west, and Ladrone to the south) and the view of the City was hazy as well. Nonetheless, to be able to see such great distances in all directions is a treat.

One more feature: from the top of Vulcan one has a clean view of the Double Eagle II airport. We watched (and heard) planes in the traffic pattern, practicing landings (touch and go’s). And on this day one of the pilots is someone we are acquainted with, maybe making her first solo flight.

Statistics

Total Distance: 3.92 miles
Elevation: start 5,793 ft, maximum 5,981 ft, minimum 5,792 ft
Gross gain: 189 ft. Aggregate ascending 450 ft, descending 450 ft
Maximum slope: 28% ascending, 21% descending, 4.9% average
Duration: 2:12

Volcanoes Hike.Pat.2019-05-14 (KML)	115 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Volcanoes Hike.Pat.2019-05-14 (GPX)	379 Downloads

I urge you to explore our hiking tracks with Google Earth. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the 2-dimensional screenshot above. For assistance: Using Google Earth Track Files.

References

National Park Service:
  Petroglyph National Monument – The Volcanoes
    Volcanoes Day Use Area
    Map of the Trails (PDF)
    A Landscape of Symbols
NM Museum of Natural History & Science: Albuquerque Volcanoes
AllTrails: The Volcanoes Trail
ASCHG: Los Volcanos Hike
ProTrails: Albuquerque Volcanoes – The Three Sisters – 2.0 miles
Wikipedia: Albuquerque volcanic field
Living Nomad Style: Petroglyphs National Monument Volcanoes Trail

Pat's Photos: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

George's Photos: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

George's Flower Photos: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

Three Gun Spring Trail Hike – 03/29/2019

March 31, 2019

It has been a long time since Pat and I have hiked in the Sandias; last time was in 2017, coincidentally on Mar 30 we hiked the Three Gun Spring Trail. We had also hiked there on three outings back in the winter of 2010-2011 (if I was recording tracks then, I’ve since lost the files). This time of year, the southern end of the Sandias is preferable – more sun – it’s not so pleasant during summer temperatures. And the Three Gun Spring trail is an easy one – a really easy trail surface and a -steady- climb for a nice gain in elevation.

The Hike

Access to the trailhead is all-season: I-25 east from Albuquerque, exit at Tramway to get on NM 333 (also Old Rt 66); 3.17 miles, turn left (north) onto Monticello Dr, then up the hill for .5 miles. A sign directs you to turn left onto Alegre, then right (another sign) onto Tres Pistolas Trail. Park, check the map on the large signboard, and set out up the Three Gun Springs Trail (also know as Tres Pistolas trail). In about .3 miles you will encounter the entrance to the Sandia Mountain Wilderness; a few yards beyond that the junction with the Hawk Watch Trail, another great hike (seek hikes with Pat back in 2011, and with Jay back in 2013 and 2014).

This is a -very- scenic hike, with views of mountainscapes left, right, and ahead, especially to the vertical rock “slopes” of South Sandia peak. And views of a few of Mother Nature’s interesting rock sculptures. On this day Mother Nature also blessed us with so many early signs of spring (deserving of a post itself).

About a 1.5 miles up the trail, crossing a small canyon (or ravine?), one can turn a bit to the right to visit the trail’s namesake, Three Gun Spring. We chose to continue on up the trail, stopping for our mid-hike break with a -superb- view down the canyon, across the Manzanita Mountains to the Monzanos, and to their right the open plains of Kirtland AFB, and beyond, what we know of as Tierra Grande. ‘Tho it was a bit hazy, we could also make out the Los Pinos Mountains.

People who live in Albuquerque are so fortunate to have such amazing places to visit, to be outdoors among interesting places with scenic views. And some many so very close – within less than a half hour drive from anyplace in the city.

Statistics

Total Distance: 4.13 miles
Elevation: start 6,327 ft, maximum 7,582 ft, minimum 6,326 ft
Gross gain: 1,256 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,294 ft, descending 1,294 ft
Maximum slope: 29% ascending, 32% descending, 11.5% average
Duration: 3:21

Three Gun Springs Hike.Pat.2019-03-29	102 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Three Gun Springs Hike.Pat.2019-03-29 (GPX)	68 Downloads

I urge you to explore our hiking tracks with Google Earth. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the 2-dimensional screenshot above. For assistance: Using Google Earth Track Files.

George's Photos: Click on a Photo for Gallery Show.

The Drive In

The Hike

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The Drive In

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Postscript

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The Drive In

The Walkabout

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Drive In and Camp Setup

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The Drive In

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The Drive In

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The Drive In

The Hike

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