Category Archives: Placitas

In the vicinity of Placitas, NM.

Palomas Peak/Faulty Trail Hike – 04/28/2019

May 3, 2019

Jay and I hiked Palomas Peak back in 2016, once in snow and three weeks later in nicer weather. This was a nice return to this trail (also identified by a couple of signs as Faulty Trail, but the Faulty we know is some distance from here, in middle-south on the eastern slopes of the Sandias and out of Tijeras Canyon).

The Hike

On this hike we were reintroduced to trails in the Sandias – they give us a good climb, more elevation gain than other places we hike. So .. it was a good workout, and a day of very nice weather. Visit pages for the other hikes for more description, etc.

Jay here: It’s hard to believe, but George neglected to mention that we once again went off the trail on a wild and whooly (or whiplashy) bushwhack that accounted for dozens of places on hands, arms and legs where blood was drawn. I can understand how George might fail to mention this part of the hike, since he thinks bushwhacking is so much fun. On the other hand, I could do without the drama and running so low on bandaids.

Statistics

Total Distance: 4.77 miles
Elevation: start 7,061 ft, maximum 7,053 ft, minimum 8,075 ft
Gross gain: 1,022 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,513 ft, descending 1,518 ft
Maximum slope: 43% ascending, 38% descending, 10.1% average
Duration: 4:09

Palomas Peak-Faulty Hike.Jay.2019-04-28 (KML)	133 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Palomas Peak-Faulty Hike.Jay.2019-04-28 (GPX)	141 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

Hiking in New Mexico:
Palomas Peak Hike – 05/01/2016
Palomas Peak Hike – 05/22/2016
AllTrails: Palomas Peak Via Faulty Trail

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

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

Piedra Lisa, Del Agua, End-to-End – 05/19/2013

March 6, 2019

Posted in March 2019. One of our early hikes, checking out trails out of Placitas on the north end and from Juan Tabo Canyon on the south end.

The Hike

We had hiked from both ends of the trail: from the north on Piedra Lisa North and Del Agua, and from the south on Piedra Lisa. We enjoyed those hikes, but waiting for us to be ready was the hike end-to-end. And here it is, from Juan Tabo Canoyon across the Piedra Lisa ridge to the trailhead at the bottom of Del Agua Canyon..

Statistics

Total Distance: 6.50 miles
Elevation: start 6,930 ft, maximum 8,197 ft, minimum 5,949 ft
Gross gain: 1,447 ft. Aggregate ascending 2,077 ft, descending 3,058 ft
Maximum slope: 36% ascending, 39% descending, 12.1% average
Duration: 4:49

Piedra Lisa-Del Agua Hike.Jay.2013-05-19 (KML)	99 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Piedra Lisa-Del Agua Hike.Jay.2013-05-19 (GPX)	237 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.

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

NoName Hike – 01/12/2014

March 6, 2019

Published in March 2019. One of our early hikes, checking out trails out of Placitas, on the north end of the Sandia Mountains.

The Hike

Piedra Tenate Hike.PatMemo.2020-01-21

Piedra Tenate Hike.PatMemo.2020-01-21

This was our second hike up NoName Trail, a canyon east of Del Agua Canyon and the Piedra Lisa Trail. We dubbed this Trail “NoName” because we have been unable to find it published anywhere.

Statistics

Total Distance: 3.18 miles
Elevation: start 6,089 ft, maximum 7,091 ft, minimum 6,089 ft
Gross gain: 1,002 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,203 ft, descending 1,204 ft
Maximum slope: 44% ascending, 40% descending, 12.7% average
Duration: 2:33

No Name Hike.Jay.2014-01-12 (KML)	228 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
No Name Hike.Jay.2014-01-12 (GPX)	48 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.

NoName Bushwhack to Piedra Lisa – 03/09/2014

March 2, 2019

Posted in March 2019. One of our early hikes, checking out trails out of Placitas on the north end of the Sandia Mountains.

Looking for a “new adventure”, I came up with the idea of hiking up NoName, then heading cross-country, bushwhacking, over to Piedra Lisa. Using GoogleEarth, I layed out a route that looked reasonable – crossing over intervening canyons where it appeared the slopes would be manageable.

The Hike

Overall, I would say

NoNameBushWhackPiedraLisa.WhackTrail.Jay.2014-03-09
[Red section is bushwhacking from NoName to Piedra Lisa trails.]

the route was as good as could be, but none the less a good challenge. Challenging not only because we had up and down slopes, but were required to find our way through the juniper and other “shrubs” – real bushwhacking.

BTW, you won’t find NoName referenced elsewhere. Back in 2013, we were looking for alternatives to the usual trails and chose this canyon, the next one east of Piedra Lisa. We enjoyed that hike, needed to identify it for ourselves, thus — NoName.

Statistics

Total Distance: 4.25 miles
Elevation: start 6,086 ft, maximum 7,086 ft, minimum 6,057 ft
Gross gain: 1,290 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,717 ft, descending 1,716 ft
Maximum slope: 48% ascending, 41% descending, 12.0% average
Duration: 3:43

NoNameBushWhackPiedraLisa.Jay.2014-03-09 (KML)	310 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
NoNameBushWhackPiedraLisa.Jay.2014-03-09 (GPX)	51 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.

North Crest- Ojo del Orno Hike – 03/23/2014

March 2, 2019

Posting this in March 2019.

This hike begins at the Tunnel Springs Trailhead, then up the North Crest Trail (#130) and down the Ojo del Orno Trail (#130B).

The Hike

I remember this as a challenging hike, with elevation gain, distance, and some difficult terrain, particularly the descent down Ojo del Orno Canyon. And there was one section, descending into the Canyon where the trail was narrow with -very- steep slopes above and below. We paused for our mid-hike coffee break just prior beginning the descent; then navigated the narrow section, maybe some 150 yards. From there to the head of the canyon the trail continued to be on a steep slope.

Statistics

Total Distance: 4.54 miles
Elevation: start 6,382 ft, maximum 7,413 ft, minimum 6,250 ft
Gross gain: 1,163 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,735 ft, descending 1,736 ft
Maximum slope: 42% ascending, 46% descending, 9.5% average
Duration: 3:31

NorthCrest-DelOrno Hike.Jay.2014-03-23 (KML)	114 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
NorthCrest-DelOrno Hike.Jay.2014-03-23 (GPX)	106 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

USDA Forest Service:
   Sandia Mountain Trails (pdf)
      Tunnel Spring Trailhead & North Crest Trail 130
ASCHG:
     Sandia Crest Trail North Hike
     Del Orno – N Crest – Agua Sarca Loop Hike
Get Outside, Albuquerque: Huffing And Puffing Up The Ojo Del Orno Route
Sandia Mountain Hiking Guide: “… Ojo del Orno Trail …” (exerpt)
AllTrails:
     North Crest and Del Orno Loop
     North Crest Trail
Backpacker: Albuquerque, NM: North Crest Trail to Ojo del Orno Canyon

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

Agua Sarca Hike – 06/15/2014

February 22, 2019

Posting this in 2019, catching up with whatever information I have. One of our early hikes, checking out trails out of Placitas, on the north end of the Sandia Mountains.

The Hike

Statistics

Total Distance: 4.66 miles
Elevation: start 6,387 ft, maximum 8,276 ft, minimum 6,370 ft
Gross gain: 1,906 ft. Aggregate ascending 2,282 ft, descending 2,277 ft
Maximum slope: 52% ascending, 46% descending, 16% average
Duration: 4:37

Agua Sarca Hike.Jay.2014-06-15 (KML)	118 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Agua Sarca Hike.Jay.2014-06-15 (GPX)	183 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

USDA Forest Service: Agua Sarca Trailhead and Agua Sarca Trail 23
Sandia Hiking Guide: Agua Sarca Trail, North Crest Trail, Del Orno Trail
ASCHG: Del Orno – N Crest – Agua Sarca Loop Hike
AllTrails: Agua Sarca Trail
Backpacker: Albuquerque, NM: Agua Sarca Canyon Loop

NoName-Quartz Outcrop Hike – 09/23/2018

October 31, 2018

We must like NoName, this is the 7th time we’ve hiked this canyon. (Note: I’ve written before, that “NoName” is -our- name for this canyon, since we haven’t found any other moniker to use.)

The Hike

NoName-Quartz Outcrop Hike.Jay.2018-09-23

This time we had a goal, visit the Quartz Outcrop above the upper end of NoName. Jay had hiked to it with another group, a tough route going up and down over the ridge above NoName, and together twice we had hiked up NoName to a point where we could see the outcrop. This day we were determined to -visit- Quartz Outcrop.

We’ve published descriptions of the trail from our other hikes, particularly 02/12/2017 and 9/17/2017; there is not much to add except for the scramble up a steep hillside to reach -the- Outcrop. Of course, we used the Outcrop as the spot for our mid-hike break, enjoying the wide range of colors and shapes in this geologic formation.

Statistics

Total Distance: 3.49 miles
Elevation: start 6,086 ft, maximum 7,267 ft, minimum 6,086 ft
Gross gain: 1,181 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,355 ft, descending 1,352 ft
Maximum slope: 45% ascending, 40% descending, 13% average
Duration: 3:49

NoName-Quartz Outcrop Hike.Jay.2018-09-23 (KML)	123 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
NoName-Quartz Outcrop Hike.Jay.2018-09-23 (GPX)	78 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.

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

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

Piedra Lisa North Hike – 01/18/2015

July 29, 2018

Statistics

Total Distance: 4.13 miles
Elevation: start 6,021 ft, maximum 7,161 ft, minimum 6,021 ft
Gross gain: 1,140 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,559 ft, descending 1,566 ft
Maximum slope: 48% ascending, 50% descending, 12% average
Duration: 3:59

Piedra Lisa North Hike.Jay.2015-01-18 (KML)	240 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Piedra Lisa North Hike.Jay.2015-01-18 (GPX)	58 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.

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

Del Agua Hike – 03/22/2015

February 14, 2018

Feb 2018: This is another ‘looking back’ entry in our Hiking Journal.

The Hike

Statistics

Total Distance: 5.13 miles
Elevation: start 5,948 ft, maximum 7,168 ft, minimum 5,948 ft
Gross gain: 1,222 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,855 ft, descending 1,855 ft
Maximum slope: 37% ascending, 41% descending, 10.4% average
Duration: 4:48

Del Agua HIke.Jay.2015-03-22 (KML)	179 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Del Agua HIke.Jay.2015-03-22 (GPX)	70 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:

USDA Forest Service: Sandia Mountain Trails (pdf)
Sandia Hiking Guide: Del Agua Trail, Piedra Lisa Trail
ASCHG: Piedra Lisa North – Del Agua Loop Hike
ondafringe: North Piedra Lisa/Del Agua Loop

Sandy Bottom Canyon Hike – 12/10/2017

December 12, 2017

Wishing to have a short day, we chose to stay close to home. Looking for territory on the north end of the Sandia Mountains that we haven’t already hiked (near Placitas), I used Google Earth to identify a canyon that looked attractive.

The Drive In

GE showed a road leading to a spot near the mouth of this canyon, and I had sketched out a path to guide us with the GPS. But we discovered my starting point was from a road that is private; we decided to not park there. Instead, we headed to the Agua Sarca trailhead near Tunnel Springs.

The Hike

We proceeded up the Agua Sarca trail for a ways, then headed west towards the canyon of interest. Using the GPS on the Android phone, and the topo maps in the US Topo app, we bushwhacked our way over ridges and across 2 arroyos, when we came across a trail (with many cairns, so I’ve dubbed it Cairn Trail). We followed Cairn Trail until it headed north, not the direction we needed to go. So, back to bushwhacking, across another 2 or 3 arroyos, and discovery of a very old two-track (which made things easier). When the two-track petered out, we had just a few steps into canyon.

After that bushwhacking, it was a relief to have a smooth sandy bottom in this canyon with only occasional rock outcroppings that we had to traverse; and there were very little downfall to impede our way. The slope was steady and easy going. We were in and out of sunlight; in the shade of the sides of the canyon it was quite cool and there was a dusting of snow on the ground from squalls last week. We continued up the canyon until it became narrower and there were obstructions ahead, and we wished to preserve energy for bushwhacking we expected to face on the return. So we had our mid-hike break 2.5 miles into the hike.

The return down the canyon went smoothly. We set our sights on using more of the two-tracks and trails we had discovered on the way out. That worked – we had only a short bushwhack from the two-track to the Cairn Trail, which in turn met up with the Agua Sarca Trail. Whew, that was a lot easier than the outbound portion of this hike. I’ve been unable to find any name for this canyon, so we’ve dubbed it Sandy Bottom Canyon. That aptly describes it, especially in contrast to NoName, Del Agua, and others in the area which have long sections of rocky surface and some have rock faces that are a challenge to climb up (or down).

Jay here: Just when you are convinced you’ve seen it all when it comes to the hiking opportunities in the Sandias, you realize there’s lots more out there…and some trails/canyons do not even have names. BTW, it was days later when I realized that I went to school with a girl named Sandy Bottom. What a coincidence.

Statistics

Total Distance: 4.69 miles
Elevation: start 6,355 ft, maximum 7,128 ft, minimum 6,610 ft
Gross gain: 518 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,534 ft, descending 1,531 ft
Maximum slope: 29% ascending, 32% descending, 11% average
Duration: 4:13