Category Archives: Other States

Locale: States other than New Mexico.

El Picacho Peak Hike – 01/23/2019

February 10, 2019

During our visit to Oaxaca, we stayed for 4 nights in Teotitlán del Valle, a village at the foot of the Sierra Madre del Norte mountains. Teotitlán is notable in that most everyone in the village is a weaver, producing primarily beautiful rugs but also other woven products. Our stay in Las Granadas B&B was most pleasant, giving us the opportunity to become friends with the Zapotec hosts and to spend time at leisure in the village and among the people.

The Hike

As you can see from the GoogleEarth screenshot above, El Picacho Peak is a peak towering over the town and is a special place for the people of the village. With Taurino as a guide (he is a member of our host family), I hiked to the top; the trail is quite well used and presents a steady climb from the edge of the village to the summit.

At the top we enjoyed beautiful views of Teotitlán and across the Tlacolula Valley to the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains, with numerous villages spread across valley. And to the north, a small lake and beyond it, rising quickly from the northern edge of the village, the Sierra Madre del Norte. (On the GoogleEarth screenshot above, one can see the wicked switchbacks for the road climbing to the village of Benito Juárez, from 5600′ to 9600′ elevation in 9 road miles, just 4.5 ‘crow’ miles.)

El Picacho Peak is special to the residents of Teotitlán. At the summit, a large cross has been erected (visible from the village below), a shrine has been installed, and a ramada constructed to provide shade from the (nearly) ever-present sun. On May 3rd, people climb to the summit to celebrate La Fiesta de las Cruzes, a pilgrimage held throughout Mexico to seek protection for miners, masons, and construction workers, but the mountain was important long before, dating back to the pre-Hispanic era (see references below).

Highlight

This was just one activity that made our stay in Teotitlán and in Oaxaca as a whole very special. Oh, and again this year we commissioned a rug to be woven and sent to us in Albuquerque. And I commissioned a shoulder bag in which I can carry my devices that won’t fit in pockets.

Statistics

Total Distance: 4.23 miles
Elevation: start 5,505 ft, maximum 6,691 ft, minimum 5,492 ft
Gross gain: 1,199 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,417 ft, descending 1,405 ft
Maximum slope: 38% ascending, 39% descending, 11% average
Duration: 3:45

Picacho Hike.Taurino.2019-01-23 (KML)	110 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Picacho Hike.Taurino.2019-01-23 (GPX)	56 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

Teotitlán del Valle
     Wikipedia: Teotitlán del Valle
     Planeta: Teotitlán del Valle
   Oaxaca Mio: Teotitlán del Valle
     Swarupa’s World: The Famous Rugs of Teotitlán del Valle

Hiking El Picacho
     Hoofing it in Oaxaca: El Picacho – More Information
     Fundación En Vía Blog: Cruz de Mayo: The Hike to the Summit of Picacho
     Travel Gumbo: Back to Oaxaca: Hoofing It, El Picacho & Teotitlan

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

Ft Bowie Hike – 11/21/2018

December 1, 2018

Leaving the Chiricahuas after two nights camping and hiking in the Wonderland of Rocks, on our way to Tucson for Thanksgiving with family, we took a short detour to visit the Fort Bowie National Historic Site. The drive in from the west included 8 miles on a gravel/dirt road, in fine shape on our visit but I wouldn’t tackle it after recent rainfall. We drove out going east from the Site, towards the town of Bowie; the road became paved just a couple of miles form the Site’s parking.

The Hike

The hike into the Site is easy – clean trail, very small changes in elevation. As you will learn from reviewing the references below, the trail passes a few historic sites: the remains (foundations) of a Stage Station on the Butterfield Stage line, the post cemetary, Apache Spring (the reason this valley was so important), the original small fort, and the more elaborate Fort Bowie itself. This was a nice place to visit, to learn more about the history of the Southwest.

Statistics

Total Distance: 3.6 miles
Elevation: start 4,731 ft, maximum 5,017 ft, minimum 4,687 ft
Gross gain: 286 ft. Aggregate ascending 405 ft, descending 503 ft
Maximum slope: 20% ascending, 20% descending, 4.9% average
Duration: 2:41

Ft Bowie Hike.Pat.2018-11-21 (KML)	266 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Ft Bowie Hike.Pat.2018-11-21 (GPX)	49 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: Fort Bowie
Legends of America: Fort Bowie, Arizona National Historic Site
The American Southwest: Fort Bowie National Historic Site
National Parks Traveler:
Fort Bowie National Historic Site: Conflicts with the Apache
AllTrails: Fort Bowie Trail

Echo Canyon Loop Hike- 11/20/2018

December 1, 2018

Headed to Tucson a couple of days early for Thanksgiving, giving us time for some camping and hiking along the way. Towing our R-Pod trailer camper, we decided on the Chiricahua Mountains where there is a nice campground and some hiking in amazing geologic formations. From Willcox AZ one takes state roads south some 40 miles to the Chiricahua National Monument, situated in a deep narrow canyon on the western side of this isolated mountain range. Camping is in the Bonita Canyon Campground, a nice facility with water near every campsite. Most sites are small, particularly suited for tent camping (and it seemed nearly half of the campers were in tents), but big enough for our 17′ R-Pod. And the visitor’s center at the entrance has some quite interesting displays and information about the mountains and history in the surrounding area.

We arrived as dark was approaching, so we were focused on setting up the camper and didn’t see much scenery (except the flat desert Sulfur Springs Valley between the Dragoons and Chiricahuas on the drive from Willcox). The next morning, gathering our hiking gear (for -cool- temperatures), we drove into Bonita Canyon and were greeted with views of amazing rock formations, the phalanxes of columns for which these mountains are famous. ‘Tis about 4 miles from the campground to the trailhead, climbing some 500 feet through initially the narrow canyon, then ascending up the western side of the canyon to parking for the trailheads.

The Hike

We had been advised to take the loop counterclockwise since the hike back up from lower elevations is more gradual than going clockwise, so that was our choice. The trail is very well used, rocky in places, and where the slope is steep the CCC (who carved out these trails back in the 30’s) has placed “stair steps”. From the beginning we were greeted with a multitude of tall rock columns, with large rocks balanced on the top of many of them. These columns covered the sides of the canyons, from the bottom to near the top. One is constantly wondering how they perch atop the columns (and wondering – what would happen if even a small earthquake were to happen). No written description, nor even photos, can adequately show this marvelous place.

We got up early the next morning and drove back up the road to Massai Point (just beyond the trailhead) to watch the rising sun flow into the canyons of hoodoos. This gave us another remarkable view of this Wonderland of Rocks.

Statistics

Total Distance: 3.67 miles
Elevation: start 6,784 ft, maximum 6,784 ft, minimum 6,261 ft
Gross gain: 523 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,220 ft, descending 1,222 ft
Maximum slope: 40% ascending, 39% descending, 7.9% average
Duration: 4:19

Echo Canyon Loop Hike.Pat.2018-11-20 (KML)	109 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Echo Canyon Loop Hike.Pat.2018-11-20 (GPX)	55 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:
   Chiricahua – A Wonderland of Rocks
     Bonita Canyon Campground
   Hiking (link to hiking guide .pdf)
Arizona Important Bird Areas Program: Chiricahua Mountains IBA Trip
Anne’s Travels: Finishing the Chiricahua Loop: The Echo Canyon Trail
The American Southwest: Hiking in Chiricahua National Monument
AllTrails: Ed Riggs, Hailstone, and Echo Canyon Trail (and more at AllTrails)

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

Noon Creek Ridge Trail Hike – 09/03/2018

September 26, 2018

Our goal was to get in a hike on the first day of our return from Tucson to Albuquerque, planning to spend the night at one of our favorite BnBs, D and D’s Organic Haven in Pleasanton, near Glenwood, NM. After extensive research, we tracked down trails in the Pinaleno Mountains of the Coronado National Forest in east central Arizona. Some of the more intriguing trails were far into the Pinalenos, but reviewing road and topo maps led us to judge the road would be challenging, not for our appetite. But there were a couple of trails along the road before it started climbing the mountansides: Ladybug Trail and Noon Creek/Noon Creek Ridge Trails (also identified as Round the Mountain Trail, and Sky Islands Traverse on GoogleEarth). We chose the latter expecting that it would afford better views.

The Drive In

To get to the trailhead, drive 7 miles south on US 191 from Safford to Swift Trail Junction. Turn left on AZ 366, Swift Trail, for about 8 miles to the Noon Creek Picnic Area/Campground.

The Hike

The first 3/4ths of a mile or so is on the Noon Creek Trail, quite well used, easy going. Along this stretch we could hear water running in Noon Creek, but there wasn’t anyplace that afforded access. We then turned right to ascend on Round the Mountain Trail (both seem to be marked #302). Still a good trail surface, were then going uphill which continued at an even slope for as far as we went.

We set our sights on getting to the top of Noon Creek Ridge. But the trail became gradually less well traveled, occasionally quite narrow with steep drop-off or covered with brush. At 1.6 miles we encountered -very thick- brush which obstructed our further progress. and because it was a narrow section with very steep drop-off, we decided to go no further.

Despite not getting to the top of the ridge, we enjoyed fabulous views across the canyon of Noon Creek, and across the plains and San Simon River to the east and beyond the White Rock and Peloncillo Mountains.

Statistics

Total Distance: 3.22 miles
Elevation: start 5,244 ft, maximum 6,244 ft, minimum 5,244 ft
Gross gain: 1,000 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,129 ft, descending 1,129 ft
Maximum slope: 32% ascending, 47% descending, 12% average
Duration: 3:04

Noon Creek Ridge Hike.Pat.2018-09-03 (KML)	124 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Noon Creek Ridge Hike.Pat.2018-09-03 (GPX)	121 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

Trails.com: Noon Creek Trail 302A
Forest Service: Noon Creek Picnic Area

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

Green Mountain Hike – 07/09/2018

September 6, 2018

Staying at a BnB near Grand Lakes, this trail was recommended as one where we might see wildlife, deer, elk, maybe moose. This after, one morning watching a cow moose pass by between our BnB cabin and the lake during breakfast, the next morning a bull moose passing by the same, and while canoeing on the lake seeing a cow moose belly deep in the water having breakfast. So, with hopes our luck would change for seeing wildlife, we headed up the Green Mountain trail.

The Hike

Like other hikes on this trip, the trail is well-used, easy to hike on. It follows a stream, passing through ponderosa pine, fir, aspen, and other trees large and small. Along the way we passed by two or three meadows; at the far edge of one of those our attention was drawn by other hikers to a cow moose and her calf – finally, wildlife in the wild. About 2 miles into the hike we entered into a large open meadow with the Tonahutu river flowing through it. This made an ideal spot for our mid-hike break. It was then back the same route to finish this really nice hike (another one at 9,000 feet elevation; by now were enjoying greater endurance at these altitudes).

Statistics

Total Distance: 3.89 miles
Elevation: start 8,780 ft, maximum 9,470 ft, minimum 8,780 ft
Gross gain: 690 ft. Aggregate ascending 706 ft, descending 1,080 ft
Maximum slope: 29% ascending, 37% descending, 7% average
Duration: 4:06 (3:46 plus 20 minutes of no GPS data)

Green Mountain Hike.Pat.2018-07-09 (KML)	250 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Green Mountain Hike.Pat.2018-07-09 (GPX)	89 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

AllTrails: Green Mountain Trail
Rocky Mountain hiking Trails: Big Meadows
National Park Service, Rocky Mountain National Park: List of Hiking Trails

Forsyth Canyon Hike – 07/07/2018

September 6, 2018

After spending the night near Boulder, we sought a trail for a good hike. This trial sounded interesting and was nearby. Colorado route 132 ascends very quickly from the main road that goes up Boulder Canyon, and is at time ‘on the edge’ of steep mountain sides. Then turn on to SR 68, a typical Forest Service road, 2 miles to a parking area.

The Hike

The trail is easy to follow, and is well used so easy hiking – downhill to the lake. The trail remains generally in the canyon, ‘tho at about .85 of a mile down the trail one must get over a very large rock/outcropping. Nearing the lake, we visited the site of the waterfall; not enough water this time this year for any water-falling. Reaching the upper extent of the lake, we found that we could proceed only a few yards along the shoreline; beyond that there was nothing resembling a beach, just a near-vertical shoreline.

Statistics

Total Distance: 2.72 miles
Elevation: start 7,698 ft, maximum 7,698 ft, minimum 7,239 ft
Gross gain: 459 ft. Aggregate ascending 968 ft, descending 970 ft
Maximum slope: 63% ascending, 75% descending, 8% average
Duration: 2:39

Forsyth Canyon Hike.Pat.2018-07-07 (KML)	106 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Forsyth Canyon Hike.Pat.2018-07-07 (GPX)	97 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

Day Hikes Near Denver: Forsythe Canyon to Waterfall and Gross Reservoir
AllTrails: Forsythe Canyon to Waterfall and Gross Reservoir
Forest Service: Forsythe Canyon Trail
Go Hike Colorado: Forsythe Canyon

Echo Lake Hike – 07-03-2018

September 6, 2018

The Hike

This was a short hike, to stretch our legs after spending much time driving, and to enjoy the clear and cool high-altitude air.This was a short hike, to stretch our legs after spending much time driving, and to enjoy the clear and cool high-altitude air.

Statistics

Total Distance: 1.09 miles
Elevation: start 10,679 ft, maximum 10,695 ft, minimum 10,630 ft
Gross gain: 65 ft. ascending 290 ft, descending 289 ft
Maximum slope: 38% ascending, 35% descending, 7% average
Duration: 0:36

Echo Lake Hike.Pat.2018-07-03 (KML)	107 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Echo Lake Hike.Pat.2018-07-03 (GPX)	97 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

Dayhikes Near Denver: Echo Lake Trail Near Mt. Evans
AllTrails: Echo Lake Trail
Forest Service: Echo Lake Campground

Brainard Lake Hike – 07/02/2018

September 6, 2018

This was our first chance to hike on our trip through Colorado. On our way from Arvada to Central City, we drove to Boulder, then Nederland, then north to Ward and Brainard Lake, looking for high elevation (cool) and maybe some wildlife. We parked in the lot adjacent to the Pawnee Campground, then set out going first down the road around Brainard Lake.

The Hike

From there, we hit the Niwot Cutoff Trail #907.2, proceeding on the Jean Lenning Trail #807.1 that passes along the south shore of Long Lake. We hoped to make a loop, returning on Pawnee Pass Trail #907, but crossing St Vrain Creek required going through a very marshy area. So we returned by the same route. The trails are well used, easy to hike on, and provided great views of Long Lake and the surrounding mountains including Apache Peak at 13,442 feet.

Statistics

Total Distance: 4.63 miles (started GPS tracking .69 miles late)
Elevation: start 10,358 ft, maximum 10,658 ft, minimum 10,358 ft
Gross gain: 300 ft. Aggregate ascending 653 ft, descending 770 ft
Maximum slope: 23% ascending, 26% descending, 5% average
Duration: 3:39 (3:17 from GPS track plus 22 min before GPS track was started)

Brainard Lake Hike.Pat.2018-07-02 (KML)	210 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Brainard Lake Hike.Pat.2018-07-02 (GPX)	58 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: Brainard Lake Recreation Area
AllTrails: Isabelle Glacier Trail (up to a point abreast Long Lake)
Rocky Mountain Hiking Trails: Long Lake Loop (Jean Lunning Loop)

Mitla & Matatlán Tour (Oaxaca) – 01/15/2018

June 18, 2018

This is another retro-post (June 2018), about one of the excursions during our visit to Oaxaca in Jan 2018. We engaged Eduardo, a great guide, for a visit to the villages of Mitla and Matatlán.

The Tour

Mitla, in the village of San Pablo Villa de Mitla, is an important archeological site and the Zapotec culture. We visited the ruins of the Zapotec village including the courtyards and mosaics, and the San Pablo Mitla Church. These are quite amazing for the architecture and structure as well as the patterns one sees in the mosaics. And … we visited the famous “El Tule” tree in the nearby town of Santa Maria del Tule.

We then headed for Matatlán, a village known for its production of Mezcal. Driving towards and into the village we saw numerous palenques (distilleries for mezcal) along the road. Eduardo had chosen the El Sabino palenque for our visit. We learned some about the processes that take the cooked fibers of the agave pino through fermentation, then distillation of the liquid from fermentation to produce their varieties of mezcal. They served us a very nice lunch, after which we were offered the chance to sample various styles of mezcal – and of course to purchase some to take with us.

Jay here: Having Eduardo (Lalo) for a guide made this a most interesting trip. He offered up many insights into what we were seeing. E.g. stones for the zapatecan and mixtecan constructions were recycled into the Spanish built churches; the red dye used for the murals and decorative treatments contained mercury, so it kept on poisoning the painters; the short steps and tall risers in the stadium like seating were meant to make people look down out of respect. All in all, a very informative trip.

Mitla Matatlan Tour.PatJay.2018-01-15 (KML)	126 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Mitla Matatlan Tour.PatJay.2018-01-15 (GPX)	67 Downloads
Mitla Matatlan DriveInOut 2.PatJay.2018-01-15 (KML)	69 Downloads
Mitla Matatlan DriveInOut 2.PatJay.2018-01-15 (GPX)	67 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

Mitla:
Wikipedia: Mitla
TripAdvisor: Mitla

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

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

Finca las Nieves Tour (Oaxaca) – 01/27/2018

February 11, 2018

Spending a few days on the coast in Puerto Escondido during our trip to Oaxaca we came upon an interesting excursion – a visit to a coffee plantation.

The Tour

Felix was our guide, taking us to Finca las Nievas (Snow Plantation) , in the Sierra Madre Oriental north of Puerto Escondido. He was a great host, offering us -fresh- coconut right from the tree, a tour of the facilities where the coffee beans receive their first processing, and a hike up into the forest and the coffee “trees”.

After touring the facility where husks are removed from the freshly picked ‘cherries’, we started up a short incline into the forest. The trail was easy, and certainly we were going into a tropical forest. About a third of a mile in, Felix led us to a beautiful waterfall. There was quite the stream of water coming down 70 or 80 foot rockface. From here we continued on up the trail where Felix introduced us to many different kinds of coffee plants that they grow here at Nieves. They produce only -shade grown- coffee; in the forests the plants are diminutive, a few stems each less than 2″ in diameter, no taller than 10 feet or so. We picked a few of the cherries and chewed on the husks; they have a nice sweet flavor.

Upon return, Felix served us 3 types of their coffee and guided us through the coffee aficionado’s tasting regimen. Then he served a delicious lunch. Although it was short, this was a great hike.

Statistics

Total Distance: 1.33 miles
Elevation: start 4,214 ft, maximum 4,512 ft, minimum 4,176 ft
Gross gain: 336 ft. Aggregate ascending 483 ft, descending 479 ft
Maximum slope: 33% ascending, 37% descending, 12% average
Duration: 2:24

Finca las Nieves Hike.Pat.2018-01-27 (KML)	149 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Finca las Nieves Hike.Pat.2018-01-27 (GPX)	117 Downloads
Finca las Nieves DriveInOut.Pat.2018-01-27 (KML)	101 Downloads
Finca las Nieves DriveInOut.Pat.2018-01-27 (GPX)	68 Downloads