Pat’s brother Steve and wife Sharon visited us, giving us the opportunity to show them a view pieces of New Mexico.
The Hike
Kasha-Katuwe Hike.PatSteveSharon.2017-10-09 (One half of the hike, the ascent to the top.)
After spending the morning in Santa Fe (Pat & Sharon) and flying north to Abiquiu (Steve and me), we went to Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. Such a great place to show visitors one of New Mexico’s “wonders”.
Statistics
Total Distance: 2.66 miles Elevation: start 5,758 ft, maximum 6,382 ft, minimum 5,758 ft Gross gain: 624 ft. Aggregate ascending 922 ft, descending 9.22 ft Maximum slope: 74% ascending, 74% descending, 16% average Duration: 1:45 (ascent; coffee break and descent unknown)
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.
A beautiful day for a hike, then coffee, with family from North Carolina. First time on the East Fork Jemez River Trail, from Battleship Rock.
Battleship Hike.PatSharonSteve.2017-10-06
Statistics
Total Distance: 1.16 miles Elevation: start 6,787 ft, maximum 7,148 ft, minimum 6,787 ft Gross gain: 361 ft. Aggregate ascending 472 ft, descending 472 ft Maximum slope: 54% ascending, 46% descending, 14% average Duration: 1:13
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.
Returned to Noname Canyon (a name that we have given it, since we can’t find a name on any maps) for a short day. The trail goes up a narrow canyon with numerous stretches that are quite rocky. It does make for a good workout: a thousand feet elevation gain in 1.7 miles. ‘Tis mostly in shade (in morning hours) with some stretches through or around “shrubery”.
The Hike
No Name Hike.Jay.2017-09-17
Jay had recently joined a group to visit the “Great Quartz Outcrop” in the vicinity of Noname; approaching the limit of our hike for the day, we climbed out of the canyon to look about for the Outcrop. Looking across Noname from the ridge on the north, we could see the Outcrop. The group’s route went up onto a ridge and down into a canyon two or three times, with steep descents and ascents. Noname offers an alternative route to the Outcrop.
Jay here: George and I have been up No Name wash several times but never realized how close we were to the Great Quartz Outcrop. Our route to the outcrop requires many traverses over rock falls, but I would take that any day over the alternate route that not only has steep ascents but is also out in the open with no shade whatsoever. We will definitely come back this way again and make the final push up the knoll to climb on to the Quartz Outcrop.
Statistics
Total Distance: 3.35 miles Elevation: start 6,082 ft, maximum 7,135 ft, minimum 6,082 ft Gross gain: 1,053 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,391 ft, descending 1,383 ft Maximum slope: 56% ascending, 48% descending, 14% average Duration: 3:21
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.
This is our second foray into the San Pedro Parks Wilderness.
The Drive In
‘Tis quite a drive, to Cuba, then east on NM 126 (10 mi, paved), then left onto FR 70, same as going to San Gregorio Lake. Continue past the Vacas/San Gregorio trailhead (2.6 mi from NM 126) for another 7.23 mi to the Palomas trailhead. The road is a well maintained forest road, good gravel, probably OK with less than 4WD.
The Hike
Palomas Trail Hike.Jay.2017-09-10
The trail, like Vaca, is well used – open forest, wide, generally level with gradual slopes throughout, clear of rocks and debris. After topping the ridge between the Rito de las Palomas into the Rio de las Vacas, we found ourselves in a large, open meadow. It was then descending into the las Vacas, more open space, and a bit of water flowing. ‘Tis here we found the junction with the Damian trail that would take us back to the turn-around point on our San Gregorio Hike. From here it was a steady climb in a mostly open shallow valley. There is much more hiking in the San Pedro Parks, including what appears to be great backpacking.
Jay here: This hike starts off with continuous ascent that has the breathing coming hard and fast before it levels off and meanders through pleasant meadows. Towards the end of the hike we passed two bow hunters that were using their horses to pack in feed and supplies. Looked like they were going to be up there for a while.
Statistics
Total Distance: 6.62 miles Elevation: start 9,268 ft, maximum 10,185 ft, minimum 9,268 ft Gross gain: 917 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,347 ft, descending 1,348 ft Maximum slope: 32% ascending, 30% descending, 7% average Duration: 4:04
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.
This hike was to explore further the canyons and mesas in this northwestern quadrant of the Jemez Mountains.
The Hike
Telephone Canyon Mesa Hike.jay.2017-09-03
We started at a bend in NM 126, where we had started the Telephone Canyon Plus hike back in June. We followed a two-track up to the head of the canyon. Then we turned right, going past a gate that blocks vehicle traffic to the two-track that continues around to the south on the ridge of the mesa. Two miles from the gate found us at the end of the mesa/ridge, with a steep if not cliff descent down to NM 126.
After our mid-hike break, we returned on the two track. Close to a mile from the turn-around, we saw what looked like an opportunity to take a shorter route back to the truck. So down we went off of the ridge, bushwhacking 100 feet elevation, down slope 31% at its steepest, then up the other side of this small canyon (steepest, 43%). Then it was across an intervening ridge and down another steep slope (steepest, 48%) some 3oo feet to where the truck was parked. (This “shortcut” saved us close to a mile in distance, 1.62 miles vs .75 miles, in exchange for bushwhacking and traversing the slopes.)
We started out following hikes/tracks published by others. We have exhausted all that I’ve been able to find, but enjoyed this corner of the Jemez so much that we keep going back. There remain only a couple that we haven’t hiked, but we’ll keep coming back.
Jay here: Some people like bushwhacking more than others. You know who you are. I like bushwhacking only when it saves a mile or more of hiking, which was the case this time. All hail the bushwhack.
Statistics
Total Distance: 4.3 miles Elevation: start 8,605 ft, maximum 8,922 ft, minimum 8,605 ft Gross gain: 317 ft. Aggregate ascending 901 ft, descending 900 ft Maximum slope: 50% ascending, 41% descending, 7% average Duration: 2:55
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.
For some unknown reason, we weren’t taking the usual number of photos. There are many more interesting views down in the canyons (on other hikes); this hike on the ridge-top, in medium density forest, just didn’t “attract the camera”.
Pat & I set out to do some reconnoitering, looking at places with easy access for folks visiting from ‘sea level’. We’ve visited Boletsakwa Ruins with family, but explorations on other visits in the vicinity suggested more interesting sites might have easy access: Goblin Colony and another set of ruins which I’ve recently learned are the Kiatsukwa Ruins). (Check out references below for past hikes into this area.)
The Drive In
Continuing on FR 10 beyond the Paliza Campground, one climbs to the top of Ponderosa Mesa – park here to go south to Boletsakwa. Today we continued further on FR 10 for about 1.7 miles, where we parked and headed south about 100 yards to the northern edge of the Kiatsukwa Ruins.
The Hike
Ponderosa Mesa Hike.Pat.2017-08-29
‘Tis open forest, quite level .. easy walking. We continued south to the edge of the mesa for our mid-day break, with a great looking down Paliza Canyon and the mesas to the southeast (enticing us for future exploration). Returning on FR 10, we stopped at a wide spot in the road, halfway back to the Boletsakwa parking area. A short walk over the ridge east of the road brought us to the upper reaches of Goblin Colony. We didn’t descend into the Colony today, but it’s a great way to visit if one chooses to not hike 1.3 miles up Paliza Canyon.
Statistics
Total Distance: 1.28 miles Elevation: 7,745 start ft, maximum 7,745 ft, minimum 7,635 ft Gross gain: 110 ft. Aggregate ascending 227 ft, descending 228 ft Maximum slope: 22% ascending, 45% descending, 6% average Duration: 2:04
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.
Before the weather turns colder, and snow comes to the Jemez, and having hiked in all of the canyons off of the Rio Cebolla, we headed to the San Pedro Parks Wilderness. This is a most beautiful area, with higher elevations than other parts of the Jemez, and tho’ further in miles than the Rio Cebolla the drive is on highway/paved roads. Thus the time to get there from Bernalillo is about the same.
The Hike
San Gregorio.Jay.2017-08-20
We opted for the Vacas Trail (#51), starting at the San Gregorio Lake trailhead as our first outing in the San Pedro Parks. This looked like an easy trail and closest driving distance from Bernalillo. It appears to be quite heavily used, relatively level on easy walking surface. Its pretty much a steady climb through open woods, past the San Gregorio Reservoir. We turned left some distance above the reservoir, at the junction with the Damian Trail to remain on the Vacas Trail, continuing up Clear Creek (which had a trickle of water running). We stopped for our mid-hike break, at 3.44 miles, at the junction with other trails in the Wilderness.
There is much more to explore in the San Pedro Parks – we will return.
Statistics
Total Distance: 6.73 miles Elevation: start 9,218 ft, maximum 9,972 ft, minimum 9,218 ft Gross gain: 754 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,257 ft, descending 1,258 ft Maximum slope: 43% ascending, 32% descending, 6% average Duration: 3:31
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.
Pat & I have occasionally taken some time away from our cabin to explore the Manzano Mountains. For this trip, we drove the length of Forest Road 422, which goes the length of the Canyon.
The Drive In
Sadly, I didn’t record a GPS track for the drive. Roughly we took NM 55 south from Manzano, to a quarter mile beyond Punta de Agua, then turned right on B052, 2 miles to turn right on B054. Five miles on, we entered the Cibola National Forest where the road became FR 275, also named Kayser Mill Road. About 5 miles further, 275 Ts into FR 422 where we turned left. Nearing lunch time, we just pulled off of 422 onto a two track, drove a few yards and parked. After lunch we returned to FR 422, continuing south to US 60.
The Hike
Priest Canyon Explore.Pat.2017-09-18
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
Our typical setup for our mid-hike break in those days: water from the gin bottle, pour-over coffee, a nip of mezcal (the small bottles), and snack bars of some kind.
This was a spontaneous walkabout, towards what looked like a nice overlook where we could have lunch. And so it was, with a view south, down Priest Canyon towards highway US 60.
Statistics
Total Distance: 1.8 miles
Elevation: start 7,760 ft, maximum 7,859 ft, minimum 7,760 ft
Gross gain: 99 ft. Aggregate ascending 295 ft, descending 295 ft
Maximum slope: 17% ascending, 17% descending, 5.8% average
Duration: 1:13
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.
Bandelier, Alcove House Visit.PatPeyton.2017-08-08
Thus, it was time to go there with grandson Peyton.
Statistics
Total Distance: 2.85 miles Elevation: start 6,066 ft, maximum 6,400 ft, minimum 6,066 ft Gross gain: 336 ft. Aggregate ascending 944 ft, descending 949 ft Maximum slope: 72% ascending, 69% descending, 11% average Duration: 1:57
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.
Pat and I explored this trail earlier; on this day we returned to it with grandson Peyton.
The Hike
East Fork Jemez Box Hike.PatPeyton.2017-08-09
This is an easy hike, and to exploring the Box was entertaining. And this time we came prepared to wade in the river.
Statistics
Total Distance: 3.36 miles Elevation: start 8,100 ft, maximum 8,232 ft, minimum 7,961 ft Gross gain: 371 ft. Aggregate ascending 913 ft, descending 913 ft Maximum slope: 47% ascending, 56% descending, 8% average Duration: 2:26
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.
