Tag Archives: Jay

Palomas Trail Hike – 09/10/2017

September 30, 2017

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

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

Palomas Trail Hike.Jay.2017-09-10 (KML)	144 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Palomas Trail Hike.Jay.2017-09-10 (GPX)	65 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: Palomas Trailhead
ondafringe.com:
Backpacking: San Pedro Parks Wilderness …
Backpacking: San Pedro Parks Wilderness …
SummitPost.org: San Pedro Parks Wilderness
Wilderness Connect: San Pedro Parks Wilderness
Continental Divide Trail Coalition: San Pedro Parks Wilderness …
The Outbound Collective: Backpack the Vacas Trail Loop
Meetup: San Pedro Parks – via the Palomas Trail
OuachitgaMaps,com: San Pedro Parks Wilderness, New Mexico
OhRanger.com: Trail 50 Palomas Trail

George's Photos: Click on a photo for gallery show.

Telephone Canyon Mesa Hike – 09/03/2017

September 29, 2017

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

Telephone Canyon Mesa Hike.jay.2017-09-03 (KML)	92 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Telephone Canyon Mesa Hike.jay.2017-09-03 (GPX)	238 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.

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”.

George's Photos: Click on Photo to show Gallery.

San Gregorio Lake Hike – 08/20/2017

September 26, 2017

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

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

San Gregorio.Jay.2017-08-20 (KML)	249 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
San Gregorio.Jay.2017-08-20 (GPX)	63 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.

Hikes in San Pedro Parks

References

USDA/Forest Service: Vacas Trail/San Gregorio Lake Trailhead #51
ondafringe.com:
Backpacking: San Pedro Parks Wilderness …2013
Backpacking: San Pedro Parks Wilderness …2016
SummitPost.org: San Pedro Parks Wilderness
Wilderness Connect: San Pedro Parks Wilderness
Continental Divide Trail Coalition: San Pedro Parks Wilderness …
The Outbound Collective: Backpack the Vacas Trail Loop

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

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

Bear Canyon Hike – 08/06/2017

August 22, 2017

Introduction

Continuing to explore the wonderful canyons in the Jemez Mountains north of La Cueva, on this day we tackled Bear Canyon and a smaller canyon just south of Bear (I’ll call it “Little Bear”). Unable to find a GPS track from someone else, I sketched out a loop for us to try. I expected two steep sections, one near the bottom of the canyon where we would ascend to the ridge-top for our return to parking, and again descending down from the ridge near the finish.

The Hike

Leaving FR 378 (an extension of FR 144) 1/4 miles south of parking, we found ourselves on an old two-track, which we followed for about 1.25 miles, where we joined -the- Bear Canyon. For most of the way Little Bear’s sides were sloping, forested; as we neared it’s lower end the north side became a canyon wall of volcanic material so common in the Jemez. And in Bear Cayon the north side became even higher and more sheer.

As we neared the place I planned to turn back towards our starting point, climbing through a side canyon (which I expected was going to be a steep climb), I saw what appeared to be a nice, tho’ steep, slope up towards the canyon top. It was steep but doable, but … what I didn’t expect was that we would find ourselves on somewhat more level terrain, but looking at another steep ascent, … to another less steep section … and after 5 or 6 of these climbs we finally topped the ridge. As you can see from the profile in the bottom of the screenshot above, we climbed some 567 feet in elevation, over 2,109 feet horizontal, an average slope of 49%, with maximum exertion for us for 39 minutes.

[OK, for future sketching and planning, and before tackling a steep climb out of a canyon, I need to look at the starting and finishing elevations, as well as the slope and horizontal distance, before committing us to such a track.]

Once up in the ridge, the going was easy. As anticipated, we soon found an old two-track, the terrain was relatively level and flat. Nearing FR 378 from which it would be a mile back to park, we discovered a trail or two-track on the Topo chart which cut off some of the distance. As we came to a point where we wanted to turn left (south) to parking, we found ourselves looking down on another steep canyon wall. But, lo and behold, Topo indicated a trail down seemingly directly down the “cliff”. Closer inspection revealed a cleft in the cliff face, an easy descent to the canyon floor, then across the canyon, back up to FR 378, and to parking.

Highlight

We would have avoided the serious climb if I had followed my sketch. For future hikes, I’ve plotted an alternate track to get from Bear Canyon up onto the ridge north of the canyon. Instead of 1/4 mile from bottom to top, it is 2/3rd of a mile. I look forward to someday checking them out – if someone else does so, please send me a report; thanks.

Jay here: Bear Canyon. Good name. Because the way we climbed out of the canyon up the steep series of rock outcrops was a real bear. And I have the shin scrapes to prove it. The 39 minutes it took to get up the 49% slope felt like more than an hour. We would scramble about 20 feet and then stop to get more oxygen. Geo redeemed himself when he found the cleft in the rock face that got us off the cliff and back to the canyon floor toward the end of the hike. Which all goes to prove that there’s always a lesson or two when we make these forays into the New Mexico landscape.

Statistics

Total Distance: 5.43 miles
Elevation: start 8,750 ft, maximum 8,913 ft, minimum 8,239 ft
Gross gain: 674 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,308 ft, descending 1,309 ft
Maximum slope: 49% ascending, 45% descending, 9% average
Duration: 2:59

Bear Canyon.jay.2017-08-06 (KML)	177 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Bear Canyon.jay.2017-08-06 (GPX)	148 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

ListofJohn Topo: Bear Canyon

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

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

Holiday Mesa Hike – 07/26/2015

July 11, 2017

This was a memorable hike. The goal was to visit the Kwastiyukwa (Great Footprint) Ruins on Holiday Mesa. We made a valiant try, but with the elevation gain, distance, and summer heat we gave out in the face of another hill climb and half mile distance. We’ll try again.

The Hike

The first challenge to overcome was getting across the Rio Guadalupe without soaking our boots. We searched upstream and down and finally found a logjam we could use as a bridge. Once across the Rio, we could follow a nice two-track from Canyon Cebollita up on to Holiday Mesa. On the mesa, using the GPS and topo map, noticing that the two-track took a bit swing away from our goal, we made a shortcut and rejoined the two track. Hiking was fairly on the mesa, generally level and flat, but we were getting worn out mostly from the heat, and we hadn’t hiked this distance before. When faced with crossing another arroyo and climbing back up the other side, we decided have our mid-hike break, then, short of our goal, call it a day and return to parking.

Statistics

Total Distance: 7.63 miles
Elevation: start 6,604 ft, maximum 7,668 ft, minimum 6,604 ft
Gross gain: 1,064 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,517 ft, descending 1,521 ft
Maximum slope: 30% ascending, 28% descending, 7% average
Duration: 4:46

Holiday Mesa Hike.Jay.2015-07-26 (KML)	153 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Holiday Mesa Hike.Jay.2015-07-26 (KML)	186 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:

ondafringe: Day Hike: Stable Mesa to Kiva Ruins~Jemez Mountains
Conquest and Catastrophe: Exerpt from book
OtherHand.org: Kwastiyukwa ruins
ASCHG: Holiday Mesa to Giant Footprint Ruin (added 2025)
Dennis R. Holloway, Architect: Kwastiyukwa (“Giant Footprint Ruin”) (added 2025)

Jay's Photos: Click on Photo to show Gallery.

George's Photos: Click on Photo to show Gallery.

10K – 08/30/2015

July 11, 2017

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

The Hike

Statistics

Total Distance: 4.0 miles
Elevation: start 9,975 ft, maximum 10,042 ft, minimum 9,837 ft
Gross gain: 67 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,042 ft, descending 1,036 ft
Maximum slope: 28% ascending, 27% descending, 9% average
Duration: 3:02

10K Hike.Jay.2015-08-30 (KML)	119 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
10K Hike.Jay.2015-08-30 (GPX)	50 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: 10k Trailhead and 10K Trail 200
ondafringe:
Day Hike: 10K/Ellis/South Crest Loop (Part 1)
10k/Osha Loop/North Crest/10k/Survey/Challenge Trails Loop
AllTrails: 10k Trail (North Section)

Fourmile Falls Hike – 07/04/2017

July 10, 2017

After enjoying a lay day, following our hike above 11,000′ on the Continental Divide Trail, on this Fourth of July we skipped the big parade on Pagosa Springs and headed for a popular trail nearby.

The Drive In

The drive out on a road that was in some places quite circuitous, we enjoyed some wonderful scenic views back across the valley. As suspected, this is a well-used trail, easy surface and terrain, but we were early in the day (and the parade was ongoing) we had the trail mostly to ourselves on the way out.

The Hike

At times we were in forest, along other stretches we were in more open space; occasionally we could hear the sound of Fourmile Creek running over rocks or maybe beaver dams. From about 3/4 of a mile we caught first site of one of the two waterfalls, the one on Fourmile Creek. A 1/2 mile further on the 2nd waterfall, the one on Falls Creek, came into view. Both are reported to be 300′ high. The hike back was easy enough (after the earlier hikes), during which we watched the Rocky Mountain rain cells appear, move, and dissipate, tho’ one did find it’s way to us and sprinkled for 20 minutes or so.

Jay here: This was our last hike in the Pogosa Springs area and a good choice for a finale. The rainbow at the 3 mile mark is impressive…perhaps 500-600 feet high. The hike begins with a lot of descents that only make you dread the return trip when your legs are weary and you have to hit all the ascents. We had some light rain on the return and I broke out the poncho. All in all, a great finish to 5 days of hiking.

Statistics

Total Distance: 6.04 miles
Elevation: start 9,156 ft, maximum 9,569 ft, minimum 8,973 ft
Gross gain: 603 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,542 ft, descending 1,541 ft
Maximum slope: 33% ascending, 37% descending, 8% average
Duration: 4:03

Fourmile Falls Hike.Jay.2017-07-04 (GPX)	323 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Fourmile Falls Hike.Jay.2017-07-04 (KML)	85 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

The Adventure Guide-Pagosa.com:
  Hiking Trails in the San Juan National Forest – Pagosa Springs Area
Pagosa.com:
       A Walk in the Woods: Hiking Trails in Pagosa Springs
   Fourmile Falls Hike
   Scenic Waterfalls in the Pagosa Springs Area
   Hiking Fourmile Falls Trail in Pagosa Springs
SummitPost: FourmileLake Hike, Cherry Cairn Peak Attempt
UtahTrails: Fourmile Creek
The Outbound Collective:
   Hike the Weminumche WIlderness to Fourmile Falls
Outdoor Recreation Information Center – Colorado:
   Pagosa Springs Region Day Hiking Trails Index

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

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

Continental Divide Trail, Wolf Creek Pass Hike – 07/02/2017

July 10, 2017

For our third day in the San Juan Mountains/Pagosa Springs, we headed UP, maybe above the tree line? To Wolf Creek Pass and a section of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT).

The Drive In

It is a long way up a steep highway US 160, from 7,800′ elevation to 11,800′ at the trailhead above the Pass. It was obvious immediately that we -would have- scenic views.

The Hike

From the Lobo Trailhead we descended across a snow bank to meet up with the CDT about 1/2 mile on. For the next 1.4 miles the trail continued down, a medium width, well traveled trail but on a quite steep hillside. From here it went up a bit, at least as far as we went before stopping for our mid-hike break and return trip. The views in every direction are stunning, looking across valleys to the next section of the San Juan Mountains. ‘Tho we weren’t “above the tree line”, many of the peaks above 12,000′, some over 13,000’ and were barren.

Jay here: It was a bit chilly and windy atop the CDT trailhead. You start out behind the big radio towers and immediately walk over a snow covered trail. Most of the trail is in the open and some portions are narrow ledges along steep hillside. If you fall on that hillside you are going roll quite a way before you can stop yourself, a fact that offers little comfort to me and my vertigo. Other parts of the trail run through older forest where there is still snow on the ground. There were also a lot more corn lilies in the meadows we crossed. This was another hike that had descents at the start that made for a long slog back at the return, but we persevered.

Statistics

Total Distance: 6.07 miles
Elevation: start 11,742 ft, maximum 11,742 ft, minimum 11,148 ft
Gross gain: 695 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,448 ft, descending 1,447 ft
Maximum slope: 34% ascending, 30% descending, 8% average
Duration: 4:26

CDT-Wolf Creek Pass.Jay.2017-07-02 (KML)	223 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
CDT-Wolf Creek Pass.Jay.2017-07-02 (GPX)	281 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

The Adventure Guide-Pagosa.com:
Hiking Trails in the San Juan National Forest – Pagosa Springs Area
Pagosa.com: A Walk in the Woods: Hiking Trails in Pagosa Springs
Outdoor Recreation Information Center – Colorado:
Pagosa Springs Region Day Hiking Trails Index

Jay's Photos. Click on Photo to show Gallery.

George's Photos: Click on Photo to show Gallery.

Coal Creek Hike – 07/01/2017

July 10, 2017

This was our second day of hiking in the San Juan mountains near Pagosa Springs. Our original plan was to hit the north end of the Quartz Ridge Trail, the trailhead located about 3 miles up the East Fork San Juan River on County Road 667 from the campground. After parking, we soon discovered that the trail required crossing either the East Fork San Juan River or Sand Creek, both of which were running large and fast. Not prepared for wading, we turned towards the Coal Creek trail, the trailhead being on the other side of the parking area.

The Hike

The trail, well marked like the Turkey Creek Trail, presented us with a steady climb from the git-go. Except for an area of open hillside near the start, we were in fairly dense forest throughout – not many scenic views like those we’re accustomed to in New Mexico – with lots of aspen (-big- aspen), ponderosa pine, douglas fir, scrub oak, and more. About 2 miles into the hike on the Trail we found ourselves tracking parallel to a very nice brook – the sound of water coursing over rock falls and fallen tree trunks was quite pleasant.

We started the hike with 3 layers of clothing, the temperature being quite cool (’twas 48° when we arose in the camper that morning); even tho’ we were going to higher elevations, conditions warmed, we doffed layers, and .. it was time to take a break and head back down.

Jay here: Coal Creek really raised the bar for us in terms of elevation and some constant ascents but we were up to it. Most of the hike was in old growth forest with large aspens (that some people just can’t resisting leaving their initials on) and there were a few streams that seemed to originate as springs.

Statistics

Total Distance: 4.52 miles
Elevation: start 7,914 ft, maximum 9,248 ft, minimum 7,914 ft
Gross gain: 1,312 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,787 ft, descending 1,787 ft
Maximum slope: 45% ascending, 43% descending, 14% average
Duration: 4:36

Coal Creek Hike.Jay.2017-07-01 (KML)	249 Downloads
GPS Track Files for Download
Coal Creek Hike.Jay.2017-07-01 (GPX)	178 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

Jay's Photos: Click on Photo to show Gallery.

George's Photos: Click on Photo to show Gallery.

Turkey Creek Hike – 6/30/2017

July 10, 2017

Our first day of our 5-day camping and hiking trip to Pagosa Springs. We had reserved 6 nights in the East Fork Campground maintained by the Forest Service. Site #4 was a nice back-in site for the R-Pod – level spot, picnic table and fire pit, an area providing full sunlight for a good part of the day for the solar panels to keep the R-Pods batteries charged, pit toilets, and water was available – a hand-pump at the far end of the campground (near site #26). Tho’ the campground is a loop and we were near the entrance, it was still a quiet site.

The Hike

With advice from a ranger at the Visitor’s Center in Pagosa Springs and a map he provided, we chose the Turkey Creek hike for starters. The trail head was not far from the campground and from the description would be a good introduction to hiking at this higher elevation. Initially the well-marked trail proceeded downhill, until we crossed Turkey Creek. The trail then ran parallel to the creek which was visible at times in the steep canyon to the right.

About 2.4 miles into the hike the canyon floor opened up presenting a large open, flat area obviously used frequently for camping. We had our mid-hike break at the far edge of a large open area, finding some shade (the sun made it feel hot) and breeze (to get away from the flys and mosquitoes). Tho’ a review of GoogleEarth suggests this would be a great trail for a longer hike and other attractions nearby, we headed back taking a side-trip to get closer to Turkey Creek and explore the camping area.

Jay here: This was our first hike in the Pogosa Springs area so we chose something at lower elevation (for us…we typically are hiking in the 7200′ to 8800′ elevation range). It was a good choice and had some pleasant streams to cross uneventfully. We kept running into to a plant that we thought looked like mutant corn stalks, and not surprisingly we looked it up to learn that it was called corn lily and that farmers find it to be an invasive nuisance. We followed the rushing waters of Turkey Creek for part of the hike and enjoyed the sound of the clear rushing waters,

Statistics

Total Distance: 6.00 miles
Elevation: start 8,301 ft, maximum 8,656 ft, minimum 8,144 ft
Gross gain: 500 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,126 ft, descending 1,126 ft
Maximum slope: 33% ascending, 28% descending, 6% average
Duration: 3:56