I would like to announce a two or three-night backpacking trip into Cruces Basin for August 27-29. Cruces Basin is pristine wilderness located west of San Antonio mountain near the New Mexico/ Colorado border. We’ve been a few times before, and it is well worth going back. This trip will be a mellow and family-friendly adventure with a short hike to our camp followed by hikes to explore the Basin. We can break into groups for day hiking, with options for those that want to adventure out further and those that want to do shorter day hikes.
This is a hike with big views that climbs the northern rim of the Valles caldera. It can be found on page 87 of Coco Rae's book; she says "a popular out and back trail that climbs up an old jeep road through forested groves and high elevation meadows to the northern rim of the caldera, finishing at an open meadow and rewarding your efforts with stunning, sweeping views of the preserve." The hike is 7.6 miles rt and 1902 feet ascent.
A hike/bike trip to the Tenth Mountain Hut Division – Fowler/Hilliard is planned for July 18-22, 2021. We have the entire hut for 12 adults. The deposit is $125.00 per person. Please e-mail me with your interest.
Hopefully COVID will be substantially behind us for this trip, however, we have to bring our own pillows. Sleeping bags are recommended, and be prepared for mountain weather.
Planning ahead, I have booked the entire 11-person trip for a 5-night descent of the Selway River, a 47-mile outing that starts in southeastern Montana. We will travel with Hughes Expeditions, who have impressed us with the quality of their service on the Middle Fork of the Salmon, for example on our 2016 trip . Per Hughes' writeup, "The Selway River Trip is a premier mountain wilderness, whitewater, camping, and fly fishing trip that flows through beautiful forested canyons.
8.6 mile loop around Banco Bonito which hugs the Western edge of the beautiful El Cajete meadow in the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Expected ride time 3 hours. Driving: 45 minutes drive one way.
Easy pace. Mile 3 is a long uphill on somewhat rugged double track: walking parts of it is ok.
Please make sure your bike is in good working condition with air in the tires.
Bring a spare tube that fits, plenty of water, snacks.
Under 16 year old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Join Zack for a Rio Grande floating adventure. We will start at 8am on Saturday June 19 at the Red Dot trailhead, hike down to the river, continue up the river trail to the bottom of the Blue Dot. There, we will stop and enjoy lunch and inflate our floating toys/mattresses/water wings. We will then float back down to the Red Dot, wash off in the clean springs, and hike back to our cars. It's about 4 miles, plus the up and down elevation gain of the Red Dot trail.
Because of the weather, we diverted last weekend's trip to another destination, so let's try again this Saturday. San Antonio is the very large dome just south of the Colorado line, seen to the west of highway 285 on the way north from Tres Piedras to Antonito CO. At 10,908 feet, it stands alone, a half mile above the sagebrush plains. The hike will be a cross-country bushwhack of something like 2000 vertical feet and 5 miles round trip. From the top, we can look out for the long view over the Taos plateau.
I would like to announce a hike to the summit of San Antonio Mountain on the upcoming holiday Monday, May 31. San Antonio is the very large dome just south of the Colorado line, seen to the west of highway 285 on the way north from Tres Piedras to Antonito CO. At 10,908 feet, it stands alone, a half mile above the sagebrush plains. The hike will be a cross-country bushwhack of something like 2000 vertical feet and 5 miles round trip. From the top, we can look out for the long view over the Taos plateau.
