Hiking

By Eric Patterson

I came across an article by Matt van Buren on the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Study Area in the Taos News on Nov. 17 that really struck a nerve.

Almost 40 years ago, when I was teaching at Taos High School, I went backpacking for the first time with two good friends who were very experienced and capable hikers. We went up Long Canyon and camped overnight at Goose Lake.

Last legislative session our leaders almost did the right thing. They very nearly passed a Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights, which would set the stage for connecting every New Mexico child with the outdoors. There was no real reason this bill didn’t pass, other than lack of time.

Why do we even need a Bill of Rights that gets our children moving outside?

Saturday, February 4 - Moderate XC ski outing. Not good for rank beginners, but at a leisurely pace with about 3 hours out on the snow. Location will be decided close to the date to find good snow. Possible spots include areas along US64 west of Tres Piedras, the Sandias, up by the SF Ski Basin, and in the Jemez. Alan Shapiro, (505) 424-9242, Nm5s@yahoo.com

Saturday, February 4 - Strenuous snowshoe, maybe in the Pecos Valley. 1-2 dogs. Tobin Oruch, (505) 820-2844

Sunday, February 5 WILDERNESS FIRST AID COURSE - Outings Program leaders will be attending an 8-hour (basic) WFA course on Sunday, February 5 in Santa Fe. Course is now FULL.

Saturday, February 11 - Strenuous snowshoe on Ravens Ridge. Royal Drews, (505) 699-8713

Saturday, February 11 - Moderate hike on the Frijoles Rim Trail in Bandelier, 8 miles, 800 ft; pueblo ruins along the way and great views. Traction devices REQUIRED. Daisy Levine, (505) 466-8338

Sunday, February 12 - Strenuous hike on Red Dot-Blue Dot trails. Steep, rough terrain. 7 miles. 1000 feeet gain. Station cars. Views of Rio Grande, rock art. Dag and Lajla Ryen, 505) (505) 466-4063

Saturday, February 18 - Moderate mountain bike ride along the Rail Trail to Eldorado and back. 24 miles , 400' elevation gain. Weather permitting. Limit of 6 riders, no dogs. Miguel Deluca, (505) 820-0042

Sunday, February 19 - Strenuous hike or snowshoe in Taos or Questa. 1-2 dogs ok. Robert Reifel, (505) 984-1253

Saturday, February 25 - Easy/Moderate hike up Grand Central Peak in Cerrillos Hills State Park. Short but steep, 1000' elevation gain, less than 3 miles r.t., partially off trail. Proposed route will go by an old turquoise mine. Bill Baxter, local historian may be able to join us. Outing is weather dependent. Norma McCallan 505-471-0005

Sunday, February 26 - Moderate hike or snowshoe. Les Drapela, (505) 438-3306

Saturday, March 3 - Moderate hike to Tor and Cerro Rito, in the Caja del Rio: 7.5 miles, 900 ft. Daisy Levine, (505) 466-8338

CANCELED Sunday, March 4 - Moderate loop hike in La Bajada area

Saturday, March 10 - Moderate XC outing. Not good for rank beginners, but at a leisurely pace with about 3 hours out on the snow. Location will be decided close to the date to find good snow. Possible spots include areas along US64 west of Tres Piedras, the Sandias, up by the SF Ski Basin, and in the Jemez. Alan Shapiro, (505) 424-9242, Nm5s@yahoo.com

Sunday, March 11 - Easy Tour of proposed Buckman Restoration Project, with guest leader Alan Hamilton, Conservation Director for NM Wildlife Federation. We will look at enhancements to the Diablo Canyon area, then drive down to the Rio Grande, take a new loop trail along the old Chile Line RR, view the Buckman townsite, and check out proposed riparian restoration along the river corridor. About 5 miles, little elevation change. Norma McCallan 505-471-0005

Sunday, March 11 - Moderate hike on the Continental Divide Trail to mesa top near the monastery at Abiquiu, about 8 miles and 1500’ gain, beautiful views. Daisy Levine (505) 466-8338.

Saturday, March 17 - Strenuous snowshoe near Taos, maybe Bull of the Woods. Royal Drews, (505) 699-8713

Sunday, March 18 - Moderate hike or snowshoe. Les Drapela, (505) 438-3306

Saturday, March 24 - Moderate hike in Petroglyphs National Monument: Explore two canyons of petroglyphs and hike a couple volcanoes. 6-7 miles total, minimal elevation gain. Ranger talk included. Limit of 10 people. No Dogs. Miguel Deluca, (505) 820-0042

Sunday, March 25 Moderate hike on Zuni-Acoma Trail in El Malpais National Monument. 7 miles. A few hundred feet gain. Early start for long drive and car stationing. Return after dark. Dag and Lajla Ryen, (505) 466-4063

Saturday, March 31 - Moderate exploratory hikes in Quebradas area near Socorro. Beautiful arroyos, pictographs, cool rocks. Optional stay-over for Sunday hiking. Dogs ok, but I’m leaving mine at home. Mary Thompson mary14er@gmail.com (505) 469 9499

Sunday, April 1 - Strenuous snowshoe or hike if poor snow. 1-2 dogs. Tobin Oruch, (505) 820-2844

By Jason Lott, Bandelier National Monument Superintendent

Please consider this your personal invitation to return to Bandelier. You can once again visit Frijoles Canyon by a free shuttle bus (Atomic City Transit) from the Town of White Rock, and on November 1, the canyon will open for personal vehicles.

By Kristina Ortez de Jones, Southwest Youth Representative

John Muir loved the outdoors, and when the Sierra Club was founded back in 1892, outings to special places in the Sierras inspired passion among the Club’s early members. Outings have always been a special part of the Club, and it’s been integrated with two of Sierra Club’s Youth Programs.

12-5 pm, Saturday, November 12
North Domingo Baca Park, 7550 Corona Ave NE, Albuquerque

Please join us for the 2011 NM Volunteer Appreciation Event, including a delicious lunch, a silent auction to benefit the CDTA, and a “foot stompin, partner swingin” live performance by the Squash Blossom Boys.

RSVP by 11/7: Contact Jon Pierson at jon@cdtrail.org or 505-659-7364

NOTE: All events are outside, and take place RAIN OR SHINE;
Bring a jacket or warm layer!

For over 20 years Jon and Sue Greening of Tijeras have hosted the leaders of the Sierra Club’s Southwest Outings Service trips to Chaco Canyon. It is through the support of good people like theGreenings that the Sierra Club has been able to provide quality outing experiences for well over 320 Chaco Canyon Southwest Outings Service trips participants over the years.

Check out these cool videos from Still Reel Productions, LLC.

Bisti - northwest New Mexico

Bosque Del Apache - central New Mexico

The Wave - Coyote Butte North - Utah

Our intrepid Badlands explorer, Mike Richie, made a major effort in October and November to introduce these spectacular badlands to more individuals through a series of independent Saturday and Sunday hikes every weekend, drawing many newcomers as well as those already hooked by these other-worldly landscapes.