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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2016 14:25:41 GMT -8
Thanks for the tip. I'll have to evaluate how well I've adapted to the elevation. That looks like a pretty ambitious trip.
I was thinking of just day-hiking to Pecos Falls during a layover day at Beatty's, then breaking camp from there and going past Cerrito del Padre and up to Chimayosos, and possibly around to Truchas and the Trailrider's Wall.
I had some issues with altitude sickness at Pecos Baldy Lake last time I was there, so I'm planning to be more gradual this time.
One question; do you know if the Pecos crossing between Jack's Creek and Iron Gate is much of a problem? Is there a bridge or is it not too bad?
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Post by cweston on Aug 22, 2016 18:48:53 GMT -8
A nice look that passes by Beatty's cabin is to leave from Jack's Creek campground and continue up past Beatty's cabin and Pecos Falls then continue up Trail #24 to the divide. Then along the divide on Trail #251 all the way to Truchas Lake and across Trailriders Wall. Then Pecos Baldy Lake and then down to Jack's Creek. Just a note, I found no water up on Hamilton Mesa. offtrail When we went up the Pecos, we camped above Pecos Falls off of trail 456--there are lots of nice camps in that basin. Then we continued off-trail up the Pecos beyond the place where trail 456 heads up and out of the basin. It was really lovely country with open forest/parkland/grass. It was a fairly easy off-trail trip up the upper Pecos to trail 24 just below the divide. We did have to cross a lot, and it was Memorial Day weekend, so those crossing were all wet-foot crossings and a little scary. It was my oldest son's first major multiple-day trip. (He was 13 at the time--he's 24 now and goes on a major trip with me every summer.)
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Post by cweston on Aug 23, 2016 11:41:07 GMT -8
I should add that the reason we did that is that it looked like there might not be much in the way of camps with water on trail 24 north of Pecos Falls, as it traverses above the river basin. (And camping is not allowed in the area immediately around Pecos Falls, or at least it was not at that time.)
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toejam
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Post by toejam on Sept 29, 2016 8:30:23 GMT -8
we camped above Pecos Falls off of trail 456--there are lots of nice camps in that basin I remember that valley being a lot more spectacular than the falls. The falls are about 15' high and fall from ground level into a ravine. The alpine ridges are the best part.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2016 8:59:08 GMT -8
Finally got to "get out of Dodge" and do the trip. Your advice was excellent.
I really enjoyed the views from Chimayosos, and am "bookmarking" the idea of hiking from Cave Creek to Stewart Lake for a future outing!
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Post by absarokanaut on Oct 10, 2016 15:43:35 GMT -8
What sn absolutely awesome thread. Post some more pics if you can guys; great information I'll share with some friends in Colorado and New Mexico. They thank you for sharing. About makes me want to move back to Huerfano County. I loved weekends down there.
New Mexico certainly has an enchanting landscape.
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Post by graywolf on Oct 10, 2016 18:37:11 GMT -8
Great thread, I live close enough that I do the Santa Barbara to Chymosos as a daytime.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2016 8:56:52 GMT -8
What sn absolutely awesome thread. Post some more pics if you can guys; great information New Mexico certainly has an enchanting landscape. Here's a few picts; I agree about the enchanting landscape. chimayosos and barbara peakstruchas and m. truchas peaksw. fork rio santa barbara; from chimayosossummits of the barbara divide; from hamilton mesa (l-r; truchas, m. truchas, n. truchas, chimayosos, barbara)definitely recommended, and i'm grateful for the expertise the other posters provided me prior to my trip
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Post by cweston on Oct 17, 2016 12:00:07 GMT -8
Did you go in from Iron Gate? If yes, how was the road? If no, what route did you take to Hamilton Mesa? Glad you had a good trip--nice pics. I love the view down the west fork Santa Barbara from Chimayosos. That is a great way to access this area, BTW (up the west fork from the north).
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2016 12:32:15 GMT -8
Thank you for providing your expertise on the area.
I didn't hike in from Iron Gate, I just followed Beatty's Trail from Jack's Creek all the way to the junction with the Skyline Trail beneath Chimayosos. I just have a basic passenger car, and I was also fairly late starting on my first day.
I camped near Beatty's Creek for a couple nights and did a day hike from there up onto Hamilton Mesa; that's how I got the photo from Hamilton Mesa (the trio of the Larkspur #260, Hamilton Mesa #249, and Bob Grounds #270 trails). I was glad you recommended Hamilton Mesa because the view from there of the Barbara Divide summits was much better than on the slopes of Round Mountain.
The view from Chimayosos into the W Fork Rio Santa Barbara was stunning; the photo doesn't really do it justice. I haven't done any outings in the Pecos north of the Barbara Divide, but sure hope to some day.
Have you done any loops via the Middle or East Forks of the Rio Santa Barbara? They look interesting on the map.
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Post by cweston on Oct 17, 2016 13:07:10 GMT -8
Have you done any loops via the Middle or East Forks of the Rito Santa Barbara? They look interesting on the map. I went down the East Fork once. It was not a planned route: we had to bail on a planned traverse of the Santa Barbara divide all the way to Indian Canyon and down to the Santa Barbara campground, because of persistent lightning. (Even in the morning, it was too threatening to be on the ridge top.) The upper basin of the east fork is a lovely place to camp, with lots of elk, but the trail is more-or-less non-existent, or a least it was several years ago when I was there in mid June. Route finding would be pretty easy going up (clear the trees and just keep going to the divide), but was much more challenging going down, not knowing where the trail entered timber. Once you find the trail and drop into heavy timber, it's frankly a pretty uninspiring slog down to the Santa Barbara trailhead. The west fork is a much more scenic approach, with more open forest with views up to Chimayosos and then a scenic canyon climb with switchbacks up to the tree line.
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Post by trinity on Oct 17, 2016 16:42:22 GMT -8
Great photos, Scott, glad you had such a good trip.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2016 14:30:07 GMT -8
Thank you for your advice!
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Post by texashiker on Nov 16, 2016 6:45:24 GMT -8
Hey y'all, new guy here. My fiancee and I are planning a trip for next August that would hopefully include 3 nights backpacking in the Pecos Wilderness. We have done a bunch of hiking and some primitive camping but no true backpacking yet. We plan on getting our feet wet this winter by spending a few weekends in the Sam Houston National Forest (I live in Houston, unfortunately). Any recommendations for a 3-day/night trip through the Pecos for relative novices? We are in our 20's, in good shape, and will be spending the two prior nights in Pagosa Springs (7,000 ft), so I'm hoping that will help us acclimate to the elevation a little bit.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2016 10:27:58 GMT -8
It will definitely help to spend some time at elevation in Pagosa Springs. I spent a day and night at Villanueva State Park prior to my trip for exactly the same reason.
There are a lot of possibilities in the Pecos for a 3 night outing.
One would be to park at the Santa Fe ski area, hike up and over a pass called Puerto Nambe, and traverse to Lake Katherine, and then do a loop encompassing Stewart and Spirit Lakes, and then return back across Puerto Nambe. This was the first trip I did in the Pecos; it would be easier though if you can work in one extra night (a four night outing).
You could also start at Jack's Creek trailhead (near Cowles), hike up to Pecos Baldy Lake, make camp below it, and do any of several things from there. Continue to Truchas Lakes the next day or just stay at Pecos Baldy Lake and do day hikes from there.
The area discussed in this thread is also great; just follow Beatty's Trail from Jack's Creek for as far as you want to go. Think if I was doing a 3 nighter, I would set up a base camp near Beatty's Creek and go on day hikes from there. There are trails that go off in several directions.
Winter can also be a great time to backpack in the Guadalupe Mountains or Big Bend, if you want to do some other things in advance.
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