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Post by cweston on Nov 16, 2016 11:10:47 GMT -8
I always suggest a basecamp (2 or more nights at the same camp) trip for first-time BPers.
The west fork of the Rio Santa Barbara is one of my favorite areas in the Pecos. There is a fairly flat area with open forests before the second crossing of the creek, maybe 5-6 miles from the trailhead, that would make a great basecamp. It is an easy day/half day from the car. Once at the basecamp, you can continue up the trail to the Santa Barbara divide as a dayhike from your base camp. You can also climb Chimayosos from the S.B. Divide, if you get an early enough start to be lightning safe. You could also continue about 1.5 additional miles to Truchas Lakes, which is very scenic. TRuchas Lakes would be a long but doable dayhike from the basecamp I described. These are the most scenic areas of the Pecos, IMHO.
I also like the suggestion of basecamping at Pecos Baldy Lake. That would be a little tougher day packing up to the lake, but there are a lot of great dayhiking options once you are there.
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Post by trinity on Nov 16, 2016 18:01:34 GMT -8
I agree with cweston , a basecamp trip would be a good option in this case. Another good destination in the Pecos would be Spirit Lake. You could hike in via the Windsor Ridge Trail, set up camp, the next day do a loop to Lake Katherine, up Santa Fe Baldy, and back to Spirit, then on day 3 come back out the way you came, or via the Windsor Trail or the Cave Creek Trail. Is there any reason you aren't doing your backpacking trip near Pagosa? I'm not as familiar with the area, but there are many options in the South San Juans and the Weminuche.
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