Due to trail closure above the Upper Crossing - the Stone Lions hike will have to be done as an out/back hike from the Visitor's Center. This is a 13 mile hike, net elevation gain is 2850'.
If participants prefer - we could do the Ponderosa Campground/Upper Crossing/down Friloes Canyon to the Visitor's Center. This is ~8 mile hike, with a net loss of 1300'.
Both are 8 hour hikes.
Bring lunch, 2 quarts water, rain jacket, hiking shoes.
Behind the Rocks, a maze of fins and canyons just over the hill from Moab, is in my experience about as spectacular as any part of the canyon country. See here and here for trip reports.
Update Feb. 27: Room is still available on this trip.
There is a lovely canyon, between Ancho and Frijoles, that allows an access to the Rio Grande - Chaquehui Canyon. Let's explore the trail from the Bandelier overlook to the Rio Grande via Chaquehui. The trail begins at the overlook on the road into the Bandelier Park headquarters. The Park Service tells us that the trail is brushy - so long pants are a great idea. When we get to the river, we will do some exploration along the river. We will return by the same route.
Let's hike down to Ancho Rapids in White Rock Canyon on the Rio Grande. The hike begins from State Route 4 south of White Rock, on the Ancho Springs Trail, then proceeds upstream along the Rio Grande, and then finishes hiking up the Red or Blue Dot Trail to Pajarito Acres or the Overlook Park in White Rock. The hike is 1100 ft of elevation loss/gain.
This trip is a bicycle ride on paved roads from Jemez Springs to the Gilman Tunnels and back. The Gilman tunnels are located in the most scenic section of the Guadalupe River Box. These tunnels were originally blasted out of the rock in the 1920's for a logging railroad. The rock is a Precambrian crystalline matrix that is pinkish in color making it a popular area for technical climbing.
published by brett.kettering on Wed, 2014-10-01 09:23
Leader:
Brett Kettering
Date:
Thu, 2014-10-23
Difficulty:
Hard
Technicality:
Advanced
This is more of an advisory that some of us will be in Zion National Park for some Canyoneering. Because of the way the permit system works, the groups must be small. However, we thought that there may be others who might be interested in forming groups too. On past trips, we've gotten together outside the canyons for meals and socializing.
published by brett.kettering on Tue, 2014-10-14 15:49
Leader:
Brett Kettering
Date:
Sat, 2014-10-18
Difficulty:
Hard
Technicality:
Advanced
CANCELED BECAUSE OF RAIN
Let's go climbing up near El Rito, again. This time we'll checkout the new area that Jason H. and friends have been developing, the Little River Wall. See http://www.mountainproject.com/v/little-river-wall/109281674. There's a link to the guide there. It's a Sport Climbing area.
We will be in La Veta, CO this weekend, and would welcome anyone who wants to join Evan and I in a climb of East Spanish Peak on Sunday. East Spanish Peak is the highest 12,000-foot peak in the US. Also the highest 11,000-foot peak. Also the highest 10,000-foot peak. From its summit, one drops to the plains and Kansas. The two Spanish Peaks are the prominent landmark that one sees driving south on I-25 from Pueblo, or from highway 160 going from Walsenberg to Alamosa. Details of the summit climb can be found here.