This will be a 7-day backpacking trip in the Wind River Range, WY. The drive to the trailhead is ca. 12 hours (more including stops for gas and food), so will add 2 days to the total trip length. I am planning a 50-mile loop that is largely off-trail. We will revisit one of my favorite areas (the Cooks Lakes) and hit on a few spots that I missed last time (such as the Alpine Lakes). Mileage per day is planned to be moderate so there is time to enjoy the scenery, and to account for the fact that moving off-trail is significantly slower.
The next hike will be Saturday, Sept. 6th. We will meet at the ski hill parking lot and begin hiking up the service road at 5 PM. Please RSVP if you plan to attend. Weather has been a potential concern the past several weeks. Having a list of participants allows me to make contact if there is a cancelation due to weather or road closures.
It is much cooler on the mountain than a few weeks ago. Warmer clothes and reaingear are highly recommended.
To get into the wild and away from the crowds on the busy Labor Day weekend, we have reserved a block of slots with a commercial company for a trip down the Rio Chama, running 31 miles through the Wild and Scenic Rio Chama Wilderness. The trip will leave on the morning of Saturday, August 30 and end on Monday, September 1. The company says “The trip consists of a float through the stunning colorful sandstone and limestone walls of this amazing canyon and finishes up near the renowned artist village of Abiquiu.
We will meet at the ski hill parking lot and begin hiking up the service road at 5:00 PM. Please bring a dish to share, your own plate, utensils, and beverage. Rain gear and warmer clothing for the top are recommended. There is about a 900 foot elevation gain and the hike up takes about an hour.
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT - There is now a second picnic table at the paltform where we eat dinner. We will hold a dedication "ceremony" for this new addition to the dinner hike!
2-night backpack this coming weekend, with a mid-morning departure on Friday and a noonish/early afternoon return on Sunday. Destination TBD, maybe the Pecos Wilderness, or the Red Lake area. Something with a short drive.
We’re organizing a rewarding two-night backpacking trip into the beautiful and rugged Handies Peak Group—and we invite fellow LA Mountaineers to join us! We’ll explore the high basins and peaks of the San Juan Mountains, with the opportunity to summit several Centennial peaks, including Handies Peak (14,048 ft), Redcloud Peak (14,034 ft), and Sunshine Peak (14,001 ft). For those looking to push further, there’s also the option to climb two unnamed Centennial Thirteeners just east of Redcloud. Expect incredible alpine scenery, wildflowers, solitude—and early starts!
We will meet at the ski hill parking lot and begin hiking up the service road at 5:00 PM. Please bring a dish to share, your own plate, utensils, and beverage. We will share dinner and at the picnic table overlooking the Rio Grande Valley.The weather at the top of the mountain can be much cooler, and the weather can change quickly. Carrying warmer clothing and rain gear is recommended.
07/21/25: Sorry, cancelled due to impacts of the nearby fire
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Inspired by two nice visits about 8 years ago, I have arranged a return to Gallina Canyon Ranch. I know of no place that is this remote and yet so close - just 2 - 2 1/2 hours - from Los Alamos.
This is a trip to Adak Island, in the Central Aleutians of the Aleutian Island Chain. I have chosen Adak for ease of access - you can fly there with Alaska Airlines. For reference, I paid ca. $1,500 for my roundtrip ticket from ABQ (August 9-20, 2025).
