Hi, anyone want to go out tomorrow on an explore of Duchess Castle and the mesa beyond, cross-country on the detached northern segment of Bandelier National Monument? The hike is a bit north of the well-known Tsankawi Ruins loop, exploring across the flat and up onto the mesa, and is not a hike on a trail. If I get some interest by 9 AM tomorrow, we'll arrange to meet at the trailhead at 10 AM and hike until mid-afternoon. Bring lunch etc. Hopefully we will get snow after Monday, so with any luck (snow, that is), this will be the last sunny day for while.
If the weather permits, let's get out on Saturday Dec. 18 to continue the explore that we started on Nov 26 and complete a loop from Box Canyon to Chimney Rock above Ghost Ranch. We will take the trail up Box Canyon, get on the mesa, and connect to the route that we explored on the 26th. This will be an explore off the beaten path. This is a weather permitting hike, and depends on what snow we might get next week.
We have many times travelled to Bluff, Utah for a taste of the canyon country. Bluff is less than six hours from Los Alamos and, situated along the San Juan River, at a low altitude best suited for trips late or early in the season. Even at the beginning of December the average daily high is around 50 F. There are numerous places to hike and explore from Bluff, including the ruins and big views of Comb Ridge, the canyons accessible from Cedar Mesa, the canyon rim just north of Bluff itself, and farther afield to places like White Canyon.
This hike is Saturday Nov 27. The group will meet at the Quemazon trailhead (48th and Trinity) at 9:00 am. Parking is available at the trailhead or nearby on Trinity Drive. From there, we will hike down to West Road and reach Reservoir Road. We will continue hiking the Los Alamos Canyon past the Reservoir, then connect to the Knapp trail. After a steep ascent on nicely graded switchbacks, we will reach Quemazon trail and hike down to complete the loop. We will return at about 12:30 pm.
Let's get out on the day after Thanksgiving, Friday the 26th, for a bit of an explore around Ghost Ranch. We will take the trail up to Chimney Rock, then hike along the mesa top north or south (we'll figure out when we get there). This will be an explore off the beaten path. We might return the way we came, or if we feel ambitious, we can make a loop of it and return via Box Canyon.
Inspired by the New Year and hopes of a better year to come, I would like to announce the thirteenth edition of our successful hike/explore/bike trips to Moab. We have been going most Novembers since 2008, and every time has been a great success. The 2014 trip report can be found at http://lamountaineers.org/node/479#comment-57.
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 and were originally blasted out of the rock in the 1920's for a logging railroad. The cottonwoods along the route will hopefully still be golden, making it a most beautiful ride.
October is a beautiful and ideal time for canyoneering in the Northwash, Utah area. The area is popular for technical canyoneering, and remote with no permits required. You might see canyoneers at the campsites, but seeing anyone in the canyons is rare. There are many opportunities for canyoneering in the Northwash, Utah area by the Hog Springs Rest Area.
With snow in the forecast, the ski season must be coming soon. Let’s take the opportunity to dust off our transceivers, put in fresh batteries and make sure the units are working as expected before we put skin to ski and strap those boards to boot. If you plan on using the Club’s transceivers at any time this upcoming season this is a great opportunity to get familiar with their operation. It’s also a great opportunity to evaluate the plethora of models that our club comrades have in their possession.
Join PEEC and the Los Alamos Mountaineers on this day hike to Spirit Lake via Windsor Trail in the Pecos Wilderness. Mid-October is a great time to hike in the Sangre de Cristo mountains and view aspen groves at the peak of fall color. This will be a moderately difficult day hike, out-and-back to Spirit Lake. The distance is approximately 13 miles round-trip at high elevation. It’s a long day hike, but non-technical, so the group will start hiking early.
