Experience these otherworldly landscapes, filled with hoodoos, sculpted rock statues, twisted junipers, petrified logs, diverse fossil treasures and sweeping vistas. Explore these remote BLM gems with our experienced guest guide Mike Richie, who has been poking around these little visited treasures for years. Recently he has asked the Sierra Club to help him protect these unique places, and of course the first step is to visit them and see firsthand what his striking photographs can only hint at. Check out his website at www.PhotoTrekNM.com.
This moderate hike is all off trail, so sturdy hiking boots are in order, as are hiking poles if you use them. We will start out in Santa Fe, but meet Mike and folks from the Albuquerque area in Bernalillo on our way up Highway 550 towards Cuba. If you have a high clearance vehicle it will be useful for the dirt road stretch; carpooling is always encouraged.
Sun., Dec. 6 • Moderate tour of the San Jose badlands near Cuba
– Join Michael Richie, guestguide, for another badlands exploration. San Jose features large, weirdly shaped hoodoos, petrified logs, and pottery shards. Driving via Bernalillo. Need some 4WD vehicles. Dogs OK. Norma McCallan (505/471-0005).
Pajarito Group Outing
Sat., Nov. 14 • Strenuous hike to Ancho Rapids & Frijoles Canyon, with car shuttle – Some steep, off-trail sections. 11 miles, 800' gain. Michael DiRosa (505/663-0648 home, 505/667-0095 work)
Northern Group Outings
Thurs., Nov. 19 • Easy/moderate hike
– Dogs OK. Call for details. Eliza Schmid (505/474-5846).
Sat., Nov. 21 • Easy hike in
Cerrillos Hills –
4.5 miles. Dogs on leashes OK. Cynthia Good
(505/699-2717).
Sat., Nov. 21 • Santa Fe River
cleanup – See latest
RG Sierran newsletter p. 11.
Sun., Nov. 22 • Strenuous Abiquiú
red-rock ramble– 12+ miles, all off-trail, some scrambling, some
exposure. David Wargo (512/971-0090).
Thurs., Nov. 26 • Easy/moderate hike
– Dogs OK. Call for details. Eliza Schmid (505/474-5846).
Sat., Nov. 28 • Moderate hike to
Buckman Mesa, plus side trips – 6-7 miles, 1100' gain. Dogs OK.
Norbert Sperlich (505/474-4354).
OUTINGS NOTE: Check the appropriate Group page for additional
information on
these abridged outings for Pajarito, Central, Southern, and El Paso.
Northern’s full text
outings are listed only on this page to save space. Check all Group’s
websites for updated
or new outings information. All mileages are round trip. Participants
must sign a liability
waiver. Bring water, lunch, sturdy hiking boots or shoes, and clothing
suitable for the
Sun., Nov. 29 • Strenuous hike to Tapia Canyon
and ruins – 15 miles, 2000' gain. Early start.
Dogs OK. Tobin Oruch (505/820-2844, call
before 8:00 p.m.).
Pajarito Group Outings
Sat., Dec. 5 • Strenuous outing in Cerro
Rubio area near Valle Grande and Toledo
snowshoe, up to 10 miles and 1400' gain with
steep sections, depending on conditions. Michael Di Rosa (505/667-0095 work, 505/663-0648 home).
Sat., Dec. 12 • Cross-country ski at Cumbres
Pass
– Skill level intermediate, aerobic activitymoderate to strenuous. Backcountry skis or
tele skis and skins recommended. Bring layered
clothing, lunch, water, sunscreen. Jean Dewart
(505/662-9592, by Tues., Dec. 8).
Southern Group Outing
Sat., Dec. 12 • Petroglyphs at Tonuco hike
–Outstanding views, some scrambling over
large and small boulders. Margot Wilson
(575/744-5860)
Northern Group Outings
Sat.,
Dec. 5 • Strenuous outing in Cerro Rubio
area near Valle Grande and Toledo – Hike or
snowshoe, up to 10 miles and 1400' gain with
steep sections, depending on conditions. Michael Di Rosa (505/667-0095
work, 505/663-0648 home).
Sun., Dec. 6 • Beginners’ Snowshoe
Clinic, near Santa Fe Ski Basin, snow willing – Rent shoes and poles,
come out and play in the snow for a couple of hours. Gear and technique
tips shared. Marcia Skillman (505/699-3008).
Sun., Dec. 6 • Moderate tour of the
San Jose badlands near Cuba – Join Michael Richie, guest guide, for
another badlands exploration. San Jose features large, weirdly shaped
hoodoos, petrified logs, and pottery shards. Driving via Bernalillo.
Need some 4WD vehicles. Dogs OK. Norma McCallan (505/471-0005).
Sun., Dec. 6 • Strenuous snowshoe up
Gavilan,
from Taos Ski Valley road to ridge and 11,792'
peak – Up to 8 miles RT, 2000'-2800' gain. Spectacular winter views of
high peaks, early start. Dogs OK. Robert Reifel (505/984-1253).
Sat., Dec. 12 • Moderate hike
through White
Rock canyon on Blue Dot and Red Dot trails –
8 miles, 1000' gain. Stunning views, limit of 10
people. Miguel DeLuca (505/820-0042).
Sat., Dec. 12 • Strenuous snowshoe
in Ski Basin area – Marcia Skillman (505/699-3008).
Sun., Dec. 13 • Moderate hike to
Kitchen Mesa at Ghost Ranch – 5 miles, 600' gain, rock scramble at the
top. Royal Drews (505/699-8713).
Sun., Dec. 13 • Holiday potluck
party in the evening– See article in latest
RG Sierran newsletter
on p. 10.
Thurs., Dec. 17, 24, 31 • Thursday
easy/moderate hike – Dogs OK. Eliza Schmid (505/474-5846).
Sat., Dec. 19 • Strenuous hike in
Bandelier backcountry – Bogdan Mihaila (505/795-3316).
Sun., Dec. 20 • Strenuous hike in
Abiquiú area – About 10 miles, 1200'-1500' gain, off-trail
and scrambling. Dogs OK. David Wargo
(512/971-0090).
Sat., Dec. 26 • Moderate/strenuous
hike in and
near Santa Fe River Canyon – All off-trail, some
rough sections. Norbert Sperlich (505/474-4354).
Sat., Dec. 26 • Moderate
cross-country ski trip – Hopewell Lake area, depending on snow
conditions. Alan Shapiro (505/424-9242).
Sun., Dec. 27 • Strenuous snowshoe,
maybe Santa Fe Baldy or a Gold Hill loop in Taos (12 miles, 3400' gain)
– Dogs OK. Tobin Oruch (505/820- 2844 before 8:00 p.m.).
Fri., Jan. 1 • Strenuous snowshoe
New Year’s Day in Windsor Trail area – Mostly off-trail. Marcia Skillman
(505/699-3008).
For more info, visit
http://riogrande.sierraclub.org/santafe/. Unless otherwise noted, Northern outings leave from our
office, 1807 2nd St., Santa Fe. When carpooling, it is routine for
each rider to pay the driver 10 cents/mile
rounded down to nearest dollar, or 7.5 cents/mile when 100-plus miles,
3-plus riders.
Northern Group Outings
Sat., Jan. 2 • Beginners’ Snowshoe
Clinic, near
Santa Fe Ski Basin – Rent shoes and poles, come out and play in the snow
for a couple of hours. Gear and technique tips shared. Marcia
Skillman (505/699-3008).
Sun, Jan. 3 • Strenuous hike in
Abiquiú area –
About 10 miles, 1200'-1500' gain. Off-trail
and scrambling. Dogs OK. David Wargo
(512/971-0090).
Thurs., Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26 •
Thursday easy/
moderate hike – Dogs OK. Eliza Schmid
(505/474-5846).
Sat., Jan. 9 • Easy loop hike in the
Cerrillos
Hills State Park, with its many abandoned
mines – 4.5 miles, little elevation gain. Dogs
OK on leash. Great vistas. Norma McCallan
(505/471-0005).
Sat., Jan. 9 • Strenuous snowshoe to
Cerro
Grande and environs in Jemez – 8 miles, 1300'
gain, Michael Di Rosa (505/667-0095 work,
505/663-0648 home).
Sun., Jan. 10 • Moderate hike to
Window Rock
north of Española – 8 miles, 1000' gain. Dogs
OK. Royal Drews (505/699-8713).
Sat., Jan. 16 • Moderate snowshoe on
East
Fork trail in the Jemez – Marcia Skillman
(505/699-3008).
Sun., Jan. 17 • Moderate hike, maybe
Deer
Creek or Otowi Peak – 6-8 miles, under 1500'
gain. Daisy Levine (505/466-8338).
Sat., Jan. 23 • Moderate hike near
Gilman/
Jemez Springs – 6-8 miles, 1000' gain. Offtrail
and boulder-hopping. Dogs OK. Page Press
(505/946-0169).
Sun., Jan. 24 • Strenuous snowshoe
up Raven’s
Ridge in ski area – Up to 5 miles and 1500'
gain. Dogs OK. Les Drapela (505/438-3306).
Sun., Jan. 24 • Moderate
cross-country ski trip – Hopewell Lake area, depending on snow
conditions. Alan Shapiro (505/424-9242).
Sat., Jan. 30 • Strenuous snowshoe
loop to
Deception Peak above ski area – 6 miles, 2000'
gain. Limit of 10 people. Dogs OK. Miguel
DeLuca (505/820-0042).
Sun., Jan. 31 • Moderate/strenuous
hike into
White Rock Canyon – 850' gain, some rough
off-trail, petroglyphs? Dogs OK.
Outings are organized mainly by the chapter's groups. This page lists outings selected from the groups' schedules that may be of interest chapter-wide.
Always contact the leader a few days in advance, and much earlier in the case of multiday hikes. Outings may be cancelled or changed, and the listing may not give you enough information.
All outings are open to both Sierrans or non-Sierrans. You will be required to sign a liability waiver.
Many hikes involve car-pooling from the assembly point to the trail head. So come prepared either to drive or to share travel costs with your driver.
Be prepared. Miles listed are round-trip. Bring a lunch, water, sturdy hiking boots or shoes, and clothing suitable for the weather. Leaders reserve the right to turn away anyone whose equipment or experience appears to be inadequate for the trip.
Listings of all outings offered by each group can be found at: