To register for an outing, you will need to give your contact information and sign a participant waiver completion online in advance of every outing.

April 2022

Wednesday, April 6 thru Thursday April 7: Lightweight Backpacking Outing. If you’ve mastered basic skills traveling in the backcountry lightweight style this trip is right for you. Participants will meet at Winsor Trailhead and travel to Puerto Nambe area where we are going to spend the night. The next day we are going to do an Alpine style ascent to Santa Fe Baldy so that we can see the sunrise from the summit. We will plan to return to the trailhead soon after we refuel and pack our packs. Please sign up for this outing only if you feel comfortable and fit to carry a backpack for more than four miles with elevation gain, summit the mountain and backpack back to the trailhead comfortably. This is not an outing for beginners. The route is 13.5 miles roundtrip with 3,500 feet of elevation gain. On this outing we are going to go over map and compass navigation, gear selection, Leave No Trace principles, Self-care, off trail hiking, outdoor cooking and a few basic mountaineering skills. Leader will email a gear list ahead of time. Participants must be prepared for varying weather conditions and feel comfortable sleeping under the stars or in a tent. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Winsor Trailhead, adjacent to the public bathrooms and picnic table at the Santa Fe Ski Basin. No dogs please. Children 14 and over with parent or legal guardian are welcome. Outing size is limited to six, so register early.
Trip leader: Sandra Corso
Level: Moderate-Strenuous
Location: Santa Fe
Register for this outing

Thursday, April 7: Zero Waste Tour to Cerro Colorado Landfill. This tour of Albuquerque’s landfill will be mostly outdoors, so dress accordingly. Masks are required, as are long pants and closed-toed shoes. There will be an orientation meeting indoors followed by a driving and walking tour of the spacious campus. We’ll use the Solid Waste van, but can also accommodate up to two high clearance vehicles that can handle rough dirt roads. Safety vests will be distributed on site. Limited to 10 persons, first come, first served. Participants will be riding and standing for 1-2 hours. We’ll meet at the landfill headquarters at 1:30 p.m. Directions will be forwarded to registered attendees a week before the tour.
Trip Leader: Carol Chamberland
Level: Easy
Location: Albuquerque
Register for this outing by March 31

Tuesday, April 19: Intro to Land Navigation. This hands-on three-hour class on the use of map and compass for land navigation will teach you the basics you need to get you on your way or be a refresher for those whose skills have grown rusty. Participants must be prepared for varying weather conditions and bring an Aspen Basin Quad topographical map available at USFS or US Geological Survey or at some outdoor stores, and a basic magnetic compass. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Winsor Trailhead, Santa Fe Ski Basin. No dogs please. Children 14 and over with parent or legal guardian are welcome. Class size is limited to eight, so register early.
Trip leader: Sandra Corso
Level: Easy
Location: Albuquerque
Register for this outing

Friday, April 22: Chaco Canyon Earth Day Celebration. The Chaco Canyon Earth Day Hike will take place at Chaco Culture National Historical Park near Nageezi, NM.  Participants will hike the Penasco Blanco Trail, which is a 7.2-miles loop over packed dirt and sand with an elevation gain of 200 feet. The trail passes several ruins and petroglyph panels and has spectacular views of New Mexico’s Northwest Plateau and the 4 Corners. Chaco Canyon is located in high desert surrounded by Mt. Taylor to the south, the Jemez Mountains to the east, the Chuska Mountains to the west and the San Juan Mountains to the north. This hike on Earth Day will reinforce participants’ commitment to preserving and protecting this unique cultural and environmental area that is constantly being threatened by fossil fuel extraction. Appropriate Covid-19 protocols will be observed. No dogs are allowed on the applicable trails. Children 16 and over accompanied by parent or guardian are welcome. Sponsored by the Military Outdoors Program and all are welcome. Trip leader will provide additional information to registrants prior to the event.
Trip leader: Hart Pierce
Level: Moderate
Location: Nageezi, NM
Register for this outing by April 15

Saturday, April 23: Earth Day Celebration Bike Ride. Celebrate Earth Day by taking a bike ride through the Rio Grande bosque. We’ll meetup at the Hispanic Cultural Center at 8:30 a.m., ride up to the Rio Grande Nature Center and return via Bike-in Coffee for drinks and snacks. The ride is on a flat, paved 13-mile route. Children 14 or over with parent or legal guardian are welcome. E-bikes are welcome. Helmet and appropriate attire for conditions are required. Appropriate Covid-19 precautions will be taken.
Trip Leaders: Rose Rowan and Terry Owen
Level: Moderate
Location: Albuquerque
Register for this outing by April 20

May 2022

Wednesday, May 4: Valles Caldera Spring Fling. This season-opening hike in the Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP) will be a great one.  We will hike the Redondo and Solitario Loops, 8.6 mile trail with an elevation gain of 1,305 feet.  The difficulty is rated as moderate.  The hike will go through mixed conifer/aspen interspersed with meadows and some burned areas.  We will encounter a few shallow streams that are easily crossed. Photo opportunities abound on this loop as we will have beautiful views of the Valle Grande, game trails with possible sightings of elk, as well as some Spring wildflowers.  Near the end of the loop we will pass through Historic Grove, the only stand of old growth Ponderosas in the Preserve, and we will able to see several cabins that were built when the Preserve was privately owned and served as a ranch and movie sight. The hike will take approximately five hours. Sponsored by the Military Outdoors Program and all area welcome.
Trip Leader: Hart Pierce
Level: Moderate
Location: Jemez, NM
Register for this outing

Friday, May 6:  Las Conchas Trail Hike along the Jemez River East Fork. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at Home Depot in Bernalillo, 7700 Highway 550 at the Northwest corner of the parking lot. Carpooling encouraged as there is limited parking at the trail head on Highway 4. Recommended carpool driver donation is $15. This seven-hour long outing includes one hour of driving each way from departure point, along the lovely winding mountain Highway 4 with a photo stop at the Gilman tunnels and waterfall. Then we will lunch together after the hike at Los Ojos in Jemez Springs. This easy pine forest hike alongside the mountain stream is approximately 3 miles round trip with 50 feet of elevation gain. You can find this hike listed as a Bonus Hike on page 217 of the 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles 3rd edition, by David Ryan and Steven Ausherman. Join us for a dose of nature and camaraderie. Bring your own water, and wear outer layers as temperatures can range from 40-70 degrees. This hike is appropriate for children over 12 accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. No dogs. Covid 19 precautions will be taken as appropriate.
Trip Leader: June Parsons
Level: Easy
Location: Jemez Mountains, North of Jemez Springs
Register for this outing no later than May 1

Thursday, May 12: Mountain Flower Power Guided Tour. Join local expert Colida May for wildflower identification tour of the Haviland Lake perimeter where she will instruct the group in identifying wildflowers and plants and discuss their various edible and medicinal values.  Colida has been an active outdoorswoman in the La Platas and San Juans for decades and is highly sought after as a local wildflower guide. Haviland Lake is located 20 miles north of Durango, CO (217 miles north on US 550 from Bernalillo, NM.) on Haviland Lake Road east of US 550.  Lodging is available in Durango.  Camping is available throughout the Durango area but some campgrounds may not be open yet.  Haviland Lake Campground opens May 10.  All NFS campgrounds must be reserved at rec.gov. Google “Durango CO camping for other area camping options. The wildflower hike will follow “Colida’s Loop”, a two-mile loop around Haviland Lake which has been re-filled. The flowers at this elevation should be near peak at this time of year, and the surrounding views of the Hermosa Cliffs to the west and Engineer Peak to the north are spectacular.  We will meet on Haviland Lake Road 100 yards east of the Rapp Corral at 10 a.m. and begin our day. Registrants must be 18 years or older. No dogs please. The tour will take approximately four hours.
Trip leader: Hart Pierce
Level: Moderate
Location: Southwestern Colorado
Register for this outing

Sunday, May 15: Bosque & Rio Grande Walk. We will start at the Rio Grande Nature Center parking lot at 10:00 a.m. for this easy one hour walk of approximately 1.5 miles. Enjoy the solitude of the cottonwoods along the Rio Grande and encounter ducks, geese, porcupines and other inhabitants of the bosque on this late spring day. Children over 12 accompanied by parent or legal guardian are welcome. No dogs please. Wear comfortable shoes, bring water and a snack.
Trip Leader:  Candice
Level:  Easy
Location: Albuquerque
 Register for this outing no later than May 12

June 2022

Thursday, Jun 23: Alpine Wildflower Hike. Local wildflower expert Colida May will take us HIGHER as we hike the Pass Creek trail and identify Rocky Mountain wildflowers that will be blooming at over 10,500 ft on this four-mile hike. This trail is a well-traveled trail to the summit of Engineer Peak, the most photographed peak in Colorado. The wildflowers and views are magnificent with the surrounding peaks and pines providing the backdrop. The Pass Creek Trailhead is located 35 miles north of Durango, CO, at the summit of Coal Bank Hill. Registrants must be 18 years or older. No dogs. Must be able to hike four miles at an altitude of 10,500. The tour will take approximately four hours. Recommendations regarding lodging, camping, apparel, gear and rendezvous location will be sent to registrants about a week before the event.
Trip leader: Hart Pierce
Level: Easy-Moderate
Location: Southwestern Colorado
Register for this outing

Friday, Jun 24: Eye of the Sandias Loop. Let’s go check out this quirky landmark in the southern Sandia foothills. This moderate-strenuous hike offers stunning city views. We’ll take a four-mile loop with 1,300 feet of elevation changes on an unshaded rough and rocky trail. It also includes some bouldering, as well as a long slow steep incline to the highest point which will give you a good cardio workout. No dogs please. Hiking poles may be useful to keep your balance. Appropriate Covid-19 precautions will be taken. Meet at 8 a.m. at the parking lot at the east end of Copper Ave NE with an expected return of 12 p.m.
Trip leaders:  Diane and Ken Reese
Level: Moderate-Strenuous
Location:  Albuquerque
Register for this outing no later than June 20

Saturday, July 9: Armijo Trail and Cienega Spring Trail Loop Hike. Meet at 8 a.m. at Hobby Lobby on Juan Tabo to carpool and caravan. Come to admire the beautiful ponderosa pines and mountain wilderness that’s right in our backyard. We’ll also stop to see one of the over 80 Medallion Trees found in the Sandias. Suitable for children over 12 years of age when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Five miles round trip with 900 feet of elevation gain over approximately four hours. Dogs on leash, OK. $3.00 US Forest Service parking-amenity fee in cash or Cibola Wilderness pass or other federal parks pass is required. Sponsored by the Military Outdoors Program and we welcome everyone. Hike limited to 10 people.
Trip Leader:  Terry Owen, teowen@comcast.net  505-301-4349
Level:  Moderate
Location: East Mountains of Albuquerque
Register for this outing no later than July 7