Winter 2019 Outings

Sign-up is by contact with leader (phone or email, if shown).  You’ll need to sign a waiver that leader will provide. Dogs only allowed as noted.

Trips are normally free (pay when carpooling) and open to non-members, although we do like it if you join the Club to increase our local and national clout.

Please RSVP the leader unless otherwise stated. Updates and reservations on some outings are available on the Santa Fe Outings Meetup website.

Northern Group Outings Note:

This time of year will see the most shuffling of outings and outing locations due to snow and melted snow/mud. Latest info, updates, and changes available on the Santa Fe Sierra Outings Meetup page. We’ve pretty much gone to a Meetup-based posting and signup process at this point, although it’s not absolutely necessary to sign up that way.

January

Saturday, Jan. 5: Moderate hike of Gallinas Springs Pueblo ruin and Gallinas Mountains. Meet at Magdalena post office at 9 a.m. Round trip 8 miles, 1,000 feet of elevation gain (more if we take a side scramble up Gallinas Peak), 4 hours. One or two dogs, no kids under 15. This is the range northwest of Magdalena, not the one near Corona. In the ruin, which housed several hundred residents in pre-Hispanic times, stonework is visible in several areas. After visiting it, we’ll strike down Gallinas Canyon past the spring and head north out of the canyon on old (and sometimes obscured) two-tracks through the rolling Gallinas Mountains and canyons, trying to see the country through Puebloan eyes. RSVP by Jan. 1
Trip leader: Jim Nelson at jcnelson@gilanet.com or 575-854-2259
Location: west of Socorro

Wednesday, Jan. 9: Easy/moderate hike Tetilla Peak. We’ll take a short off-trail route to the top. Generally this Caja del Rio area west of Santa Fe is clear of snow in winter. This 2 mile round-trip hike is 100 percent off-trail with some steep, rocky sections. Although short, it is not for those uncomfortable with off-trail hiking. We climb about 600 feet on this route. We need to approach our starting point with 4WD or AWD vehicles as the access roads are intolerant of any moisture. Details, updates and sign-up on our Meetup Site.
Trip leader: Alan Shapiro, nm5s@yahoo.com
Location: Santa Fe

Saturday, Jan. 12: Moderate cross-country ski outing to the Hopewell Lake area. This will be off-trail rather than track skiing. Skis with metal edges are needed as well as the ability to control them on moderate slopes including narrow snow-covered dirt roads. 4-5 miles with up to 600 feet of elevation gain. Recommend having climbing or kicker skins in your pack. Hopewell Lake is located about 100 miles north of Santa Fe. The driving time of two hours each way makes this a long day. Details, updates and sign-up on our Meetup Site.
Trip leader: Alan Shapiro, nm5s@yahoo.com
Location: near Taos

Saturday, Jan. 12: Easy walk at the Volcanoes on the west side of Albuquerque, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. 3.1 miles. Great views of the valley, the city and the Sandia Mountains. Carpool meetup: parking lot of Lowe’s Home Improvement at 2001 12th St NW, Albuquerque 87104 (north of I-40). Children welcome. Find about our Spanish-language outings on Facebook: Excursiones a la Naturaleza de Nuevo Mexico.
Trip Leader: Cecelia, cecilia.chavez.beltran@sierraclub.org, 505-319-7556
Location: Albuquerque

Saturday, Jan. 19: Easy introductory snowshoe hike of Sandia Crest. Meet at 8 a.m. at Hobby Lobby on Juan Tabo to carpool. This three-hour outing is approximately 2.5 miles round trip with 150 feet of elevation gain. We’ll depart from the Sandia Crest parking lot and proceed along the crest trail with several stops to enjoy stunning views all the way to the continental divide. We’ll cover tips for safely traversing on snowshoes and winter hiking. Lunch afterward. Sponsored by the Military Outdoors Program and everyone is welcome. Contact leader no later than Jan. 17 to RSVP, obtain recommended gear list and additional information.
Trip leader: Terry Owen, 505-301-4349, teowen@comcast.net
Location: Albuquerque

Sunday, Jan. 20: Moderate/strenuous night hike under super-blood-moon eclipse in the Sandias. Meet at 6:30 p.m. at Tree Spring Trailhead. This is your last chance to view this amazing celestial light show until 2036. Route is approximately 2.5 miles and 1,000 vertical feet of climbing. Reliable headlamp and very warm clothing are required and participants may require snowshoes and micro-spikes depending upon conditions. Sponsored by the Military Outdoors Program and everyone is welcome. Contact leader no later than Jan. 18 to RSVP, obtain recommended gear list and additional information.
Trip leader: Terry Owen, 505-301-4349, teowen@comcast.net
location: Albuquerque

Saturday, Jan. 26: Moderate hike, Monica Canyon, San Mateo Mountains. Meet at Magdalena post office at 9 a.m. Round trip 9 miles, 1,700 feet of elevation, 4.5 hours. One or two dogs, no kids under 15. The Monica Canyon trail, ascending into the north San Mateos, forks off onto an old, closed two-track that winds up to the saddle. We’ll take one of these routes up to the Mount Withington ridge road and descend on the other. RSVP by Jan. 20.
Trip leader: Jim Nelson, jcnelson@gilanet.com or 575-854-2259
Location: southwest of Socorro

Saturday, Jan. 26: Easy snowshoe on the Winsor Trail then lunch at the Santa Fe Ski Basin. We will snowshoe a total of 2-2.5 miles along the Winsor trail. My plan is to take the RTD Mountain trail bus up and back. The cost is $5 each way, but upon arrival they give you a $5 voucher that can be used in the cafeteria (or elsewhere up there). We will do our snowshoe then have lunch and take the bus back down. Details, updates and sign-up on our Meetup site.
Trip leader: Alan Shapiro, nm5s@yahoo.com
Location: Santa Fe

Sunday, Jan. 27: Easy walk at the Rio Grande Nature Center State Park. 2901 Candelaria NW Albuquerque, NM 87107 (west of Rio Grande Blvd.), 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Will enjoy the area, see and learn about birds with a bilingual volunteer naturalist. Children welcome. Find about our Spanish-language outings on Facebook: Excursiones a la Naturaleza de Nuevo Mexico.
Trip leader: Cecilia, cecilia.chavez.beltran@sierraclub.org, 505-319-7556
Location: Albuquerque

February

Sunday, Feb 3: Easy hike to “The Old Man” above Embudo trail. About 3 miles, and 300 feet change in elevation. We will see the strange rocks above cascade that look like an old man’s face. Great views of the Sandias and Albuquerque. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at the Embudo trail-head. Please contact Odile if planning to come. Informal pot-luck lunch after the outing.
Trip Leader: Odile, 505 433 4692, odile@pitot.org
Location: Albuquerque

Saturday, Feb. 9: Easy walk at Piedras Marcadas Canyon Trail — Petroglyphs. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.Off Golf Course Road NW at Jill Patricia St. NW (Just south of Paradise Blvd.). 1.7 miles. Children welcome. Find about our Spanish-language outings on Facebook: Excursiones a la Naturaleza de Nuevo Mexico.
Trip Leader: Cecilia Chavez Beltran, cecilia.chavez.beltran@sierraclub.org, 505-319-7556
Location: Albuquerque

Saturday, Feb. 9: Strenuous hike, Water Canyon to North Baldy, Magdalena Mountains. Meet at the upper Water Canyon campground at 9 a.m. Round trip 10 miles and 3100 feet elevation gain, 5 hours. One or two dogs, no kids under 15. We head up a rough two-track, Fr 39, to the Magdalena Ridge, past many old mines. After we’ve gone 5 miles and 2900 feet up, the 200 foot scramble up to the top of North Baldy will be short work and the return is all downhill. RSVP by Feb. 3.
Trip leader: Jim Nelson, jcnelson@gilanet.com or 575-854-2259
Location: west of Socorro

Saturday, Feb. 16: Moderate hike to Otowi Peak west of the Santa Fe. This hike has some steep and rocky sections as it climbs Buckman Mesa. Good views from the top and a tiny detour to a large volcanic hole. Total round-trip distance is 5 miles with about 1,100 feet of elevation gain. Details, updates and sign-up on Meetup.
Trip leader: Alan Shapiro, nm5s@yahoo.com
Location: Santa Fe

Sunday Feb. 17, Moderate hike to Embudo Spring in Sandia Foothills Open Space Park 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 2.5 miles. East of Tramway on Jose Drive NE, Albuquerque. Children welcome. Children welcome. Find about our Spanish-language outings on Facebook: Excursiones a la Naturaleza de Nuevo Mexico.
Trip Leader: Cecilia Chavez Beltran, cecilia.chavez.beltran@sierraclub.org, 505-319-7556
Location: Albuquerque

Sunday, Feb. 17: Easy hike and tour of a portion of the Army Corps of Engineers’ bosque restoration project in the South Valley. Meet at the Valley High Street SW access to the bosque at 9:00 a.m. (1.5 mi. south of Rio Bravo off Second St.) for a tour of an excellent example of successful restoration of our beloved bosque. On this outing you’ll see this area of revived wetlands, new cottonwoods and desert willows plantings, and learn about the value of this unique area to our ecosystem. This outing is approximately three miles and 50 feet of elevation gain over 2 hours. For more information and precise directions, contact Mark.
Trip leader: Mark Rudd, mark@markrudd.com or 505-270-5449
Location: Albuquerque

Saturday, Feb. 23, Moderate/strenuous snowshoe hike in the Sandias. Meet at 8 a.m. at Hobby Lobby on Juan Tabo to carpool. This five-hour outing is about 4 miles round trip with 600 feet of elevation gain. We’ll depart from the North 10K Trail parking lot and proceed to the crest with several stops to enjoy stunning views all the way to the continental divide. We’ll cover tips for safely traversing on snowshoes and winter hiking. Lunch afterward. Sponsored by the Military Outdoors Program, and everyone is welcome. Contact leader to RSVP, obtain recommended gear list and additional information.
Trip leader: Terry Owen, 505-301-4349, teowen@comcast.net. RSVP by Feb. 16
Location: Albuquerque

Saturday, March 2: Strenuous hike, Ox Canyon to Manzano Peak, Manzano Mountains.Meet at the Ox Canyon trailhead at 9 a.m. Round trip 11 miles, 2400 feet elevation gain, 5-plus hours. One or two dogs, no kids under 15. Assuming FR 427 is open and there’s not much snow in the mountains, we’ll hike from the trailhead to the ridge trail. From there it’s only 2 mi S and another 400’ up to the highest peak in the Manzanos. For variety, we may descend via the Kayser Mill trail. Pine, fir, and aspen groves, views over the plains to the East and valley to the West. Difficulty is only intermediate if you’re used to those distances. RSVP by Feb. 2.
Trip leader: Jim Nelson jcnelson@gilanet.com or 575-854-2259
Location: south of Albuquerque

Saturday, March 2: Moderate cross-country ski outing. Hopefully to the dramatic Brazos Cliffs lookout, but snow conditions may dictate a change. About 6-7 mile round-trip tour off-trail, but over easy terrain with about 650 feet of elevation gain. This is a 110-mile drive each way, so plan on a long day. A snowshoe or hike may be substituted. Details, updates and sign-up on Meetup.
Trip leader: Alan Shapiro, nm5s@yahoo.com
Location: Santa Fe

Sunday, March 3: Easy/moderate hike exploring the hills to the south of Bear Canyon. About 4 miles, and 400 feet change in altitude. Meet at 9:30 a.m. at trail Bear canyon trail-head. Please contact Odile if planning to come. Informal pot-luck lunch after the outing for those interested.
Trip Leader: Odile, 505 433 4692, odile@pitot.org
Location: Albuquerque

Saturday, March 9: Moderate cross-country ski outing. Location to be determined depending on snow conditions. A snowshoe or hike may be substituted. Details, updates and sign-up on Meetup.
Trip leader: Alan Shapiro, nm5s@yahoo.com
Location: Santa Fe

Saturday, March 23: Easy hike in the Bosque. Join us for an easy and leisurely walk into our beautiful Bosque. Trail is flat and fairly even and will take between 1-1/2 hours. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the tree sculpture garden just off the Montaño Bridge on the west side of the Rio Grande (turnoff is just before Coors if you’re going west on Montano). Dress for chilly March weather, including hat, gloves, etc., and bring water and snacks.
Trip leader: Margaret, mardel18@aol.com
Location: Albuquerque