To ensure your safety, here some covid-safe protocols we will be following:

• Masks are recommended during day trips and local outings, but not required.
• No proof of vaccination or Covid test is required for participants when the activities are conducted outside and social distance can be maintained.
• For a contactless experience we’ll strongly encourage signup and participant waiver completion online in advance of every outing. A link will be provided for the sign-up location in the outings listings.

January 2022

Friday, January 7: Zero Waste Tour of Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority. This tour of the city/county wastewater treatment facility will be mostly outdoors, after a brief indoor orientation. Wear long pants and closed-toed shoes. Masks are required. Everyone must wear a safety helmet which will be provided, but you may wear your own bicycle helmet, as long as the chin strap is fastened. Because this is a working plant, participants cannot have any physical impairment that limits their mobility, including everything from a broken leg to a seizure disorder. Limited to 10 persons, first come, first served. Meet at the plant parking lot at 12:50 for a 1:00 orientation. Register at the link provided no later than Jan 1.
Trip leader: Carol Chamberland
Level: Easy
Location: Albuquerque metro
Register for this outing by January 1

Saturday January 8: Bernardo Waterfowl Area Birdwatching. 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Drive the 3 mile-long vehicle tour loop in wildlife refuge, take short walks to 3 viewing platforms and stop to watch birds and wildlife along the route. We may see some of the thousands of snow geese and Sandhill cranes that overwinter in the middle Rio Grande Valley. Mule deer, coyotes, bald eagles, hawks, ducks, quail and songbirds may also be seen. The refuge is 53 miles south of Albuquerque at 164 NM-116, Bosque, NM 87006. Meet at the Bernardo Waterfowl Area entrance at 8:00am. Bring binoculars and cameras. No dogs please. Appropriate Covid-19 precautions will be taken.
Trip leader: Arlene
Level: Easy
Location: Bosque, NM
Register for this outing by January 1

Saturday, January 15: Introduction to Snowshoeing on Sandia Crest. If you can walk, you can snowshoe! Meet at 10 a.m. at the Sandia Crest. This three-hour long outing is approximately three 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. Sponsored by the Military Outdoors Program and everyone is welcome. Appropriate for children 14 and over with parent or legal guardian. No dogs, please. Appropriate Covid-19 precautions will be taken. A recommended gear list will be provided to registrants on January 11th.
Trip leader: Terry Owen
Level: Moderate
Location: East Mountains of Albuquerque
Register for this event no later than January 10

Saturday, January 22: Valle Caldera La Jara Trail. 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Easy 1.5-mile snowshoe or hike depending on snow in the Jemez mountains. Trail goes around Cerro La Jara lava dome with views of the Valle grande. Prairie dogs will be hibernating but we may see elk, coyotes and ravens. Valle Caldera national monument is 51 miles northwest of Albuquerque. Meet at the visitor center parking lot at 9:00 a.m. Dress for cold weather in layers. No dogs please. Appropriate Covid-19 precautions will be taken.
Trip leader: Arlene
Level: Easy
Location: Jemez Springs
Register for this event

Saturday, January 29: Introduction 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 to be a refresher for those whose skill have grown rusty. Participants must be prepared for varying weather conditions and bring a 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 Elena Gallegos Open Space. No dogs please, children 14 and over with parent or legal guardian are welcome. Class size is limited to eight, so register early.
Trip leaders: Sandra Corso and Terry Owen
Level: Easy
Location: Albuquerque
Register for this event

February 2022

Wednesday, February 2: 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/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 9:00 a.m. Directions will be forwarded to registered attendees a week before the tour.
Trip leader: Carol Chamberland
Level: Easy
Location: Albuquerque
Register for this event no later than January 19

Sunday, February 13: Superbowl Sunday easy 6 mile hike. How about an relatively easy 6 mile out-and-back walk on the Spur trail before the game? Expansive views along the way with about 300 ft. of elevation gain. Burn some of game-time calories that are likely coming later in the day. Meet at 11 am at the trailhead, just past the entrance to the Santa Fe Community College. A brisk walk will return us to the trailhead in 2 1/2 hrs.
Trip leader: Alan Shapiro
Level: Easy
Location: Santa Fe
Register for this event

Friday, February 25: Volcanoes Hike and Talk. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Easy hike with beautiful views. Approximately 3.2 miles round trip. Carol Chamberland is an Albuquerque artist who has studied and created works of art featuring the scenic beauty, the geologic and historic significance of the hike area.  She will share her knowledge and experiences exploring this amazing area as we hike.  The Pueblo people believe the volcanoes and the petroglyphs pecked into the volcanic boulders provide a direct spiritual connection to both their ancestors and to the spirit world, the place where time began. We will meet at the Volcanoes Day Use parking lot at 9:45 a.m. No dogs please.  Appropriate Covid-19 precautions will be taken.
Trip leaders: Ken and Diane Reese
Level: Easy – 327 feel elevation gain; unshaded, rough and rocky trail
Location: Albuquerque west side (Petroglyphs)
Register for this event

Monday, February 28-March 1: Intro to Bivouac/Lightweight Backpacking. This overnight outing will introduce you to the basic skills of traveling in the backcountry lightweight style. This class will teach you the basics of bivouacking, map and compass navigation, gear selection, Leave No Trace principles, Self-care, off trail hiking, outdoor cooking and a few mountaineering skills. Participants are expected to attend a 2-hour meeting on February 9 at 9:00 a.m., at the exact location of this outing to go over equipment check and gear selection (sleeping bag, backpack, stove and cookware, and all other personal gear such as jacket, base layers, hiking shoes, etc.) Leaders will email a gear list ahead of time. Participants must be prepared for varying weather conditions and feel comfortable sleeping under the stars which means, no tent. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Elena Gallegos Open Space. No dogs please. Children 14 and over with parent or legal guardian. Appropriate Covid-19 protocols will be followed. Class size is limited to eight, so register early.
Trip leaders: Sandra Corso and Terry Owen
Level: Easy
Location: Albuquerque
Register for this event

March 2022

Wednesday March 16: Zero Waste Tour of the Rio Grande Compost Facility on the West Mesa. This tour is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Come and see the process up close on how bio-sludge from the ABCWUA, is mixed with green waste, stable bedding and wood chips to make nutrient rich compost. Masks are required. Tour starts indoors with a brief orientation then moves outdoors and to an open warehouse so dress accordingly. Must wear long pants and closed-toed shoes. Participants must be able to stand and walk for the entire tour. Limited to 6 people, first come first served. Appropriate Covid-19 precautions will be taken. Meet at the facility parking lot, 7400 Jim McDowell Rd. NW.
Directions from I-40: Exit I-40W at Atrisco Vista Blvd. and go north for 4.5 miles. Turn left (west) on Shooting Range Access Rd. and go 1.7 miles. Turn right (north) on Jim McDowell Rd. (Look for the Rio Grande Compost sign.) Drive another 1.6 miles to the facility.
Directions from I-25: Exit I-25 at Paseo del Norte going west. At the end it bends left (south) and becomes Atrisco Vista Blvd. Drive past the Double Eagle Airport and turn right (west) on Shooting Range Access Rd. and then right (north) on Jim McDowell Rd.
Trip leader: Laurie Zunner
Level: Easy
Location: Albuquerque’s West Mesa
Register for this event no later than March 9

Friday, March 18: Bike Ride Exploration of Valle de Oro NWR and Bike in Coffee. Valle de Oro (VdO) is one of the few Urban Wildlife Refuges – and it is right in our backyard! We will meet at the Entrance Area Parking at VdO at 8:00 a.m. and bike a short distance to the new Visitor’s Center and hear about the Refuge. Then we hit the Paseo del Bosque Trail for a 10.5-mile ride to Bike In Coffee at Old Town Farm. You can purchase food and drinks of your choice and we’ll spend some time exploring the Farm. Round trip bike ride is 21 miles on flat, paved multi-use trail. Sponsored by the Military Outdoors Program and all are welcome. Appropriate Covid-19 precautions will be taken. Register at the link provided no later than March 16th.
Trip leaders: Diane Reese and Terry Owen
Level: Moderate
Locations: Albuquerque
Register for this event

April 2022

Friday, April 22: Chaco Canyon Earth Day Hike. The Chaco Canyon Earth Day Hike will take place at Chaco Culture National Historical Park near Nageezi, NM, on April 22, 2022.  Participants will hike the Penasco Blanco Trail, a 7.2 mile 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 the 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.
Trip leader: Hart Pierce, shpierce@q.com
Level: Moderate
Location: Chaco Canyon
Register for this event

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 no later than April 20th