Early Morning Outings

North Moon Mtn - Picacho to the East

New running program coming along swell. Re-visiting many old trails and running routes is actually quite nostalgic. In many places there are tree branches and undergrowth that have crowded out sections of trail - I carefully prune parts of it back week-by-week as the miles build. It's all oddly like slow-piloting a time machine (emphasis on slow). A stop action animation film gradually reversing the aging process of both myself and my friendly trails.

The tendons in my toes and feet are often quite sore from the new work, my shoulders ache from the arm carriage. Quite a mess, but very nice to build back what was once lost. Into the sixth week now and have shed five-lbs (solid 18mos of Dad years), sayanora lethargy and inertia. I enjoy the little is active in the early morning but the birds.

Excited for what the summer may bring.

Santa Fe Forest Closed for Fire Season

Sunrise over the Sangres (6/22)

Update:
Closures will be lifted Friday 7/12

It has been in the papers and on the news the last few days, but the Santa Fe National Forests have been set to Stage III restrictions as of this morning (6/24), and will be closed to all access until further notice. The Pecos Wilderness was closed a couple weeks back to deal with the ongoing fires in the Pecos River Basin (Tres Lagunas Fire) and up on the higher ridge of East Pecos Baldy (Jaroso Fire). The Cibola national forests in Albuquerque have been in Stage III for several weeks, the Carson national forests up in Taos moved to Stage II recently. Bandelier National Monument and the Bandelier Wilderness are still open at Stage II restrictions.

The Santa Fe closure also affects the Caja del Rio area, which is unfortunate. City trails that will remain open include Dale Ball and the Dorothy Stewart extension, the Audubon/SF Canyon Preserve, La Tierra, the Rail Trail (including the Spur Trail), Arroyo Hondo, and Galisteo Basin. I believe Sun and Moon Mountains are still open since they're in City Open Space. Atalaya trails are open. likely closed though I can't confirm that. Picacho Peak is open remains a bit of a question as well. All of the City Urban Trails will of course remain open.

The ascent up Chamisa at daybreak

Right, well none of this was unexpected and several folks I know had plans to get up on the trails this weekend before closure went into effect. Some of the folks included me. Adam and I were first on Dale Ball, Chamisa, and Sidewinder Trails on Saturday. Tried to descend through Little Tesuque Trail but the County now has a fence up at La Piedra and the Yellow Dot trail, so we hiked the 33 switchbacks and returned via Dale Ball. Beautiful morning to be out.

We could smell smoke from the Jaroso fire on the higher parts of the ride. No bueno. We're all hoping the rains arrive sooner rather than later, and that the fires are held at bay until then.

Update:  Atalaya is open, but we found on Sunday 6/30 that at least one of the access trails was roped off because of work the NF crew were doing on that section of trail. We were told that the day before several hikers were ducking the rope and were ticketed $150 each. Be courteous, be smart, avoid tickets.

On the Chamisa Trail ridge. Adam's head obscured by first light.

The Rio Grande Valley - morning view from Sidewinder Trail ridge

Door to door: 2hrs 55min, ride time 2:45
Mileage: ~28mi
Highest Elev: 8,500ft



View Chamisa and Sidewinder Trails in a larger map

Winter Sunrise and the La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs

La Cienega sunrise and the Sangre de Cristos

Was out in the Caja del Rio for a sunrise-ride this last Sunday. I had been poring over maps of this area since last fall but just couldn't motivate to drive out there when a dozen other trails could be had from my front door step. I finally struck on the idea that I could access the Caja from the south, beginning from the Petroglyphs (common access is from the east off CR 62 near Marty Sanchez golf course). This two-for-one option suddenly made it worth the drive. My genius is truly without limit.

The riding out on the Caja del Rio is mixed, undeveloped two-track and four-track, embedded rock, several range-fences to stop at and navigate through (or over). Riding the Caja without a tubeless setup or without tools and the know-how to use them is something I'd discourage. Direct access to the rock-art requires a dismount and scramble. But the area is remarkable in its quiet beauty and remote feel so close to town. Very few locals seem to know this, but the Caja is 9,000 acres of public National Forest land that stretches out and beyond Diablo Canyon to the north. That's nearly La Cienega to San Ildefonso, bordered on the west by the Rio Grande. The potential of this area beyond grazing, wood-cutting, and random shooting practice is a bit staggering particularly in light of the successful recent transformation of La Tierra.

Sunday's dawn was magnificent and included a chorus of coyote howls, barking dogs, and the call of roosters from nearby ranching homes. A fine way to start a ride.

Mesa break to the Caja del Rio Plateau.
Maybe the most mesmerizing view of 2013 to date

Up close with my omni-present running/cycling partner - Tetilla Peak. 

Sandia Peak a tower in the near distance

Lonely road through the Caja, framed by the snow-capped Jemez range to the north

Past is prologue

Distance:  18.5 miles
Duration: 1hr 42min
Terrain:  Four-track, unconsolidated rock and basalt, and improvised cross country sections



View La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs - Santa Fe, NM in a larger map

The Charms of Winter Trail Running

Sunrise along the Santa Fe River - Picacho Peak in outline

The shorter days can sometimes crush the motivation for getting out. Tights, hat, a pair of gloves and weekends are a solid defense for this insidious malady. Along with a few friends I've been diligently keeping the rust at bay with morning runs that canvass the foothills above town. The rewards of trail outings in the off-season are the near total solitude and the incredible beauty of snow and winter light.

Morning light on the Sangre de Cristos from Dorothy Stewart

Moon and sun mountains cast tall shadows toward the Sandias

Atalaya's north ridge with new snow - Sangres in the distance

Sending one of the steeper sections on the Atalaya Ridge - Hadji and his two wonder-dogs up ahead

Morning summit of Atalaya - views over the Rio Grande Valley of the Ortiz and Sandia Mountains

And a few gratuitous non-running images:

The snow covered Jemez from La Tierra - Caballo Peak partially obscured by cloud

Winter weather and snow descend on the Sangres before breakfast

Thompson Peak and snow-filled Valentine chutes at sunrise with morning storm clouds 

Thompson Peak at left from a closer vantage on Dale Ball trail, Hadji and Adam at center, Picacho Peak at right. 

Mini-me enjoying a run with Dad past a sunset so dazzling it obscured the photo

Related Posts & Trail Maps:
  - Atalaya Mountain
  - La Tierra Trails
  - Dorothy Stewart Trail

Early Morning on the Atalaya Trails

Adam and Hadji at the crest

Distance:  5mi.roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 1,600ft
Summit:  9,121ft
Time:  37min up, 19min down

A quick summit of Atalaya yesterday morning before the storms came through. Plenty of snow along the north ridge leading down to Picacho. I was with friends Adam and Hadji who towed me up when I cracked after the first steep section. I made the second mistake of wearing an ultralight shoe, not so good on the ice and steeper descents. Didn't see a single hiker, so we had all the blue vistas to ourselves.

Summit views of the city to the west - Atalaya Mtn 830am

Views off the north ridge, north foothills and the Dale Ball Trail layout below

View of town on the upper descent. The Jemez beyond are washed out from the light contrasts.

Our route ascended the main trail from the Atalaya trailhead, orange at first then blue below. We descended along green then an unmarked section between Picacho and Atalaya on the return.



View Atalaya Mountain Trail - Santa Fe, NM in a larger map

Early Morning on the Mountain Bike - Chamisa Trail

Photos from this morning's ride on Chamisa and Sidewinder Trails. This linkup used to be one of the best cycling trails in town, it's now just one of many but still a personal favorite.

Patrick Smith Park w/ elm trees

Santa Fe River Preserve w/ willows

Dale Ball with juniper

Chamisa Trail w/ ponderosa

Sidewinder Trail w/ winds

Sidewinder w/ autumn scrub oak and my rig Big Blue

A look back at the peaks w/ pinon

A look down across the valley w/ pinon

Gets a bit steep near fence-line, steep enough to thieve the very life from the trees

Peering down canyon at Hyde Park Rd w/ beetle-downed tree

Little Tesuque, w/ willows and cedar

Goat head massacre back in town

Rail Trail > Santa Fe River Preserve > Dale Ball Central > Hyde Park Rd > Chamisa Trail > Sidewinder Trail > Little Tesuque Trail, Bishop's Lodge Rd > Arroyo Barranca > Rail Trail
Door to door: 2hrs 55min, ride time 2:45
Mileage: ~28mi
Highest Elev: 8,500


View Chamisa and Sidewinder Trails in a larger map

Opening Day at Ski Santa Fe

Climbing the catwalk alongside another set of tracks

Delayed from what looked like a possible Thanksgiving Weekend opening, Ski Santa Fe is officially running the lifts today with a reported 18" base. I'll be chained to my office desk most of the weekend but I did make it up top for a few runs early this morning. The timely storm that arrived last night left much less new snow than advertised. I thought there was probably 2-3in. of new up there this morning, but it might have snowed another 1/4in over the couple of hours I was there. No complaints from this guy however, this morning being my seventh ski day of the year - complete before the year's first skier even boarded the quad on opening day.

Not a lot was groomed or even roped off up there. In fact, I noticed all of the clocks weren't even showing the correct time. All still unplugged or needing fresh batteries or whatever. Kind of funny considering the place was opening in a few hours. Talking with ski patrol a bit later they told me the only open skiing would be Midland and lower Easy Street. Those were in fact, the only runs I found to be groomed. So, hope for a bit more snow up there today and this evening. The discounted full day lift price of $48 might be a bit optimistic for that kind of ski-able terrain.

Visibility low looking up towards the top of the Quad Chair

The fog was working over Midland most of the morning. My new skill with telemark turns made the descents a lot more fun and a lot less evel-knievel

I saw a few others during my loops, skinning up for tracks of their own. The one guy I stopped to chat with up above lower Parachute happened to be Chris Keyes, Editor at Outside Magazine here in town. Cool guy. I'd been on a trail run with him once before with mutual friends but it's been a while. We talked about the snow and my Rossignol cross-skis. He mentioned that he and friend used similar equipment in a few tries on the Elk Mountain Traverse a few years back. I've spent time contemplating that beast of a race, but need another season or two to sharpen my backcountry skills before taking on a trek that serious. Anyway, good to hear and see that Chris finds time to get out and rip it. Santa Fe needs a bit more snowfall though if the ripping will continue in the short term.

Roping off upper Easy Street just below Totemoffs. I'm sure they have their reasons but this one puzzled me.

Preseason Conditions at Ski Santa Fe Not Bad

Tuesday's snow caked Sangres. Too inviting to pass up

An after work visit to the mountains on Tuesday proved that the snow up high is actually quite good. Few rocks if any, lots of loose powder. Too bad the lifts won't be operating for another week because the conditions may be a bit baked in by then. Lots of evidence that guys like me are up there already getting their turns in.

I wasn't anticipating the snow making machines for some reason. They were laid out on Easy St. which is half my usual loop. Lucy and I trekked up to the summit of the quad chair via the catwalks instead. I then hollered at her to get the hell outta Dodge as I crashed my way back down the walk trying to work on my crappy telemark turns.

Totemoffs, looking up Open Slope

 

and from the top of Open Slope looking down

The spotlights and snow making equipment made it seem like we were skiing on the Moon.

Luce loved the skiing, but was distracted by the possibility of legions of squirrels lurking about.

Good dog