Bobcatting Hamilton Mesa

Description: Bobcatting Hamilton Mesa
Round Trip Hiking Distance: 5.5+ miles
Round Trip Hiking Time: 3+ hours
Elevations: 9300'-10,050'
Gain: 750 ft.
Rating: Moderate
Pace: Mellow Plus

Please be considerate of others and do not RSVP for this hike if you cannot go up and down Atalaya in under 3 hours. This helps us to stay together as a group enhancing the hiking experience for everyone. It is not about competition, but cooperation. You must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to attend this hike and must be in compliance with CDC rules on quarantine and isolation if you have recently been exposed to Covid-19. This is a group hike and participants are expected to stay with the group. No firearms or commercial solicitations.

Hike Description: Hamilton Mesa is located in the Pecos, about 1 1/2 hours northeast of Santa Fe. The trail starts at Iron Gate campground and rises gently thru a broken fir/aspen forest featuring some nice views over the Rio Mora valley. At 2.25 miles, the trail opens into a huge meadow which normally has lots of iris and other wildflowers about this time of year, but with the heat and recent dearth of rain, it might not have many on Tuesday. But abundant wildflowers or not, we'll get great views of 12,000' and 13,000' mountain peaks, running from Lake Peak and Santa Fe Baldy in the southwest to Pecos Baldy, the Truchas Peaks and Chimayosos in the west. We'll have lunch on the mesa and head back more or less as we came.

What to bring:
Sturdy hiking boots or shoes.
Layers, extra clothing, and water resistant outer wear.
Water for a 3+ hour hike
Lunch and snacks

Meeting Place:
ZIA. We'll meet in the north parking lot of Albertsons at St Francis and Zia, along Zia Road. Enter from Zia and immediately turn right in the lot. We leave promptly at the meet time. If you are running late or your plans change at the last minute, please call. Ken: 248-252-0708.

Dogs: Well-behaved dogs with no history of problems on group hikes are welcome, but must be on a leash at all times.

Cost: Non-drivers are to contribute $10 for gas. Parking requires a Federal park pass or a user fee.

Drivers/SUVs. The last 4 miles of the drive are on a *very* rutted, rocky road. I do not recommend trying it in a low-clearance auto. So, we'll need folks with SUVs to volunteer to drive. Car pooling is up to attendees.

Release. By attending, the Participant releases the Event Leaders from liability arising from the Event and assumes all risks of the Event, including: 1) injuries from falls, living things, pre-existing health conditions, vehicles, and weather, and 2) injuries resulting from the Event Leaders not undertaking the least risky option available (e.g., hiking a steep slope instead of a gentle slope) or not treating an injury in the optimal way (e.g., due to insufficient training). The preceding sentence supplements any other exculpatory arrangement to which the Participant is subject.