Bobcatting Goblin Rocks

Description: Bobcatting Goblin Rocks
Round Trip Hiking Distance: 4.5 miles
Round Trip Hiking Time: 3.0 hours
Elevation: ~7200'
Gain: 600 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. COVID vaccination and compliance with CDC rules on quarantine and isolation are required (i.e., don't attend if you have Covid!). This is a group hike and participants are expected to stay with the group. No firearms or commercial solicitations.

Hike Description: The Goblin Rocks are located in the Jemez Mountains about 1.5 hours southwest of Santa Fe. This is our traditional Halloween hike. There are several ways to do this hike, and I may change my mind about the exact route, but under my current thinking, the hike will initially pass thru a Ponderosa Pine forest via a 2-track road. We will then leave the road and make our way thru a small hoodoo garden before starting a long, sharp ascent toward the top of the Goblin garden. When we reach the top, we'll head down thru the Goblin garden, which includes dozens of eroded tuff formations of many shapes and sizes, including totem poles, goblins, owls, cats, whatever your imagination envisions. We'll loosen up the group cohesiveness for this part of the hike, so people can explore at their own pace and up and down slopes they feel comfortable with (buddy system strongly encouraged, and you can follow me if you don't know where you want to go). After regrouping, we'll have lunch at an overlook, then skirt around a couple tuff walls, descend a steep slope and exit the garden area thru a labyrinth. We'll return via the 2-track we came in on. This is not a long hike, but it has steep ascents and descents on loose ground which will require care--hence the moderate rating.

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

Meeting Place ZIA:
ZIA: We'll meet near Albertson's along Zia Road. We leave promptly at the meet time. If your plans change at the last minute or you're running late, please call Ken at 248-252-0708.

Dogs: No dogs on this hike, too many off trail ascents/descents where they could get underfoot.

Cost/Driving: Non-drivers are to contribute $10 to the driver for gas.

Please be courteous to those on the wait list and if your plans change and you won't attend, put yourself in the 'not going' group. If you don't know how to do that contact me and I'll do it for you.

Release and Waiver. 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.