Bobcatting San Lorenzo Canyon

Description: Bobcatting San Lorenzo Canyon
Round Trip Hiking Distance: 5 miles
Round Trip Hiking Time: 3.5 hours
Elevations: 5100’ to 5500’'
Gain: ~400 ft.
Rating: Moderate+ some steep slopes and bouldering
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 event and participants are expected to stay with the group. No firearms or commercial solicitations.

Hike Description:
San Lorenzo Canyon is located 2.25 hours south of Santa Fe near Socorro. The trek route is rough, sometimes proceeding down sandy canyon floors, sometimes following game trails, occasionally going cross-country, over scrubby grass and cacti slopes. We’ll start by heading down the main canyon, flanked by high broken walls of red-brown mudstone formations. After checking out a couple side slot canyons, we’ll head up the dry bed of a feeder arroyo, scrambling up several low pour-offs. We’ll leave the side arroyo and ascend to a ridge line with expansive views of the canyon area and nearby mountain ranges. After lunch, we’ll descend from the ridge and bee-line cross country to another arroyo which we’ll explore, eventually climbing out of it to an overlook with commanding views of one of the slot canyons we’d investigated earlier. We’ll climb a short, sharp slick rock slope to a fairly level mesa top which we’ll hike across until we reach a broad drainage leading back to the main canyon where we started. This outing involves a long drive and some off-trail hiking, but it is a very cool area to explore with an adventurous attitude.

What to bring:
Sturdy hiking boots or shoes
Layers, extra clothing, and water resistant outerwear
Water for a 4 hour hike
Lunch and snacks.

Meeting Place: ZIA. Albertsons at Zia and St. Francis. Enter from Zia and turn right immediately. We leave promptly at the meet time, so contact me at 248-252-0708 if you are running late.

Dogs: Friendly dogs with no history of aggression at group events are welcome, but must be on a leash at all times.

Cost/Driving: Car-pooling is up to attendees. Non-drivers are to contribute $15 for gas. Mostly freeway driving, but the last few miles are on an OK, but not great, gravel/dirt road.

Cancelling. Please be courteous and if your plans change, promptly remove yourself from the 'go' (or wait) list so others can adjust their calendars. If you don't know how to remove yourself from the go (or wait) list, contact me and I'll do it for you.

Waiver and Release. By attending, the Participant releases the Event Leaders from all 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 making risky or inapt decisions including 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 or inept execution). The preceding sentence supplements any other applicable exculpatory arrangement.