Sunday Burro Hike - Borrego/Bear Wallow Loop + Our Labyrinth

PLEASE NOTE 9:00 START TIME.

This is a first time combo of 2 separate hikes, Borrego/Bear Wallow Loop + Our Labyrinth. Usually we hike to Our Labyrinth via Chamisa Trail; today I'm adding some mileage to 2 relatively mild hikes in terrain to make for a more substantial challenge. It can be parsed into 2 options, if hikers wish, with a 4 or an 8 mile distance choice. We will not need a car shuttle for this hike, as we usually do for hikes with a shorter & longer distance, so hikers can decide en route how much they wish to hike.

Borrego/Bear Wallow Loop is a 4-5 mile triangle, well known to most all of us, a Burro Favorite. The route itself is for most an easy one, with minimal elevation gain, although both arms of the trail do descend to the Winsor, meaning it's all uphill on the way back, but nothing at all steep or difficult, very gradual & mild. It's always pretty there, a sheltered forest with lots of tree cover, water, nothing not to like!

What I plan is for us to all start out at Borrego/Bear Wallow TH, hike down Borrego to the Winsor then down the Winsor to Bear Wallow. At that intersection some hikers can choose to return via Bear Wallow to TH for a 4+mile loop hike, or continue down the Winsor, past Chamisa intersection, to the cut off for Our Labyrinth, which adds 2 miles each way on the Winsor. None of this route involves much elevation gain, nor will it be at significant altitude. I'm thinking of it as an easygoing hike in terms of strenuousness, but with distance which merits braggin rights :)

Burro hikes are for experienced hikers, acclimated to altitude here. They are considered moderate by our standards, usually 4-6 miles on designated trails, unless otherwise specified. Newcomers are welcome. I ask that prior to signing up for your first hike with my Group that you please test your fitness by timing yourself hiking up and down Atalaya, which you should be able to comfortably do in 3 1/2 hours or less, starting from Wilderness Gate or Staircase, using Steep Route Option. This will help insure you are a good fit for the Burro Group pace and typical terrain of the routes we hike.

Ronnie Chafel 617-331-1838

Non-aggressive, well mannered dogs are welcome on all my hikes.

We meet at the DeVargas Mall parking lot, back lot behind stores; please park in a lane near the bowling alley, but not right up against the mall wall. Please offer your driver $2 to cover gas expense for this hike. We leave promptly so if you're running just a bit late, text me, & we'll wait up to 5 minutes for you.

PLEASE be considerate of those on Wait List and sign off hike as soon as you know you cannot attend, preferably 24 hours in advance, if at all possible. PLEASE DO NOT NO SHOW! Repeated No Shows have consequences.