Wednesday Burro Hike - Picacho Peak (8:30 START TIME!)

PLEASE NOTE 8:30 START TIME! THIS HIKE WILL BEGIN AT ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE PARKING LOT, NOT OUR CUSTOMARY PICACHO TH ON CERRO GORDO. I RECOMMEND DRIVERS PARK ON THE STREET NEXT TO ST JOHN'S PARKING LOT, AS THERE ARE LIMITED VISITOR SPACES IN THEIR LOT & THEY DO HAVE SECURITY CHECKING IF YOU PARK IN A NON-VISITOR SPOT.

Linda D has generously offered to co-lead this hike with me; we've hiked this route before with her as our Route Guide, she offers the option of a longer total distance with her inclusion of Dorothea Stewart trail towards the end that I am less familiar with.

We've done this route as a Group in the past, starting at St John's College parking lot & beginning up the customary Atalaya trail. However, we veer off towards Picacho Peak, hiking to it from a different route than from Cerro Gordo TH. Distance should be maybe 6-8 miles, depending on which of the Dale Ball trails we choose, we can choose to elongate or shorter our mileage as we make our descent. There will be some discussion while we're at DeVargas of distance options that these trails offer, so that hikers can carpool according to how much of a hike they want. The return route may be different than our approach, but we will return to St John's TH. It'll be a steady climb up, albeit not steep. I'm not certain of elevation gain, maybe close to 1000 ft, but this is a guess on my part.

Burro hikes are moderate hikes 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. If you have any questions about Atalaya, or about my hikes in general, please feel free to text me.

Ronnie Chafel 617-331-1838

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

We meet at the DeVargas Mall parking lot, behind the stores, back of lot. Please park in a lane near the bowling alley, but not right up against the mall wall. We carpool to all THs together. 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.