Sunday Burro Group - 2 PEAKS: Picacho Peak + Atalaya (via back side)
Details
PLEASE NOTE 9:00 START TIME!
We start this one from St John's, hiking up to Picacho Peak along Dale Ball trails. From there, some can choose to return the way we came for a shorter version of this route, a 6ish mile RT. Most I hope will like to continue from Picacho Peak up the backside of Atalaya, which is steep to its summit, & then down the traditional Atalaya trail to end at the St. John's parking lot, where we began. This will be an 8ish mile distance, with steepness, as it will be 2 peaks, & going up the backside of Atalaya is more challenging than the traditional route up & down. We've done this before as a Group, but I think in the past, we hiked it as a car shuttle, starting out at Cerro Gordo TH to Picacho Peak; this time, we'll simplify it by deleting the need for a car shuttle, while doing so, adding maybe a mile or so to each distance. It's a good hike, whether you choose the shorter or longer distance.
HIKING UP THE BACKSIDE OF ATALAYA IS A DEMANDING, STRENUOUS CLIMB (IT'S HARD!) AND IT COMES AFTER CLIMGING PICACHO PEAK. PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND IN MAKING YOUR DECISION WHETHER TO INCLUDE IT OR NOT FOR YOUR HIKE ON THIS DAY.
Hikers will need to decide beforehand which distance they prefer, as this will determine carpooling.
Burro Hikes are for experienced hikers, most of our hikes are moderate in difficulty (by our standards), usually on designated trails, usually 4-6 miles in distance unless otherwise specified.
Non-aggressive, well-mannered dogs are welcome on all my hikes (unless otherwise specified, some locations prohibit dogs).
Newcomers are welcome on all my hikes; I ask that newcomers please test your fitness for my Group by timing yourself hiking up and down Atalaya, which you should be able to do comfortably in 3 1/2 hours or less (from Wilderness Gate or staircase, using Steep route option). If you have any questions about this, or about my hikes in general, please feel free to contact me through Meet Up Messaging or by text.
We meet at the DeVargas Mall, in the back lot, behind the stores; please park in a lane near the bowling alley, but not right up against the mall wall. We carpool to all THs. Please offer your driver $2 to cover gas expense for this hike. We like to leave promptly so if you're running just a few minutes late, text me, & we'll wait up to 5 minutes for you.
Ronnie Chafel, 617-331-1838
Please be considerate of those on Wait List & sign off hike as soon as you know you cannot attend, preferably 24 hours in advance whenever possible. PLEASE DO NOT NO SHOW. Repeated No Shows have consequences.