The Santa Fe Hiking Meetup Group

PLEASE NOTE 9:30 START TIME; BRING SPIKES! THERE MIGHT BE MORE SOFT SNOW ON THIS TRAIL THAN I ANTICIPATE, SO BE PREPARED THAT WE MAY DECIDE ON A PLAN B (TRAIL LOWER ON MOUNTAIN LIKE BURN, OR IN TOWN LIKE PICACHO). HIKERS NEED TO BRING YOUR OPEN, ADVENTUROUS ATTITUDES FOR WHERE WE MAY END UP HIKING :)

We'll all begin our hike together at Big Tesuque Campground parking lot, cross the road & hike down the Big Tesuque Trail to its intersection with Winsor. We'll turn left & hike down the Winsor to its intersection with Borrego Trail. At the water at Borrego intersection, we'll have our mid-hike break, lunch/snack & Intention Circle. We return to the TH the way we came, so the 2nd half of the hike is an uphill climb, the entire way. It's not especially steep, but is a steady climb; hikers should keep this in mind. Total mileage will be approximately 6 miles.

If some prefer a 4 mile distance, stopping at the meadow about 1 mile before the intersection with Borrego is an option. You can wait there for the rest of the Group to return, or go back sooner if you wish, as long as you have carpooled accordingly.

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. 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, in the back lot, behind the stores. Please park in a lane near the bowling alley, but do not park right up against the mall wall. We carpool to all THs together. For this hike, hikers will need to decide in advance if they wish to do the 6 or the 4 mile distance & carpool accordingly. 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.

Bobcatting Nambe Badlands with Tea Kettle (second attempt)

Round Trip Hiking Distance: 4.5 -5.0 miles

Round Trip Hiking Time: 3 hours

Elevation: 6000’-6300’

Rating: Moderate

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: Nambe Badlands is located 30 minutes northwest of Santa Fe. Ideally, Nambe will be reasonably dry by Tuesday and the small Nambe Badlands trailhead will have parking available. Assuming those conditions are met, we'll first hike along a cool sandstone wall before heading up to a rolling ridge line looking out on great views of the Jemez, the Sangres and Truchas, with some striking eroded sandstone formations below. There is a steep, sometimes narrow descent off the ridge into a shallow arroyo surrounded by more sandstone formations. We'll hike in that arroyo before cutting cross-country to the adorable–well, it is–Tea Kettle formation. After that, we’ll retrace our steps and then head up to another ridgeline and then back to the trailhead. There are, as noted, some steep descents, which are fairly difficult under ideal circumstances and could be slick if there is ice, snow or mud. Be prepared and be realistic about your comfort level. If it’s muddy or parking is not available we’ll attempt other hikes in the immediate area.

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

Meeting Place: At Devargas Center behind Market Street, but a little closer to the bowling alley. 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 $5 for gas.

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.