The Santa Fe Hiking Meetup Group

PLEASE NOTE 9:30 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.

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 Castle Rock following Dale Ball trails to that feature, which may be sufficient for some for their hike for the day. Others may like to continue on from Castle Rock to Picacho Peak for added distance & elevation gain. Distance should be 4-6 miles, more or less, depending upon destination you choose. The return hike from either peak will be back the way we came. Both peaks offer lovely views & the trails to both of them are easy to follow, but know that it's a steady climb up, albeit not steep. Elevation gain is probably 1000-1400 ft depending on your choice of destination over 2-3 miles.

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.

Description: Bobcatting Tohajiilee
Round Trip Hiking Distance: 4.0-4.5 miles
Round Trip Hiking Time: 3.5 hours
Elevation: 5800'-6000'
Rating: Moderate
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. This is a group event and participants are expected to stay with the group. COVID vaccination and compliance with CDC rules on quarantine and isolation are required (i.e., don't attend if you have Covid!). No firearms or commercial solicitations.

Hike Description:
Tohajiilee is a badlands located about 2 hours southwest of Santa Fe. The hike has several distinct sections. After with a walk thru cholla and four-wing salt bush prairie--where, if we're lucky, we'll see wild horses--we'll arrive at a long, red sandstone formation, featuring sharp outcropping, holes and alcoves and accented by the bright red flowers of nearby headgehog cacti as well as the white of wallflowers and sand verbena. After exploring this area, we'll hike along a mesa bordering on mudstone pyramids and towers. We'll ascend to the top of the mesa to get a different perspective on the red rock and mudstone formations before descending down a short but steep slick rock slope. We'll recross the prairie back to the trailhead.

This is a long ride for a fairly short hike, but we'll take our time exploring the formations, which really are striking. The hedgehog cacti have started to bloom, so by Thursday we should have a good show of red blooms. The route is mainly flat but it's mostly off trail and there are several short but steep ascents and descents.

There is no shade and with a forecasted high in the 70s, be sure to bring *lots* of water and sun protection.

What to bring:
Sturdy hiking boots or shoes.
Layers, extra clothing, water resistant outer wear.
Lots of water for a 3+ hour hike and snacks/lunch

Meeting Place:
ZIA: We'll meet near Albertson's along Zia Road. We leave promptly at the meeting time. If your plans change at the last minute, please call Ken at 248-252-0708.

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

Cost/Driving: Non-drivers are to contribute $15 to the driver for gas. The last few miles of road have some very rough spots, so SUVs are a good idea.

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 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). The preceding sentence supplements any other applicable exculpatory arrangement.