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| Hiking | 6.64 Miles |
2,112 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.64 Miles | 2 Hrs 33 Mns | | 2.75 mph |
| 2,112 ft AEG | 8 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | This one has seemed to get a bit of HAZ chatter recently, so I hopped in the car and decided to check it out for myself.
After camping just down the road from the trailhead, we set off on the Gooseberry Springs Trail #77 (Taylor is the destination, not the trail) enjoying a perfect crisp 53 degree morning, with 9L setting a typically speedy pace through the lower stands of pondo and aspens dressed for the season.
After emerging from the forested lowlands into the upper meadows about halfway up, the grade takes a noticeable increase and helps commence the burn.
From here, the morning views across northern NM were absolutely amazing. This mountain really, really impressed me. It has some similarities to Escudilla, 120 miles southeast of here (visible on a clearer day than this one). Also visible in the distance are the San Juans in southwestern Colorado, the Chuskas in northeastern Arizona, the Gilas in western NM, and the Sandia Crest, Sangres, and Santa Fe ranges in central NM. It's quite an isolated peak, reaching an impressive 11,301 feet.
While I might compare it to Escudilla, I also think it's 10x better. The upper meadows are a treat for the eyes, and the trail cut is a work of art. If you were a person that found running to be mentally healthful, this trail would be a perfect track for it.
Worth more than just crossing off a checklist item, and probably enjoyable to explore the off-trail ridges more than the annual 50k road run. I could spend a bit more time here exploring the varied terrain here.
Depending on the elevation of winter road access I looked across this mountain thinking it would be a dream for skinning as I suspect this beast wrings out some pretty good snow totals.
Is it worth the 5-hour drive from phx for a 6 mile hike? Absolutely not. But if you lived within an hour or two, it should be something you do at least once a year. If driving across the 40 and looking to take a 4-hour break and stretch your legs, I can't think of many better options than this one. 10/10 would do again. |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Moderate
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| I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies. |
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Route Editor
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