|
| | | |
| |
|
| Hiking | 11.50 Miles |
2,200 AEG |
| | Hiking | 11.50 Miles | 5 Hrs 45 Mns | | 2.00 mph |
| 2,200 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
[ show ]
| partners | | Drove back up to car camp over Labor Day weekend with some friends at Holy Ghost Campground near Tererro. This was my third hike into the Pecos Wilderness in 2012, and second one in three weeks! All the hikes were from different locations: El Porvenir, Santa Fe Ski Area, and along the Pecos River. It was Karen's birthday, so she chose the hike. She certainly picked a winner! We did the hike via trail 271 from Cowles, which is the way described in the hiking books we had. When we got back to camp, I looked at my Pecos Wilderness map and realized we could have taken trail 283 from Holy Ghost up to the lake as well, with similar hike parameters. Next time.
The trail makes a very gradual ascent from about 8200 feet to the lake at 10,200 feet. It passes through some wonderful sections of forest with occasional meadows. If you like hiking in aspens, this one is for you. There were a few people fishing at the lake when we arrived. This is a heavy use area, so you won't get much of a wilderness experience away from the crowds, if that is what you seek. It was interesting to look up toward Santa Fe Baldy from the other side compared with a few weeks back.
This has to be one of the more popular places in New Mexico, since it was almost unreal how many people were camped, partying, and fishing on the drive up from Pecos! Virtually any spot you could park a vehicle or set up a tent or trailer was taken.  Folks were throwing fishing lines into the water everywhere. Must be the madness of the last of the summer holidays!  This is precisely why I loathe holiday weekends, and generally avoid them like the plague.  But I had no choice if I wanted to camp with my friends, who as working folks must take advantage of that extra day.
In spite of the crowds, it was a fun time hanging out with friends (a change from my usual solo adventures) and enjoying another new hike.  |
|
Wildflowers Observation Moderate
|
|
| _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
Route Editor
Route Scout
