Rim Trail #T105 • Hike • New Mexico • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

Cathey Canyon Trail #T105A

Guides 187
Routes 989
Photos 12,068
Triplogs 864

72 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

Rim Trail Cathey Vista, NM

Hiking		Nov 21 2020
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 864

Hiking	7.74 Miles	980 AEG

Hiking	7.74 Miles	3 Hrs 47 Mns	2.05 mph
	980 ft AEG

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mamakatt22

On our return trip to Tucson from Lubbock we stopped off in cloud croft to finish another section of the Rim Trail #105. On this hike we did a short 2.5 mile section of the Rim trail from Cathey Vista to the Sunspot observatory. We returned along the Cathey Canyon Trail #105A. With the completion of this hike we have completed all but the very southern 2.5 miles of the 30 mile Rim Trail. Since we have hiked the sections in and back, it is a total of 55 miles of the 60 miles.

The Cathey Vista Trail to the Sunspot Observatory follows along an old road and is not really exciting, the views over the Tularosa Basin are mostly obscured by trees. Once at the Observatory road we hiked along the road past planet earth and continued on south along the Rim Trail to where we had hiked another section of the Rim Trail previously. Nothing really exciting about this section of the trail. Before heading back we headed over to the Apache Point Observatory where the views over the Tularosa Basin and White Sands were spectacular as usual. Apache Point Observatory and the Sun Spot Observatory were like a Ghost town due to Covid, nobody around.

For the return trip we took the posted Cathey Canyon Trail off of the Apache Point road back to our start point. This trail takes you past the Sunspot Observatory and it was kind of eerie with nobody around. The road to the observatory was closed but since we were on a "trail" I assumed we were ok. Once past the sun spot telescope we followed the road down past Mercury then Venus back to Earth and continued back on the rim trail to the Cathey Canyon Trail. The Cathey Canyon Trail past the observatory is kind of vague following mostly roads no other signs indicating that you were on a trail. A little confusing as to where the Cathey Canyon Trail starts.

The real prize of this hike was along the Cathey Canyon Trail that parallels just below the Rim Trail. This trail takes you through some old growth forest with enormous fir trees and a few aspen groves. Easy walking along a fairly level trail. The only elevation gain is at the end where it climbs back up to meet the Rim Trail. This is a short 2.3 mile trail that is worth the stop if you only have time for a short hike.

This is the way to drive back to Tucson, from Lubbock Drive the 4 hours to Cloudcroft, hike 8 miles then get back in the car and drive to Las Cruces to spend the night then continue on to Tucson the next day. The only downside to this plan was all the restaurants in New Mexico were closed to dining, take out only.

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Aug 07 2020

Guides 187
Routes 989
Photos 12,068
Triplogs 864

72 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

Rim Trail Mile 22 - 27, NM

Hiking		Aug 07 2020
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 864

Hiking	9.42 Miles	2,076 AEG

Hiking	9.42 Miles	5 Hrs 40 Mns	1.81 mph
	2,076 ft AEG	28 Mns Break

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mamakatt22

On our second day in Cloudcroft Ginny and I hiked 5 more miles of the 30 mile Rim Trail from about mile 27 to mile 22 and back, making for a 10 mile hike. This section of trail was a bit different from the previous sections of the trail in that it followed along what used to be a jeep road. The road is all but gone but the wide trail still exists. Since it was an old jeep trail, it does what jeep trails tend to do, get to the top of hills by a straight up frontal attack instead of using switchbacks. We started out at about 8200 feet and the high point was at 9000 feet going over 5 small peaks. Each Peak climbed meant going back down a couple 100 feet then climbing up the next higher peak. This is a really rocky trail and by the end of this hike we were both pretty wiped out. The scenery was not quite as nice as the previous sections of this trail but the views were still spectacular. To the West was Tularosa Basin with the White Sands and Organ Pipe Mountains and to the southeast we could see Guadalupe Peak which is the Highest Point in Texas. At the turn around point we arrived at the place Ginny and I turned around on our hike last November when we hiked from Sunspot Telescope. After a short break we headed back repeating what we did coming in except in the opposite direction. Nice weather with temps in the low 70’s and Pizza when we got back to Cloudcroft.

We started at the posted Rim Trail crossing of the West Side Road, FR 90, along the Sun Spot Highway. The trail starts out with a couple hundred foot rocky climb to the first small peak and then repeats this pattern 4 more times. This is a south facing slope so even with temps in the 70’s it can be a bit warm. There are sections where the trail goes through mainly ponderosa pine forest for some relief from the sun but not from the rocky trail. There are some really nice meadows along this trail but running water is scarce since it tends to sink in the ground rapidly after a rain. I only saw one elk on this hike but if hiked earlier in the morning you would probably see much more because their tracks were everywhere. After finishing this hike we have about 5 miles left to do to finish up the rim trail, 1.4 near Sun Spot Telescope and 2.5 on the far southern end. For you more hardier hikers this 30 mile trail could be done in one day as a one way hike. Two days if you want to see what it looks like in the reverse direction.

Geology

Geology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Ammonite - Fossil

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Aug 06 2020

Guides 187
Routes 989
Photos 12,068
Triplogs 864

72 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

Rim Trail Mile 15 - 20, NM

Hiking		Aug 06 2020
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 864

Hiking	9.40 Miles	1,546 AEG

Hiking	9.40 Miles	5 Hrs 25 Mns		2.01 mph
	1,546 ft AEG	45 Mns Break	15 LBS Pack

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mamakatt22

Our first day in Cloudcroft was along another section of the Rim Trail T105, this time from about mile 20 at Cathey Vista to Atkinson Field at around mile 15. The forest road to Atkinson Field was locked so we started at the Cathey Vista trail head along the sun Spot Highway, between Saturn and Mars. This trail is through a forest of Fir and Ponderosa Pine with occasional views along the way to the West over the Tularosa Basin. The trail goes over two minor peaks but stays between 9000 and 9600 feet. I discovered two more marked trails that head to the west down to the West Side Road, FR 90, The Heart Attack Trail and Cathey Canyon Trail. These trails, unlike the rim trail, will have a little more elevation gain to them as they descend down to the West Side Road. These two trails along with the Rim Trail could make a nice loop hike. We took a break at Atkinson Field at the turn around point of our hike last June along the Rim Trail. We followed our route back to Cathey vista.

The weather was in the low 70’s making for pleasant hiking. Even though there had been rain here we didn’t get rained on. These mountains don’t have a lot of running streams as it sinks in the ground rapidly, much like on the Kaibab Plateau. With the exception of a few sunflowers (black eyed or brown eyed suzans) Flowers were sparse. Lots of elk sign but didn’t see any elk along the trail, probably because we didn’t start the hike till around 10:00. After the hike we stopped in Cloudcroft for dinner before heading to our cabin (did see elk there). Since this was in New Mexico there is a two week quarantine, obviously not enforced and you could not dine inside. We did find one restaurant that had barbecue and was allowing inside dining in protest to the governor and we ate there, great food. There was actually more social distancing in this restaurant than in the crowded outside dining restaurants. I was given a free bumper sticker at the Barbecue restaurant with the New Mexico state emblem that says “OUR GOVERNOR IS AN IDIOT”. I don’t usually stick stickers on my car (except the HAZ sticker) so I temporarily taped it to my rear window to match the other cars driving around Cloudcroft. Now I am in Texas driving with Arizona Plates and a New Mexico Governor is an idiot sticker.

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Jun 10 2020

Guides 187
Routes 989
Photos 12,068
Triplogs 864

72 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

Rim Trail Mile 11-15, NM

Hiking		Jun 10 2020
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 864

Hiking	8.08 Miles	1,148 AEG

Hiking	8.08 Miles	4 Hrs 22 Mns		2.10 mph
	1,148 ft AEG	31 Mns Break	15 LBS Pack

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mamakatt22

On day 4 of our trip we started at Karr Canyon Road again where the trail crosses the road. Today we head South 4 miles then headed back to where we started on Karr canyon Road. The second highest point of the Rim Trail, Alamo Peak (9500 feet), is along this stretch. The highest Point is at the Sun Spot Observatory and is 40 feet higher, it is further south down the trail about 8 miles. The almost 500 foot climb up to the summit is done over 1.5 miles so it isn’t that strenuous. Excellent trail conditions with a few rocky sections. While hiking on this trail we heard what sounded like a motor cycle/dirt bike maybe even a chain saw in the distance, a short time later he came roaring up behind us and stopped because we were in the trail. I told him dirt bikes weren’t allowed on the trail and he informed me they were. He was right the sign allows motorcycles. That is the first I have seen that on a designated hiking trail. I wonder what the yielding policy is. Sure glad I’m not on a horse. Any way he was very nice and went on his way down the trail and before long so was the noise. We only saw one other hiker on this trail. Views west over the Tularosa Basin were intermittently spread out over the trail.

There was no water along the trail as the winter snow runoff was complete and like Arizona waiting for the monsoons. Flowers were mainly the New Mexico Locust Tree. Karr Canyon Road is accessible by almost any vehicle, even a prius. I say almost because I doubt a low rider would make it.

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Jun 10 2020

Routes 305
Photos 39
Triplogs 300

female

Joined Feb 02 2020
Shallowater,TX

Rim Trail Karr Rd South, NM

Hiking		Jun 10 2020
		mamakatt22 • Triplogs 300

Hiking	9.00 Miles	1,291 AEG

Hiking	9.00 Miles	4 Hrs 21 Mns	2.34 mph
	1,291 ft AEG	30 Mns Break

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markthurman53

Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

This was a great hike with trails that were easy to follow. There are some rocky areas but not too much. It is very dry in this area but rain is predicted the next two days. We saw a few squirrels, birds, and some horned toads. We also had a better view of White Sands from this part of the hike.

Wildflowers Observation Light
Wild Roses and Indian Paintbrush

Jun 09 2020

Guides 187
Routes 989
Photos 12,068
Triplogs 864

72 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

Rim Trail Mile 8-11, NM

Hiking		Jun 09 2020
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 864

Hiking	6.04 Miles	743 AEG

Hiking	6.04 Miles	3 Hrs 13 Mns		2.05 mph
	743 ft AEG	16 Mns Break	15 LBS Pack

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mamakatt22

On day 3 of our trip we started at Karr Canyon Road where the trail crosses the road. Today we head north to yesterdays turn around point near Rim Trail Parking #4 then headed back to where we started on Karr canyon Road.

This section of the Rim Trail like the previous two we did was through a pine/fir forest with a couple of nice meadows where the trail crosses streams(dry). Today the views over the Tularosa Basin were good as yesterdays dust cleared out over night. I say just good because they would be better and you could see further if the air was a bit dryer or after a winter storm. This would be a nice trail around sunset (actually any part of the Rim Trail) but the sun doesn’t set till 8:00 and restaurants in Cloudcroft close around 6:00 so we missed the sunset. There was no water along the trail as the winter snow runoff was complete and like Arizona waiting for the monsoons.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Weidemeyer's Admiral Butterfly

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Jun 09 2020

Routes 305
Photos 39
Triplogs 300

female

Joined Feb 02 2020
Shallowater,TX

Rim Trail Karr Canyon, NM

Hiking		Jun 09 2020
		mamakatt22 • Triplogs 300

Hiking	6.10 Miles	1,200 AEG

Hiking	6.10 Miles	3 Hrs 14 Mns		2.15 mph
	1,200 ft AEG	24 Mns Break	8 LBS Pack

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[ checklist ] San Andres Mountains White Sands National Monument

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markthurman53

Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

Went from Karr Canyon Road to 3 miles North. Turned around and came back but the GPS only showed one way. This my first time to log a hike. The trails were in good condition. The mountain air was clean and pine scented. It was a beautiful day for a hike.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

Wildflowers Observation Light
Wild Roses, Indian Paintbrush

1 archive

Jun 08 2020

Routes 305
Photos 39
Triplogs 300

female

Joined Feb 02 2020
Shallowater,TX

Rim Trail Parking 3 Trailhead, NM

Hiking		Jun 08 2020
		mamakatt22 • Triplogs 300

Hiking	8.75 Miles	1,134 AEG

Hiking	8.75 Miles	4 Hrs 49 Mns	2.12 mph
	1,134 ft AEG	41 Mns Break

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markthurman53

Mark and I spent 5 days in Cloudcroft on a vacation/honeymoon/hiking trip. We hiked 30 miles over 4 days on the first 15 miles of the 30 mile Rim Trail T105. The weather was dry, cool in the mornings, and perfect for hiking. The air was pine scented and the scenery was beautiful. Afternoons were in the mid 60s so it got warm in the sunshine. Cloudcroft is much less commercialized than Ruidoso so it is right up our alley. This is a great place to hike during the Summer to escape the heat.

On day 2 we did an in and back hike along the Rim Trail mile 4-8 for a total of an 8.8 mile hike. We started at Rim Trailhead 3 which is not marked along the Sunspot Highway. The trailhead is marked about 100 yards down a dirt road. We hiked North to where we had turned around the day before then back tracked and headed south for about 2.5 miles. We turned around near the Rim Trail Parking 4.

Today was windy so the visibility over the Tularosa Basin was not very good due to blowing dust. This was a very pleasant walk through pine/fir trees and the occasional meadow where we crossed over a couple of dry creeks.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] New Mexico Locust

Jun 08 2020

Guides 187
Routes 989
Photos 12,068
Triplogs 864

72 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

Rim Trail Mile 4-8, NM

Hiking		Jun 08 2020
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 864

Hiking	8.75 Miles	1,134 AEG

Hiking	8.75 Miles	4 Hrs 49 Mns		2.12 mph
	1,134 ft AEG	41 Mns Break	15 LBS Pack

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mamakatt22

On day two of our trip to Cloudcroft we did mile 3.5 to 7.7 along the Rim Trail T105. We started the hike at Rim Trail Parking #3 along the Sun Spot Highway. Unlike Rim Trail Parking 1, 2 and 4 there was no sign along the road. The trail head is along a dirt road that leaves the highway. From this trail head we hiked north to our turn around point yesterday then headed south until we got to mile 7.7 where the sign indicating Parking #4.

This is a very Pleasant hike through pine/fir forest and a couple of meadows. The forest of Lincoln National Forest are among some of the nicest forests I have seen. Views along the trail over Tularosa Basin and to the north of Sierra Blanca near Ruidoso are excellent although today it was a bit dusty to see much of anything. This is a well maintained trail, easy to follow but in a few spots rocky, the kind that get under your feet and you feel like you’re on roller skates.

There was no wildlife to report other than the elk along the road on the way back to the cabin. Other than a number of wild roses and the New Mexico Locust Trees the flowers were scarce, The spring blooms were gone and waiting for the monsoon bloom. There was no water along the trail as the winter snow runoff was complete and like Arizona waiting for the monsoons.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] New Mexico Locust

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Jun 07 2020

Routes 305
Photos 39
Triplogs 300

female

Joined Feb 02 2020
Shallowater,TX

Rim Trail Slide Group Trailhead, NM

Hiking		Jun 07 2020
		mamakatt22 • Triplogs 300

Hiking	7.23 Miles	877 AEG

Hiking	7.23 Miles	3 Hrs 18 Mns	2.19 mph
	877 ft AEG

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markthurman53

Mark and I spent 5 days in Cloudcroft on a vacation/honeymoon/hiking trip. We hiked 30 miles over 4 days on the first 15 miles of the 30 mile Rim Trail T105. The weather was dry, cool in the mornings, and perfect for hiking. The air was pine scented and the scenery was beautiful. Afternoons were in the mid 60s so it got warm in the sunshine. Cloudcroft is much less commercialized than Ruidoso so it is right up our alley. This is a great place to hike during the Summer to escape the heat.

All our hikes were in and back hikes. Day one of our hiking was 7.7 miles covering the first 4 miles of the trail. The trail started at the Slide Group Campground area on a marked area along the Sunspot Highway. It was dry and there were not many flowers. We did see some wild roses and Indian Paintbrush. There were some small horned toads along the way and they had a steady diet of various kinds of ants. We heard hummingbirds and a few other birds so the music was excellent. Some areas had views of the Sierra Blanca Peak at Ruidoso and White Sands in the Tularosa Basin.

Nov 10 2019

Guides 187
Routes 989
Photos 12,068
Triplogs 864

72 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

Rim Trail T105 Sunspot, NM

Hiking		Nov 10 2019
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 864

Hiking	6.04 Miles	1,283 AEG

Hiking	6.04 Miles	3 Hrs 19 Mns		2.21 mph
	1,283 ft AEG	35 Mns Break	10 LBS Pack

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On our second day we took a 6 mile hike along the Rim Trail starting at Apache Point at the Sunspot observatory. I picked this hike because it looked like the best portion of the rim trail for views overlooking the Tularosa Basin. The weather was perfect around 50 degrees with a light breeze from the west. The Trail is in excellent condition, only saw two other hikers along the trail. For a veterans Day weekend it was surprisingly not crowded in Cloudcroft. The views to the west were great as expected but with all the trees in the way not as many as I would of thought. I will have to finish up this 30 mile Rim Trail on another trip to Cloudcroft. Ended the hike with a visit to Apache Point Telescope and at sunset the Solar Observatory.

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Sep 23 2016

Guides 253
Photos 6,930
Triplogs 2,467

75 male

Joined Nov 05 2008
Cloudcroft, NM

Southeast, NM

Hiking		Sep 23 2016
		imike • Triplogs 2,467

Hiking	11.00 Miles	1,200 AEG

Hiking	11.00 Miles
	1,200 ft AEG

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Aspen beginning to turn... hardwoods need a few more weeks! Mary and I hiked from the Village... finally she saw the hairpen!

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Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...

2 archives

Sep 09 2016

Guides 253
Photos 6,930
Triplogs 2,467

75 male

Joined Nov 05 2008
Cloudcroft, NM

Alamo Peak Trail #109

Alamo Peak Trail #109

Southeast, NM

Hiking		Sep 09 2016
		imike • Triplogs 2,467

Hiking	9.00 Miles	2,016 AEG

Hiking	9.00 Miles
	2,016 ft AEG

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Pipeline Trail #110

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Great day out on this exceptional loop... odd to find the tops of the ridges along Alamo Peak road denuded... doing more of that very odd mulching... thinning... all in the name of groundwater maintenance? Also, Atchinson Meadows has some major construction project going on that no one at the Ranger Station was aware of??

Good day out with Ross and Luster...

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Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...

Aug 19 2016

Guides 253
Photos 6,930
Triplogs 2,467

75 male

Joined Nov 05 2008
Cloudcroft, NM

Southeast, NM

Hiking		Aug 19 2016
		imike • Triplogs 2,467

Hiking	4.60 Miles	1,200 AEG

Hiking	4.60 Miles
	1,200 ft AEG

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shorter, semi-exploratory off the Rim...

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Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...

Oct 19 2013

Jim

Guides 73
Routes 176
Photos 10,174
Triplogs 2,324

46 male

Joined Sep 08 2006

Rim Trail, NM

Hiking		Oct 19 2013
		Jim • Triplogs 2,324

Hiking	23.30 Miles	3,150 AEG

Hiking	23.30 Miles	8 Hrs 30 Mns		2.94 mph
	3,150 ft AEG	35 Mns Break	8 LBS Pack

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HAZ - Event

This is probably the time to do this, as the color is up. However, it was cold! So cold, my joints hurt and I was concerned I might be getting sick. The best parts are earlier on, with the maples. Sunnier, and better views, too.

I had my belief that I prefer warmer, steeper, hikes over long cold and level, confirmed. This has AEG, but it is subtle, so you won't notice it. I didn't. Tomorrow, unless I am actually getting sick, another lap on Dog Canyon to Sunspot.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Sierra Blanca

Autumn Foliage Observation Extreme
Extreme for conifers with maples and aspen in between.

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Jul 07 2013

Guides 253
Photos 6,930
Triplogs 2,467

75 male

Joined Nov 05 2008
Cloudcroft, NM

Southeast, NM

Hiking		Jul 07 2013
		imike • Triplogs 2,467

Hiking	11.00 Miles	1,700 AEG

Hiking	11.00 Miles
	1,700 ft AEG

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finished final section of Rim Trail with El Paso hikers

_____________________

Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...

Jul 06 2013

Guides 253
Photos 6,930
Triplogs 2,467

75 male

Joined Nov 05 2008
Cloudcroft, NM

Southeast, NM

Hiking		Jul 06 2013
		imike • Triplogs 2,467

Hiking	17.00 Miles	2,900 AEG

Hiking	17.00 Miles
	2,900 ft AEG

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early loop then Rim Trail section with the El Paso hikers... then loop to the Observatory to close out the day

_____________________

Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...

Jul 05 2013

Guides 253
Photos 6,930
Triplogs 2,467

75 male

Joined Nov 05 2008
Cloudcroft, NM

Southeast, NM

Hiking		Jul 05 2013
		imike • Triplogs 2,467

Hiking	14.00 Miles	1,700 AEG

Hiking	14.00 Miles
	1,700 ft AEG

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...hiked with Diana after later start... did early morning loop around off trail and Fr 638. Then, did all of fr 634 and some off trail. Passed El Paso group

_____________________

Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...

Jul 04 2013

Guides 253
Photos 6,930
Triplogs 2,467

75 male

Joined Nov 05 2008
Cloudcroft, NM

Southeast, NM

Hiking		Jul 04 2013
		imike • Triplogs 2,467

Hiking	7.00 Miles	600 AEG

Hiking	7.00 Miles
	600 ft AEG

no routes

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_____________________

Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...

Jul 03 2013

Guides 253
Photos 6,930
Triplogs 2,467

75 male

Joined Nov 05 2008
Cloudcroft, NM