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| Backpack | 20.74 Miles |
5,364 AEG |
| | Backpack | 20.74 Miles | 3 Days | | |
| 5,364 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | Late September plans in Arizona were put on hold with the temps reaching levels of insanity. It would be stupid to attempt things here, and definitely not enjoyable.
So with about a day's notice, we opted for the slightly longer drive to the higher elevations of the Pecos Wilderness to tolerate the midsummer temperatures. Somehow the forecast called for rain chances over the mountains and as we got started on our short jaunt to camp before sunset some light sprinkles provided refreshing conditions that Arizona hasn't been able to provide me over the last 8 months.
Day 1: Winsor Creek TH to Stewart Lake (3.9 mi / 1817 aeg / 1:49)
We got started from the Winsor Creek trailhead, a mile up the road from Cowles. It's the eastern terminus of Winsor National Trail #254, the west end of which is across the Santa Fe Mtns at Ski Santa Fe. The actual Winsor Creek Trail has been abandoned by the forest service, but despite the lack of official maintenance, sees more use than the lower segment of 254.
This one follows the scenic Winsor Creek for a stretch before steadily climbing up the south slope of the valley until it meets up with the 254. After about 3 miles, the trail crosses Winsor Creek again and continues west on the same tread as Skyline Trail #251. Here we headed north for about a mile arriving at the popular Stewart Lake at about 10,200 feet. Despite a handful of other groups already settled in, we were able to select one of several additional previously used camp sites around the lake and set up camp in time for dinner as darkness set in. Lightning flashed across the sky and rain moved in, extinguished the fire, and chased us into our tents to sleep in the cool mountain air that dropped into the mid 30s overnight.
Day 2: Stewart Lake to Santa Fe Baldy and Lake Katherine (10.38 mi / 3127 aeg / 5:50)
We set out from camp with the main goal being to summit Santa Fe Baldy, a peak that sits just 11 feet lower than Arizona's highest point. There was a solid climb to start the day heading up the Skyline Trail and while we had originally planned to loop the ridge clockwise and summit via the traditional south approach made by most hikers who begin at Ski Santa Fe. But at the last minute we opted to go counterclockwise, starting with an insanely vertical ascent to the ridge east of Katherine Lake.
The climb covers 800ft in a quarter mile and required a few short oxygen breaks. Another couple hundred feet had us on the ridge with a great view back down to our camp at Stewart Lake and an absolutely amazing alpine ridge traverse around to SFB. The weather was threatening, but the end of September kind of threatening; dark and stormy, breezy, but not electric. Really, about as enjoyable as it could be. There was a register in one of the peaks along the crest. I'm guessing it has prominence or something to justify it. I'd have to say that this crest traverse was a far greater highlight than the summit of SFB. These are the things that I enjoy most.
There was a photographer on the summit, and we passed a group of 4 on their way up as we headed down toward the saddle. From there we headed down the switchbacks on Winsor 254 which dropped far enough that the traverse over to Katherine Lake then required about 400 feet of ascent.
There was a group of 4 camped at the lake along with another solo hiker and his dog. At 11,742, this is a quintessential alpine lake and we took a break here to snack, rehydrate, and feed some birds that flew across the lake upon hearing our snack wrappers and would put marmots to shame for their aggressive begging!
From here it was about half a mile downhill to where we started our climb to the crest and from there it was retracing our steps along the bottom of the lasso for 3 miles back to camp at the lake. A well-earned nap followed!
Day 3: Stewart Lake to Winsor Creek TH (5.89 mi / 546 aeg / 2:00)
On Sunday we had a relaxing morning with a fire and hot breakfast before packing up camp and setting out to return via Winsor Ridge Trail #271. I chose this route vs. the lower stretch of National #254 based on the fall color we could see from our hike yesterday. National is far more wooded with fewer views and more pine forest. The ridge trail has numerous aspen groves and quite a few open views across the range. As I made the descent I was thoroughly enjoying the trail, conditions, and weather, and concluded this might be a top-10 trail for me. It was super enjoyable! In summertime, the exposure lower down would make this one a little warm and is probably best hiked downhill if sunny and hot.
It's 1.1 miles from the base of Winsor Ridge #271 back up to the truck via the road. You might be able to get a ride, or you could park here and do the road walk at the beginning. I was able to make a precarious offtrail drop to the road from the last switchback, cutting 1.5 miles off the full loop. I'm not sure I'd recommend it, but it wasn't impossible!
It was a short drive to Santa Fe for a rewarding lunch.
Notes: These mountains have been decimated by fire over the past decade or so. This particular area is one of few that remains unburned. However, bark beetles have brutally affected the pine forest, and there is a combination of swaths of drab, gray, dead, standing trees ... and those that have fallen. These trails were in good condition, and evidence of extensive clearing exists, but there were also a few sections with some deadfall obstacles, and research showed that some trails have not been cleared at all, including the upper mile or so heading to nearby Johnson Lake, and the Skyline Trail south of the Cave Creek Trail, which as of now eliminates that route as a reasonable loop option in this area. |
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| I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies. |
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