Women in the Wilderness: Lakes and Peaks of the Pecos Wilderness, New Mexico

The Trip

Join a long tradition of women in the wilderness as we celebrate 40 years of women’s trips. Connect with nature, find camaraderie, and trust in yourself on this six-day journey into the Pecos Wilderness.  Our trip will take us up the West Fork of the Santa Barbara River and over the Santa Barbara Divide at 12,000 feet to the base of the Truchas Peaks. A layover day near Truchas Lakes will allow us to climb one or more of the peaks or to relax and enjoy the early-season wildflowers.  We will then head east along the remote and rugged Santa Barbara Divide on the Skyline Trail, and then the Divide Trail, which will take us north above the East Fork of the Santa Barbara River and eventually back to our starting point. This high-elevation, seldom-visited part of the Pecos Wilderness is reminiscent of the austere ranges in northern Alaska or Iceland. We’ll expect to see herds of elk, as well as Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep.   Campsites will be near alpine lakes or streams just below the timberline.  Some snow should be expected.

Pre-Trip

We’ll gather at a campground near our trailhead at 3:00 PM.  Details will be provided after participants have been approved for the trip. We’ll get to know each other, review and weigh personal gear, and take care of any last-minute details.  Please plan to bring your meal to the campground, as dinner will not be provided.

Day 1

After breakfast (the first meal to be provided), we will distribute group gear and proceed to the trailhead.  We’ll hike up the West Fork of the Santa Barbara River about 5 miles, ascending about 1,400 feet to our camp at about 10,000 feet.

Day 2

Our second day will take us up more than  2,000 feet in about 6.5 miles, across the Santa Barbara Divide to a campsite near Truchas Lakes at 11,800 feet.  The high elevation could make this a challenging day.

Day 3

Today is a planned layover day.  There will be options to relax by the lakes or take a challenging day hike to climb North or South Truchas Peaks (13,024 feet and 13,1025 feet, respectively).

Day 4

Leaving Truchas Lakes, we proceed along the Skyline Trail heading east.  We drop off the ridge to camp at a small lake.  We may see herds of elk flowing over the divide. This day will be up and down – often over 12,000 feet.  We will camp at about 11,900 feet.

Day 5

We will continue on the very rugged and austere Divide Trail heading north.  Although we will only go about 6 miles, the ruggedness and high elevation will make this a challenging day. We will drop over the ridge to camp near Serpent Lake at about 11,000 feet.

Day 6

We will rise early for our long final day, hiking about 10 miles with a total descent of about 3,600 feet and arriving back at the trailhead in the afternoon

Getting There

Our trailhead will be located near Peñasco, NM, a small village in the mountains between Santa Fe and Taos.  It is about 50 miles north of Santa Fe and 36 miles south of Taos. The nearest major airport is in Albuquerque, NM, about 60 miles south of Santa Fe. There is also an airport in Santa Fe which has a limited range of non-stop connections. If you are flying into Albuquerque the Sandia Shuttle has 19 roundtrips per day between the Albuquerque Sunport and Santa Fe.  We will send a trip roster to all participants well before the trip to help facilitate ride-sharing. Specific driving directions will also be sent before departure.   

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

 All meals and snacks will be provided, beginning with breakfast on the first day through lunch on the final day. We will offer a variety of nutritious, easy-to-prepare meals.  Vegetarians can be easily accommodated, but participants unable to eat either dairy or gluten should consider another outing. Since all food must fit into bear-proof containers, we ask that participants not bring their food.

Participants will be responsible for bringing their toilet paper and method of water purification (chlorine tablets, filter, stereo-pen, etc.)

Cooking and clean-up duties will be shared by all participants on a pre-assigned basis.

Trip Difficulty

 The trip is rated 4 on a scale of 1 – 5 where 1 denotes the least difficult and 5 the most difficult. The trip is intended for experienced backpackers who are comfortable carrying weighted packs at high altitudes. Although our total distance is less than 40 miles, most days will be spent hiking above the 12,000-foot level, with peaks exceeding 13,000 feet. A possible snowpack at high elevations can add significantly to the physical demands of the trip. 

Participants must have the ability (demonstrated by previous experience) to hike at high altitudes with a fully loaded backpack. In addition to your equipment, you will be expected to carry up to 13 pounds of group gear and food. All participants must maintain a year-round exercise routine and commit to a pre-trip training program that will result in their being comfortable carrying a loaded pack on mountain trails for distances up to 8 miles. After being approved for the trip, the leaders will work with you to develop a training schedule, so that you are fully prepared to enjoy this adventure.

Because of the altitude, the leader requests that you spend at least three nights at altitude before the first hiking day to help you acclimatize. Two nights could be in Santa Fe or Taos (7,000 feet) and the third night at the campground (nearly 8,500 feet).

While we may arrive on this journey as individuals we are a team during the hike in the wilderness.  Being both mentally and physically prepared for the demands of backpacking will ensure a great trip for all. A flexible attitude is essential and is a requirement for this trip. 

Equipment and Clothing

In addition to food, the Sierra Club will also provide cooking gear (stove, fuel, lightweight pots, and pans), an emergency first-aid kit, a tarp, and containers for storing food. You are responsible for providing and carrying your own camping gear, clothing, toilet paper, and water purification method. Because you will be carrying up to 13 pounds of commissary gear and food, your equipment must weigh as little as possible for a total (before group gear) of less than 20 pounds.

If you do not have a lightweight pack, tent, and sleeping bag suitable for high altitudes, you might want to consider purchasing new equipment. The leader can give you advice about suitable gear, and stores such as REI provide details about many lightweight options even if you choose to purchase or rent equipment elsewhere.

The following list provides an idea of the type of gear you should expect to bring.  The leaders will send additional details after you have been approved for the trip.  

Essential Gear:

• Backpack (internal or external frame (at least 60 liters and large enough to carry a bear-proof container about the size of a full grocery bag)
• Sturdy hiking poles
• Micro-spikes (if we are expecting significant snow)
• Comfortable, well-broken-in hiking boots that provide good ankle support
• Sleeping bag (temperature rating 20°F or below)
• Sleeping pad
• Lightweight tent with rain fly and ground cloth
• Waterproof rain gear (pants, jacket, pack cover)
• Fleece or wool jacket
• Warm hat, gloves, or mittens
• Lightweight synthetic pants or shorts
•  Light or mid-weight synthetic long-sleeved shirt
• Change of underwear
• Long underwear
• At least one change of socks
• Sun protection (sunglasses + sunscreen with SPF 20 or above + sun hat)
• Personal first-aid kit (moleskin or adhesive tape for blister treatment, Tylenol)
• Personal toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, biodegradable soap, toilet paper). Women should bring extra tampons, even if it is not the time of their regular period.
• Lightweight eating utensils (wide mouth bowl, cup, spoon, fork)
•  Insect repellent
• Water containers (two liters minimum)
• Water purification tablets or filter
• Lightweight headlamp or flashlight
• Map
• Whistle

Optional:

• Waterproof sandals
• Bandana or handkerchief
• Head net (for insects)
• Lightweight Camera

For more information, please refer to: http://www.knapsack.org/basic_equipment.html.   

References

 Click here to read about the Pecos Wilderness and the ongoing work to protect it by the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance and The Wilderness Society.

Maps

1:54,000 Forest Service Map

• Pecos Wilderness

1:63,000 Maps: 

• Santa Fe / Truchas Peak National Geographic Trails Illustrated

1:24,000 Maps:

• Jicarita Peak
• Pecos Falls
• Truchas Peak
• Cowles, NM
• Aspen Basin

Conservation

The Pecos Wilderness was established by Congress in 1964, the same year as the passage of the Wilderness Act. It now has a total of 221,819 acres. All of this wilderness is located in New Mexico and is managed by the Forest Service.  Cattle grazing by local ranchers was grandfathered in when the wilderness was established.  Cattle graze unattended during the summer and have desecrated areas near rivers and streams.  Environmental groups call the Forest Service to task for not providing the stewardship required by the 1964 Wilderness Act, and local ranchers invoke long-standing cultural traditions.  During our trip, we will have opportunities to discuss this issue and learn about what local environmental groups are doing to assist in monitoring.