NORTHERN PECOS WILDERNESS
Checked out a wonderful route through the Northern Pecos Wilderness. It is about 35 miles, the majority of which are above 11,000 feet and the tree line. It provided a wonderful opportunity to peer from the ridge lines down into every little valley below. Having hiked these mountains since childhood, I felt the trail gave the Pecos a very distinct sense of place.
For those interested, the route starts and ends at the Santa Barbara campground south of Peñasco. I followed the West fork trail south (trail 25), all the way to Truchas Lakes. From there I caught the Skyline trail going east (trail 251). After the crossroads with the middle fork trail, I continued north on the Divide trail (trail 36). Lastly, after summiting Jicarita peak, I caught the Indian Creek Trail (trail 27) west back to the Santa Barbara campground.
I took five days to make the trek, but I believe it could easily be done in four if you are pressed for time. If you would like more detailed information about camping locations and recommendations for water planning, please give me a shout and I’ll be happy to advise as best I can.
If I had to pick a highlight of the trip, it would undoubtedly be Truchas lakes. The small meadow near the top lake is my new favorite camping site. It is such a diverse and active ecosystem. you can sit all day at the shore of the lake observe the little world there. Herds of Big Horn sheep dash across the cliffs in front of you while birds fight among each other on the thermals, cresting the ridge and occasionally dive bomb to a target in the meadow from a thousand feet above. I had a wonderful moment while swimming in the lake when three Big Horn rams came down to drink from the water and lay on the rocks on the adjacent shore. What a place!
Much of the trail is little traveled. I only saw other people on my first and last day of the hike. Some route finding and map skills are definitely required towards the end.
Below are some sights and sounds of the journey. In the “Truchas Lake 1” recording, you can hear the rocks fall from distant cliffs as sheep bound from boulder to boulder, squirrels and birds busily working the tree tops, and marmots grazing through the meadows.
