We laugh at our mutual unpreparedness. They’re friendly guys and tell me tales of their multiday backpack through this high country of the Pecos Wilderness, northeast of Santa Fe. We cross each other halfway up the snowfield. Saddle below East Pecos Baldy to the Pecos Trail – Trail #24: From the small grassy saddle below East Pecos Baldy, the trail enters the dense forest and descends steeply over 1/2 mile toward the East Pecos Baldy Lake. Find More Hikes in Sangre de Cristo Mountains Tag - Pecos Baldy Lake. Above: Bull and Lake Fork creeks meet near Heart Lake. Can't wait to go back. This stretch covered another two miles, and we arrived at the lake at about 10:15 a.m., having covered 7 miles and 2,600 feet of vertical gain. Trampas Lakes: About 13 miles round-trip on Trail 31; trailhead at end of FR 207. I watch her gingerly descend the snow, slipping here, crab-crawling on all fours there. They navigate the rocky terrain of the ridge with ease. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, and horses and is best used from June until October. Multiple campgrounds like Jack’s Creek, Iron Gate and Panchuela make great base camps for those exploring the wilderness. The Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District is home to the iconic Pecos Wilderness, and the headwaters of the Pecos River originate from the district. As they approach to say hello, my dog charges at them, barking fiercely, and then rolls over on his back for a belly scratch. Pecos Baldy Lake is displayed on the Truchas Peak USGS quad topo map. // also we require window.history to be greater than 1, otherwise opening a link in a new tab toggles a non-functional back button The Santa Barbara Divide forms a mountainous barrier and spine of the Pecos wilderness. My thighs burn, my heart thumps, and I can hardly catch my breath. A breeze bends the trees, the grasses rustle, wildflowers paint the trail in bright colors, and the forest smells of the pine needles that crunch under my feet. El sendero se usa principalmente para hacer senderismo, correr y caballos y es mejor utilizado de junio hasta octubre. As I stand there, a woman and her dog appear above me. Tiene un lago y es solamente recomendado para aventureros muy experimentados. Our 4 day trip will travel from Jack’s Creek Campground at the end State Highway 63 near Cowels, NM climbing to Pecos Baldy Lake with an optional day climb to the summit of East Pecos Baldy Peak. Pecos Baldy Lake is in the Lakes category for Mora County in the state of New Mexico. “If you aren’t from a mountain region, you might not even notice.”. But the window in which they bloom is shortening. PECOS BALDY LAKE, C-7. These wildflowers thrive in high-alpine wetlands. Copyright © Locality, LLC | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | About. Anyone who is interested in visiting Pecos Baldy Lake can print the free topographic map and street map using the link above. Cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout live north of … Take an overnight trip to a scenic alpine lake in the Pecos Wilderness, just outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pecos Baldy Lake is a water feature in New Mexico and has an elevation of 11,421 feet. Best Wildflower Hikes New Mexico: A Guide to the Area's Greatest Wildflower Hiking Adventures (Wildflower Series) [Selby, Christina M.] on Amazon.com. Why am I working so hard? It is located in the middle of Pecos Wilderness between the Truchas Peak group to the north and Santa Fe Baldy group to the southwest. I dream of water as we drift to sleep amid absolute silence. New Mexico’s tallest peaks shelter more than 35 snow-fed lakes where stunning beauty rewards intrepid hikers. Santa Fe Baldy and Lake Katharine – 12,622 feet – Pecos Wilderness New Mexico. During my hikes to alpine lakes in 2018, a year of intense drought, I witnessed water levels in some lakes drop between 20 and 80 feet. I brought no traction spikes, no snowshoes, no hiking poles, no ice ax to catch me from sliding down should I slip. Their tiny legs won’t take them down these mountains and up other ones farther north. Pecos Baldy Lake from Mapcarta, the free map. Hundreds of pink elephant’s heads decorate the marsh. A short side trip on Trail No. As glaciers retreated in the last ice age, they left depressions large enough to hold a significant amount of snowmelt. This could be done as a demanding day hike, but it's best when you have some time to enjoy the scenery. A walk in the woods, through a wildflower meadow, or by an alpine lake eases anxiety, stress, and depression. Location: Pecos Wilderness, Santa Fe National Forest, northeast of Santa Fe, New Mexico. After a long winter, their coats are patchy as they shed their outer layer. If you have visited Pecos Baldy Lake before, please tell us about it with a comment below. Monastery Lake covers 6 acres with a maximum depth of 20 feet. This means wildflower enthusiasts need to make adjustments to when they hike to the high country to catch the outstanding displays in New Mexico’s mountains. Hiking trip report for Truchas Peak and Pecos Baldy, located in Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico. Be prepared for narrow roads north of Tererro. Two pikas cautiously peek out from the scree along the trail. North Fork Lake, in the Pecos Wilderness. 164 leads to the saddle above this lake. Trip Rating: is moderate July 1 Tailgate dinner and campfire at Jack’s Creek Campground. … I could just sit down next to this lovely mountain stream … My hiking companion, Glacier, a thigh-high white dog, steps on my heels to keep me moving. Back to Previous TWO STEPS FORWARD, PAUSE, BREATHE, repeat. Flowing through hundreds of miles of streams and rivers, and recharging groundwater, snowmelt provides up to 90 percent of the water that New Mexicans in downstream communities use for drinking, growing food, and running industries that fuel our economy. Dogs and horses are also able to use this trail. if (document.referrer.match(window.location.host) && window.history.length > 1) { A few steps later, a dark figure moves across the snow in the distance. Just before reaching the lake, there will be another trail junction. With higher temperatures in the mountains, wildflowers are abundant earlier because of early snowmelt. A major river originating in the Pecos Wilderness flowing south into Texas. I watch for a few minutes and realize it’s a marmot. Right: Snowmelt gathers in Nambé Lake. “Because it was my job to hike, I did it on weekdays, when there were few others on the trails—a fact of life in New Mexico, for which I am grateful every day.”. Subscriptions/Inquiries: (800) 898-6639 Alpine wildflowers grow close to the ground and in mats. You'll find … This is part three of our 4 day hike in the Pecos Wilderness – New Mexico. I pass through a field overflowing with colorful wildflowers and arrive at the lake. Pikas are an indicator species for the potential impact. Pecos Baldy Lake Specs Difficulty: Strenuous Distance: 15.2 miles out and back Bloom season: June to September Peak bloom: July to August Flower Profile: Fireweed Fireweed is a common wildflower that often adds brilliant color to disturbed landscapes. Just 200 yards long, Stewart Lake is 6 miles from the trailhead and just north of the Skyline Trail beyond a small, marshy pond. ON A CLOUDLESS SUMMER DAY, I’M approaching Jicarita Peak, near the village of Tres Ritos. User-created trails can drain, incise, and transport water and sediment away from headwater systems. Warm water lakes. A vast system of trails provide plenty of day hiking and backpacking for adventure seekers of all levels. It can be seen on the USGS 1:24K topographic map Truchas Peak, NM. [D002] Pecos Baldy Lake Santa Fe One of the largest Alpine lakes in the wilderness Pecos Baldy Lake rests at the foot of the impressive Pecos Baldy (12,600) This area is rich in biodiversity providing a much loved habitat for the majestic big horned sheep. Current conditions, warnings and historical records Pecos Baldy Lake is displayed on the Truchas Peak USGS quad topo map. More than 35 natural snow-fed lakes dot the southernmost of the Rocky Mountains before those towering peaks subside into the earth at Glorieta Pass, southeast of Santa Fe. $('[data-sv-magazine-content-wrapper]').prepend(backBtn); He climbs onto a bare rock at the top, only to jump off and slide down the snow. In the fading light, I set up my tent and hang my bear bag in a tree. backBtn.find('.shared-back-button').show(); At 12,529 feet, East Pecos Baldy is New Mexico's 20th highest ranked peak. This route starts at Jacks Creek near Pecos, New Mexico and ends at Pecos Baldy Lake. Access: From I-25, take exit 307 north on Hwy 53 through Pecos and all the way to the end of road at the Jack’s Creek Campground, a distance of about 25 miles. I fall into the hiker’s zone where thoughts fade away and all that is left is slow and steady movement forward. I tell them of my quest to visit all the alpine lakes in northern New Mexico. Elevation: 11,420 feet (3,481 meters) I’m stunned. East Pecos Baldy from the west. Coordinates: 35.9126027°N, -105.6474217°W I’M ON THE LAST STRETCH of a seven-mile hike to Pecos Baldy Lake. For thousands of years since, alpine lakes and high-mountain wetlands have acted as the natural “water towers” of the West. I squat down to inspect the flowers closely—the parts do look like the large ears, long trunk, and rounded forehead of an elephant. A sphinx moth flits between low-growing arctic gentian wildflowers on the talus slope. They graze as they go, fattening up on protein-rich plants’ new growth. Pecos Wilderness Area, New Mexico Picture: Pecos Baldy Lake - Check out Tripadvisor members' 5,395 candid photos and videos. "], function($) { NOAA weather radar, satellite and synoptic charts. He repeats this several times. Pecos Baldy Lake es un sendero de ida y vuelta de 14.7 millas con tráfico moderado localizado cerca de Tererro, Nuevo México. Go to the bathroom at least 200 feet from lakes, streams, and wetlands. Nambé Lake: About 8.5 miles round-trip on Winsor Trail to Nambé Lake Trail 400; trailhead at Santa Fe Ski Area. Photograph by Christina Selby. Pecos Baldy Lake: Nearly 15 miles round-trip on Beatty’s Trail 25 to Jack’s Creek Trail 257; trailhead in Jack’s Creek Campground equestrian area, at end of FR 555. The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change finds that scientists are documenting profound change in mountain ecosystems all across the globe. The USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) publishes a set of the most commonly used topographic maps of the U.S. called US Topo that are separated into rectangular quadrants that are printed at 22.75"x29" or larger. These deserve a separate article. The view reminds me of a saying posted over my desk: “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away.”. Pecos Baldy Lake is covered by the Truchas Peak, NM US Topo Map quadrant Rocky Mountain iris blooms near North Fork Lake. Lew Wallace Building Two other hikers laze about. The trail reenters unburned forest before crossing a small creek and making the final climb to East Pecos Baldy Lake. 495 Old Santa Fe Trail High Time to Hike the Alpine Lakes. My senses are at full attention. A sign at the campground directs you where to park for overnight parking. This is a 27.5 mile out-and-back hike with 8200 cumulative feet of elevation gain that takes about 10-14 hours to complete. These abundant but small mammals live above the tree line, where summers are cool and winters are cold—or once were. Glacier and I settle in for a night’s rest. All Rights Reserved. Eighty feet. After setting up camp, we donned day packs and climbed East Pecos Baldy Peak, at 12,529 feet. Here’s where to go and what to look for. An angler flicks a fly rod, hoping to catch native Río Grande cutthroat trout in the clear water. The tapering stems, reaching 5 feet tall, have numerous rosy-purple flowers. Santa Fe, NM 87501 Pecos Baldy Lake: This small lake is tucked beneath East Pecos Baldy. by Christina Selby. Clustered in the Sangre de Cristos of northern New Mexico, the state’s highest peaks shelter these hike-to lakes on public lands: Bernardin, Cow, Enchanted, Goose, Heart, Hidden, Horseshoe (two of them), Indian, Johnson, José Vigil, Katherine, Lost, Lost Bear, Middle Fork (in Pecos Wilderness), Nambé, No Fish, North Fork, Pacheco, Pecos Baldy, San Leonardo, Santiago, Serpent, Spirit, Stewart, Trampas, … Pecos Baldy Lake is in the Lakes category for Mora County in the state of New Mexico. The western slopes are drained by the Rio Capulin and the Rio Nambe, both flowing to the Rio Grande. “Alpine regions have long been talked about as incredibly sensitive and incredibly vulnerable,” says Heidi Steltzer, a professor at Fort Lewis College, in Durango, Colorado, and co-author of the mountains chapter in the IPCC report. She’s wearing short-shorts and nearly treadless tennis shoes. Feature Type: Lake. Photograph by Christina Selby. I finally reach the lakeshore, where the sharp granite summits of the three Truchas Peaks tower above in astonishing beauty. // if we are coming from the same domain then we show the button, otherwise a user got her from Google or some other means so we don't Serpent Lake: About 7 miles round-trip on Trail 19; trailhead at end of FR 161. As I watch, they dart in and out of the rocks, gathering grasses and wildflowers to stockpile for winter. They say that the desert heals the soul and mountains clear the mind. So long as they can find the right vegetation, they will look their best again come fall, when mating season begins. “Even though it’s changing, it is still beautiful,” says Steltzer. Wildlife biologists are considering “assisted migration”—moving pikas to higher peaks where cooler temperatures can help them survive. Phone: (505) 827-7447 Rust-red boulders brighten up the shoreline. Overview At 12,500 feet, Pecos Baldy is New Mexico's 31st highest peak and one of the highest summits in Pecos Wilderness. Though Pecos Baldy is soft ranked, only rising 280 feet above its highest saddle, its … Walking high into these mountains makes me feel good, even if it’s a chore to get there. It sits just 1 mile north of the town of Pecos, NM in a valley cut by the upper Pecos River on the grounds of the old Benedictine Monastery. American bistort, marsh marigold, queen’s crown, and Parry’s primrose paint the path. USGS Topo Map Quad: Truchas Peak Receive exclusives on what's happening in New Mexico, our best recipes, and more. } The Pecos is a very pretty little river with clean water, beautiful scenery, and easy access from NM hwy 63 running north from the small town of Pecos. The trail finally levels out as the afternoon sun cozies up to the horizon. Receive New Mexico's outdoor adventures, cultural richness, and more delivered to your door each month. The trail peters out into snow still covering the northern face of the mountain. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The ridge falls sharply to the north, opening a view to Serpent Lake, below. Pecos Baldy Lake is really beautiful at close to 12,000 feet. Pecos Baldy Lake, NM. East Pecos Baldy from the west. Santa Fe Baldy rises in the Pecos Wilderness within the Santa Fe National Forest, on the water divide between the Rio Grande and the Pecos River. There are a bunch, but this writer doesn’t have any experience with them, so someone else can write that article. AFTER NEARLY SEVEN MILES ON Trampas Lakes Trail 31, the route starts to level out and turn soggy, a signal that a lake is near. Mountains are warming faster than any other ecosystem in the world. Accessible June through October, snow lingers on the trail late into the summer. If your not a fisherman, there are lots of places to stop along the river for picnics and pictures. require(["jquery", "domReady! Each of us keeps an unspoken distance from the others to maintain the feeling of solitude we sought by walking many miles into the wilderness. So much for my protector. Two young guys have set up a backcountry camp under the pines about 300 feet away from the lake. I stop at the edge of Santa Barbara Ridge to catch my breath. Photograph by Christina Selby. Unless we help them. The project took her from the coldest alpine lakes to the hottest deserts in the state and everywhere in between. Taos’s Wheeler Peak, the state’s highest, at 13,161 feet, is visible on the horizon, with several Colorado fourteeners beyond. E-mail: NM.magazine@state.nm.us. The trail remains on the south and east side of the lake coming to a signed junction just out of sight of the lake. They side-eye me as they saunter by, seemingly undisturbed by my presence. Pecos Baldy Lake, New Mexico Pecos Baldy Lake is a lake located in Mora County, NM at N35.91260° W105.64742° (NAD83) and at an elevation of 11420 ft MSL. The Pecos wilderness is located in the Santa Fe national forest which includes 1.6 million acres of pristine alpine wilderness. Overview. Best Wildflower Hikes New Mexico: A Guide to the Area's Greatest Wildflower Hiking Adventures (Wildflower Series) Plenty of unofficial areas to camp, and the stars are amazing at night! This is what drives my quest to see every alpine lake. With all of the cars and horse trailers at the parking lot when we left, we were surprised to discover that we appeared to be the only ones camping at the lake. Pecos Baldy Lake weather forecast updated daily. Trip report for Truchas Peak and one of the ridge with ease and pack out your and dog. Southwest of its slightly higher parent Peak, East Pecos Baldy is New Mexico District is home to north... A small Creek and making the final climb to East Pecos Baldy Lake un! Age, they dart in and out of sight of the Pecos Wilderness, outside. 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