The Santa Fe Hiking Meetup Group

PLEASE NOTE 9:30 START TIME.

With warming temps we can all enjoy hiking at higher elevations, re-visiting some favorite Burro hikes closer to the top of our mountain; here's one we've always liked:

We'll all begin our hike together at Big Tesuque Campground parking lot, cross the road & hike down the Big Tesuque Trail to its intersection with Winsor. We'll turn left & hike down the Winsor to its intersection with Borrego Trail. At the water at Borrego intersection, we'll have our mid-hike break, for lunch/snack & Intention Circle. We return to the TH the way we came, so the 2nd half of the hike is an uphill climb, the entire way. It's not especially steep, but is a steady climb; hikers should keep this in mind. This is a 6 mile distance RT, not sure of elevation gain on the way back.

If some prefer a 4 mile distance, stopping at the meadow about 1 mile before the intersection with Borrego is an option. You can wait there for the rest of the Group to return, or go back sooner if you wish.

Burro hikes are for experienced hikers, acclimated to altitude here. They are considered moderate by our standards, usually 4-6 miles on designated trails, unless otherwise specified. Newcomers are welcome. I ask that prior to signing up for your first hike with my Group that you please test your fitness by timing yourself hiking up and down Atalaya, which you should be able to comfortably do in 3 hours or less, starting from Wilderness Gate or Staircase, using Steep Route Option. This will help insure you are a good fit for the Burro Group pace and typical terrain of the routes we hike. If you have any questions about Atalaya, or about my hikes in general, please feel free to text me.

Ronnie Chafel 617-331-1838

Non-aggressive, well mannered dogs are welcome on all my hikes.

We meet at the DeVargas Mall parking lot, behind the stores, in the back of the lot, parking in a lane near the bowling alley, but not right up against the mall wall. We carpool to all THs together. For this hike, hikers will need to decide in advance if they wish to do the 6 or the 4 mile distance & carpool accordingly. Please offer your driver $2 to cover gas expense for this hike. We leave promptly so if you're running just a bit late, text me, & we'll wait up to 5 minutes for you.

PLEASE be considerate of those on Wait List and sign off hike as soon as you know you cannot attend, preferably 24 hours in advance, if at all possible. PLEASE DO NOT NO SHOW! Repeated No Shows have consequences.

4 miles, 869 feet of elevation gain, 2.5 hours.

This is a remarkably scenic trail with plenty of shade and areas with running water. Spring flowers, such as Candytuft, Oregon Grape and Wild strawberries, are beginning to bloom. There are forests of large Aspen trees and Ponderosa Pines.

This is a loop trail that begins going downhill to the Winsor Trail and Tesuque Creek. We will have a break at the creek followed by a steady uphill climb.

We will meet at 9:00 am at the Borrego Bear Wallow Trailhead. Anyone who would like to carpool, may meet me at 8:30 am at the Sierra Del Norte Parking Lot.
Hikers are allowed some flexibility to hike ahead to the next trail juncture.

**Health and Safety **
Hikers are encouraged to carry a small personal medical kit with items like bandaids, advil or ibuprofen, and an antihistamine. Bring enough fluids for a 4 mile hike on a warm day and dress in layers. Sturdy hiking shoes or boots required. Hiking poles may be helpful on steep areas.

Bear Hikes are for experienced hikers, most of our hikes are moderate in difficulty (by our standards), usually on designated trails, usually 4-6 miles in distance unless otherwise specified.

Non-aggressive, well-mannered dogs are welcome on all my hikes (unless otherwise specified, some locations prohibit dogs).

Newcomers are welcome. I ask that newcomers test your fitness by timing yourself hiking up and down Atalaya, which you should be able to do comfortably in 3 hours or less (from Wilderness Gate or staircase). If you have any questions about this, or about my hikes in general, please feel free to contact me through Meet Up Messaging.

PANDEMIC ISSUES:

If you have recently contracted or definitely been exposed to Covid-19, you must have tested negative for Covid-19 since that occurrence and you must be in compliance with CDC rules on quarantining. Thank you for being considerate of the group’s health.

No solicitations or firearms allowed.

Please use the Meetup app to take yourself off the hike if you cannot attend. Please do this as soon as possible so other hikers can attend. If you have a message for the leader, please use the Meetup app and leave a comment.

Hike leader background: I was a trip leader for the International Subcommittee of Sierra Club. I have led and assisted on 7 to 14 day hiking trips in Sicily, Japan, Norway, the Canadian Rockies. I led an Ancestral Puebloan Cultures trip with Dr. Martha Yates.
I love living in Santa Fe, hiking and sharing natural beauty and a caring community with others.

Waiver and Release. By attending, the Participant releases the Event Leaders from all liability arising from the Event and assumes all risks of the Event, including: 1) injuries from falls, living things, pre-existing health conditions, vehicles, and weather, and 2) injuries resulting from the Event Leaders not undertaking the least risky option available (e.g., hiking a steep slope instead of a gentle slope) or not treating an injury in the optimal way (e.g., due to insufficient training). The preceding sentence supplements any other applicable exculpatory arrangement.


The Wilderness invites us to contemplate the whole of Life and our place in it. We enjoy the wild places together, sharing and building a community or Tribe. At introductions we'll share on an inspirational topic and continue on beautiful hike to enjoy the gentle "Soul-food" Nature provides. Let's explore the Great Mystery & support each other in a positive shift of consciousness - for ourselves, our community and the planet.

"No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it." ~ Einstein

FAQs

• Please check this page morning of - for updates/cancellations
• Arrive 10 mins before start - we begin promptly
• Wear real hiking footwear due to rugged terrain
• Bring hat, water, snacks, trekking pole and fanny or backpack to keep hands free
• DOGS OK
• If you like a very strenuous, fast hike - this is not for you
• NOT FOR BEGINNERS or if you are recovering from injury, have a history of falls/AFIB/Stroke/heart problems

YOUR HOST
Hi I’m Marianne, a NM-FL snowbird, Northern New Mexico Master Naturalist and Yoga Instructor. I received my Bodhisattva Vows from the Dalai Lama and have been studying/teaching A Course in Miracles for 40 years. I serve as Property Steward for the County of Santa Fe, Talaya Hill Open Space. Prior to retirement, I was a newspaper publisher and Marketing VP for IT firms. I am committed to the Enlightenment of all Beings and to creating Spiritual Community based in Nature.