Lew Wallace Building Tag - Pecos Baldy Lake. In the fading light, I set up my tent and hang my bear bag in a tree. The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change finds that scientists are documenting profound change in mountain ecosystems all across the globe. Stay on the trail. They graze as they go, fattening up on protein-rich plants’ new growth. For thousands of years since, alpine lakes and high-mountain wetlands have acted as the natural “water towers” of the West. THE UPTAKE Subscriptions/Inquiries: (800) 898-6639 Eighty feet. Just 200 yards long, Stewart Lake is 6 miles from the trailhead and just north of the Skyline Trail beyond a small, marshy pond. Here’s where to go and what to look for. These abundant but small mammals live above the tree line, where summers are cool and winters are cold—or once were. An eight-acre lake at the base of Pecos Baldy in the Pecos Wilderness. 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. Plenty of unofficial areas to camp, and the stars are amazing at night! The Santa Barbara Divide forms a mountainous barrier and spine of the Pecos wilderness. The project took her from the coldest alpine lakes to the hottest deserts in the state and everywhere in between. $('[data-sv-magazine-content-wrapper]').prepend(backBtn); He repeats this several times. Multiple campgrounds like Jack’s Creek, Iron Gate and Panchuela make great base camps for those exploring the wilderness. I brought no traction spikes, no snowshoes, no hiking poles, no ice ax to catch me from sliding down should I slip. … 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. Feature Type: Lake. 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. They side-eye me as they saunter by, seemingly undisturbed by my presence. As I ponder what it would take to catch one of these fast-moving animals, two bighorn sheep materialize to my right. Unlike the many avian or larger mountain wildlife species shifting their ranges north or to higher altitudes, pikas have nowhere else to go. Receive exclusives on what's happening in New Mexico, our best recipes, and more. Trip Rating: is moderate July 1 Tailgate dinner and campfire at Jack’s Creek Campground. Could it be the world’s grumpiest rodent is having fun sledding in the mountains? Cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout live north of … 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. This is part three of our 4 day hike in the Pecos Wilderness – New Mexico. Pikas are an indicator species for the potential impact. }); Above: While it's about a 7 mile hike to reach the Trampas Lakes, the wildflowers and other scenery are worth the trek. Dogs and horses are also able to use this trail. Take an overnight trip to a scenic alpine lake in the Pecos Wilderness, just outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. 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. With higher temperatures in the mountains, wildflowers are abundant earlier because of early snowmelt. Scientific research now confirms this. We swap stories about these high-altitude pockets of cold water with names like Katherine, Stewart, Horseshoe, Hidden, North Fork, and Spirit. Several alpine lakes are accessible by car and have developed campgrounds, including Canjilon, Stinking, and Trout lakes, near Tierra Amarilla; Goose, Middle Fork, and Pioneer lakes, near Red River; La Cueva, near Sipapu; and Latir Lakes, near Questa. Taos’s Wheeler Peak, the state’s highest, at 13,161 feet, is visible on the horizon, with several Colorado fourteeners beyond. I kick a toe hole and start up a vertical track. Pecos Baldy Lake is displayed on the Truchas Peak USGS quad topo map. Rocky Mountain iris blooms near North Fork Lake. El sendero se usa principalmente para hacer senderismo, correr y caballos y es mejor utilizado de junio hasta octubre. Why am I working so hard? Accessible June through October, snow lingers on the trail late into the summer. Receive New Mexico's outdoor adventures, cultural richness, and more delivered to your door each month. They collect and hold each year’s snowmelt and release it slowly over weeks or months. 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. So much for my protector. 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. An angler flicks a fly rod, hoping to catch native Río Grande cutthroat trout in the clear water. Warm water lakes. by Christina Selby. Two other hikers laze about. As they approach to say hello, my dog charges at them, barking fiercely, and then rolls over on his back for a belly scratch. Fifteen years ago, at the end of a six-month road trip, Christina Selby visited Santa Fe and never left. Mountains are warming faster than any other ecosystem in the world. This could be done as a demanding day hike, but it's best when you have some time to enjoy the scenery. Back to Previous Pecos Baldy Lake es un sendero de ida y vuelta de 14.7 millas con tráfico moderado localizado cerca de Tererro, Nuevo México. Still, “we just don’t know” what the future holds, Steltzer says, as changes in New Mexico’s mountains are not well studied. I stop at the edge of Santa Barbara Ridge to catch my breath. Pecos Baldy Lake is in the Lakes category for Mora County in the state of New Mexico. 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. The ridge falls sharply to the north, opening a view to Serpent Lake, below. Hundreds of pink elephant’s heads decorate the marsh. [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. User-created trails can drain, incise, and transport water and sediment away from headwater systems. E-mail: NM.magazine@state.nm.us. After a long winter, their coats are patchy as they shed their outer layer. I tell them of my quest to visit all the alpine lakes in northern New Mexico. Two pikas cautiously peek out from the scree along the trail. “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.”. Tourism Department scenery with easy access and great views a fisherman, there will be another junction! Winters are cold—or once were with colorful wildflowers and arrive at the base of Pecos Baldy Lake Mexico... 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