***Please carefully read the entire posting before signing up.****
We will combine two trails out in the Ojito into one double your pleasure, double your fun hiking day!
The Ojito Wilderness was designated in 2005 and protects 11,000 acres of BLM land about a hour northwest of Albuquerque. A landscape of ridges, portreros and mesas dissected by clay-rich arroyos, it has formations dating to more than 150 million years ago as well as younger rocks. From our hikes, there are striking views into the western Jemez and Rio Puerco drainage, including Cabezon.
HIKING ADVENTURE: The Seismosaurus Trail is a 2-1/2 mile out and back along an old road that was used by paleontologists to unearth fossils of a long-necked, long tailed sauropod relative of the diplodicus from 150-million years ago. We may find the place where the fossils were found. We will definitely find great views of the Arroyo Bernalillito and its drainage plus some great petroglyph panels.
After our return to the trailhead, we drive a mile further on the road and hike the Hoodoo Trail. As the name implies, this takes us to a group of a dozen or so of these picturesque features, then continues around Mesa Bernalillito for more views and some smaller hoodoos. Distance is about 3-1/2 miles on this out-and-back route.
Total distance for both hikes around 6 miles with a total gain of around 400 feet.
While there will be hiking dispersion due to different hiking speeds, we will stop now and then to allow catch-up, snacking, and hydration.
MEETING PLACE: Target at Paseo del Norte and I-25. Look for my red Nissan Frontier pickup in the NW part of the lot.
CARPOOL: The distance is about 80 miles. Please be prepared to pay your driver $12. In dry conditions, the road is good for most any vehicle, however, a few rough spots make this best for high-clearance.
NOTE: Hiking involves risks. You need to be sufficiently fit and properly equipped with poles, hiking boots, sun-protective clothing, water, nutrition and sunscreen. You are responsible for your own safety.
CANCEL: The promise of rain or adverse weather and road conditions will cancel this event.
IMPORTANT: If you sign up, please remember that the leader has you on a list and you have a responsibility to keep him informed of your plans so as not to cause delays and confusion on the day of the hike if you don’t join us at the meeting place. This can be done by text or call to his phone or comments on the Meetup posting.
Questions? Contact Derek 310-870-3133
