The Santa Fe Hiking Meetup Group

PLEASE NOTE 9:00 START TIME!

This will probably be our last Ted hike until fall, given warming temps of the season; we all appreciate Ted's ongoing willingness to take us to these wonderful places he explores! Here's his description for this one:

It is almost religious, this area just off Hwy 84 on the Monastery Rd. The hike is a mix of red arroyos, a bit of slot canyon, serene low mesa ridgelines & splendid views with beauty everywhere! It is a loop trail which we can adjust depending on our energy level but expect to hike 4-5 miles. Most of the hike is easy, mellow, off trail. There will be some short, steep climbs but well worth the efforts. this is red rock country, just north of Ghost Ranch.

Burro 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 on all my hikes; I ask that newcomers please test your fitness for my Group 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 or by text.

We meet at the DeVargas Mall, in the back lot, behind the stores, park in a lane near the bowling alley, but not right up against the mall wall. We carpool to all THs. Drivers can request that riders wear masks in their vehicle. Please offer your driver $7 to cover gas expense for this hike. We like to leave promptly so if you're running just a few minutes late, text me, & we'll wait up to 5 minutes for you.

Ronnie Chafel, 617-331-1838

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

We are carpooling from the meeting place on a parking lot to the MONTEZUMA HOT SPRINGS, which are the hottest springs in NM! Driving 1.5 hrs towards Las Vegas!
Put destination into youru GPS! Wild old springs are veryy peacefull, filled with nicest folks!
Free of charge, on Donations!
Many holes in this area, parking along the road, creek running near mineral holes with cold clean waterr, so you can manage Roman Baths, which are extreme, but are indeed the best trick In the world to recharge your whole Immune system and keep awayy from all chronic diseases, which was known since Ancient Roman Times!
Be prepared, take your water shoes and swimwear with you, hats and towels, and bring some lunch, so we have some potluck in the wild!
Your organiser will bring tiny pies, so we can share oldest Russian food with everybody over there, like we did before with Dave Gold!

Have fun!

Any other questions text Daria:
5054160726

Description: Bobcatting Tohajiilee
Round Trip Hiking Distance: 4.0-4.5 miles
Round Trip Hiking Time: 3.5 hours
Elevation: 5800'-6000'
Rating: Moderate
Pace: Mellow Plus

Please be considerate of others and do not RSVP for this hike if you cannot go up and down Atalaya in under 3 hours. This helps us to stay together as a group enhancing the hiking experience for everyone. It is not about competition, but cooperation. This is a group event and participants are expected to stay with the group. No firearms or commercial solicitations.

READ THIS--PANDEMIC ISSUES:

1. You MUST be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 (including at least one booster) to attend this hike--this is non-negotiable and there will be no exceptions. I may ask for proof of vaccination from people I do not know.
2. Car pooling is up to attendees.
3. 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 and isolation.

Hike Description:
Tohajiilee is a badlands located about 2 hours southwest of Santa Fe. The hike has several distinct sections. After with a walk thru cholla and four-wing salt bush prairie--where, if we're lucky, we'll see wild horses--we'll arrive at a long, red sandstone formation, featuring sharp outcropping, holes and alcoves and accented by the bright red flowers of nearby headgehog cacti as well as the white of wallflowers and sand verbena. After exploring this area, we'll hike along a mesa bordering on mudstone pyramids and towers. We'll ascend to the top of the mesa to get a different perspective on the red rock and mudstone formations before descending down a short but steep slick rock slope. We'll recross the prairie back to the trailhead.

This is a long ride for a fairly short hike, but we'll take our time exploring the formations, which really are striking. The hedgehog cacti have started to bloom, so hopefully by Tuesday we should have a good show of red blooms. The route is mainly flat but it's mostly off trail and there are several short but steep ascents and descents.

There is no shade and with a forecasted high in the low 70s, be sure to bring *lots* of water and sun protection.

What to bring:
Sturdy hiking boots or shoes.
Layers, extra clothing, water resistant outer wear.
Lots of water for a 3+ hour hike and snacks/lunch

Meeting Place:
ZIA: We'll meet near Albertson's along Zia Road. We leave promptly at the meeting time. If your plans change at the last minute, please call Ken at 248-252-0708.

Dogs: Friendly dogs with no history of aggression at group events are welcome, but must be on a leash at all times.

Cost/Driving: Non-drivers are to contribute $15 to the driver for gas. The last few miles of road have some very rough spots, so SUVs are a good idea.

Cancelling. Please be courteous and, if your plans change, promptly remove yourself from the 'go' (or wait) list so others can adjust their calendars. If you don't know how to remove yourself from the go (or wait) list, contact me and I'll do it for you.

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.